Track and Field: Running

SPRINTS
In track and field, sprinting refers to running a short distance, usually between
100, 200, and 400 meters, at the fastest possible speed. Athletes in sprint events begin from
starting blocks that are arranged in a staggered formation and run in designated lanes. The
objective of the sprint is to reach the finish line as quickly as possible. The term sprinting is
also used in other sports that involve quickly reaching a target or objective. Additionally, an
indoor version of the sprint, a 60-meter race, is also held in indoor track and field
competitions.
100m
The first 100 meter race occurred at the inaugural modern Olympic Games held
in Athens, Greece in 1896 and quickly became the standout event of the Olympics. The
winner of the race was considered the "fastest human being in the world." Women were first
given the opportunity to compete in track events at the 1928 Olympic Games held in
Amsterdam, Netherlands.
200m
The 200 meter race, also referred to as the Long Sprint, is an event in which
athletes run 200 meters as fast as possible. This event was officially scheduled to take place at
the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1896 but was not held due to certain
reasons. However, the event was included in the men's track and field program of the 1924
Olympic Games held in Paris. Later, the women's 200 meter event was added to the
Olympics program in the 1948 London Games.
400m
The first track and field competition was organized at Exeter College in Oxford,
Great Britain in 1824 and featured a quarter-mile race of 402 meters. This event was later
shortened to 400 meters and was included in the first modern Olympics in Athens, Greece in
1896, but only for men. Women's 400-meter event was added to the program in the 1964
Tokyo Olympic Games. Additionally, the men's and women's 400-meter races were first
featured in the 1983 World Championships held at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland.

MIDDLE DISTANCE
Middle distance races are track running events in track and field, typically the
800m and 1500m, but including all races from 800m to 3km, such as the mile. It were
introduced in the Ancient Olympic Games and were revived in the mid-19th century.
 800m
The 800m event originated from the 880-yard run, which has its roots in the UK
from the 1830s. The men's 800m was included in the 1896 Athens Olympics, while the first
women's event took place at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics before being dropped and added
again in 1960 at the Rome Olympics.
The 800m is a well-known track running competition held on a 400m outdoor
track, being the shortest middle-distance event. During the Summer Olympics, the event covers
two laps of the 400m track, while in the Winter Olympics it is held indoors on a 200m track,
requiring the athlete to run four laps.
1500m
The 1500m originated in Europe in the 20th century. The men's 1500m was
included in the 1896 Athens Olympics, while the women's event was first contested at the 1972
Munich Olympics.
The 1500m is the premier middle-distance track event in Athletics, equivalent to
1.5 km or roughly 0.93 miles. The athlete runs three and three-quarter laps around a standard
400m track in the 1500m race, starting in a group and quickly moving to the inner lane.
LONG DISTANCE
Long-distance running is a type of continuous running over a set distance that
demands not only endurance, pace, but also stamina.
5000m
The Ancient Greeks organized a variety of events that are now considered Long-
Distance races. These races gained popularity in Great Britain and the USA during the mid-19th
century. The men's 5000m was first included in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, while the
women's 5000m was introduced in the 1996 Olympics as a replacement for the 3000m event,
which was held from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 5000 meters is a common Long-Distance running event in which the athlete
runs over 12-and-a-half- laps of a standard 400 meter track. This event is equal to the same
distance in road running that is called as 5K run. The main difference in these two events is
the distance being referred to in kilometers and meters.
10000m
In the mid-19th century, Long-Distance races gained popularity in Great Britain
and the USA. The men's 10,000m event was included in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, while
the first women's 10,000m race was held at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
The 10,000m is a long-distance running event where the athlete runs 25 laps on a
standard 400m track. It is equivalent to the 10K road run, with the main difference being the
distance is expressed in kilometers and meters, respectively.
 MARATHON
The marathon event is named after Philippides, a legendary Greek soldier who
ran 26 miles from the battle of Marathon to Athens to announce the defeat of the invading
Persians. After completing his mission, Philippides died from exhaustion, as it is said that he
had already run 150 miles from Sparta the day before.
To commemorate the achievements of Ancient Greece, the first modern
Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 introduced a marathon race over 40km. The distance was
later changed to 26 miles at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, and further increased by
385 yards so it could be seen by the children in the Royal Nursery at Windsor and finish in front
of Queen Alexandra at the White City Stadium in West London. In 1921, the distance was
standardized to 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km). The first women's Olympic marathon took
place at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

IMAGES FOR PPT

Athens 1896 Olympic Games

https://www.britannica.com/event/Athens-1896-Olympic-Games#/media/1/972056/166246

REFERENCES:

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). (1970, January 1). Middle/Long

Distance: History, types, objective, & Equipment. Sportsmatik. Retrieved January 30,
2023, from https://sportsmatik.com/sports-corner/sports-know-how/middle-long-distance/
about

International Association of Athletics Federations. (1970, January 1). Sprint (running): History,
objective, Events & Techniques. Sportsmatik. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from
https://sportsmatik.com/sports-corner/sports-know-how/sprint/about
World athletics: Marathon. worldathletics.org. (n.d.). Retrieved January 30, 2023, from
https://www.worldathletics.org/disciplines/road-running/marathon