TRACK AND FIELD

History/Overview
The track and field unit incorporates competition on an individual and team basis.
Track and field are one of the world’s oldest sporting activities. The events are
depicted in ancient Egyptian art. The first organized track and field meet was in 776
BC. These were called the Olympic Games. At that time, the Olympics consisted of
the pentathlon, which included discus, the javelin, foot racing, long jumping and
wrestling. The first modern track and field meet occurred in 1837 at Eton College in
England. Today the Olympics consists of a multitude of sports of which track and
field remains the centrepiece. There are numerous events in track and field. In our
unit, we will cover: sprints, distance, shot put, long jump, triple jump and relays.

Track and field, or athletics as it is called in many countries, is the designation given
to contests for men and women that involve running, jumping for height and distance,
and throwing for distance using implements of standardized design. Competitions in
track and field are called meets and are usually held outdoors, with the running events
taking place on a portion of or around a 400-m (437.2-yd) or 440-yd (402.3-m) oval
made out of cinders, clay, or synthetic compounds.

Safety/Etiquette
1. Do not cross the track without first checking for runners.
2. Proper warm-up is essential at the beginning of each class period (Active/Passive).
3. Runners should use the outside lanes of the track during warm-up time.
4. Do not walk through the shot-put area.
5. Check the jumping pits for debris or equipment (rakes, brooms, shovels, rocks,
garbage, etc.)
6. Learn the proper technique before attempting any event.
7. Always look both ways before crossing the track.

Facilities/Equipment – Care of Equipment

∙ Return all equipment to the teacher at the end of the class period.
∙ Equipment used for this unit includes: relay batons, stop watches, shot put, tape
measure, 16” softball, rake and broom (long and triple jump).
∙ The facility for this unit will be the outdoor track area.
TRACK EVENTS
Track events involve running on a track over a specified distance.

1. Sprint Running (Athletics)

Sprint running races are short distances races in which athletes try to run at their
maximum speed throughout the entire distance of the race. Sprint races are part of
the track and field discipline and are included in all events that feature track and field
competitions.
The 400m oval running track is split into eight lanes, where each lane is 4ft wide. Up
to eight athletes compete in a single race. Competitions are conducted in a heats
format, where athletes in groups of eight take part in a every race, with winners
moving on to the next round, until the final winner is decided.
Sprint races can be of various distances from 50 - 400m. The three formats used for
the Olympics are: 100m, 200m and 400m. The 100m and 400m races are also
conducted in a relay format where a team of four each run a leg and pass a baton from
one runner to the next.

100m sprint race

For the 100m race all runners are lined up in a straight line in a track, and for the
200m and 400m the start position is based on which lane the athlete is on the track.
The runner to first cross the finish line is the winner. The time taken to finish the race
for each athlete is also tracked for historical record keeping.
2. Middle Distance Running Races
Middle distance races are part of the track and field discipline, usually the 800m and
1500m races, though it encompasses all track running races from 800m up to 3km
such as the mile. Any longer races on the track as referred to as long distance races,
which comprises of all running races of distances from 3km up including
the steeplechase.
The 800m runners start the race in lanes, though they merge together after about 100m
to run along the inside of the track. Longer middle-distance races such as the 1500m
and mile races start with the runners spread across the track in a line and they
immediately race to the inside of the track. As the runners are not restricted to run in
their own lane, it enables more jockeying for position and for tactics to play a part,
making for exciting finishes to races.

distance runners

3. Endurance Running
Endurance running, also referred to as long-distance running, is a sport of the track
and field discipline, which comprises of all running races of distances from 3kms up
to the marathon. The sport has recently been dominated by runners from African
countries, who hold the world records for all long-distance races.
There are several distances for which long-distances races are conducted, of which the
most common are the, 5K, 10K, and the marathon (42.2K) races. Some of the other
types of endurance running that are less popular are, the half marathon, ultra-marathon
and cross-country running.
In major competitions, the 5K and 10K races are mostly conducted on a track, and the
marathon races are conducted on city roads. The Olympics and the World
Championships both have races for all the three distances, for both men and women.
Though the 5K and 10K races are only conducted as part of a major event, every year,
several standalone marathon races are held in various cities around the world, for both
men and women. In these races, amateurs are also allowed to take part along with
professional runners. Some of the most popular marathons are, New York marathon,
Boston marathon, London marathon, Berlin marathon, Chicago marathon, and Tokyo
marathon.

4. Steeplechase (Athletics)
Steeplechase is a sport of the track and field discipline, which involves athletes racing
on a course with obstacles. The modern version of the sport originated from a cross
country steeplechase race, which in turn was modeled after the steeplechase in horse
racing.
A typical steeplechase race is for a distance of 3,000m. The course consists of 28
barriers and 7 water jumps. A distance of 2,000m is also used for races which has 18
barriers and 5 water jumps. Races are conducted for both men and women, but the
barriers used for women are slightly smaller than that used for men.
Though steeplechace races are conducted on the same track as other track races, the
water jump part of the course is not placed on the track. The water jump obstacles are
either placed outside the turn or inside of the turn. Athletes are not required to
maintain any lanes during the race.
Steeplechase has been a part of Olympic Games since the first modern Olympics in
1924. It is also as a part of all major track and field competitions including the World
Championships.
 steeplechase water jump
Steeplechase race like many other long-distance races have been dominated by
athletes from Kenya who have won the Olympic gold medal since 1984.

