How fast (or slow) is the National Track in Jamaica?

[The Atheist]

I think I asked someone this on trackshark about a year ago, and nobody really attempted to answer.

For the sprints, how do you think this track compares to a track like Hayward in Eugene? What about compared to a fast track like Lausanne or Beijing?

Does anyone know anything about this track? There are a lot of Jamaicans on this board, so hopefully I can get some good info. Thanks!

[EPelle]

A starting point:

9,76 (+1,8) for Bolt in Kingston last year. 9,77 (+1,6) for Gay in Eugene last year. Three of the four-fastest legals recorded in Kingston have had +1,0 or more aiding. Four of four in Eugene have had +1,0 or more aiding them.

[The Atheist]

Does anyone know how many years old the track surface is? How high off the track the ball bearing bounces? Any of that stuff? When the IAAF does their track examinations, do they release the info the the public?


I mean, whenever I see the Jamaican National Stadium on youtube it looks kinda... you know... not so spiffy (not sure how to say it without sounding offensive), so I always assumed it was probably a really slow track, for sprinters, compared to some of the fancier European tracks. But obviously there have been some decent times run on it, so it can't be a terribly slow track.

Anyway, yea, so I'm just curious about info and opinions about that track, cuz it's something that is obviously worth knowing about, considering that the two fastest people in the history of the world run there year after year for their biggest national meet.

[EPelle]

Try here, the closest (to Kingston) of the 10 IAAF-approved laboratories for synthetic surface testing:

United States Sports Surfacing Laboratory
506 Cedar Lane
Hopewell, VA 23860 USA
Tel: (1 804) 541 7212
Fax: (1 804) 541 7207
Rep: Ms K Smith
[email protected]

[The Atheist]

Try here, the closest (to Kingston) of the 10 IAAF-approved laboratories for synthetic surface testing:

United States Sports Surfacing Laboratory
506 Cedar Lane
Hopewell, VA 23860 USA
Tel: (1 804) 541 7212
Fax: (1 804) 541 7207
Rep: Ms K Smith
[email protected]

ty

[toyracer]

Does anyone know how many years old the track surface is?

I believe I am correct in saying that the current surface was installed for the World Junior Championships in 2002. I was also told that the old surface was moved to G.C. Foster College.