100-Metre Races

Sri Chinmoy considered the 100-metre race to be the blue ribbon event of track and field. From his Ashram days he had excelled at this distance, winning it for sixteen consecutive years. Officially, his best time in the Ashram was 11.7, recorded using hand timing. The race was run on the Ashram’s cinder track. Sri Chinmoy used a single wooden starting block and ran barefoot. In practice, the same timekeepers recorded a best for him of 11.3.

– Compiled by Vidagdha

Sri Chinmoy’s 100-Metre Timings

• Bullet point denotes official race
* Asterisk denotes electronic timing

 

1. May 1972

                                      Time: not known
                                      Strides: 65 (taken from video)
                                      Sports Day

 

This was Sri Chinmoy’s first recorded 100-metre race in the West. He did compete in Sports Day the previous year, 1971, but was injured at the 60-metre mark and did not complete the distance.

 

 

 

2. 25 August 1975

Sports Day Woodstock, New York	Time: not known

 

 

3. 25 August 1976

Sports Day SUNY at New Paltz	Photo: Abakash
	Time: 14.70 sec Strides: 64

 

Sri Chinmoy (lane 3) competed against much younger runners: Shraddha (lane 2), Pulak (lane 4) and Sunil (lane 5). Sunil stood first.

 

 

4. 30 August 1980
 

                                       Time: 16.01 sec
                                       Pan American Track & Field Masters Championships
                                       San Juan, Puerto Rico
 

Sri Chinmoy was invited to inaugurate this three-day event with a silent meditation. Read Sri Chinmoy’s account of the 100-metre race...

His other running achievements during August 1980 were: 800 metres in 2:59.9 (5 August), 2 miles in 13:53 (11 August), and 47 miles on his birthday in a time of 11 hours and 28 minutes (27 August—just three days before his competition in Puerto Rico).

 

 

5. 31 July 1981
 

                                      Time: 15.60 sec
                                      Sri Chinmoy Grand Prix
                                      Jamaica High School, Jamaica, New York
 

Sri Chinmoy and many of his students participated in a special series of 31 races on 31 consecutive days from 27 July to 27 August. This Grand Prix was held in honour of Sri Chinmoy’s 50th birthday. The races ranged in distance from 100 metres to 5 miles and the cumulative mileage for the Grand Prix came to 50 miles. Sri Chinmoy competed in every one of the 31 races.

 

 

6. 31 July 1981
 

                                     Time: 15.50 sec
                                     Sri Chinmoy Grand Prix
                                     Jamaica High School, Jamaica, NY

 

 

7. 20 August 1982

Photo: Madhava Sports Day Fox Lane High School, Bedford, New York		Photo: Madhava		Photo: Kedar Misani Time: 15.20 sec Strides: 63 approx.

Earlier in the season, Sri Chinmoy had twice raced the old imperial distance of 100 yards. On 20 June, against Karabi, Nilima and Dipali, he recorded a time of 14.5 seconds. On 27 June, against Trishakash and Sanatan, he recorded a time of 14.1 seconds.

 

 

8. 25 August 1983

Sports Day John Jay High School, Cross River, NY	Time: 15.14 sec Strides: 66.5

 

Sri Chinmoy is competing once more against his students Shraddha (lane 1) and Pulak (lane 5).

 

From 3 August to 9 September, Sri Chinmoy completed 50 races ranging from 25 metres to 800 metres. This included sixteen 100-metre races at various venues, including St John’s University, Jamaica High School, Rockland State Park and 149th Street. (Only the official Sports Day result is included in this list).

 

 

 

9. 23 September 1983

World Masters Games Sixto Escobar Stadium San Juan, Puerto Rico Race no. 506		Photos: Dhananjaya Time: 14.48 sec Strides: 64 approx.

The march past of athletes during the opening ceremony of the V World Masters Games in Puerto Rico in 1983. Sri Chinmoy (in the pale blue tracksuit) is holding a Puerto Rican flag.

 

Sri Chinmoy competed as a member of the Puerto Rican Team at their invitation. He opened the Games with a silent meditation and his students sang a song he had composed, which became the anthem of the Games. The 100-metre heats began at 4:40 p.m. At age 52, Sri Chinmoy was in the 50-54 year age category. He wore race number 506 and ran in lane 6. He chose not to wear spikes, but he did use Newton starting blocks that he had purchased in Puerto Rico. He finished 6th in his heat. This time stood as his personal best in the West until 1992.

