CREATE TABLE table_203_211 (id DECIMAL, "pos." DECIMAL, "time" TEXT, "athlete" TEXT, "country" TEXT, "venue" TEXT, "date" TEXT)

how many athletes were faster than 12.40 seconds ?
SELECT COUNT("athlete") FROM table_203_211 WHERE "time" < 12.40
SELECT COUNT("athlete") FROM "table_203_211" WHERE "time" < 12.40