To date, research has examined the physiological determinants of performance in standardized CrossFit® (CF) workouts but not without the influence of CF familiarity. Therefore, the purpose of this present study was to examine the predictive value of aerobic fitness, body composition, and total body strength on performance of two standardized CF workouts in CF-naïve participants. Twenty-two recreationally trained individuals (males = 13, females = 9) underwent assessments of peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), ventilatory thresholds, body composition, and one repetition maximum tests for the back squat, deadlift, and overhead press in which the sum equaled the CF Total. Participants also performed two CF workouts: a scaled version of the CF Open workout 19.1 and a modified version of the CF Benchmark workout Fran to determine scores based on total repetitions completed and time-to-completion, respectively. Simple Pearson’s r correlations were used to determine the relationships between CF performance variables (19.1 and modified Fran) and the independent variables. A forward stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed and significant variables that survived the regression analysis were used to create a predictive model of CF performance. Absolute VO2 peak was a significant predictor of 19.1 performance, explaining 39% of its variance (adjusted R2 = 0.39, p = 0.002). For modified Fran, CF Total was a significant predictor and explained 33% of the variance in performance (adjusted R2 = 0.33, p = 0.005). These results suggest, without any influence of CF familiarity or experience, that performance in these two CF workouts could be predicted by distinct laboratory-based measurements of fitness.

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Certain anthropometric, spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics can contribute to 100-meter sprint performance. However, it is unclear how these are different by gender for medalists and non-medalists in elite level events such as the USA Olympic Trials. PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to analyze differences on specific anthropometric, spatiotemporal and kinematic data at 80-meters by gender for international level medalists and non-medalists. METHODS: 38 sprinters (19 males, 19 females) who made the 100-meter final or semifinal in the 2014-2019 United States National Championships were included in this study. Anthropometric data was collected using a tape measure. High speed video (300 Hz, Casio EXILM Pro EX-F1), taken at 80-meters into the 100-meter race, and kinematic software were used to collect sagittal plane kinematic variables. Group differences were assessed using a series of one-way ANOVAs. RESULTS: In males, leg length (0.93 ± 0.02m, 0.95 ± .01m; p < 0.05) and average contact time (0.085 ± 0.004s, 0.094 ± 0.007s; p < 0.01) were significantly shorter while velocity (11.50 ± 0.43m/s, 10.83 ± 0.33m/s; p < 0.01), average upper leg full extension angle (152.45 ± 7.63°, 145.63 ± 3.46°; p < 0.05), and average horizontal backward foot velocity at touchdown (8.49 ± 0.33m/s, 7.84 ± 0.47m/s; p < 0.01) were significantly larger in medalists versus non-medalists. In females, only leg length was significantly longer in medalists versus non-medalists (0.89 ± 0.03m, 0.86 ± 0.03m; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that among females, of the variables measured here, only anthropometric characteristics seem to influence medal position.. Conversely, form and technique heavily dependent upon kinematics separate males from making a medal position. These data suggest that males may need to focus on specific kinematic outcomes in order to increase the changes of successfully making the podium in a 100-meter race.

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