Every few years, I hear about some new person who just broke the 100 meter record, from something like 10.01 seconds, to 9.89 seconds, to 9.77 seconds, to now 9.76 seconds. Is there a humanly possible limit to just how fast a human can run 100 meters, and could part of the record keeping be inaccurate due to the timing (of a hundredth of a second!)?

Rgranger01

I always contimplated the same things. For you first point, I've actually thought deeply, and I realize that their must be a limit. Eventually it must stop, because it is impossible for someone to clear 100m in a second, so somewhere along the line their is a limit to how fast someone can run. My guess is people will just keep adding digits to the end. 9.754 then 9.7537 and so on. For your second point, I run track and lately I've been forced to run the sprints as opposed to the longer distances. When I did the mile I never worried about it because generally you just go to the seconds place. 5:25 mile or so, but now that I'm running the 200m dash, it comes down at least for me a tenth spot. 24.4 is my best this year, but I've only done it once, and I question whether that time is totally accurate. Could it be the timer started his watch .3 or .4 seconds early? May 14 06, 1:53 AM

SOTHC

Who knows what humans are capable of especially those who resort to using enhancing additives in their blood stream. There will always be some chemist trying to produce the ultimate untraceable drug that will take those athletes prepared to put their lives at risk to new records. Maybe a concentrated senna pod fix 8 hours before the race would achive the same result as long as there is a portaloo at the finishing line. May 14 06, 2:49 AM