Two Rounds Down, Two to Go: The Olympic Men’s 100m

- Derek M. Hansen -

After watching the heats and quarter-finals of the 2008 Olympic men’s 100 meters, I would say that the field is quickly sorting itself out. Despite my earlier assessment that Asafa Powell looked like the best candidate coming into the contest, Usain Bolt has shown that he is ready to aggressively challenge for the gold medal. As for other contenders, it does not look like they will mount any reasonable challenge to either of the Jamaican sprinters. For both Powell and Bolt, the first two heats were simply a matter of running half the race and then turning on the cruise control (if not the anti-lock brakes).

Tyson Gay easily won his opening heat, but looked very vulnerable in his quarter-final heat, placing second to Richard Thompson of Trinidad. Is his hamstring a factor? Is it simply the lack of training and racing over the past month? Either way, he does not appear to be a strong contender, unless he is doing a stellar job of playing possum. The race of the top three contenders looks as though it is narrowing to two.

Provided below are my thoughts after reviewing each of the individual races in the quarter finals:

Heat One – Martina Churandy from the Netherlands Antilles, who I’ve never even heard of before, ran a person best time of 9.99 seconds to win his heat, with Michael Frater in a reasonably close second. Churandy had a good start, establishing his lead on Frater in the first 10 meters of the race. Frater did close the gap slightly but still had to work hard for the entire 100m. One of these athletes may be a factor in the final if they can hold their form.

Heat Two – The second quarter final was interesting in that we got to see if Tyson Gay could step it up and show us that he is ready to compete for the gold. Richard Thompson ended up winning the heat in a time of 9.99, just over his personal best of 9.93. Thompson looked horrible out of the blocks with an acceleration technique that would make Donovan Bailey look like an expert out of the blocks. However, he did pick it up well at 30m accelerating smoothly to 60m and holding form. Tyson Gay looked unspectacular in posting a 10.09 time. You could say he even looked cautious, with no significant surges in the race that you might expect from the 2007 World Champion. Perhaps he is taking it very easy in these stages, being content to simply qualify and fight another day. From what I saw in both the heats and the quarters, I would say he is a very outside chance to medal and may have to work very hard in the semi-finals to secure a good lane in the final.

Heat Three – Marc Burns (10.05), Kim Collins (10.07) and Tyrone Edgar (10.10) all ran relatively hard races to qualify. Burns from Trinidad won the heat, but had to come from behind. Collins got out well, but doesn’t appear have comparable top end speed of the leading contenders. Burns and Collins may have enough to qualify for the final, but it will be tough for them.

Heat Four – Usain Bolt had a pedestrian start, but starting rolling at 35m and ate up the field through the middle portion of the race clocking a tremendously casual 9.92. Then he casually shut off the jets and rolled in for the last 45 meters. Even when he turned down the intensity, it still seemed his legs were eating up the track. At this point, Bolt is looking like the easiest qualifier, but there is still much running to be done. As has been predicted by many, how well he gets out at the start may determine where he finishes relative to Asafa Powell. Darvis Patton and Francis Obikwelu qualified but ran hard right through the tape to record times of 10.04 and 10.09 respectively.

Heat Five – Asafa Powell had a tremendous start once again, accelerated to 60 meters and then shut down to coast in for the win at 10.02. Relative to the field, Powell looked powerful and won easily. However, in my mind, he still looks less smooth than I’ve seen in previous years. I would say that there is still a question mark as to whether or not Powell is ready to beat Bolt. Much will depend on Powell’s start and Bolt’s ability to relax and be patient until the last half of the race to challenge Powell. There are also rumours that Powell may have a slightly strained abdominal muscle. It didn’t seem to affect his quarter final performance, but if he is required to run in the 9.80 second range or better, it may play a significant role. Walter Dix, who finished second in 10.08, worked hard the whole 100 meters despite looking over at a jogging Powell at the finish line. Third place finisher, Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas, also worked hard to finish in 10.14 seconds.

