Florida Goes Metric
GOING ALL OUT: Florida student Katie Barnett competes in the long jump at the 2016 high-school state finals.
Starting this year, Florida high schools are using the metric system to measure results in field events, like the long jump and pole vault. The Sunshine State is the first in the nation to switch from the imperial system, which uses units like feet and inches.
LONGEST JUMP: The world record for the long jump is 8.95 meters, set by Mike Powell of the U.S. in 1991. What is that in feet and inches?
“We wanted to match the [system used in] higher levels of competition like the National Collegiate Athletic Association,” says Ed Thompson, director of athletics for the Florida High School Athletic Association. “And we wanted to improve precision—centimeters are more precise than inches.” Most scientists rely on the metric system as well, and precision is one reason why.
Officials will measure event results using metric units and convert them to inches and feet for spectators who are unfamiliar with metric distances.
