PhD R.N. Volodinˡ
Dr. Hab., Associate Professor V.D. Kryazhev²
PhD, Associate Professor V.M. Skudnov3
ˡBranch of the Military Academy of Logistics, Penza
²Federal Science Center of Physical Culture and Sport (VNIIFK), Moscow
³Penza State University, Penza

Keywords: sprinting, maximum running speed, running step parameters, the strongest sprinters in the world, student runners.

Introduction. Improving sports equipment requires knowledge about the trends of its changes to improve athletic performance.
The purpose of the study is to determine the differences in the parameters of the running step of the maximum running speed of students and the strongest sprinters in the world.
Methodology and organization of the study. 9 students-sprinters of the first and second sports categories aged 19-21 years (height 181.3±2.9 cm, weight 69.7±4.8 kg) in the competitive period took part in testing, including running at a distance of 3 times 20 m at a run. The running time was recorded using the contactless Freelap system with an accuracy of 0.02 seconds. The parameters of the running step were determined based on the use of high-speed video recording with a frequency of 240 frames per second and on the basis of video recording processing in the VisualEyes mobile application. The best result out of three attempts was recorded. The average value of two running steps was taken when pushing off from the right and left legs.
The parameters of the running step of the strongest sprinters were obtained from the report of the biomechanical study of the finalists' 100 m running at the 2017 World Athletics Championships [1].
The results of the study and their discussion. The greatest difference in the studied parameters is observed in the amount of support time (Top) – 17.9%, which largely determines the higher running speed of the world's strongest sprinters (by 20.4%), compared with student runners. A significant reduction in support time and a slight decrease in flight time (Tpol) by 7% determines a 12.2% higher frequency of running steps (F-step) of the finalists of the World Championship. The running step of the strongest sprinters is on average 16 cm longer (by 7.2%).
Calculations show that students and the strongest runners in the world walk approximately the same path in support (1.03 and 1.07 m, respectively). The distance traveled in flight by world-class runners is noticeably longer (1.34 and 1.18 m, respectively), due to the higher running speed.
Conclusions. To increase the maximum running speed, it is necessary to choose those training tools that, first of all, lead to a reduction in support time and an increase in the pace of running.

References

1. Bissas A., Walker J., Tucker C., Paradisis G., Merlino S. Biomechanical report for the IAAF World Championships in London / 2017. https://www.iaaf.org/about-iaaf/documents/research#collapse2017-iaaf-wor...