Sergei Bubka

Track and Field World Records

Track and field athletics are sports which involve running, throwing and jumping. For many years, athletes have been trying to set track and field world records to achieve fame and glory. the first recorded track race was at the 776 BC Olympics and was a foot race along the length of the stadium. in more modern times, most track and field events are held on a 400 meter running track.

The ‘track’ part of track and field consists of running races and hurdling competitions. the ‘field’ portion consists of jumping and throwing contests. One of the reasons for track and field’s worldwide popularity is the ease in which events are staged. an area only needs a long stretch of field for participants to practice for the games. many countries which cannot excel at other events due to monetary constraints can win and even set world records for track and field.

A standard outdoor track is a 400 meter oval. Races go in a counterclockwise direction and most tracks have 8 lanes. Indoor track and field events usually happen in an area which has a 200 meter track. Indoor track and field events have a different set of rules and records than outdoor track and field events, since the tracks are a shorter length.

Track and field is mainly an individual sport, but many high schools and colleges have track and field teams which compete against other schools. Teams are scored by points and the school with the most points wins the meet.

Track and field world records have been set in areas such as the following:

*60 meter sprints
*100 meter sprints
*200 meter sprints
*600 meter distance event
*800 meter distance event
*1000 meter distance event
*3000 meter long distance event
*3200 meter long distance event
*60 meter hurdles
*100 meter hurdles
*300 meter hurdles
*4 X 100 meter relay
*4 X 200 meter relay
*5k road race

*Discus
*Javelin
*Hammer Throw
*Shot Put

*High Jump
*Pole Vault
*Long Jump
*Triple Jump

Some of the most notable track and field world records have been set within the last 10 years. Usain Bolt of Jamaica set a world record in the 100 meter track event in may of 2008. Sergey Bubka of Ukraine set a world record in the Pole Vault event in September of 1992.

For hundreds of years, athletes have been training and devoting their lives to achieving track and field world record status. some runners begin training as early as the age of 5 years old. Content not only with winning a gold medal at the Olympics, many are obsessed with setting a world record as well. some records last for decades and some are broken within a few days or even a few hours. sometimes records are broken by the current record holder and sometimes they are broken in fierce competition.