Events

100m

The 100m event is one of the most well known track and field events and is considered the ultimate measure of human speed. Sprinters in this event need to have great reflexes and the ability to accelerate to top speed right off the block. Runners start from a crouching position on the starting blocks. False starts are caused when a competitor's reaction to the signal gun is under 0.12s and can result in disqualification. The reaction time is the time it takes for the ear to process the sound of the starting gun and send a signal to the muscles to react. Wind gauges are also used in sprinting events; a runner cannot set a record if his speed might have been wind assisted.  A record doesn’t count if the tailwind is more than 2 m/s.

200m

A 200m sprinter must have many of the same skills as the 100m competitor, but there's a twist: the 200m track includes a curve, so runners must be able to maintain speed while dealing with the centrifugal force of going around the bend. Also, as distances become longer, runners have to strategize more so they don’t lose strength and power during the sprint.

400m

More than anything, the 400m sprint is a test of endurance. Nicknamed the “man killer,” the 400m is so challenging because after 30-35 seconds of running at full speed, the oxygen debt and build up of lactic acid which occurs in the muscles can cause significant pain. 400m sprinters have to control their pace while maintaining fast enough speeds to win. 

800m
In the 800m race strategy becomes all the more important.  This race is a middle distance track event. The 800m race consists of two laps of the track, but only a short distance at the beginning is run in the lanes. After that, runners must jostle with their competitors for a good position. This race provides an exciting mix of speed and distance running.

1500m

In the 1500m race, runners must have the perfect combination of speed, strength and tactics. Even with the increasing distance, speed is still important. Competitors will often vary their speed, picking up the pace during certain intervals, and breaking out into full sprint at the end, meaning it’s sometimes hard to predict who the first across the finish line will be.

3000m

The 3000m race is only contested by women competitors. This event bridges the gap between the middle and long-distance races. Speed is still a factor, however endurance and strategy really become the focus at this distance.

5000m
The first of the long distance races, the 5000m is truly all about endurance. Like always, power and speed are factors, but to excel in this event the runner must be able to maintain an even pace over a long period of time.

10,000m

The 10,000m race is contested by men only. Like the other long distance events, the 10,000m requires an athlete to have incredible stamina.

3000m SC

The steeplechase event adds an extra challenge to middle-distance race format. Originally designed to imitate horse racing, runners must keep up their speed and endurance throughout the race, but also clear 28 obstacles, four hurdles and a water jump each lap.

100mH

The hurdle events require a balance of sprinting and hurdling ability. There are 10 hurdles to be cleared in this event. An ideal hurdler will be fast and tall, or have long legs, enabling them to get over the barriers with increased ease. The challenge for the runner is to keep their momentum while clearing the hurdles. There is no penalty for knocking a barrier over. In fact, they are designed to fall forward to prevent injury. A runner will lose speed, which will negatively affect their results, if they continuously knock barriers down.

The 100m hurdle is a women’s only event.

110mH

The 110m hurdle is the men’s equivalent to the 100m event. In this event there are also 10 hurdles which must be cleared.

400mH

A competitor in this event must have the skill of both a 400m flat runner and a hurdler. There are also 10 hurdles in this event placed at longer intervals. The goal for most hurdlers is to reduce the number of strides it takes for them to get from one barrier to another while making sure the last stride before the barrier is not cut short, which can greatly affect a runner’s momentum.

10,000m Race Walk

Race walking is much more than your everyday stroll. Not only do the competitors have to fight the urge to break into a run as they pick up the pace but they have to maintain unbroken contact with the ground. This means one foot must be touching the track at all times. The knee on the athlete’s advancing leg cannot be bent from the moment it hits the ground to when it is totally extended behind the athlete.

4x100m Relay

The relay is a team event; both one’s individual success and the collective success of the team is important. This race is run in lanes. As each competitor finishes his/her sprint he/she must pass over the baton to the next runner. This requires perfect timing; the exchange must be completed at top speed and within the designated area. Exchanges can happen in as little as 2 seconds. A dropped baton can throw even the fastest teams out of contention.

