There are other variations besides the ones listed below, but races of unusual length (e.g. 300 m) are run much less often. The unusual races are typically held during indoor season because of the shorter 200 m indoor track. With the exception of the mile run, races based on imperial distances are rarely run on the track anymore since most tracks have been converted from a quarter mile (402.3 m) to 400 m; almost all record keeping for imperial distances has been discontinued. However, the IAAF record book still includes the mile world record (currently held byHicham El Guerrouj of Morocco for men and Svetlana Masterkova of Russia for women) because of its worldwide historic significance.
Men and women do not compete against each other, although they may sometimes run in the same races due to time constraints at high school meets. Women generally run the same distances as men although hurdles and steeplechase barriers are lower and the weights of the shot, discus, javelin and hammer are less.
All Comers Track Meets
Main article: All Comers Track Meet
Track and Field is the most accessible sport for anyone to participate in. It only takes two people to have a race, or one can simply race a stopwatch. In events called All Comers Track Meets, anyone who wishes to participate is welcome. All comers meets are usually organized by communities, schools, or sports teams. Some sports teams also use all comers meets for fundraising. Most meets are low cost or free. All comers meets are fairly low-key and merely intended for gaining experience or just practicing for races. There is no exclusion on account of participants' lack of teams or equipment. While races are usually seeded based on the entrant's expected level of ability, the most elite of athletes can and do use these meets for training or practice.
Running and racewalking events
Running events conducted on a track (generally 400 metres, except indoors):
Sprints are events up to and including the 400 metres. Events commonly contested are:
- 50 metres (indoors only)
- 55 metres (indoors only)
- 60 metres (indoors only)
Middle Distance Events are events longer than sprints and up to 3000 metres. Events commonly contested are:
- 600 metres (uncommon)
- 800 metres
- 1000 metres (uncommon)
Long Distance Events are events over 3000 metres. Events commonly contested are:
Hurdles events require the runner to run over evenly spaced barriers during the race. Events commonly contested are:
- 60 metres hurdles (indoors only)
- 100 metres hurdles (women)
Relay races are events in which four athletes participate as a team, passing a metal baton in between. Events commonly contested are:
- 4 x 100 metres relay
- 4 x 200 metres relay (high school & collegiate)
Some events, such as medley relays, are rarely run except at large relay carnivals. Typical medley relays include:
- Sprint Medley Relay (SMR): the four legs are two 200 metre legs, 400 metres, 800 metres; or alternately two 100 metre legs, 200 metres, 400 metres
- Distance Medley Relay (DMR): the four legs are 1200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres, 1600 metres
Road Races are events conducted on open roads, sometimes finishing on a track. Events commonly contested are:
- 10 km
- 20 km
- Half marathon(21.0975 km)
- Marathon (42.195 km). The marathon is the only common road-racing distance run in major international athletics championships, such as the Olympics.
Racewalking may be contested on either the track or on open roads. Events commonly contested are:
Field events
Throwing events
- Discus Throw
- Hammer Throw
- Javelin Throw
- Shot Put
Jumping events
- High Jump
- Pole Vault
- Long Jump
- Triple Jump
The following events also take place, but are uncommon:
- Standing high jump
- Standing long jump
- Standing triple jump
Multiple-event competitions
Multiple event competitions include events from both the track (running) and field events.
Pentathlon: the outdoor Pentathlon includes the following five events:
- Long Jump
- Javelin
- 200 metres
- Discus
- 1500 metres
The outdoor Pentathlon was a national championship event in the United States until 1978. It is still contested in many places throughout the world, but rarely as a championship event. The Pentathon was also contested in several of the early Olympic Games, notably in the 1912 Olympics which was won by Jim Thorpe, who also won the Decathlon. The event was modeled after the original Greek Olympic Games, in which the Pentathlon was the foremost contest. It consisted of a Long Jump, Javelin, a statia run of approximately 180 metres, Discus, and Greco-Roman style wrestling.
Pentathlon: the indoor Pentathlon includes the following five events:
- High Hurdles (110 metres for men, 100 metres for women)
- Shot Put
- Long Jump
- High Jump
- Middle distance (1500 metres for men, 800 metres for women)
Heptathlon: the Heptathlon includes the following seven events:
Outdoors (usually only women):
- 100 metre high hurdles
- High Jump
- Shot Put
Indoors (usually only men):
- 60 metres
- Long Jump
- Shot Put
Decathlon: the Decathlon includes the following ten events:
- 100 metres
- Long Jump
- Shot Put
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