The Science and Technology of Sports Reviews

The Science and Technology of Track & Field ISBN 978-1-68282-657-7 / eBook: 978-1-68282-658-4
Booklist, December 1, 2019

Ever wonder how Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt can accelerate from a stationary position to more than twenty miles per hour in under two seconds? Readers will find out in this entry from the Science and Technology of Sports series, which describes the physical forces, exercises and biometrics involved in track and field running, jumping, and throwing events. The different biomechanical principles employed by each type of event and the ideal body type athletes need to excel in each event are both explained. Noted athletes include Kenyan runner Priscah Jeptoo, American triple and long jumper Keturah Orji, and German Thomas Röhler, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower. They succeed, the book claims, because they understand the science involved in their events. Chapters discuss the importance of training, treating injuries, and having well-designed equipment and facilities. The informative and concise text is accompanied by color photos, diagrams, sidebars of word definitions, source notes, further resources, websites, and an index. Student athletes will find this information very helpful.
— Sharon Rawlins