Semi-Finals: The True Test

I, like many others, are looking to the semi-finals to separate the men from the boys. If Tyson Gay is ready to challenge, it will be made apparent in this round. I suspect that it will be a very tough go for all but Powell and Bolt in an effort to qualify for the final. Between Powell and Bolt, it is tough to say who is the favorite for the gold. Bolt looks very strong from 30 meters onward. However, Powell can put some distance on Bolt at the start if things go Asafa’s way. Qualifying for the finals must be done as efficiently as possible, with only 2 hours and 20 minutes between the semis and the finals. I should also note that my sentimental pick to qualify for the final would be Kim Collins.

Questions Heading into the 2008 Olympic Men’s 100m Showdown

- Derek M. Hansen –

The 2008 Olympic men’s 100m appears to be one of the most highly anticipated Olympic races since Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis lined up back in September of 1988 in Seoul, Korea. But unlike the duel between Big Ben and King Carl, there are three contenders making a claim for the title of Olympic 100m Champion and Fastest Man in the World: Former world record holder Asafa Powell, current record holder and fellow Jamaican, Usain Bolt, and the 2007 World Champion and American record holder, Tyson Gay. However, many questions still remain as the showdown gets closer.

Can Asafa Powell put it together at the big show?

Despite being the World Record holder in the 100m from June 2005 to May 2008, Asafa Powell has fallen short at the big competitions including the 2004 Olympics (fifth place), 2005 World Championships (did not participate due to groin injury) and the 2007 World Championships (3rd place). Excuses have ranged from not knowing how to run the rounds properly to not having enough races leading up to the big event. And then, in 2008, he sustained a significant injury to his chest muscle during a bench press workout, leaving him without critical competitions and training between April and June.

Asafa has also had to deal with the ups and downs associated with the Jamaican 4×100m relay as of late. It appears that the Jamaican team coaches want him and other athletes to perform relay workouts with no regard for their 100m preparation. Asafa’s personal coach, Stephen Francis, was unimpressed by the Jamaican federation’s plans for the relay sessions and stated, “We don’t believe this is the ideal preparation. We believe the people who are doing this preparation have no clue about what they are doing. They want the athletes to go with a bunch of high school coaches.” Needless to say, it is just more stress for the former world recorder holder leading up to the biggest competition of his career. Although such an injury was thought to have put his 2008 medal chances in jeopardy, he has managed to piece his season back together again with a 9.82 second 100m in Monaco on July 29, 2008 with a 0.0 m/s wind reading.

Does Asafa Powell have the right combination of experience, desire and weight of his shoulders to win gold with Usain Bolt being touted as the favorite? Given Tyson Gay’s injury setback and Usain Bolt’s inexperience, one would have to say that Powell does have a good chance to rise to victory. Much will depend on how Powell handles the rounds leading up to the final, expending the least amount of energy, while building confidence over the field.

Will Usain Bolt be able to demonstrate his World Record form after 3 rounds of the 100m?

Usain Bolt has proven that he has the ability to do incredible things in single races as of late, compiling two sub-9.80 times in the same month (9.76 on May 3, 2008 and 9.72 on May 31, 2008). He has also run some impressive 200m times, running an easy 19.67 on July 13, 2008. Although he has also won a silver medal in the 200m at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, it remains to be seen if Bolt can put together four consecutive rounds of 100m runs to win at a major championship event. Some would argue that Bolt’s speed endurance from his 200m training will take him through the 100m rounds, while others would make the point that running at 10 to 11 m/s in a 200m versus 11 to 12 m/s in the 100m can take it’s toll on the muscles and nervous system.

Bolt will have to use the rounds to “tune” himself up and feel out the competition. Coming in as the World Record holder and having soundly trounced Tyson Gay in that race, he has nothing to prove in the rounds and should have a good deal of confidence, despite his young age. He simply has to qualify safely and make it to the final in one piece. Assuming he has a sound start, he should be easily in the running for the gold medal. However, the pressure of a 100m Olympic final – with stiff competition – can play havoc on anyone’s mind.

Will Tyson Gay’s hamstring be strong enough to last the rounds and compete with the big boys?

