The relationship between the maximal intermittent running test, track sprinting and different sports

The purpose of this study was three-fold: 1) to assess the relationship between a maximal intermittent running test (MIRT; n x 20 s, each run at increasing intensities, with 100 s passive recovery between runs until exhaustion) and sprint performance on the track, 2) to examine whether the MIRT was able to distinguish between groups of subjects from different sports, 3) to examine whether the MIRT was sensitive to performance differences in groups of athletes from different track disciplines. In part 1, 14 male athletes performed the MIRT and field tests over distances of 100 m, 200 m, 400 m and 800 m during a 3 week period. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between performance in the MIRT and 400 m time, 200 m time and 100 m time (r = -0.94, r = -0.88 and r = -0.82, respectively, P< 0.001). The 800 m times displayed less of an association (r = -0.75, P< 0.01). Part 2 of this study comprised 61 males who were from four distinct groups: a) 12 recreationally active individuals (RA), b) 19 generally endurance-trained individuals (ET), c) 8 competitive games players (GP) and d) 22 competitive track athletes (TA). A one-way ANOVA revealed differences (P< 0.001) in MIRT performance between the RA (135 ± 6 s) and the groups of ET (155 ± 3 s), GP (167 ± 3 s) and TA (172 ± 5 s). The TA also had better performances (P < 0.001) than the group of ET. Part 3 of this study comprised 22 male TA. Three distinct groups were identified: a) 5 sprinters (S), 2) 9 middle-distance runners (MDR) and c) 8 distance runners (DR). No differences were found in the MIRT performance between the S (186 ± 5 s) and MDR (182 ± 5 s), but both these groups displayed better running performances than the DR (152 ± 4 s, P< 0.001). These findings indicate that the MIRT performance is strongly correlated with sprint times on the track, especially the 400 m event and the MIRT is able to differentiate between groups of individuals from different types of sport and between sprinters and middle distance runners compared to distance runners.