On Apr. 14 the Tokai University track and field team and Faculty of Engineering announced that in March they had installed an electronic pacing system at the university’s home track at its Shonan campus. The pacing system involved LED lights placed around the edge of the track, which light up sequentially based on the set pace. It is the first time in Japan that this kind of system developed by a domestic manufacturer has been permanently installed at a track.
LED pacing systems are used internationally at Diamond League meets and high-level time trial races. Domestically they have been introduced at events like the National Championships 10000 m, Hokuren Distance Challenge and Hachioji Long Distance meets. They have become popular with fans for adding color to the visual presentation of the race and for making it easier to follow the pace of the race.
Tokai University began plans to develop and permanently install an electronic pacing system two years ago. The system was developed in collaboration with Takamizawa Cybernetics, a company headed by a Tokai graduate that develops, manufactures and markets social infrastructure-related electronic equipment. The system it made for the Tokai track features 325 LEDs positioned alongside the inside of the track. The LEDs can flash four different colors, including red and green.
The system is set to be used for the first time at the Tokai University Time Trials meet on Apr. 20. A university spokesperson commented, “The lighting system will be useful not only for track races, but also for repurposing as emergency lighting in the event of a disaster.”
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translated by Brett Larner
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