title: Pacing Behavior and Tactical Positioning in 1500-m Short-Track Speed Skating.
abstract: To gain more insight in pacing behavior and tactical positioning in 1500-m short-track speed skating, a sport in which several athletes directly compete in the same race.
  
  
  
  Lap times and intermediate rankings of elite 1500-m short-track- skating competitors were collected over the season 2012-13 (N = 510, 85 races). Two statistical approaches were used to assess pacing behavior and tactical positioning. First, lap times were analyzed using a MANOVA, and for each lap differences between sex, race type, final rankings, and stage of competition were determined. Second, Kendall tau b correlations were used to assess relationships between intermediate and final rankings. In addition, intermediate rankings of the winner of each race were examined.
  
  
  
  In 1500 m (13.5 laps of 111.12 m), correlations between intermediate and final ranking gradually increased throughout the race (eg, lap 1, r = .05; lap 7, r = .26; lap 13, r = .85). Moreover, the percentage of race winners skating in the leading position was over 50% during the last 3 laps. Top finishers were faster than bottom-place finishers only during the last 5 laps, with on average 0.1- to 1.5-s faster lap times of the race winners compared with the others during the last 5 laps.
  
  
  
  Although a fast start led to faster finishing times, top finishers were faster than bottom-placed finishers only during the last 5 laps. Moreover, tactical positioning at 1 of the foremost positions during the latter phase of the race appeared to be a strong determinant of finishing position.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, UK.
authors.forename: Marco J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Konings
authors.forename: Olaf S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Noorbergen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: Florentina J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Hettinga
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012861:Skating / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors