A study of selected anthropometric and physical fitness variables of inter-collegiate male sprinters, jumpers, and throwers

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to examine and compare selected anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness parameters among male inter-collegiate athletes aged 18-25 years, specialising in sprinting, jumping, and throwing disciplines. This study included 75 male inter-collegiate athletes selected by purposive sampling from recognized universities and allied colleges. The sample was divided into 3 equal groups: Group I - Sprinters (n = 25; 100, 200, 400 m events). Group II included 25 jumpers (Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump) and 25 throwers (Shot Put, Discus, Javelin). To be eligible for the study, participants had to be male, between the ages of eighteen (18) & Twenty (25), have competed at the intercollegiate level for at least two years and be free of any injuries or illnesses that could affect test performance. Anthropometric variables recorded were body height, body weight, and body mass index (BMI). Physical fitness was evaluated through five standardised criterion tests: 60-metre dash for speed, vertical jump for explosive leg power, hand-grip dynamometry for muscular strength, sit-and-reach test for flexibility, and the 4 × 10 metre shuttle run for agility. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine inter-group differences, and the level of significance was pre-set at p ≤ 0.05. Statistically significant inter-group differences were recorded for body weight (F = 47.23, p<0.001), BMI (F = 38.61, p<0.001), speed (F = 42.16, p<0.001), vertical jump (F = 74.32, p<0.001), grip strength (F = 38.94, p<0.001), flexibility (F = 24.51, p<0.001), and agility (F = 27.83, p<0.001), whereas body height did not differ significantly across groups (p>0.05). Throwers recorded the highest body weight and muscular strength values; jumpers demonstrated superior explosive leg power and flexibility; and sprinters excelled in both speed and agility. The findings confirm event-specific morphological and fitness adaptations among collegiate track and field athletes and offer useful baseline normative data for talent identification and the design of sport-specific conditioning programmes.