As soon as the gun goes off, every millisecond counts when one is racing and any advantage a runner gets will help. What started as simply two holes in the dirt, soon blossomed into the metal and rubber starting blocks that sprinters are often seen using at the start of each sprint. The goal of these is to give the runner an extra push once the gun goes off and to help with accuracy.

“I definitely feel a difference in my accuracy,” freshman Paige Bolton said. “The position you’re in gives you that extra push of effort to make you lean into the start.”

Senior Nicholas Milone uses the blocks when he does hurdles in order to start as fast as possible with the maximum power available, and he feels like they really help him improve in each event he is participating in.

“They really help to get you into the race as fast as possible,” Milone said.

Bolton and Milone see only positives when using the blocks, as this tool has already helped them improve their times and how they run. Freshman Jensen Horner on the other hand does not always think that they are necessary.

“It depends on the shoes I’m wearing,” Horner said. “If I’m not wearing shoes with good gripping or spikes, then yes, the blocks help me a lot. But if I’m wearing shoes with spikes, then I don’t necessarily need them.”  

Although starting blocks are seen heavily at the high school, collegiate and professional levels, they are not for everybody. Distance runners do not use them because they pace themselves. Typically, 400 meter runners and below use the blocks to give themselves that extra push to go for the gold.