So the Brazilian 400 meter Olympian, Shaunee Miller, took the Gold over the USA favorite by diving across the finish line. The rules say the finish time is when any part of the torso crosses the line. I saw the umpteen photos, she won by about a foot, 0.07 seconds faster than USA's Allyson Felix. Miller said she didn't think about diving, it seems she acted instinctively.
My baseball coaches (I never played MLB but played a lot of ball) prohibited the sliding into first thing. Some said they'd bench us if we did it. Their argument seemed reasonable: diving is for avoiding a tag on a pick attempt or steal and is not faster than sprinting through first base (the fielder's throwing error and batter-runner's advance to second is withheld for another discussion).
I told my DW about Miller's gold medal and what my baseball coaches told me. Then this morning I'm looking at a World Cup softball video from China v. Phillipines, and a fast Chinese batter dives safely into first base on an infield grounder. I've seen it done before a few times in baseball and in fastpitch.
Now I'm questioning what I was coached over 20 years... Can fast runners reach first base sooner by diving (disclaimer: my DD is NOT fast) or by running through. All else equal, first inning and score is 0 - 0.
What say you DFPers?
My baseball coaches (I never played MLB but played a lot of ball) prohibited the sliding into first thing. Some said they'd bench us if we did it. Their argument seemed reasonable: diving is for avoiding a tag on a pick attempt or steal and is not faster than sprinting through first base (the fielder's throwing error and batter-runner's advance to second is withheld for another discussion).
I told my DW about Miller's gold medal and what my baseball coaches told me. Then this morning I'm looking at a World Cup softball video from China v. Phillipines, and a fast Chinese batter dives safely into first base on an infield grounder. I've seen it done before a few times in baseball and in fastpitch.
Now I'm questioning what I was coached over 20 years... Can fast runners reach first base sooner by diving (disclaimer: my DD is NOT fast) or by running through. All else equal, first inning and score is 0 - 0.
What say you DFPers?