June 1, 2008

Jamaica's Usain Bolt set a world record of 9.72 seconds for the 100 meters in the Reebok grand prix meet last night (which just happened to be my birthday) at the Icahn Stadium in New York. The 21-year-old Bolt – a superb name for a sprinter -- lowered the previous best held by fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell.

The 100 meters is the glamour track and field event crowning the world record holder with the title, “the world’s fastest human”.   While attending track meets as a kid with my father and through my experience of actually running track in college at USC, I’ve seen some great sprinters.  Dad and I were in the stands in Modesto, California in 1968 when Charlie Greene and Jim Hines ran the first sub-10 second 100 meters hitting the tape at 9.9.  Eight years later, back in Modesto my former teammate Don Quarrie (another Jamaican) matched that mark.  More recently there have been spectacular races from the likes of Maurice Greene, Donovan Bailey, Tyson Gay, Leroy Burrell, Justin Gatlin and the incomparable Carl Lewis, to name a few.

But 9.72?  That’s flat out flying!! And to think that Bolt is a tall, strong sprinter in the mold of 1968 Mexico City Olympics gold medalist Tommie Smith.  Which means the world 200 meters record is at risk as well.  

Can’t wait for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  Lightning might strike again.

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