EQOL Journal (2023) 15(1): 11-18

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Relationship between reaction time and performance in the 60 m

hurdles at the 2022 World Indoor Championships

Milan Matić

✉ • Vladimir Mrdaković

Received: 17

February, 2023 DOI: 10.31382/eqol.230602

Accepted: 19

April, 2023

Abstract

Previous studies indicate that there is a large

influence of the starting reaction time (RT) on sprint

performance, but also that some recent changes in

athletic rules may affect this correlation. This study

aimed to examine the relationship between RT and

results in: men's (M60mH) and women's (W60mH)

disciplines 60 m over hurdles, 60 m hurdles in the

heptathlon (H), 60 m hurdles in the pentathlon (P) at

the recently held World Indoor Championship 2022

(WIC). The aim was also to determine whether there

are differences in RT between M60mH and

W60mH, M60mH and H, W60mH, and P, and

between H and P. The study included 170

competitors who competed at the WIC. Pearson's

linear correlation coefficient (r) was used for

correlation analysis, and the t-test for independent

samples was used to examine differences between

groups. A statistically significant correlation

(r=0.23, N=72, p=0.05) was found between the

results and RT in W60mH when observing the entire

sample of participants (r

= 5.29). Considering that

in H (r=0.42, N=10, p=0.23, r

=0.18) and P (r=0.54,

N=12, p=0.07, r

=0.29), a much higher correlation

was obtained between results and RT than in

competitors in the 60 m hurdles event, we believe

that this is a consequence of different athletic rules

that refer to a false start. There are no significant

differences between RT for M60mH and W60mH,

M60mH and H, W60mH, and P, and between H and

P. Coaches should pay attention to developing all

parts of the sprint race, including the reaction time.

Keywords sprint • heptathlon • pentathlon •

athletic rules.

Introduction

A sprint is a short-distance race consisting of start

reaction time (RT), acceleration, maximum speed,

endurance speed, and finish (Widodo, 2023). The

results in these disciplines are exact and represent

the maximum individual capabilities in terms of

technical, tactical, and motor-physiological

potentials (Pavlović, 2021).

The RT is a relevant variable in areas such as

sports and other activities of daily life (Sant’Ana

et al., 2016). It can be defined as the time that

elapses from when a stimulus appears until a

response is given and is considered a good

measure to assess the capacity of the cognitive

system to process information (Kuang, 2017). The

RT depends on the speed of the sensorimotor

cycle, composed of the detection of the initial

stimulus, transfer of the information through the

afferent nerves, generation of the response from

the central nervous system, and response of the

effector (Greenhouse et al., 2017).

The RT is especially associated with the CNS

processing times as measured from the onset of the

stimulus to the onset of muscle activity (Janssen,

2015). For example, mechanical perturbations

elicit goal-directed responses as little as 100 ms

(Nashed et al., 2014). Although there is scientific

evidence that a conscious (not reflexive) RT can

be less than 100 ms, according to the International

Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) co-

✉

milan.matic@fsfv.bg.ac.rs

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Sports and

Physical Education, Belgrade, Serbia

EQOL Journal (2023) 15(1): 11-18

mpetition rules, an RT under 100 ms is considered a

false start.

According to today's athletic rules, a false start is

not allowed. Previously (until January 1

, 2010),

according to the athletic rules, one false start was

allowed, after which none of the competitors was

disqualified. A bad start is one of the factors that can

be a disruptive factor in the overall ranking, and the

fastest RT in the sprint was recorded by Tim

Montgomery (0.104 s, which was achieved when one

false start was allowed in the race according to the

athletic rules) back in 2002 (Pavlović, 2021).

In the research of Tonnessen et al. (2013), the

association of RT at the world championships from

2003 to 2009 was examined, and statistically

significant correlations were obtained between RT

and the results achieved in races. A shorter RT has a

positive effect on the acceleration and continuity of

speed in the 60 m sprint, which was confirmed by

previous research (Gürses & Kamis, 2018). The RT

of male sprinters is shorter than that of female

sprinters in the disciplines 100, 200, and 400m among

analyzed competitors from the world championships

in athletics in the period from 2001 to 2019 (Pavlović,

2021).

This study aimed to examine the relationship

between RT and results in: men's (M60mH) and

women's (W60mH) disciplines 60 m over hurdles, 60

m hurdles in the heptathlon (H), 60 m hurdles in the

pentathlon (P). Furthermore, the aim was also to

determine whether there are differences in RT

between M60mH and W60mH, M60mH and H,

W60mH, and P, and between H and P.

