Which metric is commonly used to estimate peak velocity in sprint testing?

• A. Timed splits at 10, 20, 30 m.
• B. Top speed from flying sprints.
• C. Vertical jump height.
• D. Reaction time to stimulus.

Answer: (B)

Peak velocity is the highest speed a sprinter reaches during a sprint. To estimate it accurately, you want to capture the moment when acceleration has finished and the athlete is running at maximum speed. A flying sprint provides this window: the runner already has built up speed before entering the flying zone, so measurements taken during that zone reflect the true top speed rather than speeds still changing during the start and early acceleration.

Using a flying sprint—often with a radar gun, timing gates over the flying distance, or video analysis—gives a direct estimate of maximum velocity. Timed splits at short distances (like 10, 20, or 30 meters) mix acceleration and speed, so they don’t isolate peak speed as cleanly. Vertical jump height relates to leg power, not sprint velocity, and reaction time measures how quickly someone responds to a stimulus, not how fast they can run.