How fast is fast? We could be talking about cars, airplanes, horses or deciding not to eat. I am asking this question looking at the fastest humans in the world in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. The question comes up because the world’s fastest are using performance enhancing drugs.

I am blaming all this usage on a man named Usain Bolt. So far he hasn’t been accused of using. I hope it remains that way. No one is his equal as long as he keeps his training up.

Usain Bolt is the fastest ever, ever, ever! I didn’t get to see the great Jesse Owens. I was sitting on the finish line at the West Coast Relays in Fresno, CA when USC’s Mel Patton ran the first 9.3 second 100 yd. dash winning by an eyelash over Jamaican, Lloyd LaBeach.

I saw Bobby Morrow who won both sprints at the 1956 Olympics. I also used to watch “Willow the Wisp,” a.k.a. Leamon King since his freshman year in high school through his time at Cal, Berkeley.

He beat Morrow four times in pre-Olympic meets in Australia, but could only run in the 4X100 relay due to being injured and finishing fourth in the Olympic Trials.

I watched Tommy Smith from Lemoore, CA many times in high school and at San Jose State. His run in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City got worldwide attention for something other than speed. The great decathletes Bob Mathias (1948 and 1952) and Rafer Johnson (1960 gold medal winner in Rome) grew up 25 miles apart in the San Joaquin Valley of California, my birthplace.

The magic of television has allowed me to see the greats all the way to present day. And, no one is close to Usain Bolt. So what’s a sprinter to do? Catch up anyway they can? I am not justifying it. No one has ever dominated the sprints the way U.B. has. I hope he never feels the need to cut the corner. Just run baby, run!!