Sport: Warm-Ups

One day last June, Mel Patton's secondhand car wouldn't start. He got out to push, and strained a leg muscle. That was the beginning of trouble for the world's fastest human. Last month, after setting a new world record for 100 yds., Patton pulled another muscle. His injury put a damper on U.S. hopes of winning a single flat race in the Olympics.

But last week, Mel Patton showed up at Minneapolis, and after gingerly testing his legs, announced that he would run in two National Collegiate championship events. Without too much strain, he won...