These competitions:
Decathlon: The multi-event disciplines are designed to provide the greatest test of overall athletic skill combined with endurance. In each case, competitors receive points in each event based on a standardized scale. For example, at the 2011 World Championships, Trey Hardee ran the 100 meters in 10.55 seconds and received 963 points, while Ashton Eaton received 985 points by running the 100 in 10.46 seconds. The two-day competition includes the 100-meter run, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400-meter jump on the first day, then the 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin and 1500-meter run on day two. The athlete with the most points after 10 events wins the competition. The decathlon is almost exclusively a male outdoor event.
Heptathlon: The seven-event heptathlon is the standard women’s outdoor multi-event competition. It’s scored via a standardized points scale, just like the decathlon. The first day’s events include the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200-meter run, followed by the long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter run on the second day.Men compete in an indoor heptathlon at events such as the World Indoor Championships. The individual events include the 60-meter run, long jump, shot put and high jump on the first day, plus the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault and 1000-meter run on day two.
Pentathlon: The indoor version is the women’s multi-event competition at the World Indoor Championships, but is held in just one day. Competitors begin with the 60-meter hurdles, followed by the high jump, shot put, long jump and 800-meter run.
Texas A&M Track and Field Officials Association 