TRACK AND FIELDS

Track and field events are divided into three broad categories: track events, field events, and
combined events.

The majority of athletes tend to specialize in just one event (or event type) with the aim of
perfecting their performances, although the aim of combined events athletes is to become
proficient in a number of disciplines.

Track events involve running on a track over specified distances

Field events 2 types : jumps and throws. In jumping competitions, athletes are judged on either
the length or height of their jumps. The performances of jumping events for distance are
measured from a board or marker, and any athlete overstepping this mark is judged to have
fouled . The throwing events involve hurling an implement (such as a heavyweight, javelin, or
discus) from a set point, with athletes being judged on the distance that the object is thrown.

Combined events involve the same group of athletes contesting a number of different track and
field events. Points are given for their performance in each event and the athlete and/or team
with the greatest points total at the end of all events is the winner..

- Track -

● Sprints

Sprints (races over short distances ) are among the oldest running competitions.

The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event, the stadion race ,
which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other.

Sprinting events are focused on athletes reaching and sustaining their quickest possible running
speed.

Three sprinting events are currently held at the Olympics and outdoor World Championships:
the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 400 metres.

● Middle distance

Middle-distance track events are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000
metres may also be classified as a middle-distance event

Middle distance events can begin in one of two ways: a staggered start or a waterfall start. In the
800 meter race, athletes begin in individual lanes that are staggered before the turn.. Runners
must remain in their lanes for the first 100 m of the race before cutting in to run as a pack

The 1500 meter and longer events typically use a waterfall start, where runners start the race
from a standing position along a curved starting line and then immediately cut in towards the
innermost track to follow the quickest route to the finish.
 ● Long-distance

There are three common long-distance running events in track and field competitions: 3000
metres, 5000 metres and 10,000 metres.

STEEPLECHASE Events - it is a footrace over an obstacle course

CROSS COUNTRY Events - are held during the fall or winter months

● Relay races

Relay races are the only track and field event in which a team of runners directly compete
against other teams.[52] Typically, a team is made up of four runners of the same sex. Each runner
completes their specified distance (referred to as a leg) before handing over a baton to a
teammate, who then begins their leg upon receiving the baton. There is usually a designated
area where athletes must exchange the baton. Teams may be disqualified if they fail to complete
the change within the area, or if the baton is dropped during the race. A team may also be
disqualified if its runners are deemed to have wilfully impeded other competitors.

In a shuttle hurdle relay, each of four hurdlers on a team runs the opposite direction from the
preceding runner. No batons are used for this particular relay

● Hurdling

Races with hurdles as a variation of the 100-yard dash that included heavy wooden barriers as
obstacles.

- Field –
● Jumping

⮚ Long jump
The long jump is one of the oldest track and field events. The athletes would take a short run up
and jump into an area of dug up earth, with the winner being the one who jumped farthest.

Small weights (Halteres) were held in each hand during the jump then swung back and dropped
near the end to gain extra momentum and distance.
 ⮚ Triple jump
Similar to the long jump, the triple jump takes place on a track heading towards a sandpit.
Originally, athletes would hop on the same leg twice before jumping into the pit, but this was
changed to the current "hop, step and jump"

⮚ High jump
Athletes have a short run up and then take off from one foot to jump over a horizontal bar and fall
back onto a cushioned landing area

⮚ Pole vault
The basic rules and technique of the event originated in the United States. The rules required
that athletes do not move their hands along the pole and athletes began clearing the bar with
their feet first and twisting so that the stomach faces the bar. Bamboo poles were introduced in
the 20th century and a metal box in the runway for planting the pole became standard. Landing
mattresses were introduced in the mid-20th century to protect the athletes who were clearing
increasingly greater heights.

● Throwing

⮚ Shot put
The term "shot" originates from the use of round shot-style ammunition for the sport.

The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—
(the shot)—as far as possible.
In open competitions the men's shot weighs 7.26 kilograms (16 lb), and the women's shot weighs
4 kilograms (8.82 lb). Junior, school, and masters competitions often use different weights of
shots, typically below the weights of those used in open competitions; the individual rules for
each competition should be consulted in order to determine the correct weights to be used.

⮚ Discus throw
In the discus throw, athletes compete to throw a heavy disc the farthest. In standard
competitions, athletes throw the disc from a set circular arc and take turns in a series of throw,
with the singular best effort deciding the victor.

⮚ Javelin throw
The current javelin specifications are 2.6 to 2.7 m in length and 800 grams in weight for men, and
2.2 to 2.3 m and 600 g for women.

A throwing event in which athletes throw a metal-tipped javelin as far as possible. It requires a
combination of strength, power, timing, co-ordination precision and timing.
The athlete must hold the javelin by its corded grip with his or her little finger closest to the tip of
the implement.

⮚ Hammer throw
The "hammer" used in this sport is not like any of the tools also called by that name. It consists of
a metal ball attached by a steel wire to a grip. The size of the ball varies between men's and
women's competitions.

● Combined events

Combined (or multi-discipline) events are competitions in which athletes participate in a number
of track and field events, earning points for their performance in each event, which adds to a total
points score.

-"combined events" or "multi events", such as the pentathlon consisting of five

events, heptathlon consisting of seven events, and decathlon consisting of ten events. In these,
athletes participate in a combination of track and field events. Most track and field events
are individual sports with a single victor; the most prominent team events are relay races, which
typically feature teams of four. Events are almost exclusively divided by gender, although both
the men's and women's competitions are usually held at the same venue.

-Outdoor-
The term track and field is intertwined with the stadiums that first hosted such competitions. The
two basic features of a track and field stadium are the outer oval-shaped running track and an
area of turf within this track—the field.

-Indoor-
Basic indoor venues may be adapted gymnasiums, which can easily accommodate high jump
competitions and short track events. Full-size indoor arenas (i.e. those fully equipped to host all
events for the World Indoor Championships) bear similarities with their outdoor equivalents.

Event Track Field

100 400 1500 110 m Long High Pole Shot Discus Javelin
Men's decathlon
m m m hurdles jump jump vault put throw throw

Women's 200 800 100 m Long High Shot Javelin

heptathlon m m hurdles jump jump put throw
 Men's 60 1000 60 m Long High Pole Shot
heptathlon (indoor) m m hurdles jump jump vault put

Women's 800 60 m Long High Shot

pentathlon (indoor) m hurdles jump jump put