"How Do They Know Those Sprinters Finished In A Dead Heat?"

How Do They Know Those Sprinters Finished In A Dead Heat? | WBUR & NPR

In this handout photo provided by the USATF, Jeneba Tarmoh (bottom, lane 1) and Allyson Felix cross the finish line at exactly the same time in the women's 100 meter dash final during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. It's their torsos, not head, hands, feet or arms, that matter.

As we wait to hear whether sprinters Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh will flip a coin or race again to determine who gets the third and final slot in the 100 meters for Team USA at the London Olympics, we've been wondering:
Just how do officials determine exactly how fast world-class sprinters are and just who has finished first, second or third when they're flashing past?

Comment.....Close but who gets the cigar?