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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>100m record can be lowered by half-second - study</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>AP
Friday, December 22, 2006
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<P class=StoryText align=justify>BERLIN, Germany (AP) - The world record in the 100-metre sprint can be lowered by another half-second before man reaches his limits, according to an expert in the field of extreme values.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The men will hit a wall when Asafa Powell's current record of 9.77 seconds mark is reduced to 9.29, a study by Prof John Einmahl of Germany's Tilberg university predicted yesterday.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The Dutch mathematician studied world records in 14 disciplines, feeding the best marks of 1,546 male and 1,024 female athletes into a computer.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Male marathoners may not like the findings - it concluded Paul Tergat's record of 2:04:55 can only be bettered by 49 seconds.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"For a lot of athletes it is probably depressing when they are confronted with our extreme values," Einmahl told the German news agency dpa. "But this is a very serious study - the extreme theory as a part of mathematics and statistics is an accepted science."<P class=StoryText align=justify>Einmahl's past studies include extreme stock market prices, the height needed in dams to control huge floods and a study funded by the insurance field over the highest possible damage claims.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Women marathoners have plenty of room to shatter Paula Radcliffe's current marathon mark of 2:15.25. They can be expected to lower it by 8:50.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Michael Johnson's 200 record of 19.32 could drop to 18.63, while athletes can lower Liu Xiang's 110-metre hurdle mark of 12.88 by a half-second.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Einmahl acknowledged there is room for extraordinary performances that will turn his results upside down. He said his field doesn't recognise the impossible, but accepts the unbelievable.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Who would have thought Bob Beamon would jump 8.90 metres (29 feet, 2 1/2 inches) on Oct 18, 1968?" he said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Beamon never again came close to his long jump record, set in the high altitude of Mexico City. It shattered the old record by 55 centimetres (21 3/4 inches) and stood for 23 years.
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>AP
Friday, December 22, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>BERLIN, Germany (AP) - The world record in the 100-metre sprint can be lowered by another half-second before man reaches his limits, according to an expert in the field of extreme values.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The men will hit a wall when Asafa Powell's current record of 9.77 seconds mark is reduced to 9.29, a study by Prof John Einmahl of Germany's Tilberg university predicted yesterday.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The Dutch mathematician studied world records in 14 disciplines, feeding the best marks of 1,546 male and 1,024 female athletes into a computer.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Male marathoners may not like the findings - it concluded Paul Tergat's record of 2:04:55 can only be bettered by 49 seconds.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"For a lot of athletes it is probably depressing when they are confronted with our extreme values," Einmahl told the German news agency dpa. "But this is a very serious study - the extreme theory as a part of mathematics and statistics is an accepted science."<P class=StoryText align=justify>Einmahl's past studies include extreme stock market prices, the height needed in dams to control huge floods and a study funded by the insurance field over the highest possible damage claims.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Women marathoners have plenty of room to shatter Paula Radcliffe's current marathon mark of 2:15.25. They can be expected to lower it by 8:50.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Michael Johnson's 200 record of 19.32 could drop to 18.63, while athletes can lower Liu Xiang's 110-metre hurdle mark of 12.88 by a half-second.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Einmahl acknowledged there is room for extraordinary performances that will turn his results upside down. He said his field doesn't recognise the impossible, but accepts the unbelievable.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Who would have thought Bob Beamon would jump 8.90 metres (29 feet, 2 1/2 inches) on Oct 18, 1968?" he said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Beamon never again came close to his long jump record, set in the high altitude of Mexico City. It shattered the old record by 55 centimetres (21 3/4 inches) and stood for 23 years.