Usain Bolt new 100m WR

[ddthetide]

Originally Posted by Riot

Let me ask you guys something because I don't know. Obviously track surface composition has changed over the years, it's some rubberized thing now to help prevent injuries - any contribution to speed?

a LOT! 30 years ago when the rubberized tracks started to be installed there were about 3-4 grades from soft to hard. soft was like the rubber basketball courts. the distance runners seem to like that alot because they floated over it. most big sprinters like me didn't like it because it bounced. differing degrees of softness went on for 10-15 years.

the atlanta olympics figured it out, "SPEED" sells! the sprinters like the hard track and distance guys hated. michael johnson crushes the 200m and 400m world record. it sold tickets and the tv ratings were through the roof, for track. firm to hard surfaces won out and the big international meets are all about getting athletes in to set world records.
the distance runners figured it out too, speeds not a bad thing.