Track and Field Sports: Athletics Quiz

Jumping Events

• The long jump involves a single jump, landing on a pit of sand, with the distance measured at the nearest mark where the athlete landed.
• The triple jump combines the hop, step, and jump, with the athlete landing on both feet, and also uses a pit of sand for landing.
• The high jump and pole vault utilize a landing surface of a pad cushioned with rubber foam.
• In both the high jump and pole vault, a crossbar must be cleared, and knocking it off eliminates the jumper.

Throwing Events

• The throws consist of the hammer, discus, javelin, and shot put.
• The object of the throws is to throw as far as the athletes can.
• The discus and hammer throw involve a spinning move, which is performed in a cage to protect spectators.
• All three throws (hammer, shop put, and discus) are thrown from inside a circle.
• The javelin is thrown from a run-up prior to a foul line.

Athletics

• Athletics is a group of sports, or events, divided mainly into track and field.
• Running, jumping, and throwing are all military and hunting skills that became identified as games.
• The skills evolved into events like the long jump, javelin throw, hammer throw, hurdles, and triple jumps.
• The rules were refined from the original Olympic Games, through the Dark Ages, and during the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Improvements in technique, training, equipment, and facilities contributed to the evolution of the sport.

Track Events

• Track events consist of different kinds of races, from the 50-meter sprint to distance races that require endurance.
• Events that are variations of running races include jumping over barriers like hurdles and steeplechases.
• There is an event involving group running called the relay, and walking races, where the racer must not elevate off the ground.