The Relationship between Selected Physical Fitness Variables with the Performance of Ethiopian Junior Sprinters and Middle Distance Athletes Across Genders

Abstract

the present study has seriously made an attempt to discover the relationship between selected physical fitness variables with the performance of Ethiopian junior sprinters and middle distance athletes across Genders. The subjects for the present study consisted of 240 sprinters and middle distance athletes 14-20 years of age. For the purpose of the study, the total population have been included from three different athletics centres. To achieve the objectives of the present study, moments of Pearson correlation have been used. From the results it has been found that, 40m sprint speed has a positive relationship with 100m best performance for male and female athletes. However, sit and reach have a positive but broad jump has a negative correlation with female 100m best performance. Speed endurance was significantly correlated positively with 400m best performance for male athletes. However, wall squat sit has a negative and 40m speed test has a positive but both had a significant correlation with the performance of female athletes. 40m speed and 300m speed endurance have negative and significant correlation with male 800m performance. Whereas, only 300m speed endurance has a significant positive relationship with 800m best performance of female runner. Wall squat sit is found to be significantly correlated negatively to 1500m performance of male athletes. Other physical fitness variables have no correlation. However, none of the physical fitness variables used in this study have a relationship with the best performance of female athletes.