Longitudinal trends in track and field performances.

Previous investigation of aging effects in track and field performances has relied on cross-sectional data. In the present study, the shapes were examined of longitudinal performances on age curves from 81 older, elite, male athletes. The mean duration of the longitudinal span was 5.3 years, and performances were obtained from six events. The prediction made was that the performance on age curves would be curvilinear in shape: attenuated decline was predicted for the early portion of the longitudinal span, due to the effects of accumulated training. After quantification of the curves by application of a second-order polynomial model, the prediction was borne out by overall analysis of the equation coefficients. Other findings indicated discrepancies in the shape of the curves between the long jump and running events, and a failure to obtain effects owing to the ages of athletes.