The aim of this study was to compare the VO2 kinetics parameters during maximal and supramaximal running exercises in sprinters (SPR) and middle-distance runners (MDR). Twelve SPR (age 20.6 ± 3.4 years; and body mass 74.9 ± 6.2 kg) and 10 MDR (age 17.6 ± 1.4 years; and body mass 70.1 ± 11.8 kg) performed, on different days, a maximal incremental running test for determination of the velocity at maximum oxygen uptake (vVO2max) and 2 constant-speed tests for analysis of VO2 kinetics at 100 and 120% of vVO2max. The MDR presented significantly higher values for the critical speed (18.0 ± 1.0 vs. 14.2 ± 1.0 km/h), vVO2max (19.4 ± 0.7 vs. 17.2 ± 0.8 km/h), and time to exhaustion at 100% (437 ± 53 vs. 366 ± 49 seconds) than the SPR (p = 0.05). However, the SPR demonstrated greater values for the anaerobic distance capacity (281.3 ± 66.1 vs. 208.0 ± 43.4 m). Although the mean response time and the time to attain the VO2max of the VO2 kinetics was higher in the maximal than supramaximal running speed (p = 0.05), no difference was found in these parameters as well for VO2 slow component (p > 0.05) between the groups. This study showed that different aerobic and anaerobic characteristics in MDR and SPR did not affect the VO2 kinetics in maximal and supramaximal intensities within the severe-intensity domain. From a practical perspective, parameters of VO2 response may provide helpful information for training control as the duration of stimulus close to VO2max.
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