Sports categories are often tricky for Jeopardy! contestants. After all, who could forget the 2018 episode when none of the contestants even attempted a response in a football category?
But as we saw on Friday’s episode, sometimes it’s best to just not guess.
Friday’s episode featured a category called “Real Fast,” which dealt with athletes doing things quickly. One of the clues was, “Sifan Hassan holds the women’s world record in this track event: 4 minutes, 12.33 seconds.”
The response from Sharon Bishop, a high school Spanish teacher from Rhode Island, was, “What is the 50-yard dash?” which host Ken Jennings naturally said was incorrect.
After the other two players didn’t ring in with a guess, Jennings quipped, “I think a lot of us can do the 50-yard dash a little faster.” He then said that a mile was the correct response.
I'll take, Why a lot of Jeopardy! players tend to avoid sports categories for $1,000, please. pic.twitter.com/sABL8scv5e
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) July 29, 2023
Jeopardy! later tweeted out that Hassan no longer holds the record for a mile, that Faith Kipyegon broke it on July 21 and it’s now 4 minutes, 7.64 seconds.
You may have noticed that one of the clues in tonight's episode is no longer accurate.
Congrats to Faith Kipyegon, who beat the record on July 21! 🥳 #Jeopardy! pic.twitter.com/nAO0MAollJ
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) July 29, 2023
But the more pressing issue was, did she really think that the world record for a 50-yard dash was over 4 minutes?
Sports fans had a lot of fun with this drastically incorrect response.
No matter how little you follow sports – you just gotta know this ain’t right. https://t.co/7TVpelZH4z
— Matt Robinson from Tall Can Audio (@TallCanAudio) July 29, 2023
Even @MeatSauce1 can run a 50-yard dash faster than that… https://t.co/qoN9SzjL9n
— Jeff Wald (@JeffWaldFox9) July 29, 2023
50 yard dash in 4 mins was reporters running from the rain today when the skies opened up at Vikings practice https://t.co/ZDYBak3ioP
— Matthew Coller (@MatthewColler) July 29, 2023
This is why we need to bring back Sports Jeopardy!
A 4 MINUTE 50-yard dash? C'mon… https://t.co/VSSqQFuely
— Jacob Hitz (@jacobhitzTV) July 29, 2023
Oh my god https://t.co/dZDZeHRFGZ
— Kevin Kuzminski (@KevinKuzminski) July 29, 2023
The 50-yard dash is actually not a standard track & field event. But for anyone curious, the world record in the 60-yard dash belongs to Obadele Thompson (5.99 seconds), while Evelyn Ashford (6.54 seconds) holds the women’s record.
[Photo Credit: Jeopardy!]
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