The purpose of this study was to use observational analysis to evaluate the relationships between variables
measured at the start of the men’s 110 hurdles event and race performance itself. Data were obtained for
competitors in 2015 IAAF World Athletics Ch
ampionships, in Beijing, China. The athletes’ start was quantified
by reaction time and time to the first hurdle; their action over the first hurdle was quantified by the take
-
off
distance (i.e., the distance from the last step to the first hurdle), the la
nding distance, and the total distance
in the air over the first hurdle. Regression analyses revealed that the combination of one measure of the start
(either reaction time or time to the first hurdle) and the measure of propulsion over the first hurdle (d
istance
in air over the first hurdle) predicted performance (SEE = 0.23 s in the heats, SEE = 0.16 s in the semi
-
finals,
SEE = 0.09 s in the finals). In addition, looking at performances in the finals, where all athletes with available
data used a seven
-
st
ep approach to the first hurdle, inclusion of stride length data improved the prediction
somewhat (SEE = 0.07 s). The results demonstrate that a combination of a fast start, rapid acceleration, and
strong drive over the first hurdle quantifiably explains a
nd contributes to performance in the men’s 110 m hurdles at the highest level
