Dajé Austrie

Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Walstrom, Katherine

Area of Concentration

Natural Sciences

Abstract

This project involved a comparative analysis of the kinematic and kinetic factors that led to the 100-meter dash times recorded during the 2009 International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Berlin World Championships, most notably Usain Bolt’s world record-breaking performance of 9.58 seconds. By reviewing the biochemical factors involved in sprint performances, like muscle contraction and the ATP-PCr cycle, a better understanding of the biology involved in running was achieved. This serves to provide a more complete picture of the metabolism necessary to achieve performances like Bolt’s. By simultaneously analyzing the parameters most important in running performance (step frequency, step length, maximal force, maximum velocity, effective vertical stiffness, leg stiffness, vertical displacement of center of mass, ground contact time, flight time), a η value was found. Bolt was found to implement sprinting technique in a way that violated previously held conventions. Despite having a longer reaction time and longer ground contact time, he was able to break the world record. This result can be used in future analyses to predict exceptional performances in sprinting.

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