FORCES AT THE FRONT AND REAR BLOCKS DURING THE SPRINT START

Abstract

Five male sprinters (mean ± SO: age 21.0 ± 0.5 years; height 1.80 ± 0.07 m; body weight 763 ± 29 N) started a sprint using different combinations of front and rear block angles. The vertical and horizontal forces at the front block were significantly greater with the 300 block than with the 400 or 500 blocks, and sprint speed using the 300 front block was significantly higher over 10m and 5m than with 400 or 500 (P<0.05). The greatest overall mean force for both blocks occurred using the 300 front block and the 500 rear block, followed by the 400front block angle and 500 rear block angle. The 500 rear block gave the greatest vertical and horizontal force with the front at 30°, 400, and 50°. Acorrelation of 0.81 was found between front block force and sprint time (P<0.05).