Im not sure if many people here like athletics, but this should be impressive to anyone really.

This evening Asafa Powell (Jamaica) ran 9.77 to break the 100m world record. All I can say really is wow!! I thought when Tim Montgomery set it, it would stay at 9.78 for a while, but this is impressive. I may be wrong but I think this is also the fastest time ever run, ever. That may seem obvious in that its a world record, but im also including times run by drug users (Ben Johnsons illegal world record was 9.78).


I guess this is more like news than a discussion but maybe people might share a few views on sprinting etc such as : How fast do you think people will be able to run in the future? or whatever really

Thats seriously fast, where did he do it? was it indoor or outdoors?

Powell - This guy really is an all-time great in the making... And tbh i wasn't really shocked he broke the WR after seeing his 9.84 on a wet, cold surface a week earlier.

The scary thing is, he's only 22 and he probably hasn't hit his peak yet.
Low 9.7 or even 9.6 is a reality with this guy.

9.6? i think not hombre. He may get into the 9.75ish but nowhere near 9.6

JEEZ THISA GUY IS FAST!!!

i just flicked on as they started it live. was blown away. knew he was highly rated but to break a wolrd record only 2 or 3 races into the season. Fuckin hell, thts impressive. You have to think he will break it again when he gets into maximum racing condition.

How many times have people said that a World Record will not be broken again? Yet time and time again it happens. Never be too sure mate.

Makes you wonder what times they will be running in say 1000 years time? If the record keeps getting broken will it eventually get to 1 sec?

Whoa ! that is really impressive by a person I've never personally heard of. But this doesn't mean thats the best record, just like Macca said I believe Powell himself or other people can beat it.

i seen this on Sky sports

ah but .1 of a second? I'm sure he will break it again, but not by .1 of a second, .01 more likely

Tim Montgomery said he wants to claim it back sometime this season and that he was 'shocked' that Powell could do it so early in a season. Maybe that means it could be broken again soon.

Then again, it often depends on the conditions with this kind of thing, and later on in the season there will be fewer races where the winner is 'on his own' as Montgomery put it. What I mean is, if Powell is under more pressure he'll get more tense and his technique won't be so good, so it'll be less likely there'll be a quick time. Despite that, I'm not saying its not going to happen though. Powell's impressive and i wouldnt be surprised to see him do something spectacular again

Progression of the Men's 100 m sprint World Record over the last three decades!!

since Jim Hines set the record of 9.95 in 1968 it has come down only .27 seconds over a period of 27 years!!

9.95-----James Hines---------- 14.10.1968
9.93-----Calvin Smith----------03.07.1983
9.93-----Carl Lewis-------------30.08.1987
9.92-----Carl Lewis-------------24.09.1988
9.90-----Leroy Burrell----------14.06.1991
9.86-----Carl Lewis-------------25.08.1991
9.85-----Leroy Burrell----------06.07.1994
9.84-----Donovan Bailey-------29.07.1996
9.79-----Maurice Greene-------16.06.1999
9.78-----Tim Montgomery------14.09.2002
9.77-----Asafa Powell---------- 14-06-2005

Fantastic talent, and as this proves has the potential to be the fastest in the world and one of the greatest sprinters ever, but he needs to step up on the big night. His performance at the Olympics Final after breezing the field multiple times leading up to the final was shocking.

To say that 9.6 isn't possible is ignorant.

If he took .08 off his WR it would be 9.69, so he wouldn't have to shave .1 off his time would he?

Just think - he is probably NOT at his peak (age AND his training this season) - With the right conditions, 9.69 IS possible, and i can't see anyone beating this guy at 100M, unless Greene can conjur up something special.

the record holder of the 100m sprint is commonly referred to as the fastest man in the world..

consider this.. Michael Johnson ran the 200m in 19.32 seconds....(current WR) which means he ran 100m in 9.66 secs!! pretty amazin i'd say!!

You've just halved the time and assumed he ran the same time each 100m... wrong buddy!
It was more like 10.1 first 100, and 9.2 the last 100m.

Maurice Greene among others have run SUB 9 in the 100 relays from a rolling start.

yeah i just halved the time cuz i didnt know the split timings for the 2 100m laps. anyways 9.2 secs for the second lap would be pretty amazing too... a rolling start does give him a good advantage!!

heck i didnt know that Greene and co.. managed sub 9 secs!! thats pretty awesome!! keep runnin

In the middle of Johnson's 200m world record he officially ran the fastest 100m ever run. Obviously thats what you'd expect but its still cool that it was worked out and known to be better than any other rolling start 100m.

I'm not saying it isn't possible, I'm just saying I don't think Powell will do it.

Does anyone seriously think these guys are clean?

