Mechanical factors contributing to breaking the 10-s barrier in the 100-m dash

Abstract

The primary aim of the current study was to compare the sprint mechanical characteristics of sixteen world-class male sprinters ─eight with 100 m dash times under 10 s (U10s) and eight with times over 10 s (O10s)─ during the 100 m World Championships finals. A secondary aim was to examine the mechanical determinants of sprint acceleration that influence 100 m performance. Sprint mechanical variables ─including theoretical maximal horizontal force (F0), theoretical maximal horizontal velocity (v0), maximal horizontal power output (Pmax), efficiency of horizontal force application (RFpeak), and the rate of decrease in ratio of forces during the acceleration phase (DRF)─ were obtained for each sprinter using the distance–time curves from the publicly available biomechanics reports by World Athletics, covering the period from the 1987 World Championships in Rome to the 2017 World Championships in London. The results of the study revealed that U10s sprinters were able to develop significantly (p < 0.05) higher values of Pmax (Mean Difference (MD): 1.25 ± 0.4 W·kg−1) and RFpeak (MD = 1.00 ± 0.3 %) than O10s sprinters. Furthermore, both the Pmax and RFpeak variables are significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the overall 100 m performance (r = 0.72, r = 0.70, respectively). Overall, the study highlights the importance of developing key horizontal mechanical capabilities, specifically Pₘₐₓ and RFₚₑₐₖ, to optimize sprint performance at the elite level. Coaches and practitioners should prioritize targeted training methods that enhance these specific mechanical properties to improve the sprint acceleration phase and overall 100 m outcomes.