Anthropometric characteristics and 20-m sprint times among Malaysian University athletes

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric characteristics of the Malaysian University level athletes and to explore potential relationships between the anthropometric measures and 20-m linear sprint performance. Method: Forty male Malaysian University level athletes associated with Malaysian Universities and regularly competing in state level competitions took part in the study. Anthropometric measurements were performed for body mass, stature, 8 skinfold sites, 3 girths, and 2 breadths. Somatotype, body fat % and sum of skinfolds were calculated. A 20-m linear sprint test was performed to assess acceleration and running speed. Results: The pairwise comparison analysis revealed that throwers had significant differences in endomorphy with athletes competing in sprinting, karate, and middle distance (p ˂ 0.05), in mesomorphy with athletes competing in long distance, middle distance, sprinters, footballers and karate (p ˂ 0.05), and in ectomorphy with athletes competing in middle distance and karate. The Pearson correlation coefficient between Body Fat Percent and Sprint Time was found to be 0.374 (p = 0.025, two-tailed), indicating a statistically significant positive correlation between the two variables. Conclusion: Physique is highly correlated with the physical characteristics and the development of the athletic functions required in each sport and is a determinant of success. Body fat percentage influences the ability of an individual to accelerate and run maximally.