STANDARD MOTION OF SPRINT RUNNING FOR MALE ELITE AND STUDENT SPRINTERS

The purpose of this study was to show standard motion models of male elite and student sprinters and investigate the characteristics of the elite sprinters’ motion. Fourteen male international level sprinters and twenty-one male student sprinters were videotaped at the maximum running velocity phase, standard motion models were prepared and kinematic variables were then calculated. Running velocity, stride length, release distance and flight distance of the elite sprinters were significantly greater than in the student sprinters. The elite sprinters did not fully extend the knee and ankle joints of the support leg at the toeoff while the student sprinters tended to show the converse motion. Student sprinters should use hip joint extension rather than flexion-extension of the knee and ankle joints, and should keep the shank leaning forward during the support phase.