Sprinting is about being strong in the right places. This study shows how important it is to focus on the semitendinosus for improving sprint performance. Not all muscles are created equal when it comes to speed so you need a plan.
You have heard about Compensatory Acceleration. But what about the Stretch Shortening Cycle? The stretch shortening cycle (SSC) is the spring-like action of muscles where an eccentric contraction is followed by a concentric contraction. The SSC is akin to the compressing a spring. The more force that is applied the more explosive movement. Athletes using a countermovement jump with a pre-stretch or pre-load will consistently jump higher than athletes jumping from a static position.