How do you convert hand times to FAT?
Add 0.24 seconds to a hand time under 300m, and 0.14 seconds from 300m up to 800m, the convention Athletic.net uses. High school (NFHS) comparisons add 0.24 to every hand time.
| Race | Athletic.net convention | NFHS |
|---|---|---|
| Under 300m (incl. hurdles) | +0.24 s | +0.24 s |
| 300m to 799m | +0.14 s | +0.24 s |
| 800m and longer | No adjustment | +0.24 s |
Why hand times read fast
A timer with a stopwatch starts on seeing the smoke or flash and stops on seeing the runner's torso cross the line. The reaction at the start is later than the electronic start, so hand times come out faster than fully automatic (FAT) times. The conversion adds that gap back.
Rounding
Hand times are read to the tenth and rounded up: 11.03 on the watch is 11.1. Converted, 11.1 becomes 11.34 for comparison. The converted time is an estimate; it never replaces the time the timer recorded.
Sources: NFHS Track and Field rules; Athletic.net. Updated 2026-10-31.