Q 01/05

What is the men's 100 metres world record?

A) 9.58

B) 9.63

C) 9.69

D) 9.72

Answer · why

A) 9.58

It was set in the 2009 World Championships final in Berlin, taking 0.11 off the previous mark.

Q 02/05

Who holds the women's 100 metres world record of 10.49 seconds?

A) Marion Jones

B) Evelyn Ashford

C) Elaine Thompson-Herah

D) Florence Griffith Joyner

Answer · why

D) Florence Griffith Joyner

She ran it at the 1988 US Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, taking 0.27 off Ashford's record.

Q 03/05

What are the three instructions given to sprinters at the start of a 100 m race?

A) Ready, steady, go

B) Take your marks, hold, go

C) On your marks, set, and the gun

D) Marks, get set, bang

Answer · why

C) On your marks, set, and the gun

The set position lets them preload their muscles isometrically for a faster start.

Q 04/05

At roughly what point in a 100 m race do sprinters reach top speed?

A) 10-20 m

B) 30-40 m

C) 50-60 m

D) 80-90 m

Answer · why

C) 50-60 m

They then decelerate towards the line, so holding top speed is the main training focus.

Q 05/05

A reaction time faster than how many seconds is ruled a false start?

A) 0.050

B) 0.100

C) 0.150

D) 0.200

Answer · why

B) 0.100

Tests suggest the human brain cannot respond to the gun any quicker than that.