Reaction time

Reaction time is the time taken to initiate a response to a stimulus. A stimulus is something that triggers a response, such as the sound of a starting gun. In sprinting, reaction time is the interval between the gun sounding and the sprinter beginning to move out of the blocks.

Reaction time is the time between a stimulus and the start of a response. For a sprinter, the starting pistol is the stimulus and beginning to move is the response. A shorter reaction time helps the sprinter start sooner; speed then determines how quickly they travel along the track.