 

 

10. 23 July 1988

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Victory Field, Queens, NY Solo race		Time: 22.81 sec Strides: 104

This race marked Sri Chinmoy’s return to sprinting after a break of five years due to injury. His physique had also changed significantly because of his strenuous weightlifting regime. The star athlete at this meet was the great Olympian discus thrower and 4-time gold medallist Al Oerter, who hurled the discus 58.45 metres. He also inaugurated the Sri Chinmoy Peace Discus Mound at Victory Field.

 

 

11. 20 August 1988
 

Time: 24.00 sec Sports Day Victory Field, Queens, NY	Photo by Bhashwar Hart

 

Due to injury, Sri Chinmoy slowly jogged 100 metres and requested Olympic gold medallist Sudhahota Carl Lewis to racewalk beside him as a handicap. Also at Victory-Field, Sri Chinmoy lifted Sudhahota overhead with one arm as part of his “Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart” programme, which he had begun just two months earlier.

Sri Chinmoy was to run a total of eight 100-metre races with Sudhahota Carl Lewis. The following year, on 11 November 1989, Sri Chinmoy held a Celebrity Relay on the road in Flushing Meadow Park in which 16 runners ran 100 metres each. The four final runners were: Ted Corbitt, Addwitiya Roberta Flack, Sri Chinmoy and Sudhahota.

 

Sri Chinmoy accepted the baton from Addwitiya Roberta Flack…

 

…and passed it to Sudhahota Carl Lewis who ran the anchor leg.

 

 

12. 25 August 1989

Sports Day Victory Field, Queens, NY		Time: 15.82 sec Strides: 76.5 approx.

 

 

 

 

13. 14 July 1990

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Victory Field, Queens, NY		Time: 15.47 sec Strides: 72.5

 

Sri Chinmoy won his event, defeating Trishakash of Canada in the 55-59 year age division, running in lane 3 without spikes or blocks.

 

 

14. 24 August 1990

Sports Day Victory Field, Queens, NY		Time: 15.40 sec Strides: 75.5

Sri Chinmoy defeated Trishakash and Nirvik (San Francisco) in the Men’s Over 55 category. He did not use spikes or starting blocks and ran in lane 2.

 

 

15. 18 January 1992

Solo time trial University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands				Time: 14.13 sec

 

 

16. 12 March 1992

				First solo time trial National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan	Time: 13.91 sec

 

Sri Chinmoy ran without spikes, using a standing start. He recorded his best ever time in the West to date. It was very significant for Sri Chinmoy personally to run on the same track and in the same lane–number 5–where his dear friend Sudhahota Carl Lewis had set the world 100-metre record of 9.86 seconds in the World Championships a few months previously (25 August 1991). One can even see that he has adopted Sudhahota’s open-hand style of running. After his record-breaking event, Sudhahota gave Sri Chinmoy the shoes he wore during the race as a token of his gratitude for Sri Chinmoy’s inner and outer encouragement.

 

 

17. 12 March 1992

				Second solo time trial National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan	Time: 14.52 sec

 

18. 22 March 1992
 

                                       Time: 14.60 sec
                                       Solo time trial
                                       Warsaw, Poland
                                       Indoor event

 

19. 22 March 1992
 

                                       Time: 14.73 sec
                                       Solo time trial
                                       Warsaw, Poland
                                       Indoor event

 

20. 4 July 1992
 

                                       Time: 13.87 sec (new personal record)
                                       Strides: 68.25
                                       Average stride length: 57.68 inches
                                       Number of strides per second: 4.92
                                       Queensboro Community College,
                                       Queens, NY

Sri Chinmoy ran with spikes. He raced with Suparashan (Germany). This race was recorded on two video cameras.

 

21. 11 July 1992

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Victory Field, Queens, NY	Time: 13.67 sec (new personal record) Strides: 65.5 Average stride length: 60.1 inches Number of strides per second: 4.8

 

 

Sri Chinmoy won first place in the 60-64 year age category, beating his friendly rival Tom, against whom he was to race many times. This was Sri Chinmoy’s best ever timing in the West. It was projected after this race that if Sri Chinmoy were to increase his stride length to 62 inches and maintain the same stride frequency, he would take 63.5 strides for the 100 metres and his final time would be 13.22 seconds.

