Texas A&M Track and Field Officials Association

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Running Events

RUNNING EVENTS: These events fall into the following categories:   sprints, middle distance, long distance, hurdles, relays

SPRINTS

60-meters: The briefest event, over in just a few seconds, this is the short sprint of choice on smaller indoor tracks, as the distance allows for a straight run without any curves. While the start is important in all sprints, bursting out of the blocks is vital in the 60 meters, because there’s very little time to recover from a poor start.

100-meters: The outdoor straight sprint is one of track and field’s glamour events. As with the 60 meters, runners remain in assigned lanes, with the fastest runners given the middle lanes of a multi-heat event. While some runners have favorite spots, lane placement isn’t as vital in a race with no curves. While a fast start is important, a runner who’s beaten out of the blocks does have some time to recover.

200-meters: Because runners must negotiate a curve in this event, the competitors’ assigned lanes are staggered, so each runs the same distance. Running a curve is different from dashing down a straight lane: competitors will try to remain as close to the inside line as possible without stepping on the line, with is cause for disqualification. Endurance begins to come into play, as 200-meter runners must not only be fast, but must maintain their speed.

400-meter run: One full lap around an outdoor track. Runners remain in their assigned lanes and receive staggered starts. Although competitors begin in starting blocks – and the 400 is technically considered a sprint – the runners must pace themselves a bit. Come-from-behind victories on the final straight are not unusual.

MIDDLE DISTANCE

800-meters: Runners begin from a standing start in staggered lanes. After the first turn, however, runners may leave their lanes, at which point competitors dash for their favorite spots, at or near the inside lane. Some 800-meter runners enjoy success by leading from the start and maintaining as much of their pace as possible, while others use the first lap to establish a clear spot on the track, then unleash a finishing kick on lap two.
1500-meter run/mile run: Approximately four laps around a standard outdoor track (the 1500 runs a bit less than four full laps, the mile just a touch more), these races are tactical affairs in which the eventual winner generally establishes position in the middle, or even the back of the pack in the early laps. The runners begin along a curved line, then almost immediately break out of their lane and move toward the inside of the track.

LONG DISTANCE

3000-meter run: This is a primary indoor event – it’s part of the World Indoor Championships – but it’s also run outdoors. The 3000 marks the start of the long distance events, as the 1500 and the mile are considered middle distance races. Runners begin on a slightly curved starting line (the curve is greater on the smaller indoor track) but don’t run in lanes, so the start is mainly a competition to gain a runner’s favored position on the track. Endurance is paramount at this distance, and above, with top speeds reserved for the final lap.
5000-meter run: Competitors start on a curved line and can immediately run anywhere on the track, leading to a large initial pack typically stretching three four lanes wide, depending on how many runners are racing. While all distance races are tactical events to some degree, competitors at this distance and above are to a large extent running to their own pace most of the way, rather than responding to their opponents. Runners must know how fast they can go at different stages of the race to achieve the best possible time. Tactics come to the fore in the final laps, as runners position themselves for the race to the finish. While it’s advantageous to run an inside line – on which a runner travels a shorter distance around the curves – running too far inside can result in a competitor being boxed in by slower runners and not being able to break out at the crucial moment.
10,000-meter run: The longest track event, it also begins with a curved starting line but is run without lanes. Jockeying for position at the start isn’t as important because of the greater distance. As with the 5,000, each competitor must know his own pace. Running along an inside line is less hazardous for premier runners because slower runners will drop off the pace as the longer event progresses, leaving a smaller number of runners jockeying for position in the final laps. Most great long distance racers rely on a strong finishing kick to win.

Marathon run:

This is generally a stand-alone event, but is part of major meets such as the Olympics and the World Championships, where it often starts and ends inside of the stadium. Originally measuring 26 miles, 385 yards, it’s now 42.195 kilometers. Runners begin in a pack, but the start is inconsequential. Competitors go at their own pace, with the primary goal for many being simply to finish. Top competitors will pace themselves and try to run consistent splits from beginning to end.

HURDLES

60-meter hurdles: The indoor sprint hurdles event includes just five, evenly-spaced hurdles. As in all standard hurdles events, runners are not penalized for touching or knocking a hurdle down, as long as they don’t do it deliberately. The start is important in this short race, but superior hurdle clearance technique can help a runner come from behind.
100/110-meter hurdles:The outdoor sprint hurdle events offer one of the last bastions of gender difference in senior track and field, as the women’s sprint hurdles event is 100 meters long while the men run 110 meters. Both events feature 10 evenly-spaced hurdles. The hurdles in the shorter races are taller than the hurdles used in 400-meter races. For example, men’s hurdles are 1.067 meters tall (3 feet, 6 inches) in the 110 race, 91.4 centimeters (3 feet) in the 400-meter event. As with all standard hurdles races, runners begin in starting blocks and remain in their lanes throughout the race.

400-meter hurdles: Both genders run a full lap in the low hurdles event, which also includes 10 evenly-spaced barriers. With 35 meters from one hurdle to the next, competitors may use different stride patterns between the hurdles, to suit their particular style. Some hurdlers always clear the barriers using the same lead leg, but those who can alternate legs have an advantage, because they can better fine-tune their stride pattern. Ideally, all hurdlers stride over, rather than jump, the barriers, spending as little time in the air as possible. The 400 hurdles, like the straight 400, features a staggered start to compensate for the track’s curve.

Steeplechase: Not a pure hurdles event, the steeplechase combines distance running and a different form of hurdling. For example, steeplechasers can’t glide over their hurdles, which stand 914 millimeters (3 feet) high for men, but more importantly can’t be knocked over because they’re thicker and heavier than standard hurdles and fill the entire track, rather than just one lane. Some runners jump over the hurdle, while others step on top of the barrier on the way over. The 3000-meter race features no barriers on the first lap. Each of seven subsequent laps includes five hurdle jumps, one of which is followed immediately by a water pit that slopes upwards. The better jumpers are rewarded by leaping into shallower water. The race begins on a curved starting line. Runners do not remain in lanes.

RELAYS

4 x 100 meters: Relay teams consist of four runners who must exchange a baton within 20-meter-long passing zones. Exchanges during the 4 x 100 race are just as important as the speed of the runners; races can literally be won or lost via fast or sloppy exchanges. The baton is passed blindly with runners maintaining as much speed as possible during each exchange. The first runner begins in starting blocks, carrying the baton. The second runner stands within a 10-meter acceleration zone that precedes the passing area. As the first runner approaches, the second begins running, enters the passing zone, then reaches one hand back while keeping his focus ahead. The first runner slaps the baton into the second runner’s outstretched hand. The exchange process is repeated two more times. Teams are disqualified if a pass occurs outside the 20-meter zone. The starting positions are staggered and teams remain in the same lane throughout the race.

4 x 400 meters: The key difference in the longer race is that teams don’t risk blind passes. The receiver looks back at the passer as they make a safe exchange. The 4 x 400 is more dependent on the ability of four runners to run strong 400-meter times. The start is staggered. The lead runner begins in starting blocks and remains in the same lane for the full lap. The second runner remains in the team’s lane around the first curve, then may leave the lane. Approximately midway through the lap, officials line up the third runners based on the team’s standing – the leading team’s runner is on the inside of the passing zone, the second place team’s runner is next, and so on. The anchor leg runners are lined up the same way.