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Thursday August 20, 2009

Researchers scratching their heads over how fast a man can run

ONCE the gun sounds, Usain Bolt seems to test the very limits of the race — the human race.

The Jamaican sprinting sensation put on another amazing performance on Sunday, shattering his own world record in the 100m to an almost inhuman 9.58.

Maybe “inhuman” is a bit too strong, but the man is certainly on another level.

Sunday’s result was the biggest improvement in the 100m record since electronic timing began in 1968.

Bolt’s not done, either. On Tuesday, he cruised into the semi-finals of the 200m, and he also figures to lead his nation’s 4x100m relay.

After that, who knows how low he can go? He’s certainly willing to try.

“Personally, I think I have more work to do,” Bolt said after winning the 100m title at the same stadium where Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Games.

Several researchers have done studies recently to predict how fast a man can run 100m. The latest, from Tilburg University in Holland, predicts that someone will eventually be able break the tape at 9.51.

Bolt, who has set three records at the 100m distance with times of 9.72, 9.69 and Sunday’s 9.58, is already looking to rip that theory apart.

“I said 9.4,” Bolt said. “I think the world records will stop at 9.4.”

British bookmakers are betting that Bolt will get there. As of Monday morning, Ladbrokes is giving 3-1 odds that the 22-year-old Bolt will run under 9.5 by the end of September.

“The world’s fastest man” is a nickname traditionally given to the 100m record holder, and the first such record on the books was set in 1912, when American sprinter Donald Lippincott ran 10.6.

Charles Paddock, Percy Williams, Owens, Willie Williams and Armin Hary all set the record before Jim Hines finally broke the 10 second barrier on June 20, 1968, with a time of 9.9.

A few months later, the American set the first electronically timed record of 9.95.

But since that day, it’s been tougher and tougher to shave significant amounts of time off the world record. It took 23 years after Hines’ 9.95 for Carl Lewis to get under 9.9, running 9.86 in 1991.

Another eight years came and went before Maurice Greene ran it in 9.79.

In this decade, with the record getting lower and exposure of races getting bigger, scientists have decided to weigh in on what they believe are the physical limits of humanity.

Some say Bolt’s performance — during which he averaged 37.6kph — can be topped. But not by much.

Tilburg University said last month in their study that 9.51 was the “estimated ultimate world record.” But Tilburg’s Sander Smeets said Bolt’s performance on Sunday could push the statistical analysis to 9.50.

And unlike scientists, many sprinters won’t even hazard a guess as to what Bolt can do in the future.

“I think the sky is the limit,” American sprinter Allyson Felix said. “He’s doing things we’ve never seen before, so, I don’t think you can put a time on it.” — AP

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