Types of Track Events play a part, making for exciting/ finishes

to races.
1. SPRINT
3. LONG DISTANCE
Sprint running races are short
distances races in which athletes try to Endurance running also referred to
run at their maximum speed throughout as long-distance running, is a sport of the
the entire distance of the race. track and field discipline, which comprises
-The 400m oval running track is split into all running races of distances from 3kms
eight lanes, where each lane is 4ft wide. up to the marathon. The sport has
-Competitions are conducted in a heats recently been dominated by runners from
format, where athletes in groups of eight African countries, who hold the world
take part in every race, with winners records for all long-distance races. There
moving on to the next round until the are several distances for which long-
final winner is decided. distance races are conducted, of which
-Sprint races can be of various distances the most common are the 5K, 10K, and
from 50 and 400m. the marathon (42.2K) races. Some of the
- 400m. - The three formats used for the other types of endurance running that are
Olympics are 100m, 200m less popular are the half marathon,
-For the 100m race all runners are lined ultramarathon, and cross country
up in a straight line on a track, and for the running. In major competitions, the 5K
200m and 400m, the start position is and 10K races are mostly conducted on a
based on which lane the athlete is on the track, and the marathon races are
track. The runner to first cross the finish conducted on city roads. The Olympics
line is the winner. The time is taken to and the World Championships both have
finish the race for each athlete is also races for all three distances, for both men
tracked for historical record keeping. and women.
-Though the 5K and 10K races are only
2. MIDDLE DISTANCE conducted as part of a major event, every
year, several standalone marathon races
Middle distance races are part of the are held in various cities around the
track and field discipline that world, for both men and women.
encompasses all track running races from - In these races, amateurs are also
800m up to 3km such as the mile. They allowed to take part along with
are frequently referred to as the hardest professional runners.
of the running events as it requires both - Some of the most popular marathons
endurance and strength. are the New York marathon, Boston
-The 800m runners start the race in lanes, marathon, London marathon, Berlin
though they merge together after about marathon, Chicago marathon, and Tokyo
100m to run along the inside of the track. marathon.
- Longer middle distance races such as the
1500m and mile races start with the 4. HURDLES & STEEPLECHASE
runners spread across the track in a line
and they immediately race to the inside of Hurdles or steeplechase is an
the track. obstacle race, which was derived from
- As the runners are not restricted to horse racing. Hurdling is the basis of a few
running in their own lane, it enables more track and field events. In the said events,
jockeying for position and for tactics to both men and women race over the most
common distance 3000m - though the
steeplechase for women has lower o Improper passing of the baton,
barriers. especially when not passing in the
-The standard hurdle race is 110 meters exchange zone
for men and 100 meters for women. The
barrier heights for men are 0.914m (36in) o Causing an obstruction to other athletes
and the barrier heights for women are
0.762m (30in). o False starting
-All these distances are events in the
Summer Olympics and the World RULES OF TRACK EVENTS
Championships in Athletics. The 110-
meter and 100-meter hurdles are done A. HURDLES & STEEPLECHASE
on a running track: the 400-meter
versions cover one whole oval track. START:
-There are also shorter distances which Starting blocks are used for all
are done on indoor tracks, the distances hurdle, relay and sprint events. The
start from 500 meters onwards. starting blocks consist of two adjustable
footplates attached to a rigid frame.
5. RELAYS Olympic hurdle and sprint races
commence with the firing of the Starter's
Relay running is a type of running gun. The starting commands are "On your
race in which athletes compete as a team, marks" and "Set."
rather than as individuals. Relay events Once all athletes are in the set
are done in 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m, 4 x 300m, position, the Starter's gun is fired,
and 4 x 400m. However, the two most officially starting the race.
common relay races in track and field are For the 100m, women's 100m
the 4 x 100m and the 4 x 400m races, in hurdles, and men's 110m hurdles, all
which four athletes run 100m and 400m competitors are lined up side-by-side. For
each respectively. A less common relay is the 200m, 400m, and 400m hurdles,
the sprint medley relay, usually consisting which involve curves, runners are
of four legs run at distances of 400, 200, staggered for the start.
200, and 800 meters. The major aspect of
a relay race is the baton. The first runner FALSE STARTS:
of each team starts the race with a baton. If a sprinter commences his or
After the first runner completes their part her starting motion from the set position
of the run, the baton has to be passed on before the Starter's gun is fired, it is
to the next runner in the team. This deemed at false start.
continues until the final runner finishes The first false start of the race
the race with the baton in hand. results in automatic disqualification to
-For the 100m each relay, runners have to the offending runner.
stay in their lane for the entire race,
whereas for the 400m race, the runners LANES:
are free to choose any lane after the first For all Olympic sprint and
exchange. hurdle events, runners must remain
within their pre-assigned lanes, which
Here are some rules where a team can get measure 1.22 meters (4 feet) wide, from
disqualified in a relay in athletics: start to finish. The lanes are numbered 1
through 8, starting with the inside lane.
o Baton dropped and not recovered by Any athlete who runs outside
the athlete who dropped it the assigned lane is subject to
disqualification. If the athlete is forced to NEGOTIATING BARRIERS:
run outside of his or her lane by another In the steeplechase, any
person, and no material advantage is competitor who steps to the side of a
gained, there will be no disqualification. jump or trails his foot or leg alongside any
Also, a runner who stays from barrier will be disqualified. Athletes may
his or her lane in the straightaway, or go over the barriers in any way, as long as
crosses the outer line of his or her lane on no part of the foot or leg falls below the
the bend, and gains no advantage by it, horizontal plane of the top bar at the
will not be disqualified as long as no other instance of clearance.
runner is obstructed.
C. DISTANCE RULES
THE FINISH:
The first athlete whose torso START:
(as distinguished from the head, neck, In Olympic distance events,
arms, legs, hands, or feet) reaches the there are no starting blocks: runners
vertical plane of the closest edge of the begin in an upright position, their hands
finish line is the winner. are prohibited from touching the ground.
The starting command for
NEGOTIATING HURDLES: these races is "On your marks." Once all
Any competitor who trails a athletes are at the mark, the Starter's gun
foot or leg below the horizontal plane of is fired, officially starting the race.
the top of any hurdle at the instant of
clearance will be disqualified. LANES:
In Olympic distance races,
B. MIDDLE DISTANCE RULES there are no lane assignments so runners
can break for position from the start.
START:
With all individual races 800m
and longer, there are no starting blocks:
runners begin in an upright position, their
hands prohibited from touching the
ground. The starting command for these
races is "On your marks." Once all athletes
are at the mark, the Starter's gun is fired,
officially starting the race. An 800m race
comprises eight runners, each in his or
her own lane for the staggered start: in
the 1500m and steeplechase, which have
up to 12 runners, a group start is used.

LANES:
In the 800m, all runners must
stay within their assigned lanes through
the first turn, after which they break for
position to the inside lane. In the 1500m
and steeplechase, there are no lane
assignments, and runners jockey for
position from the start.