Is max strength important? Define important. I can’t think of any successful sprint group that prioritizes max strength. Not CF, not Franno, not Tellez, not Pfaff, not John Smith. They all will use elements of max strength schemes but it never takes precedence over speed. If you add up the weeks that could be considered true max strength work it is very few.
As fogelson always points out not many sprinters are insanely strong. They are strong and explosive but rarely anything freaky. Mo squatted over 400 deep, benched what 340-350. Powell does a triple with either 275 or 245 on bench cant really tell but it is tough. Powell on the same vid does stepups with maybe 225. Ato had strength similar to Mo. Donovan had a good clean. Bruny was strong. None were on the freak side but a lot were strong but much of it not unattainable for a lot of other slower athletes.
Personally sprinting and plyo has increased my power clean as much as anything. I have a higher power clean at a lower bodyweihht using a lot less weight volume than when I weightlifted only.