Sex differences in human running performance: smaller gaps at shorter distances?

Abstract

Sex performance differences for sprint running bursts are small (<6%), but widen as the distance sprinted increases (range: 5.6%–14.2%). The distance dependency identified here for sprinting differs from the prevailing literature view of between-sex performance differences for the human running of 10%–12% regardless of distance. The variable sprint margins observed reflect the relative performance benefits shorter females have for brief, acceleration-dependent efforts versus those taller males have for longer steadier-speed sprint efforts.