sprinter
n.an athlete who runs very short distances at their fastest possible speed. You usually see them in races like the 100-meter dash.
n.an athlete who competes in short-distance races at maximum speed. Refers specifically to those participating in events such as the 100m, 200m, or 400m dash.
“The sprinter won the gold medal in the 100-meter race.”
“Every Olympic sprinter spends years perfecting their explosive start from the blocks to gain a fraction of a second.”
“While a marathon runner relies on aerobic endurance, a sprinter depends on anaerobic power and the rapid recruitment of fast-twitch muscle fibers to maintain peak velocity over a short duration.”
From sprint + -er.
Blend of spring + winter.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.