Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival

Girma Bikila Banti; Alemi Medeksa Deressa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19

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Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival

Girma Bikila Banti

, Alemi Medeksa Deressa^*

Published in Science Futures (Volume 2, Issue 1)

Received: 21 October 2025 Accepted: 6 November 2025 Published: 7 January 2026

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Abstract

Background of Study: The most common types of athletics competitions include track and field, road running, cross-country running, and race walking. The research aims to assess the challenges faced by sprinters and middle-distance runners from Metu University during the 2024 Higher Education Sports Festival. Method: A descriptive survey design was employed, using a structured questionnaire administered to 12 athletes. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to evaluate the severity of various challenges. Results: The findings revealed that the most significant obstacles included the absence of starting blocks (M = 4.83, SD = 0.38), lack of motivation and support from the university (M = 4.70, SD = 0.46), and environmental factors (M = 4.60, SD = 0.49). Other notable challenges included psychological factors (M = 4.56, SD = 0.58), inadequate nutrition (M = 3.83, SD = 0.66), and insufficient training equipment and facilities. The study highlights the urgent need for infrastructural improvements, including the provision of standard track and field facilities and essential equipment. Furthermore, enhancing coaching strategies, providing psychological support and improving access to nutritional resources are vital for athlete development. Implementing these recommendations can help create a more supportive environment for sprinters and middle-distance runners, potentially leading to improved performance in future competitions.

Published in	Science Futures (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19
Page(s)	92-98
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Short-distance, Running, Challenges, Athletics, Ethiopia, Sports Festival

References

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APA Style

Banti, G. B., Deressa, A. M. (2026). Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival. Science Futures, 2(1), 92-98. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19

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ACS Style

Banti, G. B.; Deressa, A. M. Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival. Sci. Futures 2026, 2(1), 92-98. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19

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AMA Style

Banti GB, Deressa AM. Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival. Sci Futures. 2026;2(1):92-98. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19

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@article{10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19,
  author = {Girma Bikila Banti and Alemi Medeksa Deressa},
  title = {Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival},
  journal = {Science Futures},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {92-98},
  doi = {10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.scif.20260201.19},
  abstract = {Background of Study: The most common types of athletics competitions include track and field, road running, cross-country running, and race walking. The research aims to assess the challenges faced by sprinters and middle-distance runners from Metu University during the 2024 Higher Education Sports Festival. Method: A descriptive survey design was employed, using a structured questionnaire administered to 12 athletes. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to evaluate the severity of various challenges. Results: The findings revealed that the most significant obstacles included the absence of starting blocks (M = 4.83, SD = 0.38), lack of motivation and support from the university (M = 4.70, SD = 0.46), and environmental factors (M = 4.60, SD = 0.49). Other notable challenges included psychological factors (M = 4.56, SD = 0.58), inadequate nutrition (M = 3.83, SD = 0.66), and insufficient training equipment and facilities. The study highlights the urgent need for infrastructural improvements, including the provision of standard track and field facilities and essential equipment. Furthermore, enhancing coaching strategies, providing psychological support and improving access to nutritional resources are vital for athlete development. Implementing these recommendations can help create a more supportive environment for sprinters and middle-distance runners, potentially leading to improved performance in future competitions.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival
AU  - Girma Bikila Banti
AU  - Alemi Medeksa Deressa
Y1  - 2026/01/07
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19
DO  - 10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19
T2  - Science Futures
JF  - Science Futures
JO  - Science Futures
SP  - 92
EP  - 98
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19
AB  - Background of Study: The most common types of athletics competitions include track and field, road running, cross-country running, and race walking. The research aims to assess the challenges faced by sprinters and middle-distance runners from Metu University during the 2024 Higher Education Sports Festival. Method: A descriptive survey design was employed, using a structured questionnaire administered to 12 athletes. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to evaluate the severity of various challenges. Results: The findings revealed that the most significant obstacles included the absence of starting blocks (M = 4.83, SD = 0.38), lack of motivation and support from the university (M = 4.70, SD = 0.46), and environmental factors (M = 4.60, SD = 0.49). Other notable challenges included psychological factors (M = 4.56, SD = 0.58), inadequate nutrition (M = 3.83, SD = 0.66), and insufficient training equipment and facilities. The study highlights the urgent need for infrastructural improvements, including the provision of standard track and field facilities and essential equipment. Furthermore, enhancing coaching strategies, providing psychological support and improving access to nutritional resources are vital for athlete development. Implementing these recommendations can help create a more supportive environment for sprinters and middle-distance runners, potentially leading to improved performance in future competitions.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Girma Bikila Banti

