TRACK EVENTS AND RULES

Individual, Dual, and Team Sports

Physical Education and Health II
Second Semester, Academic Year 2020-2021
Prepared by: Jade C. Alarcon, LPT
I. INTRODUCTION
Track events can be divided into three main categories: events that require
running on a track over a defined distance, running events with obstacles placed on the
track, and relay events. While track events generally refer to events held within the
stadium, other distance events that require running on roads have been included in the
roster.
Track events are generally not complicated - you run from point A to point B
in the quickest time possible. However, those not familiar with athletics may wonder
what the difference is between the events, other than the distance involved.
II. TYPES OF TRACK EVENTS

A. SPRINT

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 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.
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.
B. MIDDLE DISTANCE

Middle distance races are part of the track and

field discipline that encompass all track running races
from 800m up to 3km such as the mile. They are
frequently referred to as the hardest of the running
events as it requires both endurance and strength.
Middle distance runners look leaner than the sprinters,
and slightly more muscular than the long-distance
runners.
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.
C. LONG DISTANCE
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.
D. HURDLES AND STEEPLECHASE
Hurdles or steeplechase is an obstacle race, which
was derived from horse racing. Hurdling is the basis of a
few track and field events.
In the said events, both men and women race over the most common distance -
3000m - though the steeplechase for women has lower barriers. The standard hurdle
race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The barrier heights for men are
0.914m (36in) and the barrier heights for women are 0.762m (30in). Steeplechase
usually comprises of a water jump as well. Likewise, hurdles events consist of obstacles
placed in regular intervals over the distance of the race. Failure to pass over or
intentionally knocking over the hurdles will result in disqualification.
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.
E. RELAYS
Relay running is a type of running race in which
athletes compete as a team, rather than as individuals.
Relay events are done in 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m, 4 x
300m, and 4 x 400m. However, 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 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.
For the 100m each relay, runners have to stay in their lane for the entire race,
whereas for the 400m race, the runners are free to choose any lane after the first
exchange.
Here are some rules where a team can get disqualified in a relay in athletics:

 Baton dropped and not recovered by the athlete who dropped it

 Improper passing of the baton, especially when not passing in the
exchange zone
 Causing an obstruction to other athletes
 False starting

III. RULES OF TRACK EVENTS

A. HURDLE AND SPRINT RULES

 START:
o Starting blocks are used for all hurdle, relay and sprint events. The
starting blocks consist of two adjustable footplates attached to a rigid
frame.
o Olympic hurdle and sprint races commence with the firing of the
Starter's gun. The starting commands are "On your marks" and "Set."
Once all athletes are in the set position, the Starter's gun is fired,
officially starting the race.
o For the 100m, women's 100m hurdles and men's 110m hurdles, all
competitors are lined up side-by-side. For the 200m, 400m and 400m
hurdles, which involve curves, runners are staggered for the start.

 FALSE STARTS:
o If a sprinter commences his or her starting motion from the set position
before the Starter's gun is fired, it is deemed a false start.
o The first false start of a race results in an automatic disqualification to
the offending runner.

 LANES:
o For all Olympic sprint and hurdle events, runners must remain within
their pre-assigned lanes, which measure 1.22 meters (4 feet) wide, from
start to finish. The lanes are numbered 1 through 8, starting with the
inside lane.
o Any athlete who runs outside the assigned lane is subject to
disqualification. If the athlete is forced to run outside of his or her lane
by another person, and no material advantage is gained, there will be no
disqualification.
o Also, a runner who strays from his or her lane in the straightaway, or
crosses the outer line of his or her lane on the bend, and gains no
 advantage by it, will not be disqualified as long as no other runner is
obstructed.

 THE FINISH:
o The first athlete whose torso (as distinguished from the head, neck,
arms, legs, hands or feet) reaches the vertical plane of the closest edge
of the finish line is the winner.

 NEGOTIATING HURDLES:
o Any competitor who trails a foot or leg below the horizontal plane of
the top of any hurdle at the instant of clearance will be disqualified.

B. MIDDLE DISTANCE RULES

 START:
o 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:
o 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.

 NEGOTIATING BARRIERS:
o In the steeplechase, any competitor who steps to the side of a jump or
trails his foot or leg alongside any barrier will be disqualified. Athletes
may go over the barriers in any way, as long as no part of the foot or leg
falls below the horizontal plane of the top bar at the instance of
clearance.

C. DISTANCE RULES

 START:
o In Olympic distance events, there are no starting blocks; runners begin
in an upright position, their hands prohibited from touching the ground.
o 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.
o Distance races begin with mass starts. When there are more than 12
competitors in a race, they can be split into two staggered groups for the
start: one with roughly 65 percent of the runners on the regular start line,
another with the other runners on a separate start line across the track's
outer half. The latter group runs on the outer half until clearing the first
bend.
  LANES:
o In Olympic distance races, there are no lane assignments so runners can
break for position from the start.

IV. THE TRACK

SOURCES:
https://www.myactivesg.com/Sports/Athletics/How-To-Play/Athletics-Facts/What-are-track-
events-in-athletics
https://www.topendsports.com/sport/list/athletics-relays.htm
http://archivepyc.nbcolympics.com/news/track-and-field-101-rules
https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/sport-and-recreation/sports-dimensions-guide/athletics-track-events