Will someone break five seconds in 100 metres?
Roar Guru 
Jamaica's Usain Bolt starts a Men's 200m first round heat during the World Athletics Championships in Berlin on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009. AP Photo/David J. Phillip
According to a team of biomechanics, physiologists and sports scientists at the University of Wyoming, the answer is yes – a 4.8 100 metre time is within the realms of possibility.
Previously, accepted wisdom maintained that sprinting speed was controlled by the capability of the legs to sustain a limited amount of force as they strike the running surface, but now science is thinking that it comes down to concentric muscle contraction, an effect which occurs when a muscle shortens.
In the opinion of the researchers, this ability could be developed to such a degree that Usain Bolt’s record-breaking speed of around 27 mph could be increased by a future sprinter to something closer to 40 mph.
As a rugby fan, my first thought is what happens when a future Joe Rokocoko, traveling at 40 mph, gets hit by a covering player, say a future Rob Horne, who’s also traveling at 40 mph?
Rugby teams are going to need bigger squads!
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
The Crowd Says (6) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- 100m sprint, Athletics, Usain Bolt
May 29th 2010 @ 12:54am
Forgetmenot said | May 29th 2010 @ 12:54am | Report comment
Surely that would not include the reaction time though???
That time could only surely be performed the perfect human though as well.
May 29th 2010 @ 5:09am
Jecker said | May 29th 2010 @ 5:09am | Report comment
You’re right Forgetmenot – that 4.8 figure doesn’t include a spring from the blocks or the first 30 metres in which a sprinter gets up to speed and so it’s not to be taken as a literal possibility. But the scientists feel that a runner attaining 40 mph at the fastest point of the sprint is a definite possibility, so a time of around 7 seconds for the 100 is achievable according to their latest research. That’s a lot slower than 4.8 but still amazingly swift.
May 29th 2010 @ 10:01am
Sparky said | May 29th 2010 @ 10:01am | Report comment
The Other thing to consider is after a 100m runner hits their top speed usually between the 30 and 40 metre marks they spend the rest of the race slowing down. Usain Bolt’s success is really due to his ability to not slow down as much as everyone else as his starts usually aren’t brilliant.
May 29th 2010 @ 10:27am
Henry Arkwright said | May 29th 2010 @ 10:27am | Report comment
I think the top sprinters have just about reacdhed the limit of the human body without the aid of drugs. The 10 second barrier was broken back in the 1960′s, and in the 40 years since then the fastest recorded time by Usain Bolt is only .4 of a second faster.
May 29th 2010 @ 11:18am
mattamkII said | May 29th 2010 @ 11:18am | Report comment
“without the aid of drugs”
You’re kidding right?
May 29th 2010 @ 3:16pm
Linford said | May 29th 2010 @ 3:16pm | Report comment
Spark,
i think you’ll find most of the top sprinters maintain their speeds from around 60m – Bolt might still be winding up at this stage, hence his 200m time.
Non sprinters hit top speed at 30m and then slow down. Get yourself assessed and you’ll see.