New human top speed record and it´s biomechanical implications

[Vladimír Socha <Seismosaurus@seznam.cz>]

Good day!
As an athletic (or "track and field" as american HP´s would call it) fan, I was 
pleased to watch a new WR on a 100 m dash set two days ago in Athens by young 
jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell. Athlete crossed the finish line in a marvellous 
9.77 seconds, thus improving previous record mark by an obligate 1/100 of a 
second.
More of an interest for biomechanical science would be a top speed achieved by 
the sprinter. On a 60th metre of the track, Powell achieved (according to 
referees) straight 48 kmh (or 29.82 mph)! This value is somewhat doubtfull 
however, as it would mean Powell ran at least 4.5 kmh (1.3 m/s!) faster than 
anyone before him (12.07 m/s - 13.33 m/s).* It´s simply amazing performance. 
Estimates for the maximum (limit) speed recently appeared as a reaction to this 
matter. Some of these state, that human body is capable of achieving 53 km/h 
(14.72 m/s!)in a run.
OK, my question concerning dinosaurs states: Would better understanding of 
biomechanics in human body help understanding the principles of locomotion in 
(often much larger) dinosaurs? I´ve noticed a few studies on this matter with a 
model animals as elephants, emus, antelopes, rhinoceri etc. I wonder if authors 
of these studies also used human biomechanics (usually much properly examined) 
for a comparison, at least with a bipedal dinosaurs. Thanks, in advance

*I can´t understand a general confusion on average v. maximum (top) speed 
matter. The former is 36.84 kmh in the current 100 m WR (v=s/t x 3.6, ie. 
100/9.77 x 3.6 for kmh), while top speed is a maximum speed achieved on a 
certain part of the track     

Estimated top speeds for a various dinosaur groups (source: internet varia)
Large sauropods (over 20 m in lenght): 4-6 kmh

Smaller sauropods: 10-15 kmh

Ceratopians: 35 kmh (Triceratops?)

Hadrosaurians: 40 kmh

Large theropods: Tyrannosaurus 36 kmh
                 Giganotosaurus 40 kmh (?)
                 Albertosaurus 50 kmh (juveniles)?

Dromaeosaurids: 60 kmh (?)

"Ostrich-mimic" dinosaurs: 70 kmh (as in ostrich)

http://dml.cmnh.org/2004Sep/msg00087.html
http://dinosaurus.bloguje.cz/161788_item.php
____________________________________________________________
http://www.listicka.cz