Also why is it that black guys are faster than white guys? Is it because of that fast twitch muscle thingy? I have always wondered that.

no, of course they're not clean

I was told last year why "black" people are faster than "white" people when I did sports science, but fuck me if I can remember

I think its more likely that Powell is clean than some of the other current fastest sprinters, particularly the americans. Although Powell is big, he doesn't quite have that over-sized look that Chambers did when he was done for drugs, or that a couple of the americans do at the moments. Then again, Montgomery isnt so huge and he is under suspicion, so maybe you're right about Powell.

If we talk about West African origin, rather than just black skin, then yes, the fastest runners do have more fast twitch muscle fibres and, possibly, more testostorone too. This is probably not the only reason though. I've read in the past that the tradition of sport or the assumption that certain people are naturally better at sport means that 'black' people tend to be encouraged more towards sport than academia. I'm not sure how much this has an affect but we can be pretty sure that there is a biological difference

I love athletics and is was great to see Asafa Powell break the World Record, i have rated him since seeing him the European Championships where he did not fulfill his undoubted potential.

Good on Ya Asafa, keep it going m8

9.84-----Donovan Bailey-------29.07.1996
9.79-----Maurice Greene-------16.06.1999

Massive thrashing there of the old record.

Jeez this bloke must be fast. 22 years old eh. Cheers for filling me in with the whole black skinned excelling in speed thing aswell, always wondered about that myself.

Mark my words, Maurice Greene will regain the World record and again be the World Champion in Helsinki. Asafa must be having a laugh if he honestly believes that he will run quicker than 9.77 this season. Especially as he believes that he will do it in London. He ran 9.77 in Athens just as Greene ran 9.79 in Athens aswell. A lot of records and world leading times are set there because of good conditions. Athletics will never be clean, as new drugs like THG have become detectable others will follow and we will see hardly any clean athletes run 9.7.

As for MJ, What a legend

and eleven months later Justin Gatlin breaks the record set by Asafa Powell..!!!



9.76: J Gatlin (US), 12/05/06 9.77: A Powell (Jam), 14/06/05

Source!

that's amazing, i wonder where this will end

yeah people of west african descent are faster because of the composition of their muscle fibres

Yeh you do have to wonder where it will end. I love hearing about the sprinting world records. Hope that Gatlin has nothing to hide. I'm sick of drug cheats tarnishing competitions.

They will Run Head to head at Gatehead England on June 11 cant wait . i think Powell take it and set a new Record he has Reportedly run 9.6 in training this season. he practically joged to 9.95 the other day at the Jamaica international meet. Gatlin is a very powerfull sprinter but powell combines both footspeed and power sprinting so he might come out on top.

Think it was only a matter of time before Gatlin took the record, his 100m running has improved so much in the past year or so. He's also a great 200m runner, definately one of the best athletes on the circuit at the moment. That head to head on June 11 could easily bring another world record, Powell and Gatlin will definately be going at it with full pelt and im sure they will push each other way and that could well lead to the record being broken again.

Wow, pretty quick.

does anyone have this video??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuGeaUSbuhA

anyway see this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_m

Justin Gatlin has a wind of +1.7 helping him to his 9.76
Asafa Powell had a wind of +1.6 helpin gim to 9.77
Maurice Greene onl had a +0.1 wind for his 9.79

Gatlin's voice is really annoying... anyhow now he's the fastest man over 100m in the world.
Though Asafa Powell looks so powerful and impressive, I think he can break it again.

ASAFA POWELL SAYS GATLIN ONLY HAS IT FOR WHILE.

'I can run 9.5 seconds'
Powell says Gatlin has only borrowed his world record
By Paul Burrowes Observer staff reporter
Monday, May 15, 2006


Commonwealth Games champion Asafa Powell and coach Stephen Francis are unmoved by the exploits of Olympic and World Champion Justin Gatlin, who set a new 100m world record of 9.76 seconds last Friday in Doha.


Former 100m world record-holder Asafa Powell as he arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Powell, who arrived yesterday at the Norman Manley International Airport with members of the MVP Track Club, told the Observer: "I don't feel any way" that Gatlin broke the record, though he added that the "race seems funny", echoing the sentiments of some observers that the event appeared to be staged.

The former world record-holder and his clubmates were returning from the Felix Sanchez Invitational meet in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Saturday.

"I am under no pressure and I can run 9.5," said Powell emphatically.
Powell, after teaming up with his countrymen to win the 4x100m relay in 38.73 seconds at the meet on Saturday, told reporters that the American was borrowing the record.

Gatlin sliced 0.01 seconds off Powell's world record set last June in Athens.

"I am happy for Justin Gatlin, we are good friends and will meet at the June 11 Grand Prix in Gateshead, England, where great things could happen," Powell said. He (Gatlin) borrowed the record. I will get it back.
"I am in my best shape ever. I never felt so well. That is why I can say that I will get the record back," Powell said then.

