By Lauren Lucy and MK Myers

At the 2021 LIS track meet. Photo credit: Corbin Neuner.

Track and field is a sport involving many different kinds of competitions, ranging from pole vault or high jump to races ranging from 100 to 3200 meters. Within these competitions, you will find many different types of athletes who have worked hard to get to their current skill level. It is difficult to get bored while at a track meet, because there is always something to watch, whether it be a jumping event or a relay race. During every track season, one question always seems to come up: How different are sprints and distance?

MK Myers runs distance at Collegiate, while Lauren Lucy runs sprints, alongside competing in jumps and the pole vault. Both of us have been a part of the track team for the past four years and currently hold school records, but despite the fact that we are on the same team, we never compete or work out together due to competing in two different events. The sprinters and distance runners are always very encouraging to each other at the meets and support each other as a team, but our teams can be competitive with each other also. We will regularly have a meet where we have a distance relay competing against a sprint relay. However, running sprints and running distance both have their unique benefits and limitations.

So, we’ve decided to give our fans and readers some insight into the differences between the two groups of runners.

Practices

A distance runner at the 2021 LIS track meet. Photo credit: Chris Lucy.

Myers: Distance runners are constantly running three to five miles a day on the roads, and our Sunday long runs consist of running a straight six to eight miles. We often complete workouts two or three times a week, requiring us to run multiple 400m sprints at a time, or back to back 800m sprints. These workouts usually require us to push our bodies to their limit in order to make the time. Distance runner Hugh Williams (‘22) said, “I, along with many other distance runners, have already been quite close to passing out multiple times this year alone.” 

Lucy: For our workouts, we normally focus on our muscles and our ability to accelerate. This includes doing multiple 100m, 200m, 300m, and 400m dash sprints. We will occasionally do neighborhood runs but primarily complete “on-track” workouts. After the team completes their sprint workout, the coach will split the team into different groups, depending on their jumping and field events. If the athletes only sprint, the sprinter’s workout will be extended for them. Hurdler Maggie Rohr (‘22) claims, “While working on our form for sprints during practice, we are also advancing ourselves as jumpers and hurdlers because they go hand-and-hand. Hurdling is a mixture of jumping techniques alongside actual sprinting.” Even though sprinters do not cover the same amount of distance as a distance runner during practice, sprinters are expected to accelerate and push themselves within a shorter distance to their top speed multiple times in a row.  

Winter track team at the 2022 State Championship. Photo credit: Corbin Neuner.

Meets

Myers: Track meet distance events consist of distances such as the 800-3200m and the 4x800m relay, but sometimes you will find distance runners filling in spots in other relay races, such as the 4x400m. Racing a distance event requires your body to be pushed to its limits. Distance runners run anywhere from two laps at a meet to eight laps; if we are put in multiple events, we run even more. “In meets, the distance runners compete in the 800m and longer, whereas sprints usually only have to run the 200m or 100m, lasting only about 25 seconds,” said Sophie Sloan (‘25). The 800m is basically a half-mile sprint, while the 3200m requires you to pace yourself perfectly so that even though you are running at the fastest speed, you are able to maintain your speed throughout the race. Oftentimes you will see distance runners getting sick after events or falling on the ground after races, or suffering from calf cramps and stomach cramps.

Lucy: Track meets’ sprinting events consist of distances such as the 100-400m, 4x100m relay, and the 4x400m relay. Sprinters also compete in events such as hurdles, triple jump, long jump, high jump, and pole vault. The variety of events the sprinters compete in provides the sprinter with more opportunities to score points in a meet. Sprinter Tucker Walker (‘22) stated, “there are no distance runners that compete in a jumping event on our team; this leaves only sprinters to compete as jumpers.” Since sprinters run shorter distances, they have to be able to bring themselves to their top speed in an extremely short amount of time and hold it for the remainder of the distance. A sprinter’s race is very technical due to the short distance and amount of time running, whereas a distance runner runs multiple laps during a race, giving them more time to adjust to different paces. If a distance runner paces incorrectly, they have more time to correct it, but if this occurs in a sprinting event, their results are immediately impacted. The mindset of most sprinters during a meet is less stressed than one of a distance runner. Many sprinters’ attention is spread between multiple events, whereas many distance runners are hyper-focused on their one or few events. This also plays into a runner’s mindset after a meet. When a runner is only competing in one event and they don’t perform up to their expectations, it can feel demeaning and negatively affect their track mindset. Being able to save some energy after a shorter sprinting race ends up being more beneficial to the team’s points overall. As stated by long jump school record-holder Krystian Williams (‘23), “competing as a sprinter gives me more opportunities to compete in jumping events and excel in multiple events each meet.” 

Injuries

Running at the 2022 State Championship. Photo credit: Milesplit.

Myers: Distance runners fall to injuries of all kinds: hips, knees, foot injuries, and more. It is very difficult to manage three seasons of distance running without injury. This year alone, I have suffered shin splints twice, as well as a back injury. I have also spent numerous practices cross-training inside rather than running with the team after feeling a slight pain, in hopes of preventing another injury. “While sprinters are more likely to suffer muscle pulls and explosiveness injuries, distance runners more frequently deal with overuse injuries, such as shin splints and tendonitis,” said distance runner Will Neuner (‘22). Along with the constant stress on your body, distance running is also mentally tough. “Distance is hard on your body and your mind. Running mile after mile can be hard on your joints, and difficult long runs, especially at a higher pace, can be challenging mentally,” said distance runner Ellie Leipheimer (‘23).

Pole vaulting at the State Championship. Photo credit: Chris Lucy.

Lucy: As a member of the team, I have noticed the overuse and injury that arise toward the end of the season, which is around our most important meets. Within the sprint team, most of the injuries are due to not warming up properly and pulling certain muscles. The jumpers also often struggle with injuries like shin splints, ankle, and back injuries due to jumping at an odd angle. Without proper warmup, sprinters are much more likely to become injured. Former Collegiate sprinter Ashley D’Ambrosia (‘21), now a track star at Washington and Lee, claimed, “Since distance runners are always in season and they’re always running such long distances, their bodies get worn out much easier, which is why distance runners are injured so much more than sprinters.” D’Ambrosia says these injury trends continue in college competition. 

Overall

Myers: Neuner stated, “I think both teams work hard, but from my own experience and from talking to sprinters, I think our workouts are harder. I remember specifically one workout from the winter season where I hit the state qualifying time in the 300m as one rep out of six.” Williams added, “As someone who straddles the line between sprinting and distance running during races, I can easily say that sprint events are much easier both mentally and physically than distance events. I run the 400m and the 800m, both equally well, but the 800m brings much more anxiety beforehand and much more pain during the race.”

Girls Track team at the 2021 LIS meet. Photo credit: Chris Lucy.

Lucy: Former distance runner Cam Holdych (‘22) stated, “As somebody who has been involved in both the distance program through cross country and the sprinting program through track and field, I can say with confidence that the two types of running could not be more different. Although the day-to-day sprint practices may be easier than the distance group’s practices, it is much more competitive. There is only so much one can improve on in a short distance, because natural talent plays such a big role. Overall, whereas daily practices for the distance team may be more exhausting, competing is generally much harder for sprinters.” 

Sprints and distance, two very different events, require difficult workouts and different skills. However, the two groups are both crucial to the success of the Collegiate Track & Field team.