SOMATOTYPING IN COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES: EVALUATING CHANGE ACROSS A COMPETITIVE SEASON

Abstract

Coaches may find value in following track and field athletes’ anthropometrics as the extended competitive season requires a unique balance of peak and maintained preparation. Somatotyping may offer a more holistic metric compared with BMI, mass, or body fat percentage alone when tracking changes across competition mesocycles. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to record track and field athletes’ somatotype scores to elucidate potential changes across the competitive season according to sex and/or age. METHODS: Division II track and field athletes (n=47) were tested at the start and end of the outdoor season. Somatotype data were collected according to the Heath-Carter manual (skinfolds, girths, breadths, stature & mass). Raw data were converted to mesomorph, endomorph, and ectomorph scores. One-way RM ANOVAs with between subject variables (sex & age) were used to evaluate change in endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy scores across the season. RESULTS: Scores for endomorphy (F(1,45)=117.9, p<.001, np2=0.72, males (M)= +3.2%, females (F)= -0.1%) and mesomorphy (F(1,45)=10.1, p=.003, np2=0.18, M= -3.4%, F= +4.6%) differed across time by sex, but not ectomorphy (F(1,52)=0.03, p=.86, np2=0.01, M= -6.2%, F= -6.3%). Age did not influence somatotype scores across the season. CONCLUSIONS: The rigors of a competitive season may influence only certain sex-somatotype combinations. Influencing factors for the divergent changes in somatotype presently found should be identified to optimize training approaches.