Anthropometric Characteristics, Body Composition and Somatotype of Elite Male Young Runners Sánchez Muñoz, Cristóbal Muros Molina, José Joaquín López Belmonte, Óscar Zabala Díaz, Mikel Anthropometry Body composition Somatotype Runners Youth The authors would like to thank the Andalusian Athletics Federation for their permission to set up this study and for their full support and collaboration during the investigation. The authors also wish to thank all runners for their participation and cooperation in this study, and Francisco B. Ortega Porcel for his technical support. The purpose of the present study was to describe the anthropometric characteristics, body composition and somatotype of elite male young runners (EYR), and to compare these variables according to the specialty in which they engaged (middle-distance vs. long-distance). This will enable an anthropometric profile chart to be established for them. Ninety EYR aged 17 to 23 years (18.4 ± 2.0) participated in the study. Athletes were divided into two groups according to the event in which they participated: middle-distance runners (MDR, n = 56) and long-distance runners (LDR, n = 34). Sixteen anthropometric variables were recorded for each participant: Weight, height, eight skinfolds, four girths, and two breadths. Body mass index (BMI), body composition and somatotype were calculated. Comparing MDR with the group of LDR, significant differences were found to exist for height, weight, relaxed upper arm girth, flexed and tensed upper arm girth, total upper arm area, upper arm muscle area, and thigh muscle area. No significant differences were observed in the other variables. MDR are taller, heavier and have larger girths than LDR. Coaches and sports scientists can use the data obtained to better control training, as well as for talent identification and athlete selection. 2020-04-03T06:51:41Z 2020-04-03T06:51:41Z 2020-01-20 info:eu-repo/semantics/article Sánchez Muñoz, C.; Muros, J.J.; López Belmonte, Ó.; Zabala, M. Anthropometric Characteristics, Body Composition and Somatotype of Elite Male Young Runners. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 674. [doi:10.3390/ijerph17020674] http://hdl.handle.net/10481/61009 10.3390/ijerph17020674 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Atribución 3.0 España MDPI