Which phase comes right after the reaction time in sprinting?

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Physical Education - 2025 Subject: Physical Education

Question 1 Report

Which phase comes right after the reaction time in sprinting?

 

Answer Details

In sprinting, the phase that comes immediately after the reaction time is the drive phase. The sequence of a sprint race is:

  1. Reaction time - the interval between the starter's gun and the sprinter's first movement out of the blocks. This is a purely neurological response, not a movement phase.
  2. Drive phase (also called the acceleration phase) - the sprinter pushes explosively out of the starting blocks, maintaining a low body angle (approximately 45 degrees) and driving powerfully with the legs. Each stride during this phase increases the sprinter's velocity. The drive phase typically lasts for the first 30-50 metres of a 100-metre race.
  3. Maximum velocity phase - the sprinter reaches and maintains top speed with an upright body position.
  4. Deceleration/finish phase - the sprinter's speed begins to decrease slightly in the final metres as fatigue sets in, and the athlete leans at the finish line.

There is no "relaxation phase" as a formal phase of sprinting. While sprinters must keep their upper body relaxed during the race to avoid wasting energy, this is a technique cue, not a named phase.

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