Field Events Track Athletes Jump Metal Jumping Describing

"Track and field events" are many different athletic activities that "involve" (include; are based on) running, jumping, and throwing. Track and field athletes try to "break records" (beat the best performance ever) in different "events" (competitions for a specific track and field activity).

Many track and field events are "races" (competitions to see who can do something most quickly). "Sprints" (very fast runs over short distances) range from 50 meters to 400 meters. Middle-distance events range from 600 meters to 3,000 meters, and long-distance events include the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races. "Road races" cover longer distances, up to and including the "marathon" (a 42-kilometer race).

There are also "hurdle events" where runners have to jump over "hurdles" (barriers in the path of a runner). In "relay events," runners work together as a team, running part of the race and then "passing" (giving with one's hand) a metal "baton" (stick) to the next runner.

The field events are divided into throwing and jumping events. There are four types of throwing events. Athletes can throw a "discus" (a heavy, round, flat object, a "hammer" (a heavy metal bar attached to a wire and a handle), a "javelin" (a very long "spear" (pointed stick)), or a "shot put" (a heavy metal ball).

There are also four jumping events. Athletes can compete in the "high jump" (jumping over a horizontal bar), the "pole vault" (using a long stick to help oneself jump over a horizontal bar), the "long jump" (running and then jumping as far past a line as one can), and the "triple jump" (running and then doing one hop, one step, and one jump to go as far past a line as one can).