Interaction of Step Length and Step Rate during Sprint Running

Abstract

Leg length, height of takeoff, and vertical velocity of takeoff are all possible sources of a negative interaction between step length and step rate. The very high step lengths and step rates achieved by elite sprinters may be possible only by a technique that involves a high horizontal and low vertical velocity of takeoff. However, a greater vertical velocity of takeoff might be of advantage when an athlete is fatigued and struggling to maintain a high step rate.