4x400m Relay

The 4x400m relay starts in the lanes but opens up as the lap progresses. Runners then jostle with their competitors for position as they would in the 800m race but at a higher speed. Endurance becomes important here because of the longer distance, but the slower speed (compared to the 4x100m relay) means the baton exchange is usually less tricky.

Heptathlon

The heptathlon is a women’s only event.  The heptathlon consists of seven events over two days, three races(100mH, 200m, 800m), two jumps (high jump and long jump) and two throws (shot put and javelin). A heptathlon competitor must be skilled in all events to excel in the heptathlon. Winners are decided on a point system.

Decathlon (Junior)

The decathlon is a men’s only event. The decathlon consists of ten events over two days, four track events (100m, 400m, 1500m, 110mH), three jumps (long jump, high jump, pole vault) and two throws (shot put and discus).

High Jump

High jumpers use “the flop” technique which involves a backwards jump over the pole, a technique made possible by the cushioned landing on the other side. The two most important elements to a successful high jump are the athlete’s vertical take-off speed and where their center of gravity crosses the pole. The highest point in an athlete’s center of gravity should cross above the pole, not in front of or behind it.

Pole Vault

Competitors in this sport approach the crossbar at high speed, then thrust their fibreglass pole into the receiving box and launch themselves into the air. They twist in the air so they cross the bar stomach down and feet first. These athletes must be excellent sprinters and incredibly strong.

Long Jump

Long jump competitors are often successful sprinters as well. Top speed is absolutely necessary in this event. The competitor approaches the take-off board at a run and uses their speed to propel them forward after the jump. The long jump is a distance competition. The distance a jumper achieves is measured from the nearest mark they make to the fault line. The fault line is at the tailing end of the takeoff board. Jumpers must be careful not to overstep the fault line on their jump, as this is against the rules.

Triple Jump

Like the long jump, the triple jump is a distance competition which begins with a sprint. Competitors sprint down the track until they reach the takeoff board. From there, they perform what is known as the “hop-step-jump”, the three jumps of the triple jump, into the sandpit. Distance is measured from the trailing end of the takeoff board. In triple jump, sequence is important; you must takeoff and land on the appropriate foot. Failure to do this can result in a foul.

Shot Put

Shot put is a distance throwing competition. Competitors throw the metal ball from within a circle, seven feet in diameter (2' 13''). Distance is measured from the first mark the ball makes. Typically, a rotational technique is used to do this with the ball being held above the shoulder in the crook of the neck. At the World Junior Championships the balls will weigh 6 kg for men or 4 kg for women. To excel in this sport, athletes must have incredible strength in their arms and legs.

Discus

The discus throw is one of the most iconic track and field events, with a history stretching back to Ancient Greece. The discus used in junior competition weighs 1.75kg for the men and 1kg for the women. Competitors throw from within a concrete circle 2.5m in diameter. They hold the discus in one hand and use a turn and skip technique before release. Because of the spin, athletes in this sport must be able to maintain control despite the centrifugal force. The discus must land within a specific arc to be counted.

Hammer

The hammer used in this event may not look like any hammer you would find in your tool chest. This hammer is a ball, weighing 6kg for the junior men and 4kg for the junior women, attached to a grip by a wire. Again, competitors throw from within a concrete circle, 7 feet in diameter (2' 13''). Athletes make 3 or 4 rotations around their load bearing foot to pick up speed for the throw. Like discus throwers they must be resistant to centrifugal force.

Javelin

Athletes in this competition hold the javelin, weighing 800g for the men and 600g for the women, above their shoulder. There is a grip positioned at the javelin’s centre of gravity. The javelin must be thrown overhand, and there is no rotation allowed before the toss. Competitors approach the throw line at a run to gather speed. The tip of the javelin must strike the ground before any other part and this is where the distance is measured from.