After the US Olympic Trials 100m in Eugene, Oregon, Tyson Gay was looking like a serious contender for the 100m gold with his wind aided 9.68 second run and his 9.77 second legal time in the quarter-finals. However, his hamstring pull in the 200m qualifying heats on July 5th set him back significantly with only five weeks until the Olympics. Would he be ready to contend for the 100m final in Beijing? No one knew the extent of the injury. And, his rehabilitation and recovery has been kept relatively secretive, with his handlers issuing the requisite, “He will be ready for Beijing.”

There has been speculation that Gay’s rehabilitation was being carried out in Munich by Dr. Muller Wolfhardt who has been known for treating the injuries of many high profile soccer and track and field stars for the last ten years. Sources have commented that some of Wolfhardt’s work has been something short of a miracle, with hamstring tears being healed in less than a week. If Wolfhardt has managed to work his magic on Gay, perhaps the American sprinter will be ready to challenge for the gold.

Having seen the severity of Gay’s fall in the trials 200m, one does have to wonder if the psychological toll of the injury will have had a bigger impact on the sprinter’s state of mind than the physical scars. Testing out the hamstring in training runs is much different than firing all cylinders against Powell and Bolt. Even Ben Johnson, after his severe hamstring injury in May of 1988, had a number of races leading up to Seoul to test his legs against top contenders. One has to wonder if Gay will be able to ramp up his speed without worrying about the hamstring, particularly in the semi-finals and finals.

Are there any other contenders that we should keep an eye out for?

It is unlikely that someone else is well positioned to steal the gold from any of the big three. Walter Dix and Darvis Patton of the United States did run some fast wind-aided times in Eugene, but have not shown the ability to overtake a healthy Powell, Bolt or Gay. As for any other sprinters that could present a challenge, names like Richard Thompson and Marc Burns of Trinidad come to mind having run 9.93 seconds and 9.97 seconds in 2008, respectively. Unless something unforseen happens, like a disqualification or injury, it seems that Powell, Bolt and Gay are the heavy favourites. However, we might see another athlete dip in for a bronze, or even a silver, if one or two of the favorites feels the gold is slipping away through the final.

Will a Canadian sprinter be a factor?

No.

Will drug testing be a factor in determining the ultimate winner?

This is a difficult question. With many of the sub-9.80 club having tested positive (Ben Johnson and Justin Gatlin), admitted to doping (Tim Montgomery) or fallen under heavy suspicion (Maurice Greene), it is difficult to believe that more than just good coaching and genetics are at play with the current level of speedsters. It also depends on the IOC and WADA’s doping protocols and if, as they often boast, there testing procedures are more sensitive and updated. They obviously have not perfected their Human Growth Hormone test and athletes have figured this out (except the two Greek sprinters who fell off their motorcycle in 2004). As of late, there have been many doping positives that have come to our attention out of both Russia and Jamaica. But no major track athlete has tested positive at the Olympics since Ben Johnson (and it has been rumored for decades that his sample was sabotaged). One hopes that the cheaters will be caught and the truly “clean” athletes will prevail. But where does the cheating end and the cleanliness begin – at 7th place, 8th place or 20th place?

Chemistry aside, it will still be an exciting event to watch with all of the drama surrounding the major players. My bets are on Powell, with Bolt in a close second. I just cannot believe that Gay can come from what looked like a significant hamstring injury to beating two extremely competent sprinters, let alone secure the bronze medal, with no prior test race. The preliminary rounds will be very telling. I look forward to watching every race.

Perfecting the 40 Yard Dash – How Important Is It?

It’s that time of the year again. Football combine mania. Athletes from all over North America are prepping for and participating in combine tests that will determine their football future. Everything from the 40 yard dash, to 225lb bench press reps, to standing broad jump and vertical jump will be tested. And, the scouts will also be looking at how these athletes perform in football-related drills whether they involve one-on-one drills or pattern running.

