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Proposal to the IAAF - Scheduling the 100 200 400 for Usain Bolt

September 8, 2009 by Jimson Lee

If Usain Bolt runs the 400 meters in 2010 or 2011 as promised, and sets the WR in the process, he might consider running the 100, 200, 400 and 4×100m relay all in the same Olympics to achieve his 4 Gold medal dream.  He will achieve iconic status if he accomplishes this incredible feat.

To beat the Americans in the 4×400m will be very difficult, so scratch that thought for another gold medal.

I am also assuming a 9 meter or 30 foot Long Jump will be punishing to his body as his lean tall body makes him a perfect 400 meter sprinter, so scratch that thought too.

Unlike swimming and Michael Phelps, Track and Field doesn’t have 4 different ways of running, plus all the different relays.

100, 200, 400 meters in the Same Olympics

Here is my proposed schedule to the IAAF if Usain Bolt is serious enough to run all 3 individual sprints at the same Olympics.

We are looking at 11 races in 8 days excluding relays.

Bolt would have to “go for the win” and not try any WR attempts that would overload his body, unless he was super human, which he very well may be.

Also, there are only two rounds for the relays, and he could easily be substituted in the Semi-Finals with Jamaica’s recent depth in sprinting.

Take a look at my proposed schedule:

  • Sat - 100m Heats & QF
  • Sun - 100m SF & F
  • Mon - 400m QF
  • Tues - 400m SF
  • Wed - 200m Heats & QF
  • Thurs - 200m SF & F
  • Fri - 400m F, 4×100m SF
  • Sat - 4×100m relay F, 4×400m relay SF
  • Sun - 4×400m relay Finals

The key element in the above schedule is the number of entrants for the 400 meters.

The 400 meters Magic Number is… 81

Why 81?

If you have 80 or less declared athletes, then only 3 rounds are required.  With 81 athletes, 4 rounds are needed.  With a tough IAAF “A” standard, and fewer tourists compared to the 100m, only 3 rounds were required in Beijing.  Thus you have to run the opening Quarter-Finals hard or go home… just ask Tyler Christopher in Beijing.

Speaking of tourist athletes, in Men’s 100 meters at the Berlin WC, there were 20 performances slower than 11 seconds with nine personal bests ranging from 11.00 to 12.29 seconds.  These “extra” athletes guarantee a 4th round of races.

Here is how the numbers advance based on entries:

up to 80, QF –> 24 SF –> 8 F

over 81, R1 –> 40 QF  –> 16 SF –> 8 F

Note the quirkiness of the words “3 heat semi-final” or a “5 heat quarter-final”.

When Michael Johnson won the 200-400 double in Atlanta 1996, he ran the 400m with 4 rounds.

MJ and all quarter-milers should be thankful… the 400m used to have SF & Finals on the same day.  Even Beijing had a rest day (or two?) in between the Semi-Finals and Finals.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it.  If this becomes reality, it will be the most watched TV coverage with jam packed stadiums for 8 days!  At least I’ll be watching!

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Written by Jimson Lee · Filed Under Featured Story, Track and Field 

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