Running, jumping and throwing competitions are called track and field or athletics. They are probably the oldest form of sport and an important part of the Olympic Games.

 

Meets
Track and field is organised as meets that take place mostly in an outdoor stadium with a track and a grassy field. In winter meets take place in indoor areas. Such a meet can last for only a few days or as long as two weeks at Olympic Games or World Championships.

 

Track events
Track events are races between athletes that take place on an oval track that is normally 400 metres long. It is divided into lanes and has a surface of asphalt, rubber or tartan.

Short distance racers are called sprinters. They start with their feet against a starting block and their hands on the track. When a gun is fired the race begins and the sprinters run as fast as they can towards the finish line, but they must always stay in their lanes.

Short distance races cover distances of 100, 200 and 400 metres. The 100 metre dash is one of the most popular events at such a track and field meeting. The world record holder is considered to be the fastest man on earth,

Middle distance races are the 800, 1 500 and sometimes the 3,000 metre races. Runners need speed but also endurance.

The 5,000 and 10,000 metre races are the longest races on the track. Athletes have to train a lot and run many km a day in order to complete such a race. They must learn to keep a steady pace and also must be able to have enough energy for the final metres.

The longest race is the marathon. It goes back to 490 B.C. when a Greek soldier ran all the way from Marathon to Athens (about 40 km) to tell the people about a great military victory. Today the marathon distance is 42.195 metres and it is run mostly on roads.

Relays are races in which teams of runners compete against each other. Four athletes form a team and take turns running around the track. They have to pass a stick , called a baton to their next team-mate before they reach the finish line. The most common relay races are the 4X 100 metres and the 4X400 metres.

In a hurdle race athletes must jump over obstacles called hurdles which are about 1 metre high.- Men run the 110 metre and 400 metre event, women the 100 metre and the 400 metre event.