Sprint race distance affects reaction time in male and female sprinters at the 2022 World Indoor Athletics Championships

Milan Matić Orcid logo ,
Milan Matić

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, Belgrade, Serbia,

Vladimir Mrdaković Orcid logo ,
Vladimir Mrdaković

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, Belgrade, Serbia,

Miloš Marković Orcid logo
Miloš Marković

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, Belgrade, Serbia,

Published: 01.12.2022.

Volume 15, Issue 2 (2023)

pp. 47-52;

https://doi.org/10.31382/eqol.231206

Abstract

In sprint disciplines, the start reaction (SR) time affects the final result in the sprint. This research aimed to analyze and examine whether there are significant differences in the SR in the semi-final and final groups in the 60 m and 400 m disciplines at the World Indoor Championships in Athletics, held in Belgrade in 2022 in men's and women's competition. The aim was also to determine if there were statistical differences between men and women in the 400 m event. T-test for independent samples showed statistical differences between the SR in the 60 m and 400 m athletics events in men (t=-4.434, p=0.000) and women (t=-3.210, p=0.004). For the 400 m running events, an independent samples t-test was used to examine differences between men and women in SR. No significant differences were obtained between men and women in the 400 m event (t=0.401, p=0.691). SR is part of all running disciplines and affects the time achieved in the race (result). Although it has been known for a long time that training can influence SR, a few studies still examine training's effects on SR. The question can be about how much it is possible to reduce SR with specific training exercises or to apply certain neurophysiological methods.

References

1.
Babic V, Delalija A. Reaction time trends in the sprint and hurdle events at the 2004 Olympic Games: Differences between male and female athletes. New Studies in Athletics. 2009. p. 59–68.
2.
Bezodis N, Salo A, Trewartha G. Relationships between lower-limb kinematics and block phase performance in a cross-section of sprinters. European Journal of Sport Science. 2015. p. 118–24.
3.
Der G, Deary I. Age and sex differences in reaction time in adulthood: results from the United Kingdom Health and Lifestyle Survey. Psychology and Aging. 2006. p. 62–73.
4.
Doherty K. Track and Field Omnibook, 4 Ed. Tafnews Press; 1985.
5.
Guissard N, Duchateau J. Electromyography of the sprint start. Journal of Human Movement Studies. 1990. p. 97–106.
6.
Helmick K. Biomechanical analysis of sprint start positioning. Track Coach. 2003. p. 5209–14.
7.
Juhas I, Matić M, Janković N. Uporedna analiza vremena startne reakcije elitnih sprintera/ki na svetskim prvenstvima 2013. godine. Godišnjak. 2016. p. 43–52.
8.
Martin D, Buonscristiani J. Influence of reaction time on athletic performance. New Studies in Athletics. 1995. p. 67–79.
9.
Matić M, Juhas I, Janković N, Ristov M. Zbornik radova: Međunarodna konferencija nauka o sportu, fizičkom vaspitanju i zdravlju (str. 2023. p. 181–6.
10.
Matić M, Mrdaković V. Relationship between reaction time and performance in the 60 m hurdles at the 2022 World Indoor Championships. Exercise and Quality of Life. 2023. p. 11–8.
11.
Michel S, Jarver J. The start is (almost) everything in sprint performance. Track Coach. 2002. p. 5121.
12.
Moravec P, Ruzicka J, Susanka P, Dostal E, Kodejs M, Nozek M. The 1987 International Athletic Foundation/IAAF Scientific Project Report: Time analysis of the 100 meters events at the II World Championships in Athletics. New Studies in Athletics. 1988. p. 61–96.
13.
Müller T, Benz S, Börnke C, Przuntek H. Differential response in choice reaction time following apomorphine based on prior dopaminergic treatment. Acta neurologica scandinavica. 2004. p. 348–54.
14.
Pain M, Hibbs A. Sprint starts and the minimum auditory reaction time. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2007. p. 79–86.
15.
Paradisis G. Reaction Time and Performance in the Short Sprints. New Studies in Athletic. 2013. p. 95–103.
16.
Pavlović R, Raković A, Idrizović K, Mihajlović I. Differences in the time of start reaction and achieved results in the sprint disciplines in the finals of the world championship in Moscow. Facta Universitatis-Series: Physical Education and Sport. 2013. p. 285–97.
17.
Pavlović R. The importance of reaction time in athletics: Influence on the results of sprint runs of World Championships finalists. Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine. 2021. p. 53–65.
18.
Schmidt A, Lee D. Champaign IL: Human Kinetics. 2005. p. 299–459.
19.
Spierer D, Petersen R, Duffy K, Corcoran B, Rawls-Martin T. Gender influence on response time to sensory stimuli. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2010. p. 957–63.
20.
Steinbach Μ, Tholl R. About the reaction time. Die Lehre der Leichtathletik. 1969. p. 33.
21.
Tønnessen E, Haugen T, Shalfawi S. Reaction time aspects of elite sprinters in athletic world championships. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. 2013. p. 885–92.

Citation

Copyright

Article metrics

Google scholar: See link

The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Most read articles

Indexed by