There are other variations besides the ones listed below, but races of unusual length (e.g. 300 m) are run much less often. The unusual races are typically held during indoor season because of the shorter 200 m indoor track. With the exception of the mile run, races based on imperial distances are rarely run on the track anymore since most tracks have been converted from a quarter mile (402.3 m) to 400 m; almost all record keeping for imperial distances has been discontinued. However, the IAAF record book still includes the mile world record (currently held by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco for men and Svetlana Masterkova of Russia for women) because of its worldwide historic significance.
Men and women do not compete against each other, although they may sometimes run in the same races due to time constraints at high school meets. Women generally run the same distances as men although hurdles and steeplechase barriers are lower and the weights of the shot, discus, javelin and hammer are less.
Track and Field is the most accessible sport for anybody to participate in. It only takes two people to have a race, or one can simply race a stopwatch. In events called All Comers Track Meets, anybody who wishes to participate is welcome, there is no exclusion because you do not have a team or even equipment. Most such meets are low cost or even free. While races are usually seeded based on the entrant's expected level of ability, the most elite of athletes can and do use these meets as training grounds.
Running and racewalking events
Running events conducted on a track (generally 400 metres, except indoors):
Sprints are events up to and including the 400 metres. Events commonly contested are:
- 60 metres (indoors only)
- 100 metres
- 200 metres
- 400 metres
Middle Distance Events are events longer than sprints and up to 3000 metres. Events commonly contested are:
- 800 metres
- 1000 metres
- 1500 metres
- One mile
- 3000 metres
- 3000 metres steeplechase
Long Distance Events are events over 3000 metres. Events commonly contested are:
- 5000 metres
- 10,000 metres
Hurdles events require the runner to run over evenly spaced barriers during the race. Events commonly contested are:
- 60 metres hurdles (indoors only)
- 100 metres hurdles (women)
- 110 metres hurdles (men)
- 400 metres hurdles
Relay races are events in which four athletes participate as a team, passing a metal baton in between. Events commonly contested are:
- 4 x 100 metres relay
- 4 x 400 metres relay
Some events, such as medley relays, are rarely run except at large relay carnivals. Typical medley relays include:
- Sprint Medley Relay (SMR): the four legs are 400 metres, two 200 metre legs, 800 metres; or alternately 200 metres, two 100 metre legs, 400 metres
- Distance Medley Relay (DMR): the four legs are 1200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres, 1600 metres
Road Races are events conducted on open roads, sometimes finishing on a track. Events commonly contested are:
- 10 km
- 20 km
- Half marathon (21.0975 km)
- Marathon (42.195 km). The marathon is the only common road-racing distance run in major international athletics championships, such as the Olympics.
Racewalking may be contested on either the track or on open roads. Events commonly contested are:
- 10 km
- 20 km
- 50 km
Field events
Throwing Events
Jumping Events
The following events also take place, but are uncommon:
- Standing high jump
- Standing long jump
- Standing triple jump
Multiple Event Competitions
Multiple event competitions include events from both the track (running) and field events.
Pentathlon: the Pentathlon includes the following five events:
- High Hurdles (110 metres for men, 100 metres for women)
- Shot Put
- Long Jump
- High Jump
- Middle distance (1500 metres for men, 800 metres for women)
Heptathlon: the Heptathlon includes the following seven events:
Outdoors (usually only women):
- 100 metre high hurdles
- High Jump
- Shot Put
- 200 metres
- Long Jump
- Javelin Throw
- 800 metres
Indoors (usually only men):
- 60 metres
- Long Jump
- Shot Put
- High Jump
- 60 metres hurdles
- Pole Vault
- 1000 metres
Decathlon: the Decathlon includes the following ten events:
- 100 metres
- Long Jump
- Shot Put
- High Jump
- 400 metres
- 110 metre high hurdles
- Discus
- Pole Vault
- Javelin
- 1500 metres
No comments:
Post a Comment