@article{3185668,
    title = "World-Class Male Sprinters and High Hurdlers Have Similar Start and
Initial Acceleration Techniques",
    author = "Bezodis, Ian N. and Brazil, Adam and von Lieres Und Wilkau, Hans C. and and Wood, Matthew A. and Paradisis, Giorgios P. and Hanley, Brian and and Tucker, Catherine B. and Pollitt, Lysander and Merlino, Stephane and and Vazel, Pierre-Jean and Walker, Josh and Bissas, Athanassios",
    journal = "Frontiers in Sports and Active Living",
    year = "2019",
    volume = "1",
    publisher = "Frontiers Media SA",
    doi = "10.3389/fspor.2019.00023",
    keywords = "acceleration; biomechanics; coordination; hurdles; kinematics; sprint
start; track and field; world championships",
    abstract = "The effect of the inclusion of a high hurdle 13.72 m after the start
line on elite sprint start and initial acceleration technique has yet to
be investigated or understood. This highly novel study addresses that
lack of information in an exceptional manner, through detailed
biomechanical analysis of the world's best sprint and hurdle athletes,
with data collected in situ at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships,
held in Birmingham, UK. High speed videos (150 Hz) were compared for
eight sprinters and seven hurdlers for the start and initial
acceleration phase of the finals of the men's 60 m and 60 m hurdles.
Temporal and kinematic data were supplemented by vector coding analysis
to investigate mechanisms by which these world-class athletes translate
their centres of mass (CM) up to the fourth touchdown post-block exit.
The sprinters and hurdlers coordinated their lower limb and trunk
movement in a similar manner throughout the start and initial
acceleration phases, which contributes new conceptual understanding of
the mechanisms that underpin start and initial acceleration performance.
Differences between groups were initiated from block set-up, with the
hurdlers utilising a larger block spacing, but with the front block
nearer to the start line than sprinters. Even after accounting for
stature, the biggest differences in the raising of the CM occurred
during the block phase, with hurdlers greater than sprinters (difference
in vertical CM displacement scaled to stature = -0.037, very large
effect size). Subsequent flight phases showed the biggest differences in
the translation of the CM, in part due to longer flight times in the
hurdlers, whilst the techniques of the two groups generally converged
during the ground contact phases of initial acceleration. In
highlighting that similar techniques are used by world-class sprinters
and hurdlers, despite differing task constraints, this study has
provided invaluable insights for scientists, coaches, and athletes, that
will inform further developments in understanding and practice across
both sprints and hurdles."
}