Watch this clip (starting at 8:40 mark), especially where it starts showing the runners crossing the line and how much space there is between Usain Bolt the first finisher (9.81 seconds) and the 7th place finisher (10.04 seconds). Hmm, that time difference is almost exactly the same as the diff between THill and Ross (.23 to .22 difference respectively). The difference between Usain Bolt and the 7th place runner (the 2nd to last runner in the original screenshot) is about the same as the difference between THill and Ross (.23 to .22 respectively):


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As you can see, that amounts to a huge difference, especially over 40 yards instead of 100. This also doesn't take into account any change of direction. In football, the offensive player with just a half-step can change direction ever so slightly and the defender is toast. The defender cannot anticipate perfectly where the offensive player is going so even if they are the same speed the offensive player has a big advantage with a half-step.

That is the difference between a first down or not a first down, hitting a hole and taking it for an extra 30 yards, or not hitting the hole and getting tackled before, getting caught in the backfield or not getting caught in the backfield. The #fakenews scenario you are referring to is if both players are running in a straight line right next to each other, from the line of scrimmage, with no moves, contact, change of direction or anything else. That never happens in football.

I have been burned and also burned guys that I was either a half step slower or faster than many times. And guys that were 2-3 steps faster than me or slower than me, no chance.