TRACK AND FIELD

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ROMEL DARIA
RUNNING
Sprints:
 60-meter run: The briefest event, over in just a few seconds, this is the short sprint of choice on smaller
indoor tracks, as the distance allows for a straight run without any curves. While the start is important in
all sprints, bursting out of the blocks is vital in the 60 meters, because there’s very little time to recover
from a poor start.
 100-meter run: The outdoor straight sprint is one of track and field’s glamor events. As with the 60
meters, runners remain in assigned lanes, with the fastest runners given the middle lanes of a multi-heat
event. While some runners have favorite spots, lane placement isn’t as vital in a race with no curves.
While a fast start is important, a runner who’s beaten out of the blocks does have some time to recover.
 200-meter run: Because runners must negotiate a curve in this event, the competitors’ assigned lanes are
staggered, so each runs the same distance. Running a curve is different from dashing down a straight
lane: competitors will try to remain as close to the inside line as possible without stepping on the line,
which is cause for disqualification. Endurance begins to come into play, as 200-meter runners must not
only be fast but must maintain their speed.
 400-meter run: One full lap around an outdoor track. Runners remain in their assigned lanes and receive
staggered starts. Although competitors begin in starting blocks – and the 400 is technically considered a
sprint – the runners must pace themselves a bit. Come-from-behind victories on the final straight are not
unusual.
Middle Distance Races
 800-meter run: Runners begin from a standing start in staggered lanes. After the first turn, however,
runners may leave their lanes, at which point competitors dash for their favorite spots, at or near the
inside lane. Some 800-meter runners enjoy success by leading from the start and maintaining as much of
their pace as possible, while others use the first lap to establish a clear spot on the track, then unleash a
finishing kick on lap two.
 1500-meter run/mile run: Approximately four laps around a standard outdoor track (1500 runs a bit less
than four full laps, the mile just a touch more), these races are tactical affairs in which the eventual
winner generally establishes position in the middle or even the back of the pack in the early laps. The
runners begin along a curved line, then almost immediately break out of their lane and move toward the
inside of the track.
Long Distance Races
 3000-meter run: This is a primary indoor event – it’s part of the World Indoor Championships – but it’s
also run outdoors. The 3000 marks the start of the long-distance events, as the 1500 and the mile are
considered middle distance races. Runners begin on a slightly curved starting line (the curve is greater
on the smaller indoor track) but don’t run in lanes, so the start is mainly a competition to gain a runner’s
favored position on the track. Endurance is paramount at this distance, and above, with top speeds
reserved for the final lap.
 5000-meter run: Competitors start on a curved line and can immediately run anywhere on the track,
leading to a large initial pack typically stretching three four lanes wide, depending on how many runners
are racing. While all distance races are tactical events to some degree, competitors at this distance and
above are to a large extent running to their own pace most of the way, rather than responding to their
opponents. Runners must know how fast they can go at different stages of the race to achieve the best
possible time. Tactics come to the fore in the final laps, as runners position themselves for the race to the
finish. While it’s advantageous to run an inside line – on which a runner travels a shorter distance
around the curves – running too far inside can result in a competitor being boxed in by slower runners
and not being able to break out at the crucial moment.
 10,000-meter run: The longest track event, it also begins with a curved starting line but is run without
lanes. Jockeying for position at the start isn’t as important because of the greater distance. As with the
5,000, each competitor must know his own pace. Running along an inside line is less hazardous for
premier runners because slower runners will drop off the pace as the longer event progresses, leaving a
smaller number of runners jockeying for position in the final laps. Most great long distance racers rely
on a strong finishing kick to win.
 Marathon run: This is generally a stand-alone event, but is part of major meets such as the Olympics and
the World Championships, where it often starts and ends inside of the stadium. Originally measuring 26
miles, 385 yards, it’s now 42.195 kilometers. Runners begin in a pack, but the start is inconsequential.
Competitors go at their own pace, with the primary goal of many being simply to finish. Top
competitors will pace themselves and try to run consistent splits from beginning to end.
Jumping
The jumping events are long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault.

 Long jump

The long jump facility includes a runway, a take-off board and a landing area. Usually, it is placed outside the
track along one of the straights with two adjacent runways with a landing area at each end. This allows
competition in either direction by two groups of athletes simultaneously.

 Runway

The runway is 40m minimum long, 1.22m ± 0.01m wide and is measured from the beginning of the runway to
the take-off line. It is marked by white lines 0.05m wide or broken lines 0.05m wide, 0.10m long and 0.50m
apart. The runway is usually covered with the same surface as the track.

 Take-off board

The take-off board is a white rectangle and measures 1.22m ± 0.01m long and 0.20m ± 0.002m wide and not
more than 0.10m deep. The surface of the take-off board must be flush with the surface of the runway.

In the case of a runway with a permanent surface, this requires a built-in installation tray made of corrosion
protected metal in which the take-off board is correctly positioned. During sport free periods, the take-off board
can be removed. If it has a track surface on its reverse side, it can be turned over and used as part of the runway.
This makes it possible to combine the long and triple jump with two or three take-off boards (which can be used
on both sides) on a triple jump runway.

 Landing area

The landing area is 7-9m long depending on the distance between its nearest end and the take-off line. It is
2.75m wide. Generally, a landing area 8m long placed 2m from the take-off line is recommended. The landing
area is placed so that the middle of the runway coincides with the middle of the landing area.

