The contribution percentage of the first (20) meters and the last (20) meters in the performance of elite sprinters in the (100, 200, 400) meter races

Abstract

The sprint events (100, 200, 400) meters for men are considered among the most distinguished events in athletics. They require high levels of physical abilities and specialized motor skills, and certain bodily specifications. Similar to other sprinting events, performance in these events relies on a comprehensive application of technical aspects, and they significantly and effectively depend on the intermediate distances within them. The significance of the research stands out through continuous attention to athletic achievements and the ongoing process of their development. Additionally, it underscores the importance of kinetic analysis in identifying crucial weaknesses among sprinters. Furthermore, achieving optimal performance in the initial and final (20) meters is of utmost importance, as it can make a significant difference in the fastest races of track and field events. The cognitive problem of the study revolves around the question of the possibility of identifying the contribution percentage of the initial (20) meters and the final (20) meters to the final performance in the (100, 200, 400) meters. It focuses on the weak points sprinters encounter in achieving their optimal times for the required distances. The study aims to analyze these aspects and implement their applications to enhance athletic performance. Moreover, the study underscored the neglect of employing motion analysis to precisely identify weaknesses, as well as the lack of attention from coaches towards these value characteristics, so they can program their training routines to achieve their goals as quickly as possible with the least effort. The research aims to identify the numerical values of the time taken to cover the first (20) meters and the last (20) meters and the contribution percentage of these distances to the final performance. The researchers employed the descriptive method with a correlation relations approach and the contribution percentages due to its suitability to the nature of the study problem. The research population was selected from elite sprinters participating in the (400, 200, 100) meters. The total number of participants was (24) athletes who represented their respective clubs in the third round of the 2022 Club Championships. The research sample consisted of (12) athletes, with an average of (4) runners for each event selected randomly. The tests were conducted at the Al-Najaf International Stadium. The researchers used two (CASIO FH13.5) analysis cameras with a speed of 120 shots per second, and the analysis was done using the Kenova software. After analyzing and discussing the results, the researchers found a significant correlation between the time taken to cover the first and last (20) meters with the completion of (100) meters. There was also a correlation between the duration to traverse the first (20) meters with the completion of (200 and 400) meters. However, there was no correlation between the time taken to cover the last (20) meters with the completion of (200 and 400) meters. In light of this, the researchers recommend conducting extensive studies on these activities to identify the most critical weaknesses