Track events or a field event is mainly associated with athletic events. In India, it is gaining popularity due to establishment of proper infrastructure.
This is a sport that comprises of various competitive athletic contests based on activities like jumping, running and throwing. The name of Track events or a field event have been derived from the venue of competition: a stadium that features an oval shaped running track surrounded by grassy area, and the jumping and throwing events mainly take place in the enclosed area in the centre. Some of the stadiums in India are Angul Stadium, Odisha, Biju Patnaik Hockey Stadium in Odisha, Dhyanchand Stadium, G. M. C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, MGR Race Course Stadium and many more.
Track Events in India
Track events are generally individual sporting events with athletes competing with one another to decide a single winner. The events pertaining to race are won by the one who are the fastest and take less time, while the throwing and jumping events are won by the ones who achieved the greatest height or distance in the contest. The running events can be grouped as middle and long-distance events, relays, and hurdling. Some of the regular jumping events include triple jump, long jump, high jump and pole vault, while the most common throwing events are shot put, javelin, discus and hammer. There are also combined events like decathlon and heptathlon, in which athletics compete in a number of events mentioned above.
Managing the Field and Track Events in India
Field and track events that includes cross country running, road running and race walking, makes up the umbrella of athletics events in sports. It is under the banner of athletics that two of the most popular international field and track competitions are held: the athletics competition at Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships in Athletics. For matter related to track events IAAF is the international governing body.
Record in Field and Track events in India
Records are kept of the best performances in a specific event, both at international and national level, right down to personal level. But if an athlete is found to have violated rules and regulation of the event, they are disqualified and marks are also erased.
Length of Running Track in India
The length of a running track should not be less than 400 m. The track should be not less than 7.3 m in width, where it is not possible to have a raised border for the inner edge of the running track. In international meeting, the track should allow for at least six lanes; however, for major tournaments, eight lanes must be provided. The starts should be staggered so that the distance from start to finish shall be the same for each competitor.
The 800 metres event shall be run in lanes as far as the end of the first bend, using the maximum number of available lanes. As the runners are permitted to leave their respective lanes on entering the back straight, the starting position must be taken into consideration for two factors. First, the normal echelon allowance which would be applicable were the race to be 200 m starting at the same point on the track, secondly an adjustment to the starting point in each lane to compensate position on the track at the end of the back straight than those in the inside lane.
