The frequency and performance trends of European countries in the U18 and U20 rankings for 1500 m and 3000 m between 2009-2020

Abstract

We purpose to determine the nationality of the European middle-distance athletes under 18 years (U18) and under 20 years (U20) during the last decade, to verify the participation trend for each country, and to assess whether the place of competition can be associated with the athletes ranking position. The sample comprised 902 European male runners, ranked among the best finishers from 2009 to 2020. The athletes were divided into two categories (n_U18 ​= ​266; and n_U20 ​= ​636) of two distances (n_{1 500 ​m} ​= ​397; n_{3 000 ​m} ​= ​505). The Mantel test was used for participation trend and the Chi-square test (χ²) was used to verify differences between the ranking position and the place of competition. For both distances, the highest number of athletes were from Spain (n = 127), followed by Turkey (n = 62) and Great Britain (n = 50). No significant trends were shown for most of the countries, in both distances. A positive trend was shown for Slovenia (i.e., 3000 ​m) over the years. A non-significant association was verified between the countries and the ranking position, as non-significant differences were proved for the place of competition. This information may be useful to guide athlete development programs in each country.

Keywords

Young athletes / Track and field / Middle-distance / Performance

References

[[1]] A. Casado, B. Hanley, L.M. Ruiz-Perez. Deliberate practice in training differentiates the best Kenyan and Spanish long-distance runners. Eur J Sport Sci, 20 (7) ( 2020), pp. 887-895, DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2019.1694077

[[2]] Z. Puthucheary, J.R.A. Skipworth, J. Rawal, M. Loosemore, K.V. Someren, H.E. Montgomery. Genetic influences in sport and physical performance. Sports Med, 41 (10) ( 2011), pp. 845-859

[[3]] H. Degens, A. Stasiulis, A. Skurvydas, B. Statkeviciene, T. Venckunas. Physiological comparison between non-athletes, endurance, power and team athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol, 119 (6) ( 2019), pp. 1377-1386, DOI: 10.1007/s00421-019-04128-3

[[4]] M.J. Joyner. Physiological limits to endurance exercise performance: influence of sex. J Physiol, 595 (9) ( 2017), pp. 2949-2954, DOI: 10.1113/JP272268

[[5]] J. Cote, D.J. Macdonald, J. Baker, B. Abernethy. When "where" is more important than "when": birthplace and birthdate effects on the achievement of sporting expertise. J Sports Sci, 24 (10) ( 2006), pp. 1065-1073, DOI: 10.1080/02640410500432490

[[6]] N.N. Rossing, D. Stentoft, A. Flattum, J. Côté, D.S. Karbing. Influence of population size, density, and proximity to talent clubs on the likelihood of becoming elite youth athlete. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 28 (3) ( 2018), pp. 1304-1313, DOI: 10.1111/sms.13009

[[7]] V. Onywera, R.A. Scott, M.K. Boit, Y.P. Pitsiladis. Demographic characteristics of elite Kenyan endurance runners. J Sports Sci, 24 (4) ( 2006), pp. 415-422, DOI: 10.1080/02640410500189033

[[8]] T.J. Noble, R.F. Chapman. Marathon specialization in elites: a head start for africans. Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 13 (1) ( 2020), pp. 102-106, DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2017-0069

[[9]] A. Casado, B. Hanley, J. Santos-Concejero, L.M. Ruiz-Perez. World-class long-distance running performances are best predicted by volume of easy runs and deliberate practice of short-interval and tempo runs. J Strength Condit Res, 35 (9) ( 2021), pp. 2525-2531, DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003176

[[10]] M. Thuany, T.N. Gomes, T. Rosemann, B. Knechtle, R.F. de Souza.No trends in the age of peak performance among the best half-marathoners and marathoners in the world between1997-2020. Medicina, 57 (5) ( 2021), p. 409, DOI: 10.3390/medicina57050409

[[11]] P.T. Nikolaidis, V. Onywera, B. Knechtle. Running performance, nationality, sex, and age in the 10-km, half-marathon, marathon, and the 100-km ultramarathon IAAF 1999-2015. J Strength Condit Res, 31 (8) ( 2017), pp. 2189-2207, DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001687

[[12]] P.A. Santos, C.V. Sousa, S. da Silva Aguiar, et al.. Human development index and the frequency of nations in Athletics world rankings. Article. Sport Sci Health, 15 (2) ( 2019), pp. 393-398, DOI: 10.1007/s11332-019-00529-1

