The aim of this study was to determine how intra-race positioning and finishing sprint ability were related to the final rank order finishes of competitors in the track endurance events at the 2008 Olympic Games. Split times for each 100m were obtained for all men`s and women`s 800m to 10,000m finalists and mean race position over each fifth of the race was calculated, with the exception of the 800m for which fourths were calculated. It was found that position or racing strategy is different between events and sexes. Medallists in the shorter events (i.e., 800m and 1500m) typically move into medal position earlier than those in the longer events. Medallists in the longer men`s events tend to rely on finishing sprint ability to achieve their final position while women medallists generally move into medal position earlier in the race. This analysis observed a differing strategy between those athletes who are successful in the shorter and longer distance track races at championship type races. Generally, medallists in the shorter races (800m and 1500m) get themselves into medal position earlier in the race, compared to medallists in the longer races (5000m and 10,000m). Runners in the longer races who medal do not get themselves into medal position until the final 20-40% of the race. There were no differences between the men and women, which provides further support to the observations. This suggests that strategy is dictated by the event and that sex does not appear to have an effect on pacing strategy selection. Strategy is influenced by the physiological demands ot the event such that, those in the longer events are concerned with energy conservation and those in the shorter events are more concerned with being in an optimal position throughout the event. Finally, CHAPMAN provides a framework to classify events based on the strategy those individuals most often utilise when place is the primary desired outcome.
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