Sprint (running)

For other types of sprint, see Sprint (disambiguation).
Usain Bolt, world record holder in 100 m and 200 m sprints

Sprinting is the act of running over a short distance at (or near) top speed. It is used in many sports that incorporate running, typically as a way of quickly reaching a target or goal, or avoiding or catching an opponent. Human physiology dictates that a runner's near-top speed cannot be maintained for more than 30–35 seconds due to the depletion of Phosphocreatine stores in muscles, and perhaps secondarily to excessive Metabolic acidosis as a result of Anaerobic glycolysis.[1]

In athletics and track and field, sprints (or dashes) are races over short distances. They are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other.[2] There are three sprinting events which are currently held at the Summer Olympics and outdoor World Championships: the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres. These events have their roots in races of imperial measurements which were later altered to metric: the 100 m evolved from the 100 yard dash,[3] the 200 m distances came from the furlong (or 1/8 of a mile),[4] and the 400 m was the successor to the 440 yard dash or quarter-mile race.[1]

At the professional level, sprinters begin the race by assuming a crouching position in the starting blocks before leaning forward and gradually moving into an upright position as the race progresses and momentum is gained. The set position differs depending on the start. Body alignment is of key importance in producing the optimal amount of force. Ideally the athlete should begin in a 4-point stance and push off using both legs for maximum force production.[5] Athletes remain in the same lane on the running track throughout all sprinting events,[1] with the sole exception of the 400 m indoors. Races up to 100 m are largely focused upon acceleration to an athlete's maximum speed.[5] All sprints beyond this distance increasingly incorporate an element of endurance.[6]

The 60 metres is a common indoor event and it is an indoor world championship event. Less common events include the 50 metres, 55 metres, 300 metres, and 500 metres which are used in some high school and collegiate competitions in the United States. The 150 metres, though rarely competed, has a star-studded history: Pietro Mennea set a world best in 1983,[7] Olympic champions Michael Johnson and Donovan Bailey went head-to-head over the distance in 1997,[8] and Usain Bolt improved Mennea's record in 2009.[7]

Biological factors for runners

Biological factors that determine a sprinter's potential include:

Competitions

Start of the women's 60 m at the 2010 World Indoor Championships

Common contemporary distances

60 m

Note: Indoor distances are less standardized as many facilities run shorter or occasionally longer distances depending on available space. 60m is the championship distance.

100 m

Tyson Gay completes a 100m race

200 m

A 200 m bend

400 m

Relay

Historical and uncommon distances

50 yards

100 yards (91.44 m)

150 m

150 metres final at the Manchester City Games 2009

176 m

300 m

352 m

500 m

600 yards (548.6 m)

600 m

The fastest time by a woman is 1 minute 22.63 seconds, set at altitude by Ana Quirot at Guadalajara in 1997.

Rules

The start

Jeremy Wariner beginning a race from the starting blocks

Starting blocks are used for all competition sprint (up to and including 400 m) and relay events (first leg only, up to 4x400 m).[18] The starting blocks consist of two adjustable footplates attached to a rigid frame. Races commence with the firing of the starter's gun.[18] The starting commands are "On your marks" and "Set".[18] Once all athletes are in the set position, the starter's gun is fired, officially starting the race. For the 100 m, all competitors are lined up side-by-side. For the 200 m, 300 m and 400 m, which involve curves, runners are staggered for the start.

In the rare event that there are technical issues with a start, a green card is shown to all the athletes. The green card carries no penalty. If an athlete is unhappy with track conditions after the "on your marks" command is given, the athlete must raise a hand before the "set" command and provide the Start referee with a reason. It is then up to the Start referee to decide if the reason is valid. In the event that the Start referee deems the reason invalid, a yellow card (warning) is issued to that particular athlete. In the event that the athlete is already on a warning the athlete is disqualified.

False starts

Sprint lanes as seen from the 100 m starting point

According to the IAAF rules, "An athlete, after assuming a full and final set position, shall not commence his starting motion until after receiving the report of the gun, or approved starting apparatus. If, in the judgement of the Starter or Recallers, he does so any earlier, it shall be deemed a false start."[18]

The 100 m Olympic Gold and Silver medallist Linford Christie of Great Britain famously had frequent false starts that were marginally below the legal reaction time of 0.1 seconds. Christie and his coach, Ron Roddan, both claimed that the false starts were due to Christie's exceptional reaction times being under the legal time. His frequent false starting eventually led to his disqualification from the 1996 Summer Olympics 100 m final in Atlanta, Georgia, USA due to a second false start by Christie. Since January 2010, under IAAF rules, a single false start by an athlete results in disqualification.

Lanes

A photo finish from the 1987 East German athletics championships

For all Olympic sprint events, runners must remain within their pre-assigned lanes, which measure 1.22 metres (4 feet) wide, from start to finish.[19] The lanes can be numbered 1 through 8, 9, or rarely 10, starting with the inside lane. Any athlete who runs outside the assigned lane to gain an advantage is subject to disqualification. If the athlete is forced to run outside of his or her lane by another person, and no material advantage is gained, there will be no disqualification. Also, a runner who strays from his or her lane in the straightaway, or crosses the outer line of his or her lane on the bend, and gains no advantage by it, will not be disqualified as long as no other runner is obstructed.

The finish

The first athlete whose torso reaches the vertical plane of the closest edge of the finish line is the winner. To ensure that the sprinter's torso triggers the timing impulse at the finish line rather than an arm, foot, or other body part, a double Photocell is commonly used. Times are only recorded by an electronic timing system when both of these Photocells are simultaneously blocked. Photo finish systems are also used at some track and field events.

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 400 m Introduction. IAAF. Retrieved on 26 March 2010.
  2. Instone, Stephen (15 November 2009). The Olympics: Ancient versus Modern. BBC. Retrieved on 23 March 2010.
  3. 100 m – Introduction. IAAF. Retrieved on 26 March 2010.
  4. 200 m Introduction. IAAF. Retrieved on 26 March 2010.
  5. 1 2 100 m – For the Expert. IAAF. Retrieved on 26 March 2010.
  6. 200 m For the Expert. IAAF. Retrieved on 26 March 2010.
  7. 1 2 Superb Bolt storms to 150m record. BBC Sport (17 May 2009). Retrieved on 26 March 2010.
  8. Tucker, Ross (26 June 2008). Who is the fastest man in the world?. The Science of Sport. Retrieved on 26 March 2010.
  9. Quinn, Elizabeth (2007-10-30). Fast and Slow Twitch Muscle Fibers About.com. Retrieved on 2009-02-01.
  10. Jad Adrian (6 March 2011). Complete Sprinting Technique. Retrieved on 30 April 2011
  11. http://www.fitness.gov/pdfs/50-year-anniversary-booklet.pdf
  12. Bolt runs 14.35 sec for 150m; covers 50m-150m in 8.70 sec!. IAAF (2009-05-17). Retrieved on 2009-05-17.
  13. New World Best over 150m for Usain Bolt from Universal Sports on YouTube
  14. "Usain Bolt wins 200m at Diamond League meet in Shanghai". BBC News. 2010-05-23. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  15. "All-time men's best 300 m". Alltime-athletics.com. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  16. Joe D. Willis and Richard G. Wettan (November 2, 1975). "L. E. Myers, "World’s Greatest Runner"" (PDF). Journal of Sport History. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  17. "The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports – 50th Anniversary Toolkit – History: The First Fifty Years". Fitness.gov. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Competition Rules 2012-13, IAAF
  19. 2009 USATF Competition Rules, Rule 160(1)

External links

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