Last updated on July 14th, 2024 at 04:50 pm
Athletics
History of Athletics
Track and Field (Athletics) is primarily an individual sport, consisting of approximately 30 different events. They are divided into ‘Track Events’ (Sprints, Middle distance, Long distance and Obstacle races), and ‘Field Events’ (Jumping and Throwing).
The primitive form was practiced in Egypt more than 4000 years ago. The Cretan (Greece) became the first to engage it in a systematic way around 1500 BC. The word ‘Athletics’ comes from the Greek word ‘Athlos’ which means ‘competition’.
The word ‘Stadium’ comes from ‘stadion’ (an ancient Greek unit of length equivalent to about 180 m). Many track events were also practiced during ancient Olympics like Marathon, Discus, Javelin, Long jump and various distance races.
Modern track and field events began in England by the beginning of the 18th century, mostly in the form of running and walking races.
The first professional meet was held at Oxford in 1860. The sport then spread to the United States and Europe.
The first modern Olympic Games (in 1896) consisted mainly of track and field events. Athletics consist of Track and Field Events.
All over world athletics is regulated by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation, which was formed in 1912 at Stockholm.
In India athletics is controlled by the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) formed in 1946.
In ‘Track’ we compete against time or clock. In ‘Field’ we compete against height distance.
An ‘Athlete’ is one who takes part in Track or Field events. (Nowadays ‘athlete’ refers to one who participates in physical activities and is given training for that.)
What Are Athletics Track Event Rules?
The order of track events or competition is determined by random draw. Athletes who miss their turn in an event are not allowed to make it up.
An athlete who is late without a valid reason may be disqualified from the contest. Athletes who are late for a second time are disqualified from further turns and only their performance prior to the disqualification counts.
Judges may let an athlete take a turn in case there is interference of events. Competitors must wear shorts and a jersey or skintight suit.
Athletes may wear one shoe, two shoes or no shoes with the maximum of 11 cleats (nails) on each shoe to provide better traction (grip).
Usually an athlete uses 5 to 6 cleats (nails) in each spike. In any race only one foul start can be considered with a yellow card (warning to all athletes in the heat), afterward if an athlete makes a foul start, then the athlete is disqualified.
Track And Field Events
Track Marking
Track is the place where an athlete competes against time, thus it is an oval place where an athlete performs different running events like Sprints, Middle distance, Long distance and Obstacle races etc.
Track is oval in shape, it consists of two straight lines and one circle (Straight lines are joined by two semi-circles). A standard track is of 400 m distance with eight to ten lanes. Track can be laid on various types of surfaces like clay, grass, cinder and synthetic (tartan), etc.
400 m = 2 Straight + Circumference of circle (2pr)
A standard track has 84.39 m as straight; the marking radius (MR) is 36.50 m (because track is marked 30 cm inside the running radius, it comes as 36.80 m to avoid fouls). All lines over track are marked 5 cm thick.
What is Stagger in Athletics?
It is the starting point of outer athletes while turning in a curve, so that no athlete is at advantage or disadvantage while running in different lanes. Stagger for different lanes are calculated through this formula :
[W (n – 1) – 0.10] 2p
Where : ‘W’ = 1.22 m (Width of lane), ‘n’ = Lane number, p (pie) = 3.14
When an athlete runs one curve, half stagger is given whereas running over two curves full stagger is given. On 200 m u-ack full stagger is given on 200 m race (as athlete runs two curves).
Line : All lines of track are marked 5 cm thick (except the arch of javelin 7 cm).
Lane : It is the place where athletes run between two lines with the width of 1.22 m or 4 feet.
Exchange Zone : It is used in relay races. This is the specific distance where two runners exchange their baton in relay races. It is a 20 m distance marked with indication on each lane.
Finish Line : It is the line over which race is completed or finished. It is same for all the track events. On the finish line, timekeepers and judges of finish sit (opposite to each other).
Nowadays photo finish cameras are used over the finish line. Race finish is judged by torso (chest finish).
Hurdle Races
In Hurdle races obstacles or hurdles are set to which athletes must jump over. Failure may get disqualified. The standard hurdle races are 110 m for men, 100 m for women and 400 m hurdle (covers one whole oval track) for both men and women.
Discuss Throw
It is a throwing event where athletes throw a metal disc weighing 2kg for men (22cm in diameter) and 1kg (18cm in diameter) for women, as far as possible while remaining inside a 2.5-metre diameter circle.
To measure the valid throw, the discus must land inside a marked sector. The athlete must not leave the circle before it has landed, and then only from the rear half of the circle.
Here the thrower typically takes one-and-a-half spins before releasing the discus. Generally Athletes throw six times per competition. In case of a tie, the winner will be the athlete with the next-best effort.
A discus thrower requires strength, speed, balance and explosive power.
Shot Put
Shot put is an Athletics Field Event in which athletes compete by putting a heavy spherical metal ball (shot) as far as possible. Each athlete takes three attempts out of which the best of the three is taken into consideration and whoever puts the shot farthest is declared a winner.
Javelin Throw
It is a throwing event in which athletes throw a metal-tipped javelin as far as possible. It requires a combination of strength, power, timing, coordination and timing.
The athlete must hold the javelin by its corded grip with his or her little finger closest to the tip of the implement.
The men’s javelin must weigh at least 800g and be 2.6m-2.7m long while the women’s javelin must weigh 600g and be 2.2m-2.3m long.
For the throw to be measured, the competitors must not turn his or her back to the landing area at any stage during their approach and throw.
Athletes must throw the javelin over the upper part of their throwing arm, and they must not cross the foul line, aka scratch line, at any time. The javelin must also land tip first and within the marked 29-degree sector.
The tip of the javelin must touch the ground first, then the throw is measured from this point. Athletes throw three or six times per competition. In case of a tie, the winner will be the athlete with the next-best effort.
Long Jump
It is one of the field event in which competitors sprint along a runway and jump as far as possible into a sandpit from a wooden take-off board. The distance traveled, from the edge of the board to the closest indentation in the sand to it, is then measured.
A foul is committed if an athlete steps beyond the board. Long jump event requires speed, explosive power, strength and agility.
World Records
Mens
Womens