5. Hurdling (Athletics)
Hurdles or hurdling is a track and field sport which involves running and jumping
over obstacles at speed. Hurdling is part of athletics at the Olympic Games.
Hurdling is the basis of a few track and field events. In the said events, obstacles or
barriers which are called hurdles are set to which each athlete must jump over. Failure
to do so may get an athlete disqualified. The standard hurdle race is 110 meters for
men and 100 meters for women. There is also a 400-meter hurdle race for both men
and women.

110m hurdle race

All these distances are events in the Summer Olympics and the World Championships
in Athletics. The 110-meter and 100-meter hurdles are done on a running track, the
400-meter versions cover one whole oval track. There are also shorter distances which
are done on indoor tracks, the distances start from 500 meters onwards. Hurdles in
track races are usually 68-107 centimetres in height, but sometimes it varies on the
age and gender of the participants.

6. Relay Running (Athletics)

Relay running is a type of running race in which athletes compete as a team, rather
than as individuals. The two most common relay races in track and field are the 4 x
100m and the 4 x 400m races, in which four athletes run 100m and 400m each
respectively. A less common relay is the sprint medley relay, usually consisting of four
legs run at distances of 400, 200, 200, and 800 meters. The latest event to be added to
the athletics program is the mixed 4x400m (2 men, 2 women).
The major aspect of a relay race is the baton. The first runner of each team starts the
race with a baton. After the first runner completes their part of the run, the baton has
to be passed on to the next runner in the team. This continues until the final runner
finishes the race with the baton in hand.
During each exchange the athlete receiving the baton is allowed to be in motion before
receiving the baton, but cannot go beyond 10m without the baton. If any of the athlete
drops the baton, or the runner exceeds the 10m limit, the team will be disqualified.

relay changeover
For the 100m each relay, runners have to stay in their lane for the entire race, whereas
for the 400m race, the first runner stay in their lane, the second runner moves into the
inside lanes after running their first bend.
Relay running is a part of the track and field events, and is contested during the
Olympic Games and the World Championships.
FIELD EVENTS
There are two types of field events: jumps, and throws. In jumping competitions,
athletes are judged on either the length or height of their jumps. The performances of
jumping events for distance are measured from a board or marker, and any athlete
overstepping this mark is judged to have fouled. In the jumps for height, an athlete
must clear their body over a crossbar without knocking the bar off the supporting
standards. The majority of jumping events are unaided, although athletes propel
themselves vertically with purpose-built sticks in the pole vault.
The throwing events involve hurling an implement (such as a heavy weight, javelin or
discus) from a set point, with athletes being judged on the distance that the object is
thrown. Combined events involve the same group of athletes contesting a number of
different track and field events – points are given for their performance in each event
and the athlete with the greatest points total at the end of all events is the winner.

JUMPING
1. Long jump (Athletics Event)
Long jump is a sport of the track and field discipline in which athletes try to leap
forward as far as possible. The event is known to be part of ancient Olympics, and has
been a part of modern Olympics since its inception in 1896.
To perform a long jump, athletes sprint down a runway and takeoff from a wooden
marker board which is about 8 inch wide, and travel as far as possible in the air, before
landing into a sand pit. No part of the athlete's foot should cross the takeoff board, if it
does, the jump is disqualified. After the jump, the traceable mark on the sand pit,
closest to the takeoff board is used to measure the distance of the jump. Each athlete
gets three attempts in each round.
 a long jumper

Long jump competitions are part of all track and field events, the most popular of
which are the Olympics and the World Championships. Competitions are conducted
for both men and women in all events. The men's world record as of 2015 was set by
Mike Powell from the United States, recording a 8.95 m jump, and the women's it is
7.52 m, set by Galina Chistyakova.

