Performance analysis of elite junior female athletes in the 800 m (2021-2024) in Taiwan and Japan

This study compares the performance of junior female athletes from Taiwan and Japan in the 800 m heats and finals from 2021 to 2024, focusing on the impact of different competition formats. Data were collected from YouTube race videos and official reports, with lap-time analysis conducted using video analysis software. Results show that Taiwan’s "Top N per group + hfastest losers" format encourages conservative pacing in heats, leading to better performance in finals. In contrast, Japan’s "time-based qualification" format forces athletes to exert maximum effort in heats, resulting in excessive energy depletion and weaker finals performance. Regarding pacing strategies, both countries’ athletes adopted a positive split (faster first lap, slower second lap). Taiwanese athletes exhibited greater lap-time variation, indicating less effective energy management, while Japanese athletes maintained steadier pacing. Overall, Japanese athletes outperformed their Taiwanese counterparts in finals, particularly in stability and late-race performance. The findings suggest that pacing strategies, competition formats, and energy management significantly influence race outcomes. To enhance Taiwanese athletes’ competitiveness in international events, future training should focus on improving endurance and energy allocation, with consideration of optimizing competition formats.