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World's Fastest ShamAsafa Powell just set the world record in the 100 meters. Big whoop.

By Edward McClellandPosted Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, at 10:32 AM ET

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In 2005 Daniel Engber wondered how accurate track-and-field records were. Nick Shulz examined how the surface of the track was made at the 2004 Olympics, and Jeremy Derfner called the steeplechase "the sexiest of all the middle-distance [track and field] events." Felix Gillette explored the controversy surrounding Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee who holds the 100-meter world record for disabled athletes. Josh Levin found another world record being broken with the help of science: bench pressing. Last year, Michael Agger delved into "the dark art of catching world-record bass."

The excuse sounds even lamer now that he's passing up a chance to prove that he can beat Gay. To be fair, Gay has also avoided rematches with Powell, saying he doesn't want to race the Jamaican unless he's "100 percent." Powell and Gay probably won't meet again until next August, in Beijing. If Powell wins there, he can put his name next to Michael Johnson's in the track pantheon. If not, he'll be just another World's Fastest Man. It won't be long before we have a new one, in a sleeker bodysuit, on a springier track, with a stronger wind at his back.