The sprints are more about efficiency than jumps and short sprints. The longer the distance the more a tendon helps, as it spares energy contribution for a given intensity moreso than contributes to ultimate max energy produciton. In other words, you might outjump a kenyan but they can haul ass across the desert because they don't have to work near as hard to move. Speed endurance (the last 40-50 meters of a 100 meter sprint) is somewhat like that too.
Longer tendons are also related to a better leveraged bone structure...longer bones in the right places.
But, unfavorable leverages can sometimes be made up for by disproportionate strength. So if you have short lower legs you can overcome that somewhat by having calves that are powerful as hell.
The jumps are a combination of knee, hip, and ankle extension. More recent research is showing people vary considerably in which given extensor(s) they utilize the most in jumps. Some people are knee and ankle dominant. Others are hip dominant. Some are ankle dominant, and some are more balanced. In my observations just watching people move around and such it seems ankle dominance usually correlates with quad dominance If you see someone with big ol calves their ass is generally less developed relatively compared to their quads and calves and optimally utilizing their hips doesn't come so natural for them. Ideally you want to be somewhat balanced and when you have that balance powerful calves can be a benefit. I know people here don't like him but someone like squat dr. seems very balanced in his extensors - hip, knee, quad. This is why a given exercise or prescription can somewhat be a blessing for some and curse for others.
