Abstract

We investigate the effects that wind and altitude have on the 400ms print when run on various IAAF track geometries, with the work based on the senior project written by Vanessa and supervised by Michael. We validate Quinn's ordinary differential equations model using data from the 1999 World Athletics Championships. The model is based on Newton's Law for the energy balance of a runner, and Maple is used to solve the model's equations numerically. We confirm some non-intuitive results about the effect of a constant wind blowing from a fixed direction, and we modify the model to predict wind-assisted performances on both an equal quadrant track and a track from the ancient Greek games. Comparing the tracks provides information about the effects on performances on different standard tracks. We find performance differences between running lanes, indicating possible disadvantages of running in certain lanes. We find that the effect of altitude is significant but of little consequence with respect to differences in track geometry.

Introduction and an Early Model

Track and field meets include many events, among them the 400m sprint. In a standard International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) track, there are eight lanes, and a maximum of eight runners in a race. Although each IAAF track has the same dimensions, questions have arisen as to the effect that wind and altitude have on the runners' performances, regardless of the event. Several models have been created to describe their effects on the 100m sprint, the 200m sprint, and the 4 × 100m relay.