[[13]] S.A. Vella, D.P. Cliff, A.D. Okely.Socio-ecological predictors of participation and dropout in organised sports during childhood. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Activ, 11 ( 2014), p. 62, DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-11-62

[[14]] J. Bale, J. Sang. Kenyan Running: Movement Culture, Geography and Global Change. Routledge ( 1996)

[[15]] E. Said. Development underdevelopment, resistance. J. Bale, J. Sang (Eds.), Kenyan Running - Movement Culture, Geography and Global Change, Routledge ( 1997)

[[16]] M. Thuany, T. Gomes, E. Villiger, et al.. Trends in participation, sex differences and age of peak performance in time-limited ultramarathon events: a secular analysis. Medicina, 58 (3) ( 2022), p. 366, DOI: 10.3390/medicina58030366

[[17]] V. Scheer, C.V. Sousa, D. Valero, B. Knechtle, P.T. Nikolaidis, E. Valero. A descriptive study on health, training and social aspects of adults that participated in ultra endurance running as youth athletes. J Sports Med Phys Fit ( 2020), DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.20.11198-8

[[18]] B. Knechtle, A. Aschmann, V. Onywera, P.T. Nikolaidis, T. Rosemann, C.A. Rüst. Performance and age of african and non-african runners in world marathon majors races 2000-2014. J Sports Sci, 35 (10) ( 2017), pp. 1012-1024, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1209302

[[19]] M. Weippert, M. Petelczyc, C. Thürkow, M. Behrens, S. Bruhn. Individual performance progression of German elite female and male middle-distance runners. Eur J Sport Sci, 21 (3) ( 2021), pp. 293-299, DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2020.1736182

[[20]] I. Deelen, M. Janssen, S. Vos, C.B.M. Kamphuis, D. Ettema.Attractive running environments for all? A cross-sectional study on physical environmental characteristics and runners' motives and attitudes, in relation to the experience of the running environment. BMC Publ Health, 19 (1) ( 2019), p. 366, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6676-6

[[21]] A. Tcymbal, P. Gelius, K. Abu-Omar, et al.. Development of national physical activity recommendations in 18 EU member states: a comparison of methodologies and the use of evidence. BMJ Open, 11 (4) ( 2021), p. e041710, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041710

[[22]] M. Thuany, S. Pereira, L. Hill, et al.. Where are the best European road runners and what are the country variables related to it?. Sustainability, 13 (14) ( 2021), p. 7781, DOI: 10.3390/su13147781

[[23]] J. Seguí-Urbaneja, E. Inglés, S. Alcaraz, V. De Bosscher. Sport pyramid metaphor: trickle down and up effect in Spain. Rev Int Med Cienc Act Fís Deporte., 20 (77) ( 2020), pp. 1-20, DOI: 10.15366/rimcafd2020.77.001

[[24]] V. De Bosscher, P. Sotiriadou, M. van Bottenburg. Scrutinizing the sport pyramid metaphor: an examination of the relationship between elite success and mass participation in Flanders. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 5 (3) ( 2013), pp. 319-339, DOI: 10.1080/19406940.2013.806340

[[25]] Andersen JJ. The state of running 2019. RunRepeat. 21 September, 2021. Accessed 10 October, 2022.

[[26]] J. Scheerder, K. Breedveld, J. Borgers. Running across Europe - the Rise and Size of One of the Largest Sport Markets. Palgrave Macmillan ( 2015)

[[27]] Andersen JJ. Marathon Statistics 2019 Worldwide (Research). RunRepeat. 6 August, 2021. Accessed 10 October, 2022.

[[28]] M. Reusser, C.V. Sousa, E. Villiger, et al.. Increased participation and decreased performance in recreational master athletes in "berlin marathon" 1974-2019. Front Physiol, 12 ( 2021), p. 631237, DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.631237

[[29]] Beáta Dobay M. Banhidi. Sport tourism development in Slovakia Dezvoltarea turismului sportiv în Slovacia. Palestrica of the third millennium - Civilization and Sport, 13 (1) ( 2012), pp. 19-22

[[30]] J.P. Jamieson. The home field advantage in Athletics: a meta-analysis. J Appl Soc Psychol, 40 (7) ( 2010), pp. 1819-1848, DOI: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2010.00641.x

[[31]] R. Pollard. Home advantage in football: a current review of an unsolved puzzle. Open Sports Sci J, 1 ( 2008), pp. 12-14