Predicting the potential of middle- and long-distance track runners by evaluating the performance improvement rate

The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to determine the rate of performance improvement among France's top 10 athletes in middle- and long-distance events (e.g., 800 m, 1500 m and 5000 m) by analyzing their personal best performances per season over several years; and 2) to develop an index of the optimal performance improvement rate for use by elite coaches and athletes in assessing athletes' progression, predicting potential performances, and possibly detecting high-potential athletes.