2. Triple Jump (Athletics Event)

Triple jump is an athletic sport of the track and field discipline, in which athletes get
to take two steps before making the final jump. The first two steps are also referred to
as hop and step. The objective of the sport is to cover as much distance as possible in
the three leaps.
A triple jump field consist of a runway path, a marker line to start the jump from, and
a sand pit about 14 feet away from takeoff line. To make the jump, athletes sprint
towards the takeoff mark and perform hop, step and jump in one continuous sequence.
All three aspects of the triple jump are required to be performed in the correct foot
sequence. The foot used for takeoff should be used for landing of the first jump. The
second jump should land on the other foot, and the third jump has to be landed with
both feet together.
 Triple jumper taking the step
If an athlete oversteps the takeoff mark or misses the foot sequence, the jump is
disqualified. Each athlete gets six attempts, and the athlete with the longest jump is
declared as the winner.
Triple jump is an Olympic event and is conducted for both men and women. World
Championships and all other major athletic events also feature triple jump
competitions.
3. Pole Vault (Athletics)
Pole vault is a full medal track and field event at Olympic Games, requiring a
competitor to leap over a bar using a long flexible pole made either of carbon fiber or
fiberglass. It is one of the four major jumping events in athletics, the other three
are high jump, long jump and triple jump. The pole vault has a lot of similarities to
high jump.
Pole Vault requires high running speed as an essential requirement for a athlete to be
able to successfully jump over the bar using the pole. The technique requires a lot of
practice and time to be mastered. Inexperienced athletes trying the pole vault can lead
to broken poles and injury.
It is crucial to use a pole in accordance to your body weight. Usually there is a red
band to indicate recommended range of where to grip the pole. There is a specific area
in which pole bends perfectly and the vaulter must take special consideration of that
for efficient bending.
 the pole vault
The winner is the athlete to successfully clear the highest bar height. The athlete can
choose which height they would like to start. They then have three attempts to clear
the height. If the height is cleared, they can them attempt the next height, where they
will have three more attempts. Once the vaulter has three consecutive misses, they are
out of the competition and the highest height they cleared is their result.

THROWING

1. Discus Throw
Discus or discus throw, is a track and field event. In this event, the athlete will attempt
to throw a heavy disc (called a discus) as far as he/she can.
There are varying weights for international competitions. Men through age 49 will
throw a 2-kilogram discus; 1.5 kilograms for 50-59-year-old men’ 1 kilogram for 60
and beyond. For the women through age 74, the discus throw is around 1 kilogram, for
women 75 years old; the discus is around .75 kilograms.
The discus is usually made of plastic, wood, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. For the
athletes to make a throw, they will start in a circle of 2.5 meters in diameter. Then the
athlete will spin counter clockwise around one and a half time through the circle, then
the athlete can release his/her throw.
The discus must land around the 34.92-degree sector. The six key movement of discus
throw are: wind up, move in rhythm, balance, right leg engine, orbit, and delivery.

2. Shot Put (athletics)

Shot put is a track and field event in which the athlete will “put” (but more like of
throwing) a shot – a heavy metal ball, the farthest that he can without leaving the
circle that is 7 feet wide. To win this, the athlete should put the shot farther among its
competitors.
This sport was known to have started by the Ancient Greeks, but the very first event
of it on record was in Scottish Highlands during the first century. In the Middle Ages,
there were known competitions for soldiers throwing cannonballs. With time, shot put
competitions were included in big events like British Amateur Championships and last
1896, shot put for men became an official event for Olympics. Eventually, shot put
competitions for women were also included from 1948.
How to perform the shot put may sound so simple, but winning it requires great deal
of balance, coordination, power, and momentum. The shot should be held by the base
of the fingers - not the palm, and the hand should be bent back. The shot should be put
in the neck and the palm should be facing the putting direction.
 shot put competitor
During the throw or put as it is called, there are different styles that you can use to get
the maximum distance. The glide style involves rotating 180 degrees towards the
putting direction and there’s the spin style in which the thrower faces the rear, then
spins to the throwing direction but giving the upper body a hard twist to get the
highest possible throwing momentum.

3. Javelin Throwing
Javelin or javelin throw is part of the track and field event. A javelin or a spear about
8 feet long is used to throw for maximum distance. The participant runs first within a
predetermined area and then throws the javelin.
The IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) stated that non-orthodox
techniques cannot be used in javelin throw. The participants must hold the javelin at
its grip and throw over hands, over the participant’s upper arm or shoulder.
Like other throwing competitions, the participant is not allowed to leave the area until
the javelin has landed. The participants throw the javelin towards a sector which has
an angle of 28.96 degrees extending outwards from the end of the runway.
 a javelin event
Javelin is a part of the men’s decathlon and the women’s heptathlon. In international
competitions, men use a javelin between 8 feet 6 inches and 8 feet 10 inches; the
women use a javelin between 7 feet 3 inches and 7 feet 7 inches.

4. Hammer Throw
Hammer throw is one of the events in track and field competitions. A heavy object on
the end of a thin wire is hurled for maximum distance. The game dates back to the
15th century. Hammer throw is one of the oldest events in the Olympic Games.
For the men’s division, the hammer weighs around 16 pounds and measures around 3
feet and 11 ¾ inches. For the women’s division, the hammer weighs around 8.82
pounds and measure around 3 feet and 11 inches in length. A winner is decided if he
or she can throw the hammer the farthest. It was used to be thought as a strength
event, but now it’s more on speed so one can throw the hammer in a farther distance.
The action of throwing involves two swings, then around three or four body rotations
in circular motion using a heel-toe movement of the foot. This is then moved in a
circular path. It gradually increases its velocity, and then the participant throws the
ball from the circle.