Track and Field's Most Enduring World Records
I remember the surreal visual image of Bob Beamon's incredible long jump at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. He seemed to soar foreverāthen finally touched down in what remained of the pit, hop-hop-hopping off the remnants of his adrenaline overload.
When the unbelievable measurement was eventually posted, Beamon collapsed in an emotional heap on the track. He had shattered the existing world record (27-4.75) by nearly two feet!
As the initial shock began to wear off, I joined the rest of the world in thinking, "That record will NEVER be broken!"
Fortunately for future athletes, and for the world of sport, not everyone bought into that thinking.
It did take 23 years and a constant pounding by the likes of Robert Emmiyan, Larry Myrics, and Carl Lewis, but eventually, Mike Powell did accomplish the impossible, soaring 29-5.5.
History tells us also that Jesse Owens' world record long jump endured for 25 years.
So please excuse me if I haven't endorsed the notion that Usain Bolt is the ultimate athlete of all time.
Records were indeed made to be broken.
In that vein, I became interested in digging out some current world records in track and fieldārecords with some longevityāto see just how they're holding up against the years of challenge and assault.
I chose to focus on world records which have remained intact for at least 20 years, thinking a generation of progress in technology, equipment, and training should provide a minimum test of time.
Here is what I discoveredāwith some opinionated comments where they apply:
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Women's Indoor
3/07/82Ā Ā 400m Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 49.59 Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jamila Kratochvilova Ā Ā Ā Ā Czech.
American Debbie Dunn ran an impressive 50.86 world-best this year. If she gets the benefit of a strong field at the World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar, a sub 50 is possible. However, the 400 is a tough race indoors, and it's no accident this record has stood for 28 years.
2/09/90Ā Ā Ā MileĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 4:17.14Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Doina MelinteĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Romania
Top challengers American Jenny Barringer and Gelete Burka of Ethiopia are in the 4:24 range. This record is safe.
2/13/88Ā Ā Ā Long JumpĀ Ā Ā Ā 7.37/24-2.25Ā Ā Ā Heike DrechslerĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā E. Germany
The great Drechsler was a leaper. No one in the world today is jumping beyond 6.9 meters indoors.
2/19/77Ā Ā Ā Ā Shot putĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 22.50/73-10Ā Ā Ā Ā Helena FibingerovaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Czech.
That's out there!Ā Nadezhda Ostapchuk of Belarus has been launching monstrous missiles over 21 meters which seem weak by comparison. New Zealand's Valerie Vili is doing no betterāeven outdoors. This is an impressive 33-year-old indoor record!
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Men's Indoor
3/04/89Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā High JumpĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā 2.43/7-11.5Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Javier SotomayorĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Cuba
Russian Ivan Ukhov's current world-best is only six centimeters shy, but in the high jump a silly centimeter can be like psychological razor wire. The best Americans are in the 2.35 range.
1/27/84Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Long JumpĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā 8.79/28-10.25Ā Ā Ā Carl LewisĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā USA
The best indoor jump this year is 27-0.5 by Frenchman Salim Sdiri. If only World Outdoor Champion Dwight Phillips (28-8.25) would compete indoors, this remarkable record might finally fall. If only...
1/20/89Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Shot putĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 22.66/74-4.25Ā Ā Ā Randy BarnesĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā USA
American Christian Cantwell is the top putter in the world right now, consistently hitting the 72-foot mark. One can only hope another matchup with Poland's Tomasz Majewski develops at the Worlds in Doha. The two have a competitive chemistry which often results in personal or meet records. The world record is still safe though...for now.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Women's Outdoor
7/16/88Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 100 metersĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 10.49Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Florence Griffith Joyner, USA
9/29/88Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 200 metersĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 21.34Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Florence Griffith Joyner, USA
Regrettably, Flo-Jo's 100 meter mark carries too much baggage (Wind aided? Chemical enhancement?). As long as that amazing time is recognized, no one will touch it for years. Her next-best time (10.61) would still be a record, but is at least reachable. American Carmelita Jeter's excellent 10.64 from 2009 shows she is ready to claim history's second-fastest time.
