Structure of overall race times among the Russian youth triathletes
The aim of this study was the evaluating of correlation between overall race times and swimming, cycling and running split times and also between split times in these components of triathlon at Russian youth triathletes. The authors analyzed the results of 51 male (age 16.1±0.9 years) and 34 female (age 15.9±0.6 years) athletes following the protocols of the Russian Youth Triathlon Championship 2016. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated to accomplish the purpose of the study. There was found the strong correlation between the overall race times and swimming (ρ = 0.834), cycling (ρ = 0.922) and running (ρ = 0.935) split times among the male athletes and also cycling (ρ = 0.756) and running (ρ = 0. 859) split times among the female athletes. Overall race times and swimming split times had only medium correlation (ρ = 0.673) at female triathletes. Male athletes had a strong correlation between swimming and cycling split times (ρ = 0.791) and also between cycling and running split times (ρ = 0.777) and medium correlation between swimming and running split times (ρ = 0.683). Female athletes had only medium correlation between swimming and cycling split times (ρ = 0.636) and between cycling and running split times (ρ = 0.525) and weak correlation between swimming and running split times (ρ = 0.357). Correlation coefficients between swimming and cycling split times were significantly larger than between swimming and running split times in both male and female groups of athletes (p = 0.036 и 0.025 respectively). The study results suggest the generalized character of endurance among the male and female triathletes. At the same time there is some specialization of endurance in swimming and running especially in female athletes.