Athletics: Laser quick measure

Otago athletics entered the space age on Saturday when a simplified laser distance measure was used to speed up measurement at the discus throw.

The measure is the invention of Kaiapoi High School social science teacher John McTaggart (60), who taught local officials how to use it at the Caledonian Ground.

Macs Easy Measure was used in Canterbury children's athletics for the first time last year.

"It is an infra-red laser beam that sits on the target and calculates the distance," its creator said.

McTaggart has been an athletics official in Can-terbury for 37 years.

"There is a tendency for tapes to stretch," he said.

"I wanted to find an easier and more accurate way of measuring the distance. I just had to figure out how to do it."

Of 13 male throwers who competed in the men's discus last Saturday, the quickest reading was made between 10 and 13 seconds and the slowest 20 seconds.

The tape measure could take up to a minute for each throw.

"It is a time-saver and it's accurate," McTaggart said.

"A tracker using a tripod has been used at New Zealand championships for the last five years.

"I have a more basic model. It saves tapes and is easier to use."

The cost is $750 for a device that can be used for longer distances in the discus and hammer throw.

A shot put device costs $650.

The Athletics Otago administrator Margaret Ashton said the centre was looking at ways to upgrade its equipment before the New Zealand track and field championships and the South Island Colgate Games are held in Dunedin in 2011.

"We want to run the events as efficiently as possible and are investigating ways to put on a first-class show," Ashton said.