How Fast Will These Athletes Run The 40 At The VA Showcase?


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The age old question: 'How fast is your 40 time?' 

This weekend, football players won't be the only athletes in the discussion.

Because on Sunday in the finals of both the 55m girls' and boys' championships at The VA Showcase in Virginia Beach, a FAT timer will catch every athlete en route to the finish. 

And in doing so, they might put another age-old question to rest: 

'Is track speed really all that different from football speed? 

But to get a true understanding of the comparisons we might be talking about post-competition, let's take a look at the all-time NFL Draft combine times. 

TOP 5 NFL DRAFT 40 TIMES

  1. John Ross, 4.22
  2. Chris Johnson, 4.24 
  3. Dri Archer, 4.26
  4. Jerome Mathis, 4.26
  5. Marquise Goodwin, 4.27 


Let's not forget, either, the urban legend times of Bo Jackson -- reportedly 4.13 seconds -- or Deion Sanders, who ran '4.2 in street shoes,' according to long-held beliefs. 

In 2017, Christian Coleman may have silenced everyone when he laced up his spikes and ran an FAT timed 4.12 on the Tennessee football practice field. 

But perhaps we need more reminders.


The finals will take place on Sunday at 12:40 pm EST for the girls and 12:45 pm EST for the boys. 

Shawnti Jackson and Victoria Perrow are tied for US No. 1 in the nation for the 60m with a 7.39. Perrow ran a 7.04 in the 55m at the Armory Trials in October 2020, becoming the second-fastest girl in this distance.

Kaila Jackson, who is US No. 10 in the 60m, is also scheduled to compete in the short sprint. 

On the boys' side, Jaylen Slade, Gavin Schurr and Trevin Moyer all will have a chance to face-off in the 55m.

Slade is ranked US No. 1 in the 60m with a 6.70, while Schurr is No. 2 at 6.73 and Moyer has a US No. 7 time with a 6.80.