Athletics

For the Major League Baseball team, see Oakland Athletics.

Athletic events are usually organised around a 400 m running track, on which most of the running events take place. Field events (jumping and throwing) often take place in the field in the centre of the running track.

Many athletic events have an ancient origin and were already conducted in competitive form by the ancient Greeks. Athletics was included in the Olympic Games in 1896 and has been part of the program ever since. An international governing body, the IAAF was founded in 1912. The IAAF established separate outdoor World Championships in 1983. The AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) was the governing body in the United States until it collapsed under pressure from advancing professionalism in the late 1970's. A new governing body called The Athletics Congress (TAC) was formed, it was later renamed USA Track and Field (USATF or USA T&F). An additional, less structured organization, the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) also exists in the USA to promote road racing. Both organizations allow athletes to receive money for racing putting an end to the "shamateurism" that existed before.

Table of contents

1 Events 2 World Records 2.1 Men 2.2 Women 3 See also

Events

• Track running
  • Sprints: events up to and including 400m. Common events are 60m, 100m, 200 m and 400 m.
  • Middle distance: events from 800 to 3000 m. Common events are 800 m, 1500 m, mile, 3000 m, 3000 m steeple chase.
  • Long Distance: events from 5000 m and up. Common events are 5000 m and 10000 m.
  • Hurdling: Common events are 100 m, 110 m, 400 m.
  • Road: conducted on open roads. Common events are half-marathon and marathon.
  • Walking: walking, usually conducted on open roads. Common events are 10 km, 20 km and 50 km.
• Throwing
  • Shot put
  • Hammer throw
  • Javelin throw
  • Discus throw
• Jumping
  • High jump
  • Long jump
  • Pole vault
  • Triple jump
• Composite events
  • Pentathlon
  • Heptathlon
  • Decathlon

Women

Event	Record	Athlete	Date	Place
100m	10.49s	Florence Griffith Joyner (USA)	July 16, 1988	Indianapolis, Ind, USA
200m	21.34s	Florence Source | Copyright Related categories / Top / Sports / Lacrosse / College_and_University / Women / NCAA_Division_III / Top / Sports / Lacrosse / College_and_University / Men / NCAA_Division_III / Top / Sports / Basketball / Women / College_and_University / NCAA-III / W / Top / Sports / Hockey / Ice_Hockey / Leagues / Women / College_and_University / Varsity_Division_3_Programs / Top / Sports / Basketball / College_and_University / Junior / S / Top / Sports / Basketball / Women / College_and_University / Junior / C / Top / Sports / Soccer / CONCACAF / United_States / College_and_University / NCAA_Division_III / Old_Dominion_Athletic_Conference / Top / Sports / Basketball / Women / College_and_University / NCAA-III / M / Top / Sports / Track_and_Field / College_and_University / NCAA_Division_III / Independents / Top / Sports / Basketball / Women / College_and_University / NCAA-II / S / Top / Sports / Basketball / Women / College_and_University / NCAA-III / G / Top / Sports / Basketball / Women / College_and_University / NCAA-III / S / Top / Sports / Basketball / College_and_University / Junior / C / Top / Sports / Basketball / Women / College_and_University / NCAA-III / C / Top / Sports / Basketball / Women / College_and_University / Junior / S / Top / Sports / Track_and_Field / College_and_University / NAIA / Independent / Top / Sports / Basketball / College_and_University / NCAA_Division_III / Independents / Top / Sports / Basketball / Women / College_and_University / Junior / M / Top / Sports / Tennis / College_and_University / NCAA_Division_III / New_England_Women's_and_Men's_Athletic_Conference / Top / Sports / Soccer / CONCACAF / Canada / College_and_University / CIS / Ontario_University_Athletics				Webmasters: Add your website here: