engleski

Reaction time and sprint result in athletics

Athletic sprint races begin with athletes’ reaction to the start signal. Reaction time is therefore an integrative part of overall race time or result. Reaction time values, even though very small, can differentiate athletes’ performance results and their competitive quality. The purpose of this research was to determine reaction time characteristics for every sprint event and their competitive levels (qualifications, semifinals, finals) at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and, consequently, to determine differences in reaction time between sprint events, as well as between competitive levels of every sprint event. The sample of subjects included 250 female athletes who performed in athletic sprint events at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The results showed statistically significant differences in reaction time among different sprint events. Although for most sprint events no statistically significant differences in reaction times among their competitive levels were found, certain differences were established among certain competitive levels of the sprint events 100 m flat, 400 m flat and 100 m hurdles. For the events 100 m flat and 400 m flat the differences showed negative trend of reaction time, while for the event 100 m hurdles that trend was positive. Therefore, reaction time might be considered as one of possible determinants of athletes’ competitive quality.

athletics, sprint eveents, reaction time, women, competitive quality, Olimpic Games

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