How does anaerobic training benefit speed?

Anaerobic training primarily benefits speed by enhancing muscle strength and speed endurance. This type of training involves high-intensity workouts that push the body to perform at maximum effort over short periods of time, typically lasting from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. As a result, the body adapts by building muscle strength, particularly in fast-twitch muscle fibers, which are responsible for explosive movements and quick bursts of speed.

Additionally, anaerobic training helps improve speed endurance, which allows athletes to sustain high-intensity efforts for longer durations without fatigue. This combination of increased muscle strength and the ability to maintain speed over time is essential for athletes in sports that require quick sprints, such as sprinting, football, and basketball. Therefore, option B accurately captures the critical connection between anaerobic training and enhanced speed performance.

The other options, while related to aspects of fitness, do not specifically address the direct impact on speed that anaerobic training provides. Flexibility, long-distance running, and cardiovascular fitness are important components of overall physical ability, but they do not primarily enhance the anaerobic capacity that contributes to speed development.