Early Success is not a Prerequisite for Success at the Adult Age in Spanish Sprinters

Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe the relationship between success in junior categories and success in the senior category, in sprint events. An observational and longitudinal analysis was carried out using the rankings of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation database. We analysed 547 sprinters (238 women and 309 men) from their U14 to their senior stage who ranked in top-20 on at least one occasion during the period 2004 to 2021. The first entry in top-20 occurs mostly in U14 (44.4%, 243), and the frequency is progressively lower: 26.7% (146) in U16; 20.8% (114) in U18; 5.1% (28) in U20; 2% (11) in U23; and 0.9% (5) in senior. A similar tendency was observed in male and female athletes. Only 3,8% (9) of top-20 U14 athletes reached the senior elite, increasing this percentage in subsequent categories: 7.4% (15) in U16; 10.6% (24) in U18; 20.9% (32) in U20; and 31.4% (32) from U23 to senior. Data from female athletes showed higher maintenance of top-20 status from early categories to senior age. We conclude that even though the first entry into the national top-20 in sprint events occurs early in most cases, success in these initial stages is not a prerequisite for reaching top-20 positions in the senior category.