Demonstrating a resurgence of American women's sprints, Allyson Felix was the lone sub-22 runner in 2009 (21.88). Flo-Jo's world record still looms half-a-second distantāa huge gap. Perhaps the talented Sanya Richards (22.29) might occasionally step down from her 400m specialty to push Felix?
10/06/85Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 400 metersĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 47.60Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Marita KochĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā E. Germany
Speaking of Richards, she fairly dominates the 400 these days, and the American record-holder (48.70) is on a roll. Before she can think of Koch's world mark, she must break through the 48-second barrier. I really think a new world record by Richards is an eventuality. Perhaps Felix (49.83) can move up from 200m to push Sanya? Think of them as a track and field tag team.
7/26/83Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 800 metersĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 1:53.28Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jamila KratochvilovaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Czech.
There is only one person on the planet right now who has a chance at this record and that person is languishing in a political prison of confusing medical questions in South Africa. Caster Semenya, who at 18 won the 2009 World Championships in 1:55.45, is still waiting for the IAAF to rule whether she can compete as a woman. She has not raced since.
8/20/88Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 100 HurdlesĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 12.21Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Yordanka DonkovaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Bulgaria
This record seems vulnerable with five ladies currently running under 12.50. Top threats are Jamaica's Brigette Foster-Hylton, Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep and Americans Lolo Jones and Dawn Harper.
8/30/87Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā High JumpĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 2.09/6-10.25Ā Ā Ā Stefka KostadinovaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Bulgaria
That silly centimeter again. That's all that seperates Croatia's Blanka Vlasic (2.08) from a piece of the record. We will see a new record soon. Apart from Vlasic, only Germany's Ariane Friedrich (2.06) is within range.
6/11/88Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Long JumpĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 7.52/24-8.25Ā Ā Ā Galina ChistyakovaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Sov. Union
Jackie Joyner-Kersee came oh, so close in 1994 (7.49/24-7). American Brittney Reese is the only current jumper with a wisp of a chance. Still, her best (7.10/23-3.5) is well back.
9/24/88Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā HeptathlonĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 7291 pointsĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Jackie Joyner-Kersee Ā Ā Ā USA
Speaking of Joyner-Kersee, this record is safe for awhile. The little fireball from Great Britain, Jessica Ennis (6731), is fun to watch but has some work to do to even get close.
6/07/87Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Shot PutĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 22.63/74-3Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Natalya LisovskayaĀ Ā Ā Sov. Union
7/09/88Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā DiscusĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 76.80/252-0Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Gabriele ReinschĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā E. Germany
The best efforts of New Zealand's Valerie Vili in the shot, and Cuba's Yarelis Barrios in the discus trail far behind these ancient eastern bloc records.
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5/20/90Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Shot PutĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 23.12/75-10.25Ā Ā Randy BarnesĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā USA
Again, it seems Cantwell and possibly Majewski are the only remote challengers to Barnes' incredible throw. American Adam Nelson is moving up.
6/06/86Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā DiscusĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 74.08/243-0Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jurgen SchultĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā E. Germany
Estonia's Gerd Kanter (71.64/235-0) is probably hungry to redeem himself after a poor showing in the 2009 Worlds. This 24-year-old record could come down soon.
8/30/86Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā HammerĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 86.74/284-7Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Yuiry SyedikhĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Sov. Union
When Slovenia's Primoz Kosmus (love that name) suddenly retired, he left the world's best remaining challengers five meters short. The record will stand for now.
As Beamon demonstrated in Mexico City, (and Owens and Bolt in Berlin), sometimes the conditions are right, the stars are aligned, and the athlete is in the zone.
Magic ensues.
It's human nature to at first think history either began or ended at that moment.
Then, in time, we eventually realize it's also human nature to move on...until that next magic moment.
source: Track and Field News
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