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Track and Field: RUN on over!

In the overall category of track and field there is a subcategory of running (actually, it’s probably the most well-known category), and then beneath that subcategory are five more offshoots: sprints, middle distance, long distance, relays, and hurdles. Following is an overview of each discipline as it stands alone from its classmates. Sprints are loosely defined as races over short distances and are among the oldest classified running competitions. They are focused on acceleration and there are currently three sprinting events held at the Olympic level which include the 100 meter, 200 meter, and the 400 meter. Races begin with Read more…

Track and Field: THROW it now!

In the overall category of track and field there is a subcategory of throwing, and then beneath that subcategory are four more offshoots: shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, and hammer throw. Following is an overview of each discipline as it stands alone from its classmates. Shot Put can be traced back to pre-historic competitions that involved the use of rocks as a way to measure or benchmark athleticism and strength among clansmen. However, modern rules for this Olympic sport (included in the games since 1896) were charted in 1860 wherein “throws” had to be released within a square that measured seven feet on each side. In 1906 this area was amended to a circle measuring seven feet diameter, and the weight of the shot was standardized to its still-current 16 pounds.Discus Throw was an ancient pentathlon event with a history dating back to 708 BC wherein a heavy circular disc was thrown from a standing position on a small pedestal. Currently, athletes Read more…

Track and Field: JUMP to it!

In the overall category of track and field there is a subcategory of jumping, and then beneath that subcategory are four more offshoots: long jump, triple jump, high jump, and pole vault. Following is an overview of each discipline as it stands alone from its classmates. Long Jump is considered one of the oldest track and field events with its roots being traced back to the ancient Greek pentathlon where runners would run up a short hill and jump into an area of soft earth (dirt) with the winner being crowned as the one who jumped the furthest. Currently, athletes sprint along a length of track leading to a jumping board followed by a sand pit. The athlete must begin the jump before the marked line and their result (or achievement) is measured from the nearest point of sand that was disturbed by the landing.Triple Jump is similar to the long jump in the sense that it takes place on a track that heads toward a sand pit where the athlete performs a hop, step, and jump pattern in movement prior to launching toward the sandpit. Scholars debate the existence of this event in ancient Greece, but it can be traced back to a 12^th century Book of Leinster (a medieval Irish manuscript pertaining to literature, genealogy, and mythology).High Jump was first recorded in Scotland in the 19^th century when athletes would run Read more…