Maximum Sprint Speed (MSS) is the upper-bound velocity an athlete approaches during a maximal sprint, fitted from sprint splits using the mono-exponential sprint model. It's an asymptote: the athlete never quite reaches MSS but gets exponentially closer through acceleration.
Sprint diagnostics use MSS as the velocity parameter alongside an acceleration time constant (TAU). Together they describe the full sprint curve and let you predict times at any distance — that's the math behind Tru40.
Typical MSS: elite male sprinters 11.5–12.5 m/s, NCAA male field sport 9.0–10.5 m/s, NCAA women's soccer 7.5–9.0 m/s.
Where it's used
Sprint diagnostics, predicting 40-yard dash from a flying-10 or 10–40 split, sprint program design.
References
- Samozino P, Rabita G, Dorel S et al. (2016). A simple method for measuring power, force, velocity properties, and mechanical effectiveness in sprint running. Scand J Med Sci Sports.
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