If two landing areas are situated parallel side by side or staggered, the distance between them is at least 0.30m.
The landing area has a border not less than 0.05m wide and 0.30m high, rounded off towards the inside (e.g.
wooden plank or concrete border with soft covering) and level with the ground.

The landing area has a water permeable substructure or a suitable drainage system (draining well or canal
connection) and filled with sand to a depth of not less than 0.30m at the edges and slightly deeper at the Centre.

The top edge of the border of the landing area, generally also dictates the level of the sand, which must be level
with the take-off board.

 Triple jump

Apart from the placement of the take-off board, the same facilities are used for triple jump as for long jump. For
international competition, it is recommended that the take-off board is not less than 13m for men and 11m for
women from the nearer end of the landing area. For other competitions, this distance is appropriate for the level
of competition.

 High jump
 Layout

The high jump facility includes a semicircular runway, a take-off area, two uprights with cross bar and a landing
area. By temporarily removing sections of the herb, it is possible to use the oval track as part of the runway. For
major championships, the high jump facility must be large enough so that two high jumps can be conducted
simultaneously.

 Runway

The semicircular runway, with a radius of at least 20m, will permit approaches from every direction. If it is
necessary to remove the kerb temporarily in order to be able to use the oval track as a runway, care must be
taken to ensure that the heights of the surfaces of the oval track and the segment are the same along the track
border. The runway and take-off areas are usually covered with the same surface as the track.

 Uprights

They must be 4.02m ± 0.02m apart.

 Landing area

The landing mats measure not less than 6m x 4m and are covered by a spike proof protective mat. The overall
height is a minimum 0.70m.

 Pole vault
 Layout

The pole vault facility includes a runway, a box for inserting the pole, two uprights with crossbar and a landing
area. It can be located either outside the track, parallel to one of the straights or within one of the segments.

When located outside the track, it is usually constructed as a symmetrical facility with one landing area in the
middle of two runways. When located within a segment, it is usually constructed with two parallel runways
with positions for landing areas at each end.

 Runway for pole vault with box

The runway is a minimum of 40m long and is measured from beginning of the runway to the 0-line. The
runway is 1.22m ± 0.01m wide.

It is marked by white lines 0.05m wide or broken lines 0.05m wide with a length of 0.1m and 0.5m. At the end
of the runway, the box is mounted flush with the runway and installed such that the top inside edge of its end
board lies on the 0-line and at the same height. The 0-line is marked by a white line, 0.01m wide which extends
beyond the outside edges of the uprights.

 Uprights
The two uprights must be installed on horizontal bases, level with the 0-line, such that each can be moved from
the 0-line not less than 0.80m towards the landing area (e.g. on a built-in double rail) or in fixed sockets with
movable cross bar supports.

They are not less than 5.20m apart with approximately 0.10m between each upright and the landing mat. The
lower part of the uprights is covered with appropriate padding to protect the athletes and their poles. The
landing mats are recessed to take the uprights and any horizontal bases.

 Landing mats

The landing mats are the same as for the high jump, except for the dimensions.
For major international competitions, the landing area is a minimum of 6m long (excluding the front pieces),
6m wide and 0.80m high. The front pieces must be at least 2m long. The sides of the landing area nearest to the
box are 0.10m-0.15m from the box and slope away from the box at an angle of approximately 45°. For other
competitions, the landing area is not less than 5m long (excluding the front pieces) x 5m wide.

Throwing events
 Shot Put
The shot put has been an Olympic sport since 1896 and involves pushing or putting a heavy metal ball called a
shot out of a 7-foot diameter concrete circle. The shot weighs 16 lbs. in men's competitions and 8.8 lbs. for
women. The two main methods used in shot put are the spin and the glide. Most top putters use the spin method.
The men's world record for the shot is 23 meters, 12 centimeters -- or 75 feet and 10 inches, and is held by
American Randy Barnes, as of 2010. The women's world record of 22 meters, 63 centimeters -- or 74 feet and 3
inches, is held by Natalya Lisovskaya of Russia.
 Discus
Discus throwing has been a sport since ancient Greece circa 708 B.C. and consists of throwing a heavy circular
disc as far as possible. Up until 1906, the discuss was thrown from an elevated pedestal but modern discuss
throwers use a circle similar in size and design to shot putters. Discus throwing was featured in the first
Olympics in 1896 and was one of the first women's Olympic events in 1928. Men throw a discuss weighing 4
lb., 7 oz. while women's discus weighs 2 lb., 3 oz. Discus throwers use rotational throwing technique, which can
see the discuss flying to distances as far as 250 feet.
 Javelin
Javelin throwing was once an integral part of ancient warfare and the farther a warrior could hurl a javelin, the
greater his standing in the army. The first men's Olympic javelin event was in 1908 and in 1932 for women.
Originally made of wood, modern javelins are made of metal. Men's javelins weigh 800 g and women's javelins
weigh 600 g. Javelins can be thrown huge distances and have had to be redesigned as athletes were generating
throws in excess of the length of modern athletics stadium. Javelin throwing is the only track and field throwing
event that allows a run up.
 Hammer
The hammer throwers of old used to throw blacksmiths hammers. The hammer used in modern competition
does not really resemble a hammer and consists of a heavy metal ball and a long wire handle. The hammer is
thrown from a 7-foot diameter concrete circle after the thrower has spun around three or four times. The
hammer used in men's competitions weighs 16 lbs. and the hammer used by women weighs 8.82 lbs. The men's
world record is held by Yuriy Sedykh and measures 86.76 meters, as of 2010. The women's world record is
78.30 and is held by Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland.