Athletics.

TYPES OF STRAT IN TRACK EVENTS

1. Crouch start

The body assumes crouch position or shape. Used in starting all the sprint events.

There are three types of crouch start.

(a) Elongated

The knee of the rear foot is opposite the ankle of the leading foot.

(b) Medium/bullet start

The knee of the rear foot is opposite the toe of the leading foot.

Factors to consider when selecting site for athletics track.

Level/flatness of the ground
Adequate space where the track can fit all the lanes.
Free from obstacles e.g. stumps
Avoid waterlogged areas (swampy areas)
Direction of both sun and wind.
The area should be accessible.

100M race

HISTORY OF ATHLETICS

Started in Greece as a funeral site or religious ceremony and later became part of life the Greeks. During these festivals the sacrifices to heroes and lesser gods were followed by feasting dancing songs and exhibitions of agilities of strength and skills in the form of competition.

The length of the track is 84.39m and the width is 73m. Have two parallel lines and two curved bends. The shape of the track is elliptical.

PARTS OF THE TRACK

1. Kerb line

The innermost line in the athletics track.

2. Kerb distance

This is the distance measured following the Kerb line.

3. Track distance

This is the distance across the lane. The first lane is measured 30cm from the kerb line and the rest are measured 20cm from every line.

4. Home straight

This is the final stretch towards the finishing line.

5. Lane

This space in between consecutive lines and the distance is 1.22m.

6. Change over box

This is a 20m zone along the lane with which the batons should be changed.

7. Acceleration zone

A 10m zone just before the nearer boundary of the change over box where the competitor receiving the baton can move to gather momentum before receiving the baton.

TRACK EVENTS

These are running events done on the athletic track. They include:

1. Sprints races

2. Middle distance races

3. Long distance races

4. Walk races.

SPRINTS

These are short races normally referred to as explosive events. They take short time to complete. Also referred to as anaerobic in nature

The events include:

- - 100m
  - 110m hurdles
  - 200m
  - 400m
  - 4 x 100m
  - 4 x 400m

110M Hurdles

MIDDLE AND LONG DISTANCE EVENTS

They include:

800m
1500m
3000m steeple chase
5000m
10000m
Walk races

1) Medley relay

This involves different competitors in a team covering different distances. It’s mainly for enjoyment and for both genders e.g. 100m >>>> 200m>>>>400m e.t.c

2) Circuit relay

This is where the competitors run round track and each member of the team covers the same distance. We have two types of circuit relay:

(1) 4 x 100m

(2) 4 x 400m

Rules governing relay races

1. The baton shall be carried by the hand throughout the race.

2. The baton shall be passed literally to next. Should not be hurled or thrown.

3. The passing of the baton shall take place within the change over box.

4. A competitor after passing the baton shall A competitor shall overtake to the right of the

not escort the fellow competitor but waits for the area to clear and then leave the track.

5. In 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m, first round the competitor shall maintain his/her lane throughout.

6. Each team shall have 4 competitors and All competitors shall be registered by the recorder

7. Running shall be done anticlockwise. This is because it is easier to negotiate curves on the left as opposed to right.

Characteristics of middle and long distance events.

They take longer time to perform.
They involve both cardio-vascular and muscular endurance.
They are aerobic in nature.
Sometimes may result to fatigue ( accumulation of lactic acid along the muscles).

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