Track and Field Technical Analysis

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Introduction
Track and field is a sport that contains many different disciplines, including track sprints, track distance races, and field events, which include javelin throwing and pole-vaulting, among others. While predominantly an individual sport (except for relay races), in high school athletics, track and field athletes earn points based on their finishes toward an overall team score. Each athlete in each event should perform their best for two reasons: their individual result and their team score.
Running and walking, while they seem similar, are two different modes of movement. Running is ballistic in which there are two phases: (1) a flight phase (also known as a recovery phase) with no contact with the ground, and (2) a support phase when one leg is on the ground (Plisk, 2008). This differs from walking, as there is no flight phase.
Even within running there are two different disciplines. Distance running is at slower speeds and requires great focus on economy of movement, whereas sprinting is at maximal speeds with little focus on economy (Bushnell & Hunter, 2007). Because of the differing goals of these types of running, the techniques of distance running and sprinting are unique. A more acute hip angle is noticed with sprinters when compared with distance runners, because of the need to limit ground contact time, which is a braking force, during a sprint (Bushnell & Hunter, 2007). In a sprint (or any race, for that matter), the goal is to finish as quickly as possible. By limiting the amount of time in the support phase, the time braking is diminished.
A race is scored by the amount of time it takes an athlete to cover the pre-described distance. Typically, the time is measured from the starting gun to t...

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...ance runners at equal and maximal speeds. Sports Biomechanics, 6(3), 261-268.
Fletcher, I. (2009). Biomechanical aspects of spring running. Professional strength and conditioning. 16, 20-23. Retrieved from http://www.uksca.org.uk/uksca/RelatedFiles/ sprint%20running.pdf
Harrison, A. J. (2010, July). Biomechanical factors in sprint training: where science meets coaching. International Symposium of Biomechanics in Sports. Retrieved from https://ojs.ub.uni-konstanz.de/cpa/article/viewFile/4375/4067
Plisk S. S. (2008). Speed, agility, and speed-endurance development. In Baechle, T. R. & Earle, R. W. (Eds.), Essentials of strength and conditioning (pp. 457-485). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Potach, D. H. & Chu, D. A. (2008). Plyometic training. In Baechle, T. R. & Earle, R. W. (Eds.), Essentials of strength and conditioning (pp. 413-446). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

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