Intraindividual Evaluation of Reaction Time at the Women’s World Athletics Championships 1999 – 2019

Summary The aim of the article was the intraindividual evaluation of reaction time at the Women’s World Athletics Championships from 1999 to 2019.We generated the rating of sprinters from the age point of view with comparison of two periods with different false start rules. In the result section, we analysed the sprinters that took part at World Championships (WCH) at least 3 times and appeared in the final. We assessed the reaction speed from the ageing point of view, or more precisely with the changing conditions when judging the false start. The results confirm that the stricter start judging rules in sprint disciplines did not have a significant influence on the reaction speed. We also confirmed a research that the sprinters older than 30 years can achieve very low reaction time at the start.

Migrating silver eels return from the sea to the river of origin after a false start

The European eel's singular spawning migration from European waters towards the Sargasso Sea remains elusive, including the early phase of migration at sea. During spawning migration, the movement of freshwater resident eels from river to sea has been thought to be irreversible. We report the first recorded incidents of eels returning to the river of origin after spending up to a year in the marine environment. After migrating to the Baltic Sea, 21% of the silver eels, tagged with acoustic transmitters, returned to the Narva River. Half returned 11–12 months after moving to the sea, with 15 km being the longest upstream movement. The returned eels spent up to 33 days in the river and migrated to the sea again. The fastest specimen migrated to the outlet of the Baltic Sea in 68 days after the second start—roughly 1300 km. The surprising occurrence of returning migrants has implications for sustainable management and protection of this critically endangered species.

Inter-Korean contact may be a false start

Headline NORTH KOREA: Cross-border contact may be a false start

Relationship Between Reaction Time, Medal Winning and Performance in the 60 m Hurdle Indoor Event Before and After the Change of False Start Rule

Summary 60 m hurdles races are included in the World Indoor Athletics Championships and consist the shortest hurdle race distance. Thus, it is possible that the reaction time (RT) affects the finish time (t60mH) and the rank of the hurdlers. The aims of this research were: a) to examine the relationship between RT and t60mH, b) the possible differentiation of RT: c) between the hurdlers who won a medal in World Indoor Athletics Championships (WM) and those who did not (NMW), d) between hurdlers who competed before (BRC) and after (ARC) the change of the starting rules in 2009. Analysis included 70 performances (WM: n = 28; NMW: n = 42; BRC: n = 32; ARC, n = 38). The differences between WM and NMW and BRC and ARC were examined with independent samples T-test, while the possible relationship between RT and t60mH with Pearson’s correlation. The results showed that RT was not significantly different (p < .05) between WM and NMW and between BRC and ARC. A weak, but significant, positive correlation (r = .228, p = .016) between RT and t60mH was observed. Results revealed that RT is a factor that affects t60mH. In conclusion, the essential focus on the reaction time at the starting blocks must be given during the training process.