 

 

 

22. 1 August 1992

 

Eastern Regional Championships Randall’s Island, Manhattan Race no. 14				14.59 official electronic timing 13.88 unofficial hand timing Strides: 65.5

This was Sri Chinmoy’s fastest electronic timing.

23. 10 October 1992
 

                                       Time: 16.35 sec
                                       Strides: 75.5
                                       Solo time trial
                                       Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany

Sri Chinmoy fulfilled a cherished dream by running on the same track where his childhood idol Jesse Owens had won the 100-metres at the 1936 Olympic Games.

24. 17 October 1992

Robertson Stadium University of Houston, Houston, Texas	Time: 14.33 Strides: 69

 

 

The 61-year-old Sri Chinmoy ran with 31-year-old Sudhahota Carl Lewis who had recently competed at the Barcelona Olympics where he anchored the American 4x100-metre relay team to set a new world record and win the event. Out of his immense respect for Sri Chinmoy, Carl was instrumental in having Robertson Stadium dedicated as a Sri Chinmoy Peace-Blossom during Sri Chinmoy’s visit. This track was the home of the famed Santa Monica Track Club under coach Tom Tellez. At the dedication ceremony, Carl said, “These peace-blossoms remind us of the noble goals, cherished dreams and fond hopes that we all share, and they bring forth the universal longing for peace from deep within our hearts.” Others attending the ceremony included track and field champions Michael Marsh, Floyd Heard, Leroy Burrell and Michelle Finn, as well as Carl’s mother, Ambalika Evelyn Lewis, and his sister, Carol.

25. 17 October 1992

Robertson Stadium University of Houston, Houston, Texas	Time: 14.62 Strides: 70

 

After a few moments’ rest, the pair raced again. In the background, on the far left as they cross the finish line, can be seen Sudhahota's Santa Monica teammate, the great 200-metre runner Floyd Heard.

26. 5 June 1993

Metropolitan Athletics Congress Masters Meet St Johns University, Queens, New York	Time: 14.84 Official electronic timing Strides: 69.75

Sri Chinmoy used starting blocks for the event. Out of three participants in his age division, he placed second, being narrowly defeated by his friend-rival Tom. Sri Chinmoy won the silver medal in both the 100 and 200-metre events.

27. 10 July 1993

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Victory Field, Queens, New York		Time: 15.29 Strides: 73

 

Sri Chinmoy ran with Rupantar LaRusso, director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. The temperature was 102˚F

28. 13 October 1993
 

X World Veterans Championships Miyazaki, Japan Race no. 079	15.34 electronic timing 14.58 video timing Strides: 67.5

Video of Sri Chinmoy’s 100-metre race in Miyazaki

Sri Chinmoy ceased training for Miyazaki on 29 July because of a severe knee injury. He did not run at all during August and September. He resumed running on 2 October, just eleven days prior to his 100-metre heat in Miyazaki. His weight during September had dropped from 156 to 150 pounds. On his second day of training, he ran 100 metres in 18.03 in the gully at Aspiration-Ground. On 4 October, he ran 100 metres in the gully in 16.79, taking 78 strides. On 5 October, he left for Miyazaki. His race number was 79 and he ran in lane 6, using starting blocks. There were 8 participants in Sri Chinmoy’s heat and he placed 4th. There were 103 competitors altogether in the 60-64 age category.

29. 12 November 1993
 

Robertson Stadium University of Houston, Houston, Texas				Time: 14.80 sec Strides: 70

Sri Chinmoy flew to Houston to celebrate the first anniversary of the dedication of the University of Houston’s Robertson Stadium Track as a Sri Chinmoy Peace-Blossom. Once more, he and Sudhahota Carl Lewis ran 100 metres together on the track. They completed two time trials, with the start being given by Carl’s sister Carol Lewis (seen in the second photograph).

 

30. 12 November 1993

Robertson Stadium University of Houston, Houston, Texas	Time: 15.38 Strides: 72

This was Sri Chinmoy’s 6th race with Sudhahota Carl Lewis.

