Sprint (running)

A sprinter strides forwards from the starting blocks. The blocks helped her to isometrically preload her muscles
when she adopted the 'set' position; this allowed her to drive forwards more powerfully and start faster.

Sprinting is running over a short distance in a limited period of time. 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 excessivemetabolic
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, being recorded at the Ancient Olympic
Games. Three sprints are currently held at the modern Summer Olympics and
outdoor World Championships: the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres.
At the professional level, sprinters begin the race by assuming a crouching position in
the starting blocks before driving forward and gradually moving into an upright position
as the race progresses and momentum is gained. The set position differs depending on
the start. The use of starting blocks allows the sprinter to perform an
enhanced isometric preload; this generates muscular pre-tension which is channelled
into the subsequent forward drive, making it more powerful. Body alignment is of key
importance in producing the optimal amount of force. Ideally the athlete should begin in
a 4-point stance and drive forwards, pushing off using both legs for maximum force
production.] Athletes remain in the same lane on the running track throughout all
sprinting events,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. ] All sprints beyond
this distance increasingly incorporate an element of endurance.

History
The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—
the stadion race, which was a sprinting race from one end of the stadium to the other.
[4]
The Diaulos (Δίαυλος, "double pipe") was a double-stadion race, c. 400 metres (1,300
feet), introduced in the 14th Olympiad of the ancient Olympic Games (724 BC).
The modern sprinting events have their roots in races of imperial measurements which
were later altered to metric: the 100 m evolved from the 100-yard dash,the 200 m
distance came from the furlong (or 1⁄8 mile),] and the 400 m was the successor to
the 440-yard dash or quarter-mile race.

Biological factors for runners

Biological factors that determine a sprinter's potential include:

 Height (minor factor)]

 Muscular strength
 Adrenaline use
 Anaerobic respiration capacity
 Breathing
 Footspeed
 Proportion of fast twitch muscles[7]
 Leg length
 Pelvic width]

Competitions

Common contemporary distances

60 m

 The 60 metres is normally run indoors, on a straight section of an indoor athletic track.
Since races at this distance can last around six or seven seconds, having good reflexes and
thus getting off to a quick start is more vital in this race than any other.
 This is roughly the distance required for a human to reach maximum speed and can be
run with one breath. It is popular for training and testing in other sports (e.g., speed testing
for American football, although 40 yards is more common there).
 The world record in this event is held by American sprinter Christian Coleman with a
time of 6.34 seconds.
 60-metres is used as an outdoor distance by younger athletes when starting sprint
racing.
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

 The 100 metres sprint takes place on one length of the home straight of a standard
outdoor 400 m track. Often, the world-record holder in this race is considered "the world's
fastest man/woman." The current world record of 9.58 seconds is held by Usain
Bolt ofJamaica and was set on 16 August 2009, at the 2009 World Athletics
Championships. The women's world record is 10.49 seconds and was set by Florence
Griffith-Joyner.
 World class male sprinters (sub 10.10s) need 41 to 50 strides to cover the whole 100
metres distances.
200 m

A 200 m bend

 The 200 metres begins on the curve of a standard track (where the runners are
staggered in their starting position, to ensure that they all run the same distance), and ends
on the home straight. The ability to "run a good bend" is key at the distance, as a well
conditioned runner will typically be able to run 200 m in an average speed higher than their
100 m speed. Usain Bolt, however, ran 200 m in the world-record time of 19.19 sec, an
average speed of 10.422 m/s, whereas he ran 100 m in the world-record time of 9.58 sec,
an average speed of 10.438 m/s.
 Indoors, the race is run as one lap of the track, with only slightly slower times than
outdoors.
 A slightly shorter race (but run on a straight track), the stadion, was the first recorded
event at the ancient Olympic Games and the oldest known formal sports event in history.
 The world record in this event is 19.19 seconds, held by Usain Bolt and was set on 20
August 2009, at the 2009 World Athletics Championships.
400 m

 The 400 metres is one lap around the track on the inside lane. Runners are staggered in
their starting positions to ensure that everyone runs the same distance. While this event is
classified as a sprint, there is more scope to use tactics in the race; the fact that 400 m
times are considerably more than four times a typical 100 m time demonstrates this.
 The world record is currently held by Wayde van Niekerk with a time of 43.03 seconds in
Rio Olympic 2016 in 400m final
Relay]
Allyson Felix, at London 2012 Summer Olympics

 The 4×100 metres relay is another prestigious event, with an average speed that is
quicker than the 100 m, as the runners can start moving before they receive the baton. The
world record in this event is 36.84 seconds, held by the Jamaican team as set 11 August
2012 at the Games of the XXX Olympiad held in London.
 The 4x400 metres relay is often held at track and field meetings, and is by tradition the
final event at major championships.

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).] The starting blocks consist of two adjustable
footplates attached to a rigid frame. Races commence with the firing of the starter's
gun. The starting commands are "On your marks" and "Set". ] 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
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."
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, US due to a second false start by Christie.
Since January 2010, under IAAF rules, a single false start by an athlete results in
disqualification. In 2012, a new development to the false start rule was added. Because
certain athletes could be disqualified for twitching in the starting blocks but some
athletes could make a twitch without the starter noticing and disqualifying the athlete, it
was decided that twitching in the starting block while being in the 'set' position would
only carry a maximum penalty of a yellow card or a warning. In order to instantly be
disqualified for a false start, an athlete's hands must leave the track or their feet must
leave the starting blocks, while the athlete is in their final 'set' position.
Lanes

The finish of 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. 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.

Sprint training
While genetics play a large role in one's ability to sprint, athletes must be dedicated to
their training to ensure that they can optimize their performances. Sprint training
includes various running workouts, targeting acceleration, speed development, speed
endurance, special endurance, and tempo endurance. Additionally, athletes perform
intense strength training workouts, as well as plyometric or jumping workouts.
Collectively, these training methods produce qualities which allow athletes to be
stronger, more powerful, in hopes of ultimately running faster. ]