We often hear about the sport that is called track and field, but very few understand what track and field really means. Track and field refers to an event where several athletic competitions are held. The track is the place where running events take place. Tracks vary in distance, depending on the available lot and space allotted for the construction of an athletic oval. There are 200, 300 and 400 meter tracks being used today for competitions. Tracks are made from different materials, all of which used for the primary reason of maximizing the physical capacity of the athletes, while at the same time lessening the chances of foot or leg injury caused by the strain of hard running atop a hard surface.

The track is composed of many lanes so that different competitors can run at the same time. Track and field is a combination of sports played in the track, and the sports being played in the field, which is in the middle of the track oval. This sport is conducted in some of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, from interschool meets to the Olympics competitions.

Because the track is designed primarily for games of speed by running or fast walking, all of the events played under the ‘track’ category require outracing each other by covering the required distance for the event in the shortest time possible. There are no mixed track running events, meaning men do not compete against women in track events. These events that require running around the track include the sprints, which is a very quick running competition; steeplechase, which requires track runners to negotiate obstacles; long distance track running; hurdles; relays, a team event in which a baton is passed from one track runner to the next; road running; and race walking.

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