This article explores how assisted training helps sprinters develop higher running speeds without losing control. Using T-APEX as an example, it explains how controlled assistance, adjustable speed, and distance settings allow coaches to create structured, repeatable speed training sessions.
The 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń have just wrapped up. In the men’s 60m, margins were razor-thin, with races decided in hundredths of a second.
Measured Progress
In the men’s 60m final in Toruń, Jeremiah Azu ran 6.46 to place fourth in a race separated by just 0.05 seconds.
But the result only tells part of the story. In the weeks leading into the championships, he lowered his personal best twice—first running 6.47 at the ISTAF Indoor meeting in Berlin, then improving again to 6.45 in the semi-final, moving up to No.2 on the British all-time list behind Dwain Chambers.
This kind of progression reflects the training environments behind it. In Jeremiah’s case, that preparation has included working with systems such as T-APEX—where speed can be developed in a controlled and repeatable way.
That’s also where systems like T-APEX begin to fit into sprint training—not as a replacement for traditional work, but as a way to shape how speed is applied, experienced, and repeated across different parts of a session.
How T-APEX Fits into Sprint Training
In track and field training, T-APEX can be applied across different parts of a sprint session, depending on what the coach wants to emphasize.
- Start & Acceleration: Adding resistance in early steps to reinforce force production and projection angles out of the start.
- Assisted Training: Using controlled assistance to expose athletes to speeds slightly beyond their current capacity, helping them experience slightly faster step frequency and rhythm.
- Change of Direction & Lateral Work: Maintaining consistent tension during multi-directional drills to challenge control and stability.
- General Resistance Running: Applying steady load during sprint efforts to build strength that carries over into free running.
Among these applications, assisted training has become a particular point of interest—especially when the goal is to carefully extend an athlete’s usable speed range without disrupting movement quality.
Training at the Edge of Speed
When the speed goes up, the biggest risk isn’t running slower—it’s losing shape. If the pull is too strong or uneven, athletes start to lean, reach, or rush their steps. Once that happens, the drill stops being useful.
So in practice, the focus is simple: run faster, but keep the same shape. Stay tall, keep each step consistent, and let the rhythm build instead of forcing it. If it looks clean, the speed is usable. If it looks rushed or messy, it’s probably too much.
In the clip below, Jeremiah runs through an overspeed sprint using T-APEX. As the speed increases, the movement stays consistent—no visible break in rhythm or posture.
This is where the quality of assistance becomes important. In many overspeed setups, the pull can feel inconsistent—either too abrupt or too uneven—which forces the athlete to react instead of running naturally. That’s usually when posture breaks down and timing is lost.
With T-APEX, the assistance stays consistent throughout the run. Instead of pulling the athlete forward in bursts, it provides a steady and predictable force. That allows the athlete to keep their natural rhythm while gradually experiencing higher speeds.
For coaches, this makes it easier to adjust the level of assistance step by step—adding speed without disrupting movement. The goal isn’t just to run faster, but to do it in a way that can actually carry over into real sprinting.
How to Set Up Assisted Training with T-APEX
Assisted training with T-APEX is built around a few key settings that control how assistance is applied and how speed develops during the run. Instead of guessing the load, coaches can adjust each variable directly.
- ① Training Distance (m): Defines how long the assistance is applied during the run. Instead of pulling through the entire sprint, coaches can limit overspeed to a specific distance—allowing athletes to experience higher speed in a controlled segment without affecting the rest of the run.
- ② Assistance (kgf): This controls how much forward pull the athlete receives. Start with a moderate level, then increase gradually. Too much assistance too early often leads to loss of posture or rushed steps.
- ③ Recspeed (m/s): This sets the target towing speed. It determines how fast the system guides the athlete. In practice, this should stay slightly above the athlete’s natural speed—not dramatically higher.
- ④ Advanced Control: This allows more precise control of how speed is applied across the run.
For more structured sessions, T-APEX also allows coaches to define speed across different distances, instead of using a single constant speed.
- ① Distance Segment (m): Defines where each speed phase occurs during the run.
- ② Target Speed (m/s): Sets the towing speed for each segment. Speed can increase step by step, rather than all at once.
This makes it possible to guide the athlete from acceleration into higher-speed phases smoothly. Instead of forcing maximum speed immediately, the session builds progressively—allowing speed to increase while movement stays consistent.
Supporting the Process
If you’re exploring how to integrate overspeed training into your sprint program, we’re happy to share how different teams are applying T-APEX in real training environments.
Talk to an expert to see how it could fit into your setup.