• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

The 100 meters – World’s First 10 Seconds Flat Race

You are here: Home / Track & Field / Olympic History / The 100 meters – World’s First 10 Seconds Flat Race
0
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

March 4, 2009 by Jimson Lee 1 Comment

Let’s face it. The average public only cares about 3 events in Track and Field.

The 100 meters, the Mile, and the Marathon. The biggest Mile milestone (no pun intended) will forever be known as the 4 minute mile.

In the Men’s 100 meters, that benchmark is 10 seconds flat. Period. Even today, unless the winner runs under 10 seconds, they feel disappointed.

Germany’s Armin Hary, the Gold medalist at the Rome Olympics, ran the first 100 meters in 10 seconds flat on June 21, 1960 in Zürich. He set a new World Record in the process that would become the standard in Track and Field.

Zurich was famous back then for fast times, personal bests, and World Records… and that was almost 50 years ago!

3 weeks later, Canada’s Harry Jerome also ran 10.0 (HT) in Saskatoon, Canada on July 15, 1960. Who says you can’t run fast times in Canada?

Bob Hayes also ran 10.0 Flat in Tokyo 1964.

The 10 second barrier wasn’t broken until Jim Hines ran a 9.9 WR in Sacramento, California, on June 20, 1968

Starting January 1, 1977, the IAAF required fully automatic timing to the hundredth of a second for events 400 meters or less.

I hate to rain on their parade, but 10.0 HT is really 10.24 FAT.

POP QUIZ: Who ran the first 20.0 second 200 meter race?

Here is the world’s first 10 Seconds Flat 100 meter Race on Youtube. Hary also ran a 21.06 200 meters later in the day.

Check the starter inside on Lane 1. When the smoke appears from the gun, Hary is already out of the blocks. His reflexes and acceleration are amazing even to this day.


See also  Training 400/800 Runners Via High School Cross Country

Category iconOlympic History,  Track & Field,  Videos Tag icon100 meters,  200 meters,  Mile,  Olympics,  speed

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. James Falero says

    May 20, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    I’ve done 10 seconds flat. Back when I first started running around 16 y.o.
    I’m 18 and I’ve put on a little weight but given some practice and exercise I bet I could do 100 meters in 9.98 seconds.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recommended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbs-aWxyLk

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman-Developing-Distance-Runnersv2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • IFAC 2022: The Return of In-Person Conferences (with Virtual option)
  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021
  • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 23]
  • Pressure in Sports – Reflections from Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Copyright © 2023. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy