Athlete

A standard athletics track has an inside running distance of 400 metres. Most tracks have an 85 metres straight on each side, with curves at either end with a radius of 36.41 metres. There are usually eight lanes, each 1.22-1.25 metres wide. Tracks must have two independent measurements made of their length, using either a steel tape or a laser-based surveying instrument. The two measurements may not differ from each other by more than the allowed tolerances or the track will not be certified for national and international competition.



Outdoor athletics
The outdoor track and field season usually begins in the spring and lasts through the summer. Most tracks are ovals of 400 metres in circumference. Modern All Weather Running Tracks, known to many by genericized brand names such as "Tartan tracks" or "Mondo tracks", are made with rubber surface materials. These typically consist of rubber (either black SBR or colored EPDM granules), bound by polyurethane or latex resins. Older tracks were cinder-covered. Tracks normally consist of 6-10 lanes (up to 12 lanes on the 'front' straight) and many include a steeplechase lane with a water pit on one of the turns. This steeplechase pit can be placed either inside or outside the track, making for a tighter turn or a wider turn. It is common that tracks will surround a playing field used for American football, Canadian football, association football (soccer), or lacrosse. This inner field is usually known as the infield and has a surface of either grass or artificial turf.

All field events can be contested on the infield. However the javelin, hammer and discus throws are sometimes contested on fields outside of the track stadium because they take up a large amount of space, the implements may damage the infield, and the implements could end up landing on the track. However, some infields are used specifically for these events, and for the javelin, an athlete may have a longer run-up by starting it on the other side of the track, and crossing when there are no athletes passing. Because the throwing events effectively result in projectiles being thrown, they are intrinsically more dangerous to spectators. Deaths and bodily injury have occurred as a result.[2] Rules and meet organizers are justifiably safety cautious about the proximity and position of spectators, frequently putting the athletes inside cages with controlled openings to the landing area.









Indoor athletics
Typical "oval" track consisting of two semicircles joined by straight segments.There are two seasons for track and field. There is an indoor season, run during the winter and an outdoor season, run during the spring. Most indoor tracks are 200 metres and consist of four to 8 lanes. There are also some 150 metre indoor tracks, and others as small as 120 metres have been used. Some "oversize tracks" (larger than 200 metres) are popular for American collegiate athletics despite the fact that they are not considered valid for setting indoor records. Often an indoor track will have banked turns to compensate for the tight radius of the turns. The banking can help prevent injuries to the athlete, while also promoting higher speeds.

In an indoor track meet athletes contest the same track events as at an outdoor meet, with the exception of the 100 m and 110 m/100 m hurdles (replaced by the 55 or 60 m sprint and 55 or 60 m hurdles at most levels, or the 55 m sprint and hurdles at the high school level), the 10,000 m run, 3,000 m steeplechase, 400 m hurdles. Indoor meets also have the addition of a 3,000 m run normally at both the collegiate and elite level, instead of the 10,000 m. The 5,000 m is the longest event commonly run indoors, although there are situations where longer distances have been raced. In the mid 20th century, there was a series of "duel" races on Madison Square Garden's indoor track, some of which featured two men racing a marathon (42.2 km). However, this is an extremely rare occurrence, for obvious reasons. In some occasions, there may also be a 500 m race instead of the open 400 m normally found outdoors, and in many college championship races indoors both are contested. There is also a 1500 meter race walk at the high school level.In field events, indoor meets only feature the high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and shot put (weight throw).
Due to space limitations, these events take place on the infield, within the circumferential track. The longer throws of javelin, hammer and discus are added only for outdoor meets, as there is normally not enough space in an indoor stadium to house these events.
Other events unique to indoor meets (especially in North America) are the 300 m, 600m, 1000 m, and 35 lb (16 kg) weight throw. In some countries, notably Norway, standing long jump and standing high jump are also contested, even in the National Championships.
For multi-event athletes there is the Pentathlon for women (consisting of 60 m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800 m) and heptathlon for men (consisting of 60 m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60 m hurdles, pole vault and 1000 m) indoors.

In Secondary school meets the events that are exhibited are the 55m, 600m, 1000m, 1500m racewalk, 3000m, and 55m hurdles. There is also shotput, long jump, high jump, triple jump and 4x200m relay and 4x800m relay. Indoor track in secondary schools is seen as a strength season where not only the legs, but also the arms, core and other main muscles or exercised as opposed to outdoor track which is more focused on running.


Done by Cecilia!(1E2)
Credits:Google,Wikipedia and YOG learning Centre Website :)