Physiological Profile of High School Female Cross-Country Runners

In brief Height, weight, body density, percent body fat, lean body weight, selected skinfolds, girths, and somatotypes were determined for 72 high school female cross-country runners. The mean body fat (15.3%) was lower than the values typically reported for the female nonathlete in this age- group. This low percent body fat was reflected in the relatively low endomorph component of the total group. The average somatotype of these runners (2.8-3.2-4.0) supports the general concept that distance runners of various ages tend to be more linear and leaner than their nonrunning counterparts.