The World Record is 30.85A (altitude) set by Michael Johnson. LaShawn Merritt also ran 31.30 in 2009 which is the current “sea-level world record”.
Based on his last 2 races, his Daegu 9.86 100 meter and Shanghai 19.76 200m, do you think he can break the World Record? There was some discussion on How Fast Can Usain Bolt Run the 300 meters?
His Diamond League 200m debut looked pretty easy, but can he run the same way and hang on to run another 100 meters in 10 flat? That would make it 30.76.
Bolt claims to have run a 31.0 hand time in practice.
In his opening 400m back in February, he splits 200m in 21.1 and 32.6 at 300m. His last 100m was run in 13.0.
The closest threat is Gary Kikaya with a personal best of 31.95 set in 2005. Other than that, it’s simply another time trial for Usain Bolt.
The 300 meter Start Line Stagger
The big question is the lane draw. The outer lanes start on a straight line. The inside lanes have the initial curve to negotiate. When Michael Johnson set the WR, he requested lane 6 to take advantage of this fact.
Here is an awesome photo that shows the 300 meter stagger.
PHOTO CAPTION: 300 meter low hurdles during the CIF-SS Track and Field Finals at Cerritos College on Saturday, May 22, 2010 in Cerritos PHOTO CREDITS: Keith Birmingham SOURCE: mycapture.com
Usain Bolt 300 meter Ostrava World Record? Sorry, 30.97
UPDATE: Check back on this site in a few hours for the latest Video of Usain Bolt’s 30.97 300 meter performance in Ostrava, an official sea level world best.
You mean 11 flat Mr Lee. :D, which seems well within Bolt’s abilities
@Nathaniel – yes, thanks for the correction. Though a sub 30 might be possible?
Well he just ran a 30.97. That’s excellent given the weather conditions!!! I bet you Micheal Johnson is jumping for joy for the fact that he still has his 300 best, lol
Very good time for the great Usain Bolt in his first 300m official.
The time is incredible, 30.97 with rain and wet track.
In adittion the time 30.85 of Michael Johnson is in altitude(almost 1300 meters) and probably with very good weather.
FANTASTIC FOR USAIN BOLT
What a fantastic athlete, competitor, and performer. Usain Bolt is the type of athlete who graces the sports world once every 50 years. I am quite certain that Bolt would have eclipsed Michael Johnson’s 30.85 seconds world record if there had been dry conditions. Even so, Bolt’s effort qualfies as the “low altitude” standard. By my calculations, the extremely high altitude abetted Johnson to the tune of .3 seconds. Bolt never ceases to amaze me, the way that inclement weather has little effect on his performances. One quick observation, the video listed Bolt’s 100 meter split as 9.07 seconds! I know he is a whirlwind. But, I don’t think he is capable of a 9.07 seconds 100 meter split from a standing start in the rain.
I think the 9.07 split was the 200m waterfall line, or 200m strat line for Lane 1.