Dr Sarah M Churchill BSc (Hons), PhD
Senior Lecturer
Summary
Sarah gained her PhD entitled "Biomechanical Investigations of Bend Running Technique in Athletic Sprint Events" at the University of Bath and joined Sarah joined the teaching team at Hallam in 2013. Sarah is a Fellow of the HEA and Course Leader for the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Technology degree. She delivers of a range of Undergraduate and Postgraduate modules.
Sarah is an active researcher in the field of biomechanics and performance analysis. Her main interests are in the biomechanics of sprinting, in particular bend sprinting, biomechanics of rugby and gait analysis.
About
Sarah studied for a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science with Associated Biological Science at the University of Worcester. She worked as a Technical Engineer conducting applied biomechanics research at the Motion Analysis Research and Rehabilitation Centre (MARRC) at the University of Worcester before joining the University of Bath to study for a PhD entitled "Biomechanical Investigations of Bend Running Technique in Athletic Sprint Events". With almost 10 years of teaching experience, Sarah is a Fellow of the HEA and Course Leader for the BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Technology degree. She delivers of a range of Undergraduate and Postgraduate modules. Sarah also supervises a number of research projects from undergraduate through to doctoral level.
Sarah is an active researcher in the field of biomechanics and performance analysis. Her main interests are in the biomechanics of sprinting, in particular bend sprinting, biomechanics of rugby and gait analysis.
Sarah also has applied experience of providing biomechanics support to elite athletes and Paralympic athletes.
Specialist areas of interest
Biomechanics of Sprinting
Gait analysis
Biomechanics of Rugby Union
Performance analysis of Rugby Union
Teaching
Subject area
Sport and Exercise Science
Sport and Exercise Technology
Courses
BSc Sport and Exercise Science
BSc Sport and Exercise Technology
MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science
Modules
Foundations of Biomechanics in Sport and Exercise (L4)
Foundations of Human Sciences (L4)
Sport and Exercise Mechanics (L4)
Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise (L5)
Work Based Learning in Sport and Exercise (L5)
Applied Biomechanics of Sport and Exercise (L6)
Analysis and Evaluation of Performance: Technical and Tactical (L7)
Publications
Journal articles
Chiu, C.-.Y., Dunn, M., Heller, B., Churchill, S., & Maden-Wilkinson, T. (2022). Modification and refinement of three-dimensional reconstruction to estimate body volume from a simulated single-camera image. Obesity Science and Practice. http://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.627
Rowley, L.J., Churchill, S.M., Dunn, M., & Wheat, J. (2021). Effect of hurdling step strategy on the kinematics of the hurdle clearance technique. Sports Biomech. http://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2021.1970214
Rowley, L.J., Churchill, S.M., Dunn, M., & Wheat, J. (2021). Effect of hurdling step strategy on the kinematics of the block start. Sports Biomechanics. http://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2021.1896028
Judson, L.J., Churchill, S.M., Barnes, A., Stone, J.A., & Wheat, J. (2020). Joint moments and power in the acceleration phase of bend sprinting. Journal of Biomechanics, 109632. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.109632
Judson, L., Churchill, S., Barnes, A., Stone, J., Brookes, I., & Wheat, J. (2019). Kinematic modifications of the lower limb during the acceleration phase of bend sprinting. Journal of Sports Sciences. http://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2019.1699006
Judson, L., Churchill, S., Barnes, A., Stone, J., Brookes, I., & Wheat, J. (2019). Horizontal force production and multi-segment foot kinematics during the acceleration phase of bend sprinting. Scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports, 29 (10). http://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13486
Judson, L.J., Churchill, S.M., Barnes, A., Stone, J.A., Brooks, I.G.A., & Wheat, J. (2018). Measurement of bend sprinting kinematics with three-dimensional motion capture : a test-retest reliability study. Sports Biomechanics. http://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2018.1515979
Churchill, S., Trewartha, G., & Salo, A. (2018). Bend sprinting performance : new insights into the effect of running lane. Sports Biomechanics. http://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2018.1427279
Hughes, A., Barnes, A., Churchill, S., & Stone, J. (2017). Performance indicators that discriminate winning and losing in elite men’s and women’s Rugby Union. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 17 (4), 534-544. http://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2017.1366759
Yeh, H.-.P., Stone, J., Churchill, S., Brymer, E., & Davids, K. (2017). Physical and emotional benefits of different exercise environments designed for treadmill running. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14 (7), 752. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14070752
Stean, D., Barnes, A., & Churchill, S.M. (2015). Effect of the 'Crouch, Bind, Set' engagement routine on scrum performance in English Premiership Rugby. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 15 (3), 1202-1212. http://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2015.11868862
Churchill, S.M., Trewartha, G., Bezodis, I.N., & Salo, A.I.T. (2015). Force production during maximal effort bend sprinting : theory versus reality. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 26 (10), 1171-1179. http://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12559
Yeh, H.-.P., Stone, J., Churchill, S., Wheat, J., Brymer, E., & Davids, K. (2015). Physical, psychological and emotional benefits of green physical activity: An ecological dynamics perspective. Sports Medicine, 46 (7), 947-953. http://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0374-z
Churchill, S.M., Salo, A.I.T., & Trewartha, G. (2015). The effect of the bend on technique and performance during maximal effort sprinting. Sports Biomechanics, 14 (1), 106-121. http://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2015.1024717
Conference papers
Judson, L., Churchill, S., Barnes, A., Stone, J., & Wheat, J. (2019). Lower extremity joint moments during the acceleration phase of bend sprinting. In European College of Sport Science Conference.
Judson, L., Churchill, S., Barnes, A., Stone, J., & Wheat, J. (2018). Metatarsophalangeal joint push-off axis during bend sprinting. In Biomechanics Interest Group (BIG) for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Wheat, J., Judson, L., Churchill, S., Stone, J., & Barnes, A. (2017). Effect of calculation method on measuring centre of mass from kinematic data during bend sprinting. In International Society of Biomechanics in Sports Conference.
Hughes, A., Barnes, A., Churchill, S., & Stone, J. (2016). Performance indicators that discriminate winning and losing in elite men's and women's Rugby Union. In World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport.
Yeh, H., Stone, J., Churchill, S., Brymer, E., & Davids, K. (2016). Designing physical activity environments to enhance physical and psychological effects. Procedia Engineering, 147, 793-798. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.313
Judson, L., Churchill, S., Barnes, A., Stone, J., & Wheat, J. (2017). Simplified marker sets for the calculation of centre of mass location during bend sprinting. In 35th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, 2017, German Sport University Cologne, 14 June 2017 - 18 June 2017. https://www.isbs2017.com/
Book chapters
Elstub, L.J., & Churchill, S.M. (2023). Biomechanical Basis of Linear and Curvilinear Sprint Performance. In Multidirectional Speed in Sport. (pp. 27-41). Routledge: http://doi.org/10.4324/9781003267881-4
Postgraduate supervision
PhD: The effect of the bend on technique and performance during the block start and initial acceleration phase of sprinting
PhD: Investigation of the biomechanical adaptations in the key phases of bend sprinting
PhD: The effect of step strategy on the clearance of the first hurdle
PhD: Physical, psychological and emotional benefits of green physical activity: an ecological dynamics perspective