Sport Science, Metu University, Metu, Ethiopia

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0005-3502-0022
Alemi Medeksa Deressa

Sport Science, Metu University, Metu, Ethiopia

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0008-7717-0899

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APA Style

Banti, G. B., Deressa, A. M. (2026). Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival. Science Futures, 2(1), 92-98. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19

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ACS Style

Banti, G. B.; Deressa, A. M. Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival. Sci. Futures 2026, 2(1), 92-98. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19

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AMA Style

Banti GB, Deressa AM. Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival. Sci Futures. 2026;2(1):92-98. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19

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@article{10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19,
  author = {Girma Bikila Banti and Alemi Medeksa Deressa},
  title = {Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival},
  journal = {Science Futures},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {92-98},
  doi = {10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.scif.20260201.19},
  abstract = {Background of Study: The most common types of athletics competitions include track and field, road running, cross-country running, and race walking. The research aims to assess the challenges faced by sprinters and middle-distance runners from Metu University during the 2024 Higher Education Sports Festival. Method: A descriptive survey design was employed, using a structured questionnaire administered to 12 athletes. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to evaluate the severity of various challenges. Results: The findings revealed that the most significant obstacles included the absence of starting blocks (M = 4.83, SD = 0.38), lack of motivation and support from the university (M = 4.70, SD = 0.46), and environmental factors (M = 4.60, SD = 0.49). Other notable challenges included psychological factors (M = 4.56, SD = 0.58), inadequate nutrition (M = 3.83, SD = 0.66), and insufficient training equipment and facilities. The study highlights the urgent need for infrastructural improvements, including the provision of standard track and field facilities and essential equipment. Furthermore, enhancing coaching strategies, providing psychological support and improving access to nutritional resources are vital for athlete development. Implementing these recommendations can help create a more supportive environment for sprinters and middle-distance runners, potentially leading to improved performance in future competitions.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Challenges Faced by Sprinters and Middle-Distance Runners from Metu University at the 2024 Ethiopian Higher Education Sports Festival
AU  - Girma Bikila Banti
AU  - Alemi Medeksa Deressa
Y1  - 2026/01/07
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19
DO  - 10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19
T2  - Science Futures
JF  - Science Futures
JO  - Science Futures
SP  - 92
EP  - 98
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20260201.19
AB  - Background of Study: The most common types of athletics competitions include track and field, road running, cross-country running, and race walking. The research aims to assess the challenges faced by sprinters and middle-distance runners from Metu University during the 2024 Higher Education Sports Festival. Method: A descriptive survey design was employed, using a structured questionnaire administered to 12 athletes. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to evaluate the severity of various challenges. Results: The findings revealed that the most significant obstacles included the absence of starting blocks (M = 4.83, SD = 0.38), lack of motivation and support from the university (M = 4.70, SD = 0.46), and environmental factors (M = 4.60, SD = 0.49). Other notable challenges included psychological factors (M = 4.56, SD = 0.58), inadequate nutrition (M = 3.83, SD = 0.66), and insufficient training equipment and facilities. The study highlights the urgent need for infrastructural improvements, including the provision of standard track and field facilities and essential equipment. Furthermore, enhancing coaching strategies, providing psychological support and improving access to nutritional resources are vital for athlete development. Implementing these recommendations can help create a more supportive environment for sprinters and middle-distance runners, potentially leading to improved performance in future competitions.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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