31. 18 December 1993

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii		Time: 15.59 sec Strides: 74.5

 

32. 28 December 1993

	Photo: Dhanu
Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Apia Park, Apia, Western Samoa	Time: 15.10 sec Strides: 72.75

 

33. 8 January 1994

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games National Stadium, Suva, Fiji	Time: 14.81 sec Strides: 69.5

 

34. 15 January 1994

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Tereora National Stadium, Rarotonga, Cook Islands	Time: 15.12 sec Strides: 72

 

This was Sri Chinmoy’s first race on a grass track. He stood first out of 5 runners. Among his fellow competitors were (from left, 1st photo): Nayak (Seattle), Nirvik (San Francisco) and Tirthika (London).

35. 21 January 1994

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti	Time: 15.29 sec Strides: 73.5

 

Photo by Dhanu Alaimo

Sri Chinmoy is competing against two local runners and his student Nirvik (race no. 5, top photo).

 

 

36. 4 June 1994

 

 

Metropolitan Athletics Congress Masters Meet St Johns University, Queens, New York

Time: 15.15 sec Official electronic timing Strides: 64.75

 

 

Sri Chinmoy came 4th in his age category and 5th overall. He had lowered his bodyweight to 142 pounds and also his extensive training to lengthen his stride is evident. Here he is racing against his good friend and rival Tom, who finished in 14.98. After the race Mr Tracy Sundlun, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Athletics Congress (MAC), commented, “Obviously the highlight of this afternoon’s track meet was the last 100-metre race, which featured Sri Chinmoy. Sri Chinmoy is one of the truly great master runners and also one of the leading persons in our country spiritually.”

 

37. 16 July 1994

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Victory Field, Queens, New York	Time: 15.80 sec Strides: 72

 

 

38. 16 July 1994

Invitational Race Victory Field, Queens, New York	Time: 15.07 sec Strides: 69

 

Sri Chinmoy ran with his dear friend Alexandr Gorelik from the Russian Foreign Ministry (in the cap) and his student Abakash. Unfortunately, Sri Chinmoy injured himself in this race and could not run again for eleven months.

 

 

39. 10 June 1995

Metropolitan Athletics Congress Masters Meet St Johns University, Queens, New York	Time: 16.62 sec Official electronic timing Strides: 73

Tom’s time was 16.70.

 

Sri Chinmoy returned to sprint training only two days prior to this race.

 

 

40. 17 June 1992

				USATF Masters Meet Matawan High School, New Jersey	Time: 16.20 sec Strides: 72

 

41. 21 June 1995

Shore Athletic Club Meet Holmdel, New Jersey Race no. 562	Time: 15.70 Strides: 70.5

 

Sri Chinmoy’s race was at 9:00 p.m. Here he is shown running against his student Databir.

42. 24 June 1995

Invitational 60-56 Age Group Race McAteer Track, San Francisco, California	Time: 16.06 Strides: 70

 

Sri Chinmoy defeated his old nemesis Nirvik.

43. 27 June 1995

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Australian Institute of Sport Canberra, ACT, Australia	Time: 16.62

 

Due to unsettled weather conditions on the morning of the race, Sri Chinmoy competed without a proper warm-up and was injured at the 60-metre mark but went on to finish. The race was later televised. The Australian Sports Commission presented Sri Chinmoy with an award for his contribution to sport in Australia.

44. 1 July 1995

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand						Time: 20.74 sec Strides: 90.5

Sri Chinmoy competed in spite of a serious hamstring injury. The New Zealand Athletics Association gave him The Sports Award, its highest honour. The award was presented by champion marathon runner Allison Roe.

45. 29 July 1995

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Victory Field, Queens, New York				Time: 18.56 sec Strides: 88

Sri Chinmoy’s race was at 1:30 p.m., in a temperature of 95˚F. He had only recommenced his sprint training three days prior to this race, following an exhausting overseas trip to Australia and New Zealand.

46. 23 August 1995

Sports Day Victory Field, Queens, New York	Time: 15.72 sec Strides: 76.5

 

This was a solo time trial during the afternoon.

 

47. 27 August 1995

				Special Invitational Race York College, Jamaica, New York	Time: 16.04 sec Strides: 77.5

This was Sri Chinmoy’s 64th birthday and his 7th race with Sudhahota Carl Lewis who had come to New York to join the birthday festivities. Based on his shoes, he was clearly not anticipating a race. However, he ran with good grace and gave Sri Chinmoy tremendous joy. The following year, Carl Lewis competed in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, winning a gold medal in the long jump.

