Track Events

Running events up to 10000m in distance are conducted on a 400 m track which is outdoors during summer competition and indoors during the winter. The track is made with a rubber surface to improve grip and lessen the risk of slipping in poor weather conditions. The track is an elongated oval shape, consisting of a semi-circle at either end and two straight segments joining the semi-circles together.

The track is split into six to ten lanes which circle around an inner field used for throwing and jumping events. Each runner is allocated a lane at the beginning of the race, with starting blocks marking the beginning of the race, although whether athletes are required to stay in lane for the duration of the race, depends on the distance being run.

The winner of all races conducted on the track is the first person whose torso crosses the finishing line. If hands, legs, head or feet cross the line before another contestant’s torso a win is not counted. A runner is disqualified from a race if they make two false starts, which are counted if they leave the starting blocks before the starting gun is fired. Running events on the track are split into different categories, distinguished by the distance being run. The categories are: short distance races, middle distance races and long distance races.

Athletics Track