What is track and Field?
Track and field is an intense sport that is made up of many different athletic competitions. The four general events are categorized as running, jumping, throwing, and combined events.
Throwing Events:
- shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, and javelin throw.
Jumping Events:
- long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole vault.
Running Events:
- sprints: 100m, 200m, 400m
middle distance: 800m, 1500m, 3000m
long distance: 5000m, 10000m
relays: 4x100m, 4x400m
hurdles: 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 3000m steeplechase
Combined Events:
- heptathlon and decathlon
Track and Field is one of the world's most ancient sports. At the first Ancient Olympic Games in 776 BC, the "stadion footrace" was the only event contested. This 600 feet long race was the only event in the Olympic games for the first 13 years of its existence. More events were gradually implemented into the Olympic Games. By the 5th century BC, the Games consisted of 3 foot races (the stadion, diaulos, and the dolichos), the pentathlon (discus, javelin, long jump, wrestling, and foot race), as well as boxing and wrestling.
Track and Field competitions were brought to the United States in the 1860's. The nation's first national athletic group, known as the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America, held its first races in 1873. In 1888, the first track and field championships were held by the Amateur Athletic Union. In the beginning it was only thought of as an amateur sport. Therefore athletes could not receive cash prizes or training money.
Eventually track and field became a professional sport and the first men's NCAA national championships were held in 1921. Women's track and field entered the Olympic Games in 1928. Women's track struggled in its early years, and was not fully accepted by society until the 1970s. It was in that century that track and field as a whole became extremely widespread and popular throughout the globe.
Throwing Events:
- shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, and javelin throw.
Jumping Events:
- long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole vault.
Running Events:
- sprints: 100m, 200m, 400m
middle distance: 800m, 1500m, 3000m
long distance: 5000m, 10000m
relays: 4x100m, 4x400m
hurdles: 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 3000m steeplechase
Combined Events:
- heptathlon and decathlon
Track and Field is one of the world's most ancient sports. At the first Ancient Olympic Games in 776 BC, the "stadion footrace" was the only event contested. This 600 feet long race was the only event in the Olympic games for the first 13 years of its existence. More events were gradually implemented into the Olympic Games. By the 5th century BC, the Games consisted of 3 foot races (the stadion, diaulos, and the dolichos), the pentathlon (discus, javelin, long jump, wrestling, and foot race), as well as boxing and wrestling.
Track and Field competitions were brought to the United States in the 1860's. The nation's first national athletic group, known as the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America, held its first races in 1873. In 1888, the first track and field championships were held by the Amateur Athletic Union. In the beginning it was only thought of as an amateur sport. Therefore athletes could not receive cash prizes or training money.
Eventually track and field became a professional sport and the first men's NCAA national championships were held in 1921. Women's track and field entered the Olympic Games in 1928. Women's track struggled in its early years, and was not fully accepted by society until the 1970s. It was in that century that track and field as a whole became extremely widespread and popular throughout the globe.