Track and Field Athletics
Track and Field Athletics
The Track and Field Athletics, better known as Track and Field, have changed significantly since their birth in Olympia around 776 B.C. The Track and Field Athletics are one of the greatest events to watch. It is the greatest sporting event, drawing many spectators and creating much interest in at the summer Olympics. (Wallechinsky, 751) More athletes and more nationalities compete in Track and Field than in any other Olympic sport. Track and Field events have come a long way since the Ancient Greek Olympic games; many events have been changed or terminated and many new events have been added. (Belvel, 9) The Olympic motto, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” is describing the Track and Field events in Latin. In English it means “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” which indicates the running, jumping, and throwing events.
In the early years of Track and Field there were very few events; actually there was only one event at the beginning, the Stadion Footrace. The Stadion Footrace was a 200-yard sprint in which twenty competitors ran naked. (Alley, 19) Eventually, other events were added, but the introduction of the pentathlon marked a step towards Track and Field. The Ancient Olympic Pentathlon included five events; long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, stadion footrace, and wrestling. Years later, when Track and Field spread out into other nations many new events were building up.
As of today, all of the Track and Field events branch off from three categories: Track (running), Field, and Composite (competition that includes track and field events) events. In the track category the events are: 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, and 1600 meter dashes. There are also the 3000, 5000, 10000 meter marathons and the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. In the field categories the events are: discus, shot put, hammer, and javelin which are the throwing events. The jumping events in the Field category are long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole
The Track and Field Athletics, better known as Track and Field, have changed significantly since their birth in Olympia around 776 B.C. The Track and Field Athletics are one of the greatest events to watch. It is the greatest sporting event, drawing many spectators and creating much interest in at the summer Olympics. (Wallechinsky, 751) More athletes and more nationalities compete in Track and Field than in any other Olympic sport. Track and Field events have come a long way since the Ancient Greek Olympic games; many events have been changed or terminated and many new events have been added. (Belvel, 9) The Olympic motto, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” is describing the Track and Field events in Latin. In English it means “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” which indicates the running, jumping, and throwing events.
In the early years of Track and Field there were very few events; actually there was only one event at the beginning, the Stadion Footrace. The Stadion Footrace was a 200-yard sprint in which twenty competitors ran naked. (Alley, 19) Eventually, other events were added, but the introduction of the pentathlon marked a step towards Track and Field. The Ancient Olympic Pentathlon included five events; long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, stadion footrace, and wrestling. Years later, when Track and Field spread out into other nations many new events were building up.
As of today, all of the Track and Field events branch off from three categories: Track (running), Field, and Composite (competition that includes track and field events) events. In the track category the events are: 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, and 1600 meter dashes. There are also the 3000, 5000, 10000 meter marathons and the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. In the field categories the events are: discus, shot put, hammer, and javelin which are the throwing events. The jumping events in the Field category are long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole
Cited: Alley, Louis. Track and Field Athletics. Mosby: Saint Louis, 1974 Belvel, Brian. Olympic Track and Field. New York: Rosen Publishing, 2007 Gifford, Clive. Track and Field. New York: PowerKids Press, 2009. Matthews, Peter. The Guinness Book of Track & Field Athletics: Facts & Feats. New York: Sterling Pub. Company, 1982. “Track and Field Athletics.” Wikipedia.com. 2010. 20 April 2010 < http://en. Wikipedia.org/wiki/track_and_field_athletics> Wallechinsky, David. “Olympic Games.” “World Book” 2010. World Book, Inc.