Acrobatic Events in Track & Field (Part A) - by Anne Shier (a.k.a. "Annie")

(From the book “The Encyclopedia of The Summer Olympics”, by David Fischer, 1963)

Track-and-field events, in general, consist of running, jumping and throwing contests.  Included in the Olympic Games since ancient times, track and field attracts more competitors from more countries than any other Olympic sport.  I wish to limit my discussion here to the running (with hurdles) and jumping events.  My reasons for wanting to include various field events such as pole vault are because their movements include elements that are essentially acrobatic in nature.

The first running track was developed in England in 1837.  It consisted of a narrow gravel path that allowed for only two-man races.  Track racing went indoors in 1861, when the first indoor meet was held in Cincinnati, Ohio (U.S.A.).  Technology has greatly affected modern track events.  Electronic and photo-finish time-keeping have become the standard for today’s contests.

Track-and-field events, sometimes called athletics, are held on a 400-meter (437-yard) oval track and in (800 to 1500 meters), and long distance (5,000 meters to the marathon, which is a grueling 26 miles long).  I will be discussing only the sprint races with hurdles in any detail.

Speed and a good start are key to doing well in sprint races.  Racing competitors run in separate lanes.  Because runners in the outside lanes have a longer distance to run around the curves, they line up in starting blocks a little further down the track.  In a kneeling position, runners set their feet against metal blocks.  At the “set” command, runners raise their knees, and when the gun sounds, they push off hard.  The athletes then lengthen their strides and run at full speed to the finish line.  Sprint races last from less than 10 seconds for the 100-meter dash to 49 seconds for the 400-meter dash.

Hurdles (when added to a sprint race) require great skill and a combination of speed and balance.   In the 100-meter (for women) and the 110-meter (for men), hurdlers run straight down the track while jumping over ten obstacles.  Hurdles are 33 inches (0.76 meters) high for women and 42 inches (1.67 meters) for men.  The 400-meter hurdles event is known as the “man killer” because it is so physically demanding.  (Ideally, each runner should clear each hurdle cleanly and yet be able to maintain top speed between the hurdles.)

The 3,000-meter steeplechase (for men only) is a special hurdling event.  The course is slightly less than 2 miles long, and athletes must make it over 28 hurdles and 7 water jumps.  A 3-foot (0.91-meter) hurdle stands in front of a pool of water at each water jump.  The hurdles are heavy and solidly-built to prevent them from being knocked over.  The pool is 12 feet (3.7 meters) square and about 27 inches (70 centimeters) deep.  Runners step on or jump over the hurdle, land in the water, and then leap onto dry land.  With few exceptions, most notably Kip Keino of Kenya, steeplechase competitors are specialists in the event.  They generally do not compete in other events.

Field events consist of the high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, shot put, discus throw, hammer throw and javelin.  In addition, all-around athletes compete in the heptathlon (for women) and the decathlon (for men).  The multi-event contests combine seven and ten events, respectively, and emphasize endurance and versatility.

In the high jump, the athlete propels his or her body over a bar.  Contestants can choose any style to clear the bar, but they must jump off from one foot.  They run toward the bar along a semi-circular path, gaining the momentum that will lift them up and over.  High jumpers (men) currently clear a bar that is more than 7 feet (2.1 meters) above the ground.  (Female high jumpers currently clear a bar that is more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) above the ground.)  An athlete jumps until he or she misses three attempts at a particular height.  The best height cleared is the one that counts for the athlete.

The long jumper starts by sprinting down a runway to a board at the end.  On the last step, the jumper tries to hit the board with one foot (without going over the board) and launch into the air.  Long jumpers cover a distance of about 28 feet (8.5 meters).  The athlete lands in a pit filled with sand.  The length of the jump is measured from the edge of the takeoff board to the closest mark made in the sand by the athlete.  Each jumper has six attempts, but only the longest jump counts.

copyright 2014, Anne Shier.  All rights reserved.