Purpose. The so-called "master model" functioning in individual sports results from preliminary selection and specialist training. The objective of this paper is to assess the diversity of somatic build in young athletes of different track-and-field disciplines and describe the influence of special training on a young body. Basic procedures. The material for the study consisted of measurement data collected from 60 athletes (36 men and 24 women) from Lower Silesia (Poland). The anthropometrical traits and tissue composition were used in the analysis. The somatotype of the investigated athletes was described using the Heath and Carter method. The variance analysis was used to evaluate the inter-group differentiation. Post hoc multiple comparisons were made using the Duncan test. Additionally cluster analysis and discriminatory analysis were used as well. Main findings. The distribution of individual somatochart points indicates a diversity of somatotypes according to particular track-and-field disciplines. Four aggregations (clusters) can be distinguished. The results confirm a supposition that there is a somatic differentiation among athletes. Statistically significant differences were observed in such traits as body fat, lean body mass, cellular mass and extra cellular water. Only the body fat parameter was greater in the non-athlete group. Similar relations were observed in both sex groups. In both sexes height and weight do not differ in the compared groups. The difference between the sexes was preserved in body composition and morphological traits. The differentiation was consistent with the commonly known rules - height, weight and circumferences were greater in men; while women featured significantly thicker subcutaneous skinfolds. Conclusions. 1. There is a body build differentiation among track-and-field athletes according to their discipline. 2. Middle- and short-distance runners are similar in their body build. 3. Runners are characterized by considerably greater values of lean body mass and lower proportion of body fat in body mass compared with non-athlete pupils. 4. In the considered athlete group, sexual dimorphism was very distinct.
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