Associations Between Lower-Limb Muscular Strength, Running Technique, And Sprint Performance In Mixed-Sex University Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Lower-limb muscular strength is a well-established contributor to sprint performance; however, the mechanistic pathways through which strength influences sprint outcomes - specifically through modulation of running technique parameters - remain insufficiently characterized in mixed-sex university athlete populations. Objective: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between lower-limb muscular strength indices, running technique variables, and 30-metre sprint performance in university athletes, and identified the primary strength predictors of sprint time and biomechanical efficiency. Methods: Thirty university athletes (n = 18 males, n = 12 females; mean age: 20.9 ± 1.8 years) participated in a single-session assessment protocol. Muscular strength was evaluated using the one-repetition maximum (1RM) bilateral leg press and isokinetic dynamometry for knee extensor and flexor peak torque (60°/s). Sprint performance was assessed over 30 metres using dual-beam infrared timing gates. Running technique variables - stride length (SL), stride frequency (SF), and ground contact time (GCT) - were captured via inertial measurement unit sensors. Pearson and Spearman correlations, independent-samples t-tests, and stepwise multiple regression analyses were employed. Significance was set at p