This study was conducted to determine catecholamine response to maximal intensity exercise of a few seconds' duration. To do this, epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) levels were measured during Force-Velocity Test. Blood samples were taken at the end of each sprint. Compared to rest (E0 = 77.4 +/- 3.8 pg/ml), the E concentration significantly increased after the first sprint (E2 = 109.8 +/- 14.7 pg/ml) and after the last one (E8 = 126.9 +/- 19.4 pg/ml) which correspond to the exhaustion state of our subjects. NE concentration doubled after the first sprint (NE2 = 589.1 +/- 94.7 pg/ml) and remained at this level until the end of the test. E2 seems to have been a stress reaction to an unfamiliar test. E8 may represent the "exercise plus exhaustion" stimulus on the stimulation of the adrenal gland (AG). This would suggest that stimulus intensity plays a role even when duration is very brief, although the time factor seems to limit the response of AG. The evolution of NE suggest that the brief duration of the sprints may limit the adatation response of NE to energy demands.