The Journal of Social Sciences Research ISSN(e): 2411-9458, ISSN(p): 2413-6670 Vol. 7, Issue. 4, pp: 158-168, 2021 URL: https://arpgweb.com/journal/journal/7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32861/jssr.74.158.168 Academic Research Publishing Group 158 Original Research Open Access Demographics Variables and Athletes’ Performance in Track Events in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State Pauline E. Ekuri (Corresponding Author) Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Email: paulineekuri@gmail.com Nsagha N. Osaji Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Emmanuel Ahueansebhor Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Article History Received: 13 July, 2021 Revised: 27 August, 2021 Accepted: 7 September, 2021 Published: 13 September, 2021 Copyright © 2021 ARPG & Author This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 Abstract This research studied the performance of athletes in 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4 x 400m relay races in secondary schools based on two demographic variables (age and experience). The bivariate and interactive effects of these variables were assessed based on three null hypotheses formulated to guide the study. The research is quantitative and followed the ex- post facto design. The population comprised 1,180 junior and senior secondary schools students in 24 public secondary schools in Calabar Metropolis. A total of 863 students were selected based on their previous experiences in track events. Data were collected using a questionnaire tagged “Performance in Track Events Questionnaire (PTEQ). Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; while inferential statistics such as one- and two-way ANOVA were used to test the null hypotheses at the .05 level of significance. No significant influence of age on athletes’ performance in all the track events was found. Athletes experience significantly influenced their performance in all the track events. There is a significant interaction of age and experience on athletes’ performance in all track events in secondary schools. It was concluded that some demographic variables affect student-athletes performance in track events, while others do not. Based on this conclusion, relevant practical and research implications were discussed for sustained or improved performance in track events. Keywords: Age; Athletes; Demographic variables; Experience; Performance; Track events. 1. Introduction Sports in school plays an important role in building the psychomotor, psychosocial, health and physical attributes of the learners. Beyond these, physical education tends to improve students' teamwork, accountability, responsibility, self-confidence, hard work, resilience and self-discipline. Physical exercise is important in this setting since it influences general well-being, daily living skills, and life expectancy (Holme and Anderssen, 2015; Warburton et al., 2006). At least three million premature deaths might have been prevented by early intervention and health promotion, according to research estimates (Kohl et al., 2012; Lee et al., 2012; orld Health Organization 2009). Cardiovascular illnesses are among the leading causes of mortality in the European Union (Holme and Anderssen, 2015; Lee et al., 2012). This is due in part to the fact that inadequate physical activity is a risk factor for these diseases (Lübs et al., 2018). In Africa, specifically in Nigeria, estimates of death cases due to a lack of or inadequate physical exercise seems to be unavailable. However, the need for the physical training of students in sports and related areas is increasingly becoming pervasive, drawing the attention of several researchers globally (Bailey et al., 2009; Fernandez-Rio et al., 2020; Griban et al., 2020; Hinojo et al., 2020; Quennerstedt, 2019). This has led to the development of diverse strategies, theories and models to aid the effective teaching of the subject at all levels of education (Casey and MacPhail, 2018; Galimovich, 2020; Lei et al., 2021; Sitovskyi et al., 2019; Yarmak et al., 2017). In the context of Nigeria and perhaps other parts of the world, the teaching of physical education mostly occurs in the classroom, with opportunities often created for practical teaching and demonstrations during inter-house sports competitions. Among the key events that usually occur during such competitions are track events. Track events involve activities involving racing or joggling on a defined path. Traditionally, track events have been said to comprise five major activities including the; dash (sprint), steeplechase, hurdle, relay race and distance races. The dashes/sprints are short distances between 100 metres and 400 metres individual races requiring speed with limited time (Ducksters, 2021). This race is often termed an anaerobic race because it requires swiftness and less breathing (Louis, 2020). Track events require skills, energy, body stamina, and constant training (Huxley et al., 2017). Track events have always been paired with field events (DeWolfe et al., 2011; Huxley et al., 2017; Melin et al., 2019). Unlike the professional athletes who have all their time training, the secondary school athletes have some