The average top-ten finisher in the men’s 100-metre sprint has cut his time from 11.2 seconds in 1900 to just under ten now, and in the marathon from around two hours and 35 minutes in 1939 to two hours and five minutes today. The gains have been greater still in events that require complex equipment or techniques: the current pole-vault world record, at 6.16 metres, is over 50% higher than the best height a century ago. (http://econ.st/1M62UNJ)

This week’s theme: Progress