 

48. 27 August 1995

				Special Invitational Race York College, Jamaica, New York	Time: 16.27 sec Strides: 77

This was Sri Chinmoy’s 8th and last race with the great Sudhahota Carl Lewis.

 

 

49. 9 September 1995

				San Juan Masters Track & Field Championships Parque Central, San Juan, Puerto Rico Race no. 2	Time: 15.57 sec Strides: 74

 

Sri Chinmoy used wooden blocks and placed third in the race out of 5 competitors. The temperature was a humid 94˚F.

 

50. 6 October 1995

Solo time trial Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland		Time: 17.40 sec Strides: 80 approx.

 

 

51. 7 October 1995

Solo time trial Cricket Club Track, Vienna, Austria		Time: 16.30 sec Strides: 78.25

 

 

52. 8 October 1995

	Photo by Daria

 

 

 

Sri Chinmoy Cup Slava Praha Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic Race no. 877	Time: 16.60 sec Strides: 75.5

 

 

Sri Chinmoy ran with Czech runner Robert Zmelik, the 1992 Olympic gold medallist in the decathlon. The start for this race was given by the immortal Czech Olympian runner and Sri Chinmoy’s longtime friend, Emil Zatopek. This historic meeting was reported in the November edition of National Masters News.

 

 

53. 14 October 1995

Solo time trial Claude-Robillard Stadium, Montreal, Canada		Time: 17.06 sec Strides: 85

 

This time trial and the next were conducted in rainy and windy conditions. Because of the wind, Sri Chinmoy ran in the reverse direction.

 

 

 

54. 14 October 1995

Solo time trial Claude-Robillard Stadium, Montreal, Canada		Time: 16.97 sec Strides: 85

 

 

55. 23 December 1995

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Greenpoint Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa		Time: 17.05 sec

 

56. 14 January 1996

Sri Chinmoy Masters Games Technicon Stadium University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa				Time: 16.68 sec

 

Among the runners was Sri Chinmoy’s favourite adversary, Nirvik (in lane 3, first photo), whom he defeated.

 

Video by kedarvideo

 

 

57. 1 June 1996

			California State Senior Games California State University at Sacramento, California Race no, 803	Official Electronic Time: 16.42 sec Unofficial Handheld Time: 16.10 sec Strides: 73

 

This date was the 18th anniversary of Sri Chinmoy’s long-distance running, which he began in San Francisco. So it was especially significant for him to return to California for these Games. At the Opening Ceremony, he offered a moment of silence for world peace and the Sri Chinmoy Singers sang the Senior Games Anthem, which he composed for the occasion.

He entered 5 events at the Games. His results were:
 

Basketball Free Throw 1	14 goals / 25 tries
100 Metres	16.42 sec. / 4th in heat
1000 Metres Novice Rowing 2	4 min 28.30 sec. / 2nd
Softball Throw	41.76 metres
50 Metres	7.90 sec. electronic timing / 37.5 strides

 

1. Basketball Free Throw Shooting: From the standard free throw line (fifteen feet from the basket). 2. Ergometer (rowing machine): Each participant individually timed as he/she rowed a distance of 1km on the ergometer. Those with less than one year of experience in rowing competed in the novice division.

 

In the 100-metre and 50-metre sprint events, Sri Chinmoy used starting blocks. Although he did not officially retire from sprinting, this was to be Sri Chinmoy’s last 100-metre race of his long career. In fact, immediately after the 100-metre race, he said, “Next year I am determined to run under 14 seconds. After running in Sacramento, I am taking a solemn oath that next year, by August, I will run under 14 by their electronic timing. I will give it in writing. I am issuing a challenge to my body.” Unfortunately, the condition of his knees did not permit him to fulfil his oath.


 

58. 5 September 2003

                                      Time: 30.15
                                      Sports Day
                                      Sri Chinmoy not wearing running shoes

 

59. 5 September 2003

                                      Time: 24.13
                                      Sports Day
                                      Wearing proper shoes; age 72

 

60. 3 September 2004

                                      Time: 50.43
                                      Sports Day
                                      Sri Chinmoy ran alone

If you have photos to contribute to this section, kindly contact the editor.

 

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