ATHLETICS

The Background of Athletics

Track and field athletics, commonly known as athletics or track and field, is a collection of
sports events that involve running, throwing and jumping. The name "athletics" is derived
from the Greek word "athlos" meaning "contest".

Dating back to the Ancient Greeks, athletics was the only competition to be held in the first
Olympic Games which took place in Athens in 776 BC. At that time, the single athletic
event was known as the stade, a foot race which covered the length of the Athenian
Olympic stadium.

In 1896, the first modern Olympic Games were staged. Although initially of limited appeal,
the Olympics captured the imagination of athletes and grew steadily, making track and
field an international sport for the first time.

In 1913, the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) was formed by

representatives from 16 countries. The IAAF was charged with establishing standard rules
for the sport, approving world records, and ensuring that the amateur code was adhered
to; it continues to carry out these duties today.

TRACK EVENTS

•Track events often involve a field or a running track, of varying measurements. These
events are typically held in a 400 meter track. These include sprints, middle distance
events, long distance events, hurdles, relays, road running and race walking.

•The track consists of eight lanes, each 1.22 metres (4 feet) wide. The length of the oval
track from end to end is 157.4 metres (172 yards) in total. The width of the track oval is 73
metres(80 yards). The radius of the curve (distance around the curve) is 36.5 metres (39.9
yards)
Batons
 A baton is a metal cylinder which weighs about 50 grams (1.76 ounces). It is usually 28-
30 centimetres (11-12 inches) in length, and 12-13 centimetres (4-5 inches) around.

Sprints
 Sprints are basically racing events involving distances ranging from 100 meters to 400
meters.

Middle Distance
 Middle distance events on the other hand, range from 800 meters to 3000 meters. The
standard distances are in multiples of 8--> 800 meters, 1600 meters and 3200 meters. A
variation of the middle distance event is the steeplechase which involves overcoming
barriers and water jumps along a 3,000 m track.

Long Distance
 Long distance 5 events include marathons, or any event covering more than 5,000
meters. The standard distances for long distance sprints are 5000 meters and 10000
meters.

Hurdles
 are track events for the simple reason that they done in a track field.
 hurdle races are run as sprints, runners jump over ten hurdles in the specified distance.
 It is an event where participants race to the finish line while leaping over obstacles along
the way. The standard distance is 110 meters or 100 meters for women, and 400 meters
for men

Relay
 are track events that involve a team of performers
 relay racing is run as a sprint, but instead of one runner completing the entire distance,
there are teams. One runner will run some of the distance, passing the baton to the next
runner so that the next runner completes the next set of the track.
 The standard distance and rounds for relays are 4 x 100 (in which 4 is the number of
players, and 100 is the number of meters to be run by each player).

Two types of relay

 Distance medley relay, which is a relay consisting of different distances for each
participant in a team.
 Sprint medley consists of a single 400 m, followed by 2 200 m runs then ending with an
800m run.

Steeplechase
 The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the
steeplechase in horse racing. There are three main distances that the steeplechase
includes. 1500 metres 2000 metres 3000 metres
  The steeplechase is a race run around the track as a normal long distance race, 21 but
there are barriers and water jumps.

FIELD EVENTS
Field events are among the most exciting sports in the world of athletics. They combine
strength, technique, speed, grace, power, flexibility, and of course, competitiveness.

Two Major Events

 the jumping events
 the throwing events.
These two events not only differ in skills needed, but also in the physical demands they put on
the athletes.

•Throwing events are divided into four categories:

1. Shot Put,
2. Hammer Throw
3. Javelin Throw and
4. Discus Throw

 Shot Put
This event is all about transferring huge strength through the legs, arms and fingers to
throw the shot. There are two techniques for delivery.
1. The first is the rotational technique
2. linear method which is more popular
•The shot is a heavy metal ball which is putt (thrown, hence the name) from the concrete circle.
•It is held between one shoulder and the chin, and is thrown with one arm only. It cannot be held
behind the line of the shoulders.

 Hammer Throw
The hammer is a heavy metal ball, like the shot, on the end of a wire. There is a swivel
attaching the wire to the ball, and a triangular handle at the other end of the wire.

