Link because the LRC editor cant parse a table properly
I saw one guy bounce up into the stands
1) Super shoes are faster; I think the hype is overblown but they help
2) BU is known as a fast track; but again overblown
there are other factors making the NCAA real fast
3) Internet and connection has made American HS running substantially faster than two decades ago; college recruiting pool is more talented
4) More scholarships than ever before and internationals coming in greater numbers in NCAA makes talent pool deeper as well
5) To go along with size of talent pool, we are approaching an end of the 90s 00s baby boom; more kids for colleges to pull from (that will change here shortly)
6) COVID 5/6th years are making fields deeper (also will change soon)
We are in a perfect storm for having unprecedented fast fields. Some of these factors will change (COVID years will eventually graduate/birth rate dropped greatly in 08). Technology is not likely to significantly upgrade again in the near future. Internationals are going to feature even more prominently in the NCAA when American birth rate crunch hits colleges. Things will probably slow down a bit in a few years.
What are you referring to with scholarships? The number has not changed. If anything, a few schools have dropped mens' track which means there are less.