Coach Stephen Francis, too, was unperturbed yesterday.
He told the Observer: "It's May 14, not October 14. The season is early and there is a lot of racing left," indicating that the battle is on.
Francis also congratulated Gatlin for breaking the record.

Meanwhile, the Press Association has reported that Gatlin, who has insisted that winning major titles is more important than chasing records, is attempting to go even faster.

"I'm trying to go faster. I'm trying to go 9.74 or 9.73," said the New York-born sprinter, taking advantage of a year during which there are no major championships.

Gatlin, who claimed that the world record race "wasn't one of his best", said if he could "stay focused and not get big-headed" he could "go out there and do it again".

"I learned I could be a champion. I think everyone saw a good competitor in Justin Gatlin in 2004 and 2005. I was more aggressive this year going after the world record. It actually came quicker than I thought," Gatlin said.

On Saturday, Powell, Nestor Carter, Mario Forsythe and last year's 100-metre World Championship silver medallist Michael Frater defeated the USA quartet of Ron Bramlett, Mardy Scales, Coby Miller and Rae Edwards, who clocked 39.38. The Dominican Republic finished third in 39.66.

Frater won the men's 100 metres in 10.42 seconds and Vonette Dixon took the women's 100m hurdles in 13.36 seconds.


he said it, we heard it , now can he do when it counts.

Does anybody have a video of it or know where to find one?

Powell will break it again I think. He's much more consistant that Gaitlin in my opinion. I'd definitely back Powell if they went head to head.

Gaitlin is the most arrogant person I've ever seen. He was oozing arrogance before and after he won the Olympics. Can't and don't want to imagine him now.

if ur asking for a vid of his interview i cant give that i got the article from the news papers but if its the race u want here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuGeaUSbuhA

Gatlin denied world 100m record

Justin Gatlin has been sensationally denied the world 100 metres record he had claimed last Friday in Qatar.

Governing body the International Association of Athletics Federations has revealed that Gatlin ran 9.766 seconds, not 9.7 secs as first thought.

According to IAAF rules, that time should have been manually rounded up to 9.77 secs - matching but not beating Asafa Powell's existing world record.

Gatlin had said on Friday: "I feel like I'm the best of the best."

The dramatic news will come as a huge shock to world and Olympic champion Gatlin, who thought he had proved himself the greatest sprinter in the world with his 'record' in Doha.

But it adds even more intrigue to the rapidly-developing rivalry between Gatlin and Powell.

Gatlin will also be confident of lowering the new mark - particularly as he has been aiming to peak later in the season.

He said on Friday: "I had a horrible start and I know I can do better.

"The timing could be further improved this year, probably in Europe."

The IAAF said it acted after being informed of the error by Tissot Timing.

Jamaican Powell set his record in Athens last year, beating the 9.78 secs run by discredited American sprinter Tim Montgomery.

Gatlin and Powell will renew their rivalry when they go head-to-head for the first time this season at the Gateshead Grand Prix on 11 June.

The pair last met on the track at the London Grand Prix last July but Gatlin cruised to victory as Powell pulled up with a groin injury which also kept him out of the world championships.


- BBC SPORT
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Man I'd be gutted. Not too flash by the officials here. This should have been sorted out much earlier.

this will make the rivalry even stronger. but i heard Gatlin is backing out of the race in gateshead .

Thanks kawandinho. This record will keep on getting broken and broken. Then im gonna break it and its there for life.

That is so quick.

Asafa Powell to me is a solid runner, but I do think Gaitlin is faster. Both however I think are capable of somewhere around 9.73 - 9.74. If that time is reached, it will be much more difficult to break the recored. Thats an insane time. I doubt in my mind that the record coup dip below 9.70. If that happens, that person is a robot.

Record is back up again...

Due to the timing system going wrong and incorrectly rounding down instead of up

Just did it then, equalled his own record at Gateshead. He ran 9.77 secs on a slow track not suited for sprinting. He's equalled his own record and bad mouthed Justin Gatlin after it, the interviewer said do you have a message for Justin? To which Powell replied - "Thats how you run a world record"

Class stuff, reckons he'll do 9.7 dead in the right conditions (i.e. better competition, running for a medal and on a fast track.

It's all changed nowadays, I remember when Linford running 9.96 was the record

Damn I just missed that as I thoyught it'd be a crap time on such a slow track. He really is a great performer and a wonderful character, saying he'll do it in 9.70 is something that only the most confident athlete can do. I, for one, don't doubt him.

What a run, he looked so impressive from the start right up until the line. Great technique to get out of the blocks so fast.

On another note that 17 year old Harry Aikines Ayreetey didnt look much off the pace, and he was competing with some of the world's top sprinters there. He looks a good prospect in future events.

Agreed there, was brill to watch