by Larry EderKemarley Brown’s 9.93 at Mt.SAC on May 17 puts him just behind Ato Boldon’s 9.92 on the all time collegiate list! Here is Fred Baer’s update on Merritt CC’s Kemarley Brown!
Starting blocks, PR Invitational, Feb 2011, photo from Brooks Running
MERRITT’S BROWN CRACKS INTO NORTHERN CAL’S HISTORIC CENTER OF SPEED
The Pacific Association (Northern California) area has long been known as the center of world speed. The latest installment was a then world-leading 9.93 seconds 100 meter time by Kemarley Brown of Oakland’s Merritt College at the California Community College Athletic Association Championships on May 17 at Mt. San Antonio College, setting a National JC and community college record. That was the fastest time ever by a NorCal based athlete at any level and the No. 3 all-time collegiate time.
The No. 2 mark is 9.92 by Ato Boldon in 1996, while competing at UCLA. Boldon, however, is a Northern California high school “product” out of San Jose and was a state community college champion for San Jose City College before transferring to UCLA. A citizen of Trinidad, Boldon later won Olympic medals for his country. Brown hopes to do the same for his native Jamaica. He currently leads all athletes from that country of speed.
Previous best by a NorCal based athlete was the 9.95 by former world record holder and 1968 Olympic champion Jim Hines – also out of Oakland.
The legendary “Night of Speed” took place in Sacramento during the 1968 USA Outdoor Championships at Sacramento City College’s Hughes Stadium. Three American men (including Hines) broke the world record in the 100 meters, running 9.9 seconds (hand-timed) in the semifinals.
San Jose State was known as “Speed City” in those days – with 1968 Olympic stars Tommie Smith, Lee Evans, and John Carlos — as the USA dominated all of the sprint races from 100 through 400 meters.
Notes: The American collegiate record is 9.93 by Walter Dix of Florida State in 2007 – during the NCAA Championships at Sacramento State. He is now based in Los Angeles.
(The top two all-time college marks – and four of the top five — are by foreign collegians.)
The fastest time ever run on a California track was 9.86 by Ato Boldon in 1998 – at Mt. SAC. Boldon also has the fastest time ever in Northern California, 9.89, at the Modesto Relays in 1997.
See California all-time list below.
THE ALL-TIME TOP FIVE 100 METER PERFORMANCES IN CALIFORNIA
(with 7-way tie for fifth)
9.86, Ato Boldon, 1998, at Mt. San Antonio College Relays, Walnut, Calif.
9.89, Ato Boldon, 1987, at Modesto Relays, Modesto JC, Calif.
9.91, Maurice Greene, 2004, at U.S. Olympic Trials, Sacramento State, Sacramento, Calif.
9.92, Justin Gatlin, 2004, at U.S. Olympic Trials, Sacramento State, Sacramento, Calif.
9.93, Michael Marsh, 1992, at Mt. San Antonio College Relays, Walnut, Calif.
9.93, Ato Boldon, 1996, at Mt. San Antonio College Relays, Walnut, Calif.
9.93, Maurice Greene, 2000, at U.S. Olympic Trials, Sacramento State, Sacramento, Ca
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9.93, Shawn Crawford, 2004, at U.S. Olympic Trials (SF), Sacramento State, Sacramento, Calif.
9.93, Shawn Crawford, 2004, at U.S. Olympic Trials (Final), Sacramento State, Sacramento, Calif.
9.93, Walter Dix, 2007, at NCAA Championships, Sacramento State, Sacramento, Calif. (American Collegiate record)
9.93, Kemarley Brown, 2014, at CCCAA Championships, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, Calif. (U.S. JC/CC record)
(compiled by Fred Baer from track & field resources)
Collegiate All-Time List – Men’s 100 Meters
(listing compiled from Track and Field News)
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9.89
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Ngoni Makusha’ (Florida St)
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06/10/11
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9.92
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Ato Boldon’ (UCLA)
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06/01/96
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9.93
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Kemarley Brown’ (Merritt College)
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05/17/14
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Walter Dix (Florida St)
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06/08/07
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Richard Thompson’ (LSU)
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05/18/08
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9.96
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Travis Padgett (Clemson)
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05/10/08
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Harry Adams (Auburn)
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06/06/12
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9.97
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Raymond Stewart’ (TCU)
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05/20/89
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Olapade Adeniken’ (UTEP)
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04/04/92
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Mookie Salaam (Oklahoma)
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06/10/11
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Dentarius Locke (Florida St)
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06/05/13
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‘ denotes foreign athlete
Notes: Boldon and Brown are the fastest California collegians. Dix set American Collegiate record in California at 2007 NCAA Championships at Sacramento State. Boldon was a state champion for San Jose City College before transferring to UCLA.