 Javelin
The javelin is about optimum power, speed and rhythm. And it's a brilliantly fun event to
do too. Among the four events, the javelin throw is the only event that requires the
competitor to run in order to build momentum.
The javelin is a little like a spear. It made of metal alloy, and has a sharp point, a shaft,
and a cord grip for when it is held prior to throwing.

 Discus
The discus requires power, great speed and lots of spinning.
A discus is shaped like two plates put together face to face. It is made from plastic and
wood, and usually edged with metal
• Jumping events are divided into four categories, excluding the events which are
considered uncommon. These four events are the:
1. High Jump
2. Long Jump,
3. Triple Jump and
4. Pole Vault

• The high jump resembles the pole vault in the sense that the athletes compete to achieve the
greatest height, while the long jump and triple jump both measure the longest horizontal distance
achieved. Among the four events, the pole vault is the only one that makes use of an external
instrument (the pole) in order to help the athlete achieve his goal.

High Jump
This event is to see who can jump the highest. A bar is placed between two upright poles,
and the competitors attempt to jump over it, without knocking the bar down, landing on
the padding on the other side
A good high jumper will have explosive speed and a smooth technique to get over the
bar. The most commonly used method is the Fosbury Flop.

Long Jump
This event is to see who can jump the furthest from a single jump. The competitors may
take a run-up of unlimited length, as long as they jump before they reach the scratch line.
This is a line in front of the landing area, usually a plank of wood pressed into the
ground. If the competitor touches the ground beyond this point before jumping, the jump
does not count.
Lightning speed, an accurate take-off and an explosive spring is the secret to great long
jumping.

Triple Jump
This event is to see who can jump the furthest with three movements. The movements
must be continuous and carried out in the following order.
Hop - the landing must be made on the same foot as was used for take-off
Step - the opposite foot must then be used for landing as was used for takeoff
Jump - any controlled form of landing is acceptable

TRIPPLE JUMP SEQUENCE

Pole Vaulting
Pole vaulting is described as an adrenaline-fuelled extreme sport and is one of the most
exciting events in athletics.

DECATHLON
What is decathlon?
 It is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field  events.

There are ten modalities in decathlon:

 Long jump
 100 m
 Discus throw
 Pole vault
 Shot put
 High jump
 400 m
 110 m hurdles
 Javelin throw
 1500 m

Men’s decathlon
The majority of men’s and women’s decathlons are divided into two-day competition.
Day 1 Day 2
100 m 110 m Hurdles
Long Jump Discus Throw
Shot Put Pole Vault
High Jump Javelin Throw
400 m 1500 m

Women’s decathlon
Day 1 Day 2
100 m 100m Hurdles
Discus Throw Long Jump
Pole Vault Shot Put
Javelin Throw High Jump
400 m 1500 m

HICHAM EL GUERROUJ
 1500 m. World Champion

YELENA ISINBAYEVA
 Pole vault World Champion
Some Records
 100 m: WR 9’58 s (Usain Bolt JAM)
 Shot put: WR 23’12 m (Randy Barnes USA)
 Long jump: WR 8’95 m (Mike Powell USA)
 High jump: WR 2’45 m (Javier Sotomayor CUB)
 400 m: WR 43’18 s (Michael Johnson USA)
 Discus throw: WR 74’08 m (Jürgen Schult GER)
 Pole vault: WR 6’14 m (Sergey Bubka UKR)

PENTATHLON
Athletic contest entailing five distinct types of competition. In the ancient
Greek Olympics, the pentathlon included a race the length of the stadium (about 183
metres [200 yards]), the long jump, the discus throw, the javelin throw, and
a wrestling match between the two athletes who performed best in the previous four
events. This Greek pentathlon was adapted for modern track-and-field competition by
setting the sprint distance at 200 metres and by substituting a 1,500-metre run for the
wrestling match. The event was included in the Olympic Games from 1912 through
1924.

