Slide 1: Hello everyone.
My name is Franco, and today I’ll guide you through the phases of a
100-meter sprint. We’ll look at how sprinters prepare, how the race develops, and a few details
you may not have noticed before.
Slide 2:Have you ever wondered why sprinters lean forward at the start of a race, why they run
tall later on, or even why some drag their toes? Today we’ll explore the technical details that
answer these questions.
Slide 3: The race begins at the starting blocks. Athletes position their feet to generate maximum
power. The front block is set two foot-lengths from the start line, and the back block three
foot-lengths behind it. It’s important to remember that this is just a general guideline, as each
athlete is different and will adjust the blocks to their own body and comfort.
Slide 4: After the blocks are set, the sprinter stands behind them patiently. On the command 'On
your marks,' they place their hands just behind the line. The next command is 'Set.' At this point,
they lift their hips to create a 90-degree angle with their front knee and a 120-degree angle with
their back knee. At the same time, the athlete inhales and holds the breath to keep the torso
rigid.
Slide 5: Once the sprinter is in the 'Set' position, the starting pistol is usually fired after one to
two seconds.
Slide 6: Elite athletes react to the gun in about thirteen to eighteen hundredths of a second. If
the system records a reaction faster than a tenth of a second, it counts as a false start, and the
athlete is immediately disqualified.
Slide 7: After the reaction, comes the block clearance and early drive. The sprinter’s body stays
low while achieving triple extension, and the goal is to push backward against the track, rather
than reaching forward.
Slide 8: Another key technical point at the start is the body angle in the first steps. The foot
should land under, or just behind, the center of mass which is located at the hips. This way, the
athlete doesn’t need to wait for the hips to move forward before pushing, which makes the stride
more efficient.
Slide 9: Some sprinters appear to drag their feet along the track during the first one or two
steps. Does this really serve a purpose?
Slide 10 & 11: The idea behind toe drag is that the quickest path from point A to point B is a
straight line, so the sprinter tries to move the foot forward faster. However, it can create
problems like friction with the track, which slows you down, or even tripping. The best advice is
to keep the foot close to the ground, and if you drag, make it very slight.
Slide 12: Acceleration is basically the same running action I’ve already described, but with one
key difference: during this phase the athlete is slowly rising into an upright position. At each step
the body angle increases, stride length and frequency increase together, and the sprinter
gradually moves from a low, powerful drive to a tall, efficient posture that prepares for maximum
velocity.
Slide 13: Here we compare the body position in the drive phase with the position at maximum
velocity.
Slide 14: From around 30 meters onwards, the mechanics stay the same. That’s why many
coaches say you need to be fast but also patient. Most sprinters reach top speed at about 60
meters, and usually maintain it until about 80 meters, before deceleration begins.
Slide 15: Here’s an important technical detail of this phase: at touchdown, unlike in the start and
drive, the foot should land directly under, or slightly in front of, the center of mass. The torso
shouldn’t be completely upright; keeping a slight forward lean helps maintain momentum.
Slide 16: Last but not least, we have the lean. This is when the athlete inclines the torso
forward, breaking ideal sprinting mechanics. It’s used either to record the best possible time or
to overtake an opponent in a very close race.
Slide 17: Here we have an example of this silly boy who didn’t lean because he thought he
would win — and ended up losing the race by 0.01 seconds.
Slide 18: Let me ask you a question. How does the photo finish system decide when an athlete
has crossed the finish line?
Option A: when a foot touches or crosses the line.
Option B: when the trunk crosses the line.
Option C: when any part of the body crosses the line.
Or option D: when the entire body has already gone past the line.
I’ll have to choose someone at random if no hands go up.
Slide 19: The correct answer is B. The official rule is that the torso must cross the line. Arms,
legs, and the head don’t count — which is why sprinters dip with the chest at the finish.
Slide 20: No questions? I hope you enjoyed this presentation and learned something new about
the 100-meter race.
