runninboy said:Nope pretty precise science actually,
you see there is a passing zone then the 100 meters starts. The time starts when you enter the actual 100 meter zone.
As far as speed obtained prior is a moot point because as anyone who follows sprints closely world class sprinters reach a top speed somewhere around 50 meters out and can only hold it briefly until gradual deceleration sets in. While Bolt look like he was accelerating at the end of his Olympic final he was actually just decelerating the least of the field.
There is some speculation amongst coaches and others that it might be better to reach less than your maximum speed and hold it for a greater distance. But in the real world the winner seems to usually be those that reach the fastest speed.
If you want to see the video here is a link
http://speedendurance.com/2009/03/25/bob-hayes-1964-olympic-4x100m-relay-in-hd-video/
He was famous for only running fast enough to win, he was 4 meters back when he got the baton and finished 4 meters clear of second place.
He ran a 9.91 auto timed 100 meters in the semi in tokyo but a a 5.3 meter per second aiding wind which only 2.0 mps is allowed for record purposes. However no one ever ran a faster time at the Olympics in more than 32 years(excluding doped Ben Johnson)
again on a cinder track.
Ok, but why then is the 200m faster. If they reach their fastest speed at 50m and then deccelerate, wouldnt they in the 200m be decelerating for 150m instead of 50m?