AN INTRO TO TRACK & FIELD EVENTS
RUNNING EVENTS
Running events include sprints, middle distance races, distance events, and hurdles.
In some meets, there are heats for sprinting events and hurdles. The top performers in the heats go on to finals. Athletes qualify for finals based on how they placed in their heat and/or having a top time. Lane placement may also depend on the athletes’ qualifying times, with the fastest athletes getting the “best” lanes.
In other meets and for mid- and long-distance events, there are sections. Athletes run in groups and the best time wins - there is no final race. At dual meets, athletes run in sections, with the fastest athletes being placed together.
Relays: There are several types of relay races, which are set up similar to the running events described above. In relays, there are 4 runners per relay team, who hand off a baton to one another. The baton hand-off must take place within a designated area on the track. Common relays include:
* 4x100 (four runners each running 100m)
* 4x400
* Distance Medley Relay, aka DMR (each athlete runs a different distance, totaling 4,000m;
the typical order is 1200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m)
POLE VAULT & HIGH JUMP
For pole vault and high jump, the bar is set at a starting height. All athletes get 3 tries to clear the bar. If they clear the bar, they move on to the next round, where the bar is raised higher. The winner is the “last athlete standing” - the one who clears the highest bar.
If there is a “tie,” placement is based on who has the fewest “misses.” For this reason, experienced athletes may skip the early heights rather than risk a “miss;” they choose to “come in” (join the competition) when the bar is higher.
The starting order for pole vault and high jump is usually based on each athlete’s best height for the season so far. Athletes compete in order of best past performance, with the top performer jumping last.
HORIZONTAL JUMPS (LONG & TRIPLE)
For horizontal jumps, each athlete gets 3 attempts. They take turns jumping, with the goal of getting the longest jump possible.
The athletes with the farthest jumps move on to the finals. These athletes get three more jumps, giving them a chance to “move up” in their placement. The final placement (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) is based on each athlete’s best jump out of all 6 attempts.
At large meets, athletes compete in order of best past performance, with the top performer jumping last. They may also be put into “flights” (groups) for their initial 3 jumps. The flight with the top performers usually goes last.
Jumps are measured from the front edge of the takeoff board (a white line on the runway) to the nearest point of contact made by the jumper in the sand. (You’ll often see jumpers carefully get up without disturbing the sand behind them.)
It is a foul if the jumper’s toe crosses the edge of the takeoff board.
THROWS
Throws include javelin, discus, and shotput. Each athlete gets 3 throws. The athletes with the farthest throws (based on their 3 attempts) move on to the finals. These athletes get three more throws, giving them a chance to “move up” in their placement. The final placement (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) is based on each athlete’s best throw out of all 6 attempts.
At large meets, athletes are placed in order of best past performance, with the top performer throwing last. They may also be put into “flights” (groups) for their initial 3 throws. The flight with the top performers usually goes last.
It is a foul if the thrower crosses the edge of the throwing circle or runway; if the throw lands out-of-bounds; or, for javelin, if the tail of the javelin strikes the ground first.
Discus & Shotput: Throws are measured from the inner edge of the throwing circle stopboard to the first spot the throwing implement makes contact with the ground.
Javelin: Ideally, the javelin tip sticks in the ground and distance is measured from the javelin tip to the edge of the throwing runway. A flat landing is fair, as long as the tip hits the ground before any other part of the javelin. In that case, the throw is measured from the rear of the grip.