Are We Getting Faster? World Championship Performance Trends

Last Updated on April 6, 2013 by Jimson Lee

Daegu 2011 is now a distant memory, but there was one interesting souvenir, and that is the IAAF Stats Handbook for Daegu 2011.

It’s a huge download, 186 pages and 8Mb in size, and you can download it from the Daegu 2011 IAAF Website.

What was interesting was the section on performance trends.

As far as the sport as a whole goes, I usually “ignore” the winning time as it could be a freak win, or unusual weather conditions, but what is important is the other athletes in the field and how they rank. After all, this is how they base qualifying standards for the next championships.

For example, what was the slowest time in the Final, assuming they don’t pull a Derek Redmond in 1992?

What was the fastest time in a semi-final WITHOUT making the finals? (i.e. a DNQ or Did Not Qualify)

Or fastest time in quarter-finals WITHOUT making the semi-finals?

This is valuable information as you may have a top 32 ranked athlete (or top 100), and wonder how far he or she will go at the Championships.

Differences to Consider

Note in the charts below that starting 2011, there are only 3 rounds for the 100 and 200 meters, instead of 4.

You’ll also notice starting in 2001, there are only 3 rounds (not 4) for the 400 meters, making 1999 the last time there was 4 rounds. It also makes it harder to double up in an event like a 200/400 resulting in 8 races in 6 days.

Let’s look at some sample times.

READ Time Trials in Training: Run Alone or in a Group?

For example, in 2003, a 10.28 100 meters wouldn’t get you out of the heats!!! A 10.14 wouldn’t get you out of the quarter finals!

In 2009, 10.04 is the fastest loser in the semi-final that didn’t advance to the finals! And you wonder why the semi-finals are more nerve racking to watch, at least for the coaches!

For the 400m, in 2007, a 45.44 in the first round would send you home!

The message? For most of you in the early rounds, it’s go hard or go home.

Most WC appearances

Longevity in the sport is rare, and there is a section that displays the ranking of most WC appearances with a minimum of 5. Geez, I’ll be lucky just to get there once as an athlete.

Only 3 men have made it NINE times, and 2 women made it TEN times!

I am proud that my fellow Canadian racewalker Tim Berrett has attended the Championships NINE times along with another racewalker. (from 1991 to 2007)

Can you guess the third person? (answer shown below the charts)

Would you believe it’s a 400m, 400mH and 4x400m relay athlete? That is an incredible feat of longevity.