Carl Lewis long jump comments

[JumboElliott]

The best athletes aren't always the best commentators. Also, Carl has an ego usually reserved for athletes playing ball sports.

That being said, the biggest contributors to the decline of the long jump in recent years has been the retirement of Dwight Phillips and the lack of a consistent American successor.

[user4]

Not correct. It is first movement and measured electronically.

It is measured on a timing pad. That means that if you can react and push off the ground while keeping your hand in contact with the pad you can get a .05 advantage over your competitor.

It is just not a useful way to compare two fast guys. You have to race them. Im not saying Chris Johnson isnt the fastest guy in the NFL, Im just saying that I dont have much confidence that his .05 advantage over this years 4.31 is due to his ability to keep his hand on the pad a split second longer or if it is due to him really being faster.

You have to race them head to head.

[NotDutra5]

Ok, I went and read a bit. Apparently the NFL is still using hand timed starts. So the "first movement" is done by eyeball. That is too loose a measure to make much of the .05 difference between 4.25 and 4.30.

Not correct. It is first movement and measured electronically.

For the past five combines, results were also created by fully automated timing (FAT), with the clock starting electronically when a runner lifts his hand and ends when he crosses the beam.

[user4]

OK, so that is more reason not put much credence in a .05 difference.

You have to race them head to head.

[Atticus]

The timing is S(emi-)AT. The clock starts when the runner lifts his hand off the timing pad and stops when an electric beam is broken. My understanding is that if he dips his head, the beam is broken by the top of his head, faster than Track's torso requirement.

[user4]

As far as I know timing is from first movement and everything else is the same as FAT.

Ok, I went and read a bit. Apparently the NFL is still using hand timed starts. So the "first movement" is done by eyeball. That is too loose a measure to make much of the .05 difference between 4.25 and 4.30.

[jazzcyclist]

What's even more baffling about Powell is his stellar record in relays, regardless of whether he's gotten the baton behind, ahead of or even with the competition.

[steve]

But there wouldn't be at the Combine.

I know that. I was just expressing my frustration at how someone so talented, and of whom I'm a fan, can consistently perform below his ability. I've always felt, based on physical talent alone, that he should have multiple major titles and should be Bolt's biggest challenger. Sometimes he runs like he has a governor on his engine.

[jazzcyclist]

As far as I know timing is from first movement and everything else is the same as FAT.

You are correct.

[NotDutra5]

As far as I know timing is from first movement and everything else is the same as FAT.

[user4]

Im starting to wonder about the difference between a 4.2 and a 4.3. How much of it is simply the ability to keep their fingers on the pad for a split second longer.

Im just not convinced that every 4.2 is the same as every other and that all 4.2s are faster than 4.3.

That video method of overlaying 2 athletes running the 40 would be useful.

This is where the FAT measurement could provide some clarity.

[jazzcyclist]

Not if someone's running next to him.

But there wouldn't be at the Combine.

[etuoyo]

Except when it really counts

He has produced some pretty amazing relay performances so I guess that points to him being able to do it when it really counts in a team sport/event.

[steve]

I think we can all agree that Asafa Powell is a guy with NFL size who would have no problem running a 4.2.

Not if someone's running next to him.

[Tuariki]

I think we can all agree that Asafa Powell is a guy with NFL size who would have no problem running a 4.2.

Except when it really counts