The 19.5 straight track 200m time of Tommie Smith

[Batis]

It seems to me like Tommie Smith´s straight track 200m time of 19.5 from May 7 1966 should be regarded as one of the most outstanding 200m performances of all time when taking into account how much ahead of its time it was. If I am not mistaken the previous straight track record was 20.0 and at the time the curved track record was 20.2 (although Smith went on to beat that record as well about a month later) so a time of 19.5 must have seemed almost impossible at the time. When it comes to how jaw-dropping the performance was how would you compare Smith´s 19.5 to for example Michael Johnson´s 19.32 or Usain Bolt´s 19.19? Which performance do you think left the spectators that witnessed it feeling more astonished?

[jc203]

Every time I saw Tommie Smith run any distance I was astounded. The most jaw-dropping I watched was his effortless looking sub-44 second relay leg at the LA Colosseum.

[Batis]

Every time I saw Tommie Smith run any distance I was astounded. The most jaw-dropping I watched was his effortless looking sub-44 second relay leg at the LA Colosseum.

It sounds like it must have been quite an experience to watch that performance live. Thank you for sharing.

[Peter Michaelson]

Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHkvb2v8sn0

[AshleyConklin22]

Any of those performances would have been incredible to watch live. I think Michael Johnson's is the the most impressive because of how much time he took off the world record at the Atlanta Olympics. I remember watching that race and literally screaming at my TV because of how fast the time was.

[Trickstat]

Any of those performances would have been incredible to watch live. I think Michael Johnson's is the the most impressive because of how much time he took off the world record at the Atlanta Olympics. I remember watching that race and literally screaming at my TV because of how fast the time was.

I wanted to do that too, but here in the UK it was 3AM so I had to stop myself!

[Davidokun]

Any of those performances would have been incredible to watch live. I think Michael Johnson's is the the most impressive because of how much time he took off the world record at the Atlanta Olympics. I remember watching that race and literally screaming at my TV because of how fast the time was.

My father and I were in Atlanta with the TAFNOT group. We were seated near the end of the turn for all four rounds of the 200, so I used my stopwatch to time the leader of each race at the 100-meter mark. When Johnson flashed by in the final, I glanced at my stopwatch, and then shouted in his ear, "It's gonna be a world record!"

[Batis]

My father and I were in Atlanta with the TAFNOT group. We were seated near the end of the turn for all four rounds of the 200, so I used my stopwatch to time the leader of each race at the 100-meter mark. When Johnson flashed by in the final, I glanced at my stopwatch, and then shouted in his ear, "It's gonna be a world record!"

Do you remember what time your stopwatch showed? Since Johnson´s 100m split was around 10.12-10.14 it should have been around 9.9 handtimed right?

[gh]

Do you remember what time your stopwatch showed? Since Johnson´s 100m split was around 10.12-10.14 it should have been around 9.9 handtimed right?

proper (i.e., non-anticipatory) hand timing should about match auto timing.

[KDFINE]

Speaking of the 200 / 220y on the straight, did anyone ever best Don Styron's low hurdle best of 21.9?

[Atticus]

Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHkvb2v8sn0

Thanks! Even with graininess and obstructions, that was great to watch.
1966 was the earliest I remember following T&F and 19.5 was indeed a ridiculous number at the time.

[catson52]

Thanks! Even with graininess and obstructions, that was great to watch.
1966 was the earliest I remember following T&F and 19.5 was indeed a ridiculous number at the time.

Does anyone here know how one can contact Tommie Smith? I believe he now lives in the Atlanta/Stone Mountain area.

[cigar95]

Another obscure note on fast 200s. I hope I am remembering this correctly.

During ABC's broadcast of the '76 AAU meet at UCLA - the one where Steve Williams suffered his career-changing injury - the late, great Keith Jackson made the announcement "We have learned that Don Quarrie today ran the 200 meters in 19.5, but it was hand timed." That was the extent of the detail provided, and as far as I know that performance was 100% fiction.
There's probably an interesting story behind that one.

[Atticus]

Another obscure note on fast 200s. I hope I am remembering this correctly.
During ABC's broadcast of the '76 AAU meet at UCLA - the one where Steve Williams suffered his career-changing injury - the late, great Keith Jackson made the announcement "We have learned that Don Quarrie today ran the 200 meters in 19.5, but it was hand timed." That was the extent of the detail provided, and as far as I know that performance was 100% fiction.
There's probably an interesting story behind that one.

The AAU race was June 11 and three days LATER Quarrie ran 20.3 at the Jamaican Oly Trials, so that is quite the mystery.

[Tuariki]

The AAU race was June 11 and three days LATER Quarrie ran 20.3 at the Jamaican Oly Trials, so that is quite the mystery.

Clearly a very quick trip from Los Angeles to Kingston. 😂😂