PolyFieldBy Kingston AC & Polytechnic Harriers
Athletics technology, made accessible
PolyField makes officiating with technology simple for grassroots athletics. Built by and for athletes, officials and spectators.
As published in IEEE Software. About the article
Internationally published
PolyField in IEEE Software
The engineering behind PolyField is published in IEEE Software, the international magazine of the IEEE Computer Society. The article explains how PolyField brings EDMs, apps, scoreboards and competition systems together into one real-time measurement system for track and field.
Gordon Lester, “Engineering Integrated Real-Time Measurement Systems for Track and Field Athletics”, IEEE Software, Sept.–Oct. 2026. DOI: 10.1109/MS.2026.3685066
IEEE Xplore may ask you to sign in or subscribe to read the full article.
Powerful features
Everything you need to run field events with precision
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Simple EDM calibration
A step-by-step wizard for Electronic Distance Measurement setup, with every step explained, for throws and horizontal jumps.
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Multi-hardware support
Works with APEKS, Hi-Target, Mato, GeoMax and Leica EDMs, Gill WindSonic 75 wind gauges, and Daktronics and Gill displays.
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One-tap measuring
Measure with a single tap. There's no need to press buttons on the EDM, so you can focus on the athletes, not the equipment.
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Competition management
Load events from Athletics.App and OpenTrack, and upload results straight from PolyField as you measure.
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Live results & heat maps
See where every throw lands in the sector, in real time. Live result tables and latest-performance displays are streamed locally.
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Runs on your own network
The meet runs on its own dedicated local network with local storage, so a dropped internet connection won't stop it. Internet is only needed to link with your competition management system.
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Analytics & graphics
Export social-media-ready graphics instantly, and event statistics as a PDF. Download heat maps for each athlete or the whole competition.
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Accessible by design
Clear, high-contrast interfaces built to accessibility principles, so more volunteers can confidently use the technology.
Complete software solutions
One system for officials, athletes and spectators
Accessible tools that help officials, improve the athlete experience and engage spectators.
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PolyField App
Android app that connects to the EDM and scoreboards. Officials manage check-in, performances, cuts and results upload.
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PolyField Server
“The Controller”. Connects your apps to analytics, athlete data and competition management providers.
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PolyField & Track Displays
Scoreboards from FinishLynx and TimeTronics photo finish, plus field events live from the Server.
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Live screens
Any screen on the network can show the results board, event standings, an announcer feed or para-athletics RAZA rankings.
How it works
Measure once, and it's everywhere
Technology that supports officials, not hinders them. Everything runs on a dedicated local network.
The EDM
Measures where the throw or jump lands. No tapes, no numbers called across the field.
The app
The official confirms each attempt on a tablet: mark or foul, wind, bar height.
The server
Collects every event at the meet over a dedicated local network.
Everywhere
Scoreboards, announcers and results update as soon as an attempt is confirmed.
Heat maps online (test feature)
Every landing, mapped and online
We're testing PolyField Results, where organisers can choose to publish heat maps from their meet. Athletes and coaches can search for a competition and see every landing in the sector.
Who we are
Built by a volunteer athletics club
We are athletes, officials and committee members of Kingston Athletic Club and Polytechnic Harriers (KACPH), a club in South West London.
We are the longest-established athletics club in Kingston, proud of our local, volunteer-run and friendly roots. We compete at a high level across track and field, road running and cross-country, and welcome athletes from age 8 through to Masters.
We're volunteer-run and non-profit, but fiercely professional. Our athletes regularly feature in UK Top 10 lists, and every penny is reinvested in our athletes.
Join the athletics tech revolution
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