Finish line

Three sprinters for Houston at the 2005 Golden Bear Invitational at UC Berkeley.

Sprinting at this level is measured in hundredths of a second, and relaxing even a half-step early can mean missing a qualifying time or record.

The runner in the center has crossed the finish and is decelerating. The runner on the left is a few steps from the finish and concentrating on following through to the end of the race, while the runner on the right is crossing the finish and checking to make sure he's done before he slows down.