Performance Analysis of Men's 110-m Hurdles using Rhythmic Units

Objective: This study aimed to create a strategic training method to enhance optimal athletic ability using information from 1H to 10H rhythmic units. Method: Top three world class athletes and three national winners of 110-m hurdle finals from the 2010 Daegu International Athletics Competition and 2017 National Athletics Championship, respectively, were selected. To analyze the kinematic variables, Dartfish 9.0 was used for two-dimensional analysis. Results: Regarding the interval time from the start to the finish line, the national athletes took less time during the pure acceleration phase (start to 1H) than the foreign athletes. The horizontal velocity increase was slower after 1H; the national athletes showed a lack of ability to accelerate at the interval phases. Moreover, the hurdle clearance time between phases was longer in the national athletes than in the foreign athletes and lacked consistency. Conclusion: The national athletes lacked the ability to accelerate at the transition, maximum rhythm, rhythm maintenance, and re-acceleration phases and showed a longer hurdle clearance time. If technical improvements and strategic training methods using rhythmic units are applied for hurdling motions, the national athlete's hurdling abilities, performance, and consistency could improve.