I’ve had more requests than ever before to work with football players preparing for their pro-days and combines. Most of the time I only get one or two days to work with an athlete. Using my RunningMechanics.com philosophy of making athletes more technically efficient pays big dividends when you have very little time to effect improvements in the 40 yard dash. And, many times the improvements I elicit for the 40-yard dash also carry over to their pro-agility drill (three cone drill) and their one-on-one drills.

But will the results from these combines determine an athlete’s suitability for the pro ranks of football? We’ve all heard of the combine-studs who make no impact at the pro level. So should we pay as much attention to these tests – particularly the 40 yard dash – as we currently do? I’m here to tell you why these tests do play an important role in athlete identification and selection.

Reason 1 – Equal Comparison of Athletic Ability

Football is played against varied competition, on different surfaces, in different weather and with teammates who are good and not so good. So, statistics and game film can show us specific football abilities, but how do we really know if the athlete can perform at the same level against smarter, faster and bigger competition. In the case of the 40 yard dash, we can get a good representation of their acceleration and overall speed in a matter of 4 or 5 seconds. Does this speed translate into game specific speed? In many cases, it gives us enough information (i.e. in the ballpark) to tell us if an athlete can evade or catch the competition. Running speed is also a good overall indicator of athletic ability as it strongly correlates well with strength and power potential.

Reason 2 – Performing Under Pressure

Combine tests such as the 40 yard dash put the athletes on the spot and demonstrate whether or not an individual can perform under pressure, with hundreds of scouts with stopwatches looking on. A test is a test, and athlete poise and concentration are under evaluation with any test. If an athlete cannot handle the pressure while under the microscope, this weakness will surely be revealed in any performance evaluation.

Reason 3 – Preparation and Commitment

A 40 yard dash result is a good indicator of an athletes commitment to preparation for the professional ranks. Many athletes believe they have what it takes to make the pros, and further work in other areas is not needed. “Why do I need to train for my 40-yard dash? My peformance on the field speaks for itself!” The last thing a pro scout wants to see is a high prospect show up for his combine tests overweight and running slow, regardless of his on-field reputation. It can be a sign of things go come in terms of the player’s attitude and commitment.

Reason 4 – Untapped Potential: Opportunity to Move Up

A good combine test result – particularly if it comes unexpected – is always well received by scouts. As we know, football scouts do place some degree of weight on the combine tests, otherwise we wouldn’t we be going through all of this mess. A good result can allow an athlete to move up in the draft and can even result in a greater financial payoff when it comes to signing. And, as we have seen, poor combine results can adversely affect draft-ability. There is something to say for showing scouts that a player has a huge upside. If an athlete can show that he has improved his athletic ability for the combine, what’s to say that he can’t improve other aspects of his game? Progress breeds progress.

Reason 5 – Seeing an Athlete Performing In-Person

Scouts are often limited to watching game film, looking at statistics or relying on word-of-mouth recommendations to make an assessment on a player. There are very few opportunities to see an athlete perform in person. The combines or pro-days provide a final opportunity for scouts and coaches to see an athlete perform in front of them. In talking with a few coaches they could not over-emphasize the importance of this opportunity for in-person assessment. One coach said he even watched how the athletes carried themselves between tests, how they set up for their starts in the 40-yard dash and how they warmed up. It could be the difference between drafting an athlete in the first-round over the second- or third-round. This is why I make it a point to communicate to the athlete how important it is to have good mechanics for all of their tests. Coaches notice when an athlete looks smooth, efficient, effortless and confident. It is always better to run a fast time while looking good, rather than looking like your head is going to pop off!

Conclusion

If you still don’t believe that the 40-yard dash and other combine tests are important for football talent identification, then it’s doubtful that I will ever convince you of their merit. However, if you are a football athlete hoping to make it to the next level, the above points should be duly noted and you should take whatever action required to prepare you for the full range of combine tests. Obviously, some tests will be more important than others (i.e. 40-yard dash vs. 225lb bench reps for a receiver) and you can invest your time and effort accordingly. Testing, in all fields and arenas, is a fact of life. You can ignore this fact, or do what you can to best represent yourself when the time comes. I’m sure I’ll be getting more and more calls for 40-yard dash preparation every year.

dmh