Method

Participants

The study included 170 competitors (76 men and 72

women competing in the 60 m hurdles event, 10

heptathletes, and 12 pentathletes) who competed at

the World Indoor Championships held in Belgrade in

2022. Their achieved results and RT were analyzed.

The results and RT are taken from the official IAAF

website

https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-

athletics-indoor-championships/world-athletics-

indoor-championships-

7138985/timetable/bydiscipline.

For the realization of the research, the results and RT

achieved by all participants, participants in the

qualifying, semi-final, and final races in the discipline

of running 60 m over hurdles for men and women

were used. Also, the results and RT achieved in

running 60 m over hurdles for heptathletes and

pentathletes were used.

Statistical procedures

The results were processed using standard

descriptive, correlational, and comparative statistical

procedures. Central and dispersion parameters were

calculated from descriptive statistics for each

variable: arithmetic mean (A) and standard deviation

(SD). Data distribution was done using the

Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (p>0.05). Pearson's linear

correlation coefficient (r) was used for correlation

analysis. Before using the r, preliminary analyses

were performed to examine the normality and

linearity of variance. The extreme points were

determined by a rectangular diagram (boxplot).

Values of r in the ranges from 0.10 to 0.29 were

considered low, from 0.30 to 0.49 moderate, and

above 0.50 high. (Cohen, 1988). To determine how

much of the variance of the two variables is shared,

the coefficient of determination (r

) was calculated.

The r

was also calculated when no statistically

significant correlation was obtained if r>0.29

(according to Cohen 1988, correlation coefficient

values of 0.30 are considered moderate correlations).

Given that in some groups the number of athletes is

small (final groups or the total number of participants

in the pentathlon is 12 athletes), a statistically

significant correlation was not obtained even when

r=0.54. Differences between the RT of M60mH and

W60mH, M60mH and H, W60mH, and P, and

between H and P were determined using the t-test for

independent samples. Statistical processing was

performed in the program (SPSS 21.0; Chicago, IL).

Results

The number of subjects (N), A, SD, minimum (Min),

and maximum (Max) of the RT values are shown in

Table 1.

EQOL Journal (2023) 15(1): 11-18

Table 1. Descriptive statistics of the RT (presented in seconds) in the disciplines of 60 m hurdles for M60mH, W60mH,

H, P

Variable

Men

Women

Мin

Max

Мin

Max

60 m H all

0.14

0.02

0.11

0.21

0.14

0.02

0.11

0.19

60 m H qual

0.14

0.02

0.11

0.18

0.14

0.02

0.11

0.19

60 m H sfin_fin

0.14

0.02

0.12

0.21

0.14

0.02

0.11

0.17

Heptathlon

0.14

0.02

0.12

0.18

Pentathlon

0.14

0.03

0.11

0.21

Note: 60 m H all: all competitors who participated in the men's/women's competition in the discipline of 60 m hurdles;

60 m H qual: competitors who participated in the qualifying men's/women's 60 m hurdles races; 60 m H sfin_fin:

competitors who participated in the semi-final and final men's/women's 60 m hurdles races

In the finals of the 60 m hurdles race, the gold

medal was won by Grant Holloway, who achieved the

second RT time in the final race, which was 151 ms,

the fastest RT was 142 ms, and the slowest was 207

ms. In the women's competition, the gold medal was

won by Cyréna Samba-Mayela, and in the final race,

she also achieved the second RT time in the value of

119 ms. The fastest RT was 108 ms, and the slowest

was 169 ms. Among the pentathletes, Noor Vidts had

the best result in the 60 m hurdles with an RT of 127

ms. The fastest RT time among pentathletes was 108

ms, and the slowest was 209 ms. Damian Warner had

the best result in the 60 m hurdles with an RT of 133

ms in heptathletes. The fastest RT was 122 ms, and

the slowest was 177 ms.

Table 2. Descriptive statistics of the results (presented in seconds) in the disciplines of 60 m hurdles for M60mH,

W60mH, H, P

Variable

Men

Women

Мin

Max

Мin

Max

60 m H all

7.67

0.14

7.29

8.07

8.09

0.15

7.78

8.65

60 m H qual

7.74

0.13

7.40

8.07

8.15

0.15

7.91

8.65

60 m H sfin_fin

7.59

0.09

7.29

7.75

8.02

0.13

7.78

8.22

Heptathlon

8.04

0.26

7.61

8.41

Pentathlon

8.40

0.20

8.15

8.76

Note: 60 m H all: all competitors who participated in the men's/women's competition in the discipline of 60 m hurdles;

60 m H qual: competitors who participated in the qualifying men's/women's 60 m hurdles races; 60 m H sfin_fin:

competitors who participated in the semi-final and final men's/women's 60 m hurdles races

Table 3 shows the r between the results and RT of

all competitors in the male or female categories,

competitors in the qualifying, semi-final, and final

races in the 60 m hurdles, and the heptathlon and

pentathlon categories.