All the events taking place on the track are called running events. In track and field or athletics, competitions are organized in both track and field.
Running Events
Table of Contents
There are the following types of running competitions according to distance-
Short Distance Running or Sprints
Race events like 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters are called sprint races. There is also an 80-meter race at the junior level. This race takes up to one minute.
Middle Distance Events
Races like 800 meters, 1500 meters, etc. are called middle-distance events, this event takes a maximum time of 10 minutes.
Long-Distance Running
Races of 5000 meters and 10000 meters are called long-distance races. This takes more than 10 minutes.
Hurdles Races
100-meter hurdles for women, 110-meter hurdles for men, 400-meter hurdles for both men and women, 100-meter hurdles, 110-meter hurdles, and 400-meter hurdles have 10 hurdles, 3000-meter Steeple Chase is for both men and women. The number of hurdles in it is 35 of which 28 are normal hurdles and 7 are water jump.
Relay Races Competition
4×100 meter relay race, 4×400 meter relay race. The relay race is the only team race in athletic competition.
Marathon Race
The Marathon race is a long-distance race of 42.195 kilometers.
Walk Races
The walk race is a long-distance competition of 20 kilometers and 50 kilometers.
Cross Country Race
Cross-country running is both a team and individual event. This event is usually held over a distance of 3-12 kilometers. This competition is organized only in natural areas where obstacles like grass, forests, hills, rivers, drains, etc. can come. Both men and women can participate in this competition.
Track and field official
Track and field athletics officials or track and field athletics technical officials are referees responsible for judging various events within track and field. They can be divided into four major groups: field judges, track judges, timekeepers, and starters.
Before the competition, a meeting of all the officials is held in which everyone is asked to fulfill their responsibilities carefully and responsibly so that no mistakes are made during the competition. For example, at a high-level meeting, there might be one official to call the athletes and record their results, one or more officials to keep an eye on the circle or jumping line, and one or more to mark the landing spots. There may be more officials, one to operate the wind gauge and another to observe the time limit for the athlete. New electronic devices may require additional specialists for timing, measurement, or other technical operations. Finally, there is a referee to monitor that all are being performed according to the proper specifications according the rules; whenever there is any dispute, it is also the job of the referee to resolve it by making appropriate decisions on the spot, so that the competition can be completed successfully.
There are different officers for different competitions, if a district-level competition is being organized then district-level officers are appointed to it, these officers are called DTOs (District Technical Officials).
Similarly, for state-level competition, state-level officials are FSTO (Federation States Technical Officials), and for national-level competition, national-level officials and judges are FTO (Federation Technical Officials). And NTOs (National Technical Officials) can be appointed for any state competition.
Duties of Officials
Field Judges
These judges are responsible for conducting all field events like Jumping events as well as throwing events. There are 5-6 officials present at one event.
Track Judges
These judges are responsible for conducting all track events like Sprints, middle-distance races, Long-distance races, hurdle races, steeple chases, and Relay Races. There are 8-10 officials present at one event.
Timekeepers
These judges are responsible for taking time for all track events like Sprints, middle-distance races, Long-distance races, hurdle races, steeple chases, and Relay Races.
Starters
These judges are responsible for starting all track events like Sprints, middle-distance races, Long-distance races, hurdle races, steeple chases, and Relay Races. There are 2-3 officials present at one event.