4 ms·
The rules don't say explicitly that a reaction time of <100ms to the signaled start of the race results in disqualification but in practice that's been the case
by wging 3y ago
The rules don't say explicitly that a reaction time of <100ms to the signaled start of the race results in disqualification but in practice that's been the case (see the DQ of Devon Allen in the world championship 110m hurdles in 2022 for one example). So add 100ms to that table of times/distances for a theoretical minimum achievable time.
(The rules do say that runners will be stopped and recalled if the reaction time limit is breached, which means that no race will actually happen in that case:
> 16.6 When a World Athletics certified Start Information System is in use, the Starter and/or an assigned
Recaller shall wear headphones in order to clearly hear the acoustic signal emitted when the
System indicates a possible false start (i.e. when the reaction time is less than 0.100 second). As
soon as the Starter and/or assigned Recaller hears the acoustic signal, and if the gun was fired,
there shall be a recall and the Starter shall immediately examine the reaction times and other
available information from the Start Information System in order to confirm which, if any, athlete(s)
is/are responsible for the recall.
)