Average reaction times from WC/OG finals

[JRM]

Checking through my files, I jotted down some reaction times for several world class finals, and determine the average. This isn't an exhaustive nor a statistically deep analysis (since I have a million other things to do!), but it does provide insight to the topic at hand.

The data includes reaction times from 5 events, including '87 WC (two data points), '91 WC (three points), '97 WC (5 points), '99 WC (8 points), and '96 OG (7 points). Ranking the averages in decreasing order (slowest to fastest):

'87 WC 0.161s
'96 OG 0.157s
'99 WC 0.141s
'97 WC 0.128s
'91 WC 0.117s

The '91 WC average is low due to the inclusion of Mitchell's 0.090s start. The '87 WC is a bit high due to the fact that only 2 data points were available (Johnson and Lewis), and Lewis' 0.193s reaction tipped the scale (cf. Ben's 0.129s).

The average of the averages is 0.141s. So, based on this quick analysis, one can consider the previously cited 0.14-0.16s reaction range to be accurate for the athletes.

A better analysis would be to examine the variance of reactions in a particular athlete, but I don't have enough data to do that.

==============================================
1987 Wc
Johnson 0.129
Lewis 0.193
Avg: 0.161

1991 WC
Lewis 0.14
Burrell 0.12
Mitchell 0.09
Avg: 0.117

1996 OG
Bailey 0.174
Fredericks 0.143
Boldon 0.164
Mitchell 0.145
Marsh 0.147
Ezinwa 0.157
Green 0.169
Avg: 0.157

1997 WC
Greene 0.13
Bailey 0.14
Montgomery 0.13
Fredericks 0.12
Boldon 0.12
Avg: 0.128

1999 WC
Greene 0.132
Surin 0.127
Chambers 0.140
Thompson 0.145
Harden 0.136
Montgomery 0.136
Gardner 0.142
Streete-T. 0.173
Avg: 0.141

[gh]

Re: Average reaction times from WC/OG finals

Here's some numbers from a post I made in July on a thread about Mo Greene's claim that the new FS rule was slowing times:

<<Some real analysis of a lot of numbers needs to be done before any meaningful conclusions can be drawn, but I was curious as to whether or not any trends can be spotted this early into the game, so trying to get "similar" circumstances I pulled together reaction times for the men's 60s in the last 5 World Indoor Championships. So I could use the same number of marks to average each year, I only used the first 6 finishers. (Maybe I should have thrown out the high and low or something)

At any rate, here's the average reaction time for the first six finishers in each of those years:
2003--0.132
2001--0.129
1999--0.122
1997--0.134
1995--0.125

So this year was slower than three of the years but faster than another. And the difference between the slowest and fastest years is about a 100th of a second.

If the guys are running a 10th or more slower, early evidence suggests to me that it's not because they're reacting to the gun that much slower.

I did actually look at 1993 and earlier, but the reaction times are so much slower (like 0.150 for '93) I was initially mystified. Then I remembered that it was after '93 that the IAAF switched to the Seiko "silent-gun" blocks, which have proved to give faster reaction times than the ones used in the OG (viz Julin & Dapena).

Another stat of note: in the GP FInal last year (Monty's WR race), the average reaction time was 0.159. Take out Monty's other-worldly 0.104 and it was 0.167. Average reaction time at this year's GP meet in Paris? 0.125. Yup, those new rules are really slowing them down.>>

[Guest]

Re: Average reaction times from WC/OG finals

Yup, those new rules are really slowing
>them down.>>

maybe not, but it's sure KNOCKING them out!!!!

[bubba]

Re: Average reaction times from WC/OG finals

>maybe not, but it's sure KNOCKING them
>out!!!!

No it isn't. Officials not using their heads to overrule the blocks are knocking guys like Drummond out. Complain all you want about the new false start rule but it is not the problem.

If you're going to fight the good fight at the very least you can pick the right one.