Field testing of cardiorespiratory fitness in primary school children.

The purpose of the investigation was to explore the validity of using timed distance runs as predictors of cardiorespiratory fitness in first, second and third grade children. Maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2 max), determined via the open-circut method during treadmill running, and performance on runs of 800, 1200 and 1600 meters were compared for 83 children. Males were found to exceed females on Vo2 max and possessed significantly faster times on all the distances run. The 1600-meter run proved to be the best predictor of Vo2 max (ml/kg) in both sexes. Test-retest reliability of the 1600-meter run was checked with 120 students and found to range from +.824 for first grade females to + .918 for third grade males. Normative values for first, second, and third grade students were calculated from data collected on 1440 elementary students. All subjects studied had previously received instruction and practice on the phenomenon of paced distance running.