User:PVtimbo88/Sprint (Track and Field)

Sprints (Track and Field)
Sprint, also called dash, in athletics (track and field), a footrace over a short distance with an all-out or nearly all-out burst of speed. Sprint races are typically run in individual lanes for the entire marked distance. Sprint races are featured in both indoor and outdoor athletics (track and field).

History
The original Olympic and Panhellenic Stadion, considered to be the first running event, is an ancient race the was the span of the building in which the race took place. Typically the stadion was roughly 180-190 meters, though the distance was not universal. Athletes that participated in the original Olympic games participated both barefoot and naked.

Sprint races were part of the original Olympic games in the 7th century B.C. as well as the first modern Olympic games which started in the late 19th century (Athens 1896 ) featured the 100 meter and 400 meter. Athletes started both races from a crouched start (4 point stance). In both the original Olympics and the modern Olympics, only men were allowed to participate in track and field until the 1928 games in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The 1928 games were the also the first games to use a 400 meter track, which became the standard for track and field.

Technological advances have always improved sprint performances( i.e. starting blocks, synthetic track material, and shoe technology). In 1924, athletes used a small shovel to dig holes to start the race from. The world record in the 100 meter dash in 1924 was 11 seconds, while in 1948, (the first use of starting blocks) was 10.2 seconds, and was 10.1 seconds in 1956 with the first widespread use of synthetic track materials. The constant drive for faster athletes with better technology has brought man from 11 seconds to 9.58 seconds in less than 100 years.

Track events were measured with the metric system except for the the United Kingdom and the United States until 1965 and 1974 respectively. The Amateur Athletic Association (AAU) decided to switch track and field in the U.S. to the metric system to finally make track and field internationally equivalent. Before this, American athletes could only qualify for world records at international events and Olympic games.

Common distances
==== 60 meters ====


 * Normally run indoors, on a straight section of an indoor athletic track.
 * This is roughly the distance required for a human to reach maximum speed.
 * 60-meters is often 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 meters ====


 * Takes place on the straight of a standard outdoor 400 m track.
 * Often, the world-record holder in this race is considered "the world's fastest man/woman."
 * Primarily an outdoor race.

==== 200 meters ====


 * 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.
 * Competed both indoors and outdoors, with only slightly slower times than outdoors.

==== 400 meters ====


 * Runners are staggered in their starting positions to ensure that everyone runs the same distance.
 * Competed both indoors and outdoors, with only slightly slower times than outdoors.

==== 4x100 meter relay ====


 * Runners are staggered in their starting positions to ensure that everyone runs the same distance.
 * Runners use acceleration zones and exchange zones to pass a baton.

==== 4x400 meter relay ====


 * Runners are staggered in their starting positions to ensure that everyone runs the same distance.
 * Runners use exchange zones to pass a baton.
 * Typically the final race at track meets.

Uncommon/Historical distances
==== 50 meters / 55 meters ====


 * An uncommon event and alternative to the 60 meters.
 * Typically used because facilities may not have adequate room for the more traditional distance.

150 meters

 * An informal distance commonly used as an exhibition distance.

==== Stadion ====


 * Also known as the stade, was the standard short distance sprint in ancient Greece and ran the length of a stadium.
 * Stadiums could vary in size and there was apparently no definite standard length for them
 * the stadium at Delphi measures 178 m and the one at Pergamon 210 m.

==== 300 meters ====


 * An informal distance commonly used as an exhibition distance.

==== Diaulos ====


 * long distance sprint in the ancient Olympiads.
 * double the distance of the stadion.

Shoes
Typically, a sprinter would only need 2 types of shoes, training shoes and sprinting spikes.

Sprinting spikes are typically designed to be lightweight with minimal cushion on the heels and a plate on the forefoot to keep the runner on the toes of each foot. The spike plate will typically have the maximum number of holes for metal spikes be inserted in order to keep a proper grip on the track surface. These metal removable spikes also come in varying sizes. The spikes typically range from 4mm to 15mm, and come in different styles. Most facilities have specific requirements for what size and style spikes can be used.

Starting Blocks
Starting blocks are not a necessity, but are highly suggested for use in sprinting events. Starting blocks are a piece of equipment that typically consists of foot pads attached to a central rail. The point of using blocks is to help the athlete push themselves further down the track as quickly as possible.

=
Typical Block Start Set-up =====


 * Place heel on slightly on the starting line
 * Place the blocks in the center of the track approximately where your toe is.
 * The dominant foot will be in the front block. With the paddle being set at 45 degrees
 * The front block will be about 1 ¾-2 foot lengths from the starting line.
 * The non-dominant foot will be in the back block.  The paddle will be set as high as possible.
 * The back block will be set about 3-3 ½ foot lengths from the starting line.
 * It is important to note that the front block and back block are only about 1 foot length apart.
 * The toes should barely touch the ground.
 * Hands will be placed about shoulder width apart with the thumb and pointer finger slightly behind the line.
 * Arms should be in a straight position (locked or prepared to be locked at the elbows)
 * The arms will remain straight (if not locked at the elbows)
 * The hips will raise slightly above the shoulders (forcing the front half of the body to lean forward at about 45 degrees (slightly less).
 * A forward lean is optimal because it shifts most of the weight to the hands hands with minimal bend to the back.
 * The dominant leg should have about a 90 degree bend at the knee, while the non-dominant leg should be about 120 degrees
 * The arm on the dominant foot side will swing forward in an “exaggerated” fashion while the arm on the non-dominant side will swing backwards in the same fashion
 * The non-dominant foot will be the first step.
 * The non-dominant leg should come out with a long (within comfort’s range) stride, bringing the knee to a 90 degree position (separation of the foot and opposite leg’s knee about 2-2 ½ feet), approximately a 45 degree shin angle, and dorsiflexion with each stride.
 * Halfway before the first step lands, the “driving” position should have a straight line through the non-dominant ankle, knee, hips, shoulders, and head.

Baton
The baton is a required element for any relay race. The baton is passed to each athlete through different exchange zones, with different techniques. Typically about 1 foot long and 1.5 inches in diameter.

Stopwatches
used typically in training sessions to measure relative times and recovery times. Stopwatches are not always the most accurate way to measure times in a race setting,

Fully Automatic Timing / Gate Systems
Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) and gate systems are used to accurately measure races with results as accurate up to 1/1000th of a second.