10/25/23: The 100m Dash

The 100 meter Dash, is most likely the most popular event in Track and Field and an event that sums up what Track and Field is all about. Track and Field is a sport where the point of it is to push one's self to the limit and run faster and faster or jump higher and higher than the last person or yourself. The 100m is a perfect example of this because the whole point of the 100m is who can sprint the fastest over a short distance. Today, I will be looking back into the past to talk about two 100m greats from both the men's and women's side and then I will take a glimpse into the future and talk about 1 man and woman that has the potential to be great.

The first person I will talk about today is Yohan Blake, from Jamaica. Blake was a close second for a long time behind the world record holder in the 100m and 200m, someone I will later talk about, Usain Bolt. Blake has won two Olympic silver medals, and in both situations, he finished behind Bolt. Along with placing well in major championships, Blake was also running fast times with amazing consistency, four of Blake's performances are featured in the top 15 times of all time, a statistic that no one else but Bolt holds. Blake will go down as one of the greats in this event and going forward it will be tough to hold so many of the fastest times ever.

The next person I will talk about is Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica. Fraser-Pryce is by far the second fastest women’s 100m runner of all time. Throughout Fraser-Pryce's prime portion of her career, she ran some of the fastest times ever and won ten World titles and 3 Olympic titles. Fraser-Pryce has nine performances that rank within the top twenty, she is the only woman to hold this statistic. Fraser-Pryce's career has led to a lot of fast performances of her own and from other athletes, and without her, our sport would not be the same.

The next athlete I will mention is the fastest woman of all time, the American, Florence Griffith-Joyner. In Griffith-Joyner's career, she was an NCAA champion, three-time Olympic champion, and one-time World champion. Along with winning these titles in her only seven-year career, during three of those years she didn't even run the 100m. However the years she did run the 100m, she consistently was able to break 11 seconds in 52% of the races. She was also able to break the 100m and 200m world records, 10.49 in the 100m and 21.34 for the 200m, both records still stand today. Her two records will both be hard to break, but even when they are eventually broken, Florence Griffith-Joyner will remain the greatest of all time in the 100m.

Next, I will talk about Usain Bolt, the world record holder in the 100m, he ran 9.58 and in the 200m, he ran 19.19. Along with holding the world record in the 100m, Bolt has also won 8 Olympic titles and 11 World titles. Out of those titles, seven of them have been in this event, the 100m. His two records, and more specifically his 100m world record have stood for a while, more specifically 14 years, and it has gone practically untouched by anyone other than Bolt. Forever, Usain Bolt will be synonymous with speed and the 100m dash. Like anything, nothing lasts forever, and that applies to his records. His records will be eventually broken, but once they do Usain Bolt will not be forgotten.

The final two people I will talk about today are two Americans, Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson. Both athletes had a great track season this year as they both won their respective 100m finals at this year's World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Richardson, who was a college star at Louisiana State University,  is somewhat new to the sport as this was her first ever World Championships. In the time that she has been in the sport she has done amazing, hence her 100m title. Richardson's performances also rank well amongst the best times ever. Within the next couple of years, I expect Richardson to perform well, rack up more and more titles, and get closer to the world record.

On the men’s side, Noah Lyles has been on the scene since 2012, but he has just in the past few years gained more dominance, as he won the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay at this year's World Championships. Lyles in the past few years has gotten better in this event, as he was originally prominently a 200m runner. Both runners will be athletes to watch for in the coming years.