Body build and performance characteristics of male adolescent track and field athletes

Body build and performance characteristics were studied in 38 elite young male track and field athletes. The athletes were classed into 4 groups depending on their chosen event: Sprinters/Hurdlers (SPR), Jumpers (JUMP), Throwers (THR) and middle distance runners (MD). Performance characteristics investigated were vertical jump (VJ), the Margaria stair run (MARG) and the Wingate Test (WING). Analysis of variance results showed THR to be significantly different from other groups in body build and MD to be significantly different from other groups in performance characteristics. Further investigation revealed that in the 4 groups studied, body weight and vertical jump height are 2 simple measures of differentiating between event participation.