ancient Olympic Games

Infographic showing events in which athletes competed at the ancient Olympic Games,
including running events, the pentathlon, and the pankration.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Patrick O'Neill Riley
The modern pentathlon, based on the skills (fencing, shooting, swimming, running,
and horseback riding) needed by a battlefield courier, was first included in the Olympic
Games of 1912, and it was a team event from 1952 to 1992. In 2000 it became
a women’s event in the Olympics. Originally a five-day contest, the modern pentathlon
was shortened to four days in 1984 and to one day in 1996. The fencing competition is a
round-robin tournament comprising one-minute, one-touch épée duels. The freestyle
swim covers 200 metres. Competitors draw unfamiliar horses for a show
jumping competition on a 350- to 450-metre course with 12 obstacles. The final event
combines the shooting and running disciplines: competitors alternate between three
rounds of shooting (with either air or laser pistols, depending on the competition) at five
targets within a 70-second time frame and three 1,000-metre cross-country runs.
Competitors begin the combined shooting and running event in the order of their finish
in the previous three events combined, and the first athlete to cross the finish line after
the third 1,000-metre run is the pentathlon’s winner. The modern pentathlon is
governed by the Union Internationale du Pentathlon Moderne et Biathlon.

pentathlon
Nicholas Woodbridge competing in the running and shooting event of the pentathlon at the
2012 Summer Games in London.
David Goldman/AP

From 1964 to 1980, individual women competed in an Olympic athletics event known as

the pentathlon, which included the shot put, high jump, 100-metre hurdles, 200-metre
dash, and long jump. (See also heptathlon.)
1. Jessica Ennis Olympic Heptathlon Champion
2. Jessica Ennis • Sport: Track and field athletics • Nationality: British • Date of
Birth: 28th January 1986
3. Jessica Ennis is the current Olympic heptathlon champion. • She is also
the former European and world heptathlon champion and indoor pentathlon
champion. • Jessica is the British high jump and 100m hurdle record holder.
4. Jessica Ennis • Jessica was born in Sheffield, England on 28th January 1986. •
Jessica’s mother was born in England and her father in Jamaica. She has a
younger sister, Carmel. • Jessica still lives in Sheffield with her fiance, Andy and
her chocolate Labrador Myla.
5. Starting out “I think my mum and dad wanted me out of the house!” • Jessica
first became involved in athletics at ten years old when her parents sent her to a
‘Start: Track’ event during the summer holidays of 1996. • At this event Jessica
won her first athletics prize – a pair of runners – and met her future coach Toni
Minichiello. • Jessica says:
6. Summer Olympics 2012 • Jessica competed in the heptathlon in the London
Summer Olympics. • Jessica ranked first in six of the heptathlon events (100m
hurdles, high jump, 200m, long jump, javelin and 800m), and came second in the
shot put. • She won the gold medal with a personal best career points total and a
British national record.
7. Personal Bests • 100m hurdles – 12.54 seconds • High jump – 1.95 metres •
Shot put – 14.67 metres • 200 metres – 22.83 seconds • Long jump – 6.51 metres
• Javelin – 47.49 metres • 800 metres – 2: 7.81
8. Heptathlon • The heptathlon is a track and field combined events contest
made up of seven events. • The name derives from the Greek hepta (seven) and
athlon (contest). • The women’s heptathlon is held over two days. The 100m
hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m are contested on the first day and the
long jump, javelin and 800m on the second. • The women’s heptathlon is held
outdoors and was first introduced to the Olympics in 1984.
9. Jessica said: I'm totally different when it comes to sport. It's just something
that seems to be within me. . . . You have to be totally up for it and motivated
otherwise you just wouldn't win. "I've always known what I wanted. I've always
wanted to be on top of that podium." I'm proud of the way I've dealt with
setbacks. It's hard when you feel down and you think, 'Why is the world doing
this to me?' But you have to pick yourself up again. That's what makes you a
better athlete.
10. Jessica Ennis on the Olympic podium.
12. Jessica Ennis Quiz • Where was Jessica born? • How old was Jessica when she
first became involved in athletics? • What are the seven events in the heptathlon?
• Which three events take place on the second day of the heptathlon? • Which
events does Jessica hold the British record in? • What is Jessica’s dog’s name?