Track and field includes running races, relays, hurdling, race walking, jumps, throws, and combined events. The events take place on a track, in the field area inside it, or on nearby roads.
Below is a practical breakdown of the main events, what athletes do in each one, and how indoor meets and combined events fit in. You’ll also see which related competitions are usually classed separately.
what are all the sports in track and field?
Track and field is a collection of athletic events, not one single sport with one format. Its events fall into four main groups: track races, field events, road events, and combined events. Some meets include every group; others offer only a selection.
Here is the full event-family overview. The exact races and event names can vary by age group, competition, and indoor or outdoor setting.
| Event group | Main events | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Track running | Sprints, middle-distance, long-distance, hurdles, steeplechase | Athletes who race around an oval track |
| Relays | 4 × 100 meters, 4 × 400 meters, and other team formats | Runners who combine speed and teamwork |
| Field events | Jumps and throws | Athletes who compete for distance or height |
| Road events | Race walking and, in the wider athletics program, road running | Athletes who compete on paved routes |
| Combined events | Decathlon, heptathlon, and other multi-event formats | All-around athletes with varied skills |
Track running events
Track races are run on an oval track. Athletes compete against the clock and each other, with race distance and pace setting the main challenge.
Sprints
Sprints are short races run at high speed. Common outdoor sprint events are the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters. The 100-meter race is a straight-line sprint, while the 200-meter and 400-meter races include bends.
These events reward acceleration, top speed, and the ability to maintain form. The 400 meters is one full lap on a standard outdoor track, so it calls for speed as well as pace control.
Middle-distance races
The main middle-distance races are the 800 meters and 1,500 meters. The 800 is two laps on a standard outdoor track; the 1,500 is three and three-quarter laps. Athletes must balance speed with stamina and make tactical decisions about positioning.
The mile is also run at some meets, especially in indoor competition, but it is less common in major championship schedules than the 1,500 meters.
Long-distance races
Track long-distance events commonly include the 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters. The 5,000 is 12½ laps on a standard outdoor track, and the 10,000 is 25 laps. These races combine endurance with tactical pacing and finishing speed.
Some meets also hold a 3,000-meter race. The event lineup depends on the competition; not every distance appears at every meet.
Hurdles and steeplechase
Hurdle races add barriers to a sprint or longer race. Common events include the 100-meter hurdles, 110-meter hurdles, and 400-meter hurdles. The 100-meter hurdles is commonly contested by women, and the 110-meter hurdles by men, though programs vary. The 400-meter hurdles is a one-lap race with barriers spread around the track.
The 3,000-meter steeplechase combines distance running with fixed barriers and a water jump. Runners must clear the obstacles without breaking their rhythm, making it different from a standard distance race.
Relay events
A relay is a team race in which each runner carries a baton and passes it to the next teammate. The best-known formats are the 4 × 100-meter relay and the 4 × 400-meter relay. The numbers show how many legs are run and the distance of each leg.
The 4 × 100 depends heavily on fast, well-timed exchanges. The 4 × 400 combines individual speed with pacing across longer legs. Meets may also include relays such as the 4 × 800 or mixed relays, where teams include athletes of different sexes. Those formats are not offered at every competition.
Practical detail: A relay baton must be passed within the marked exchange zone. A fast runner cannot make up for a poor handoff if the team loses time or makes an illegal exchange.
Field events: jumps and throws
Field events take place in designated areas inside or beside the track. Athletes either try to jump as far or as high as possible, or throw an implement as far as possible. The main result is measured by distance or height rather than race time.
Jumping events
- High jump: Athletes run toward a crossbar and jump over it without knocking it down. The winner clears the greatest height.
- Pole vault: Athletes use a flexible pole to lift themselves over a crossbar. It requires speed, coordination, and precise pole placement.
- Long jump: Athletes sprint down a runway and jump from a takeoff board into a sand pit. The longest valid jump wins.
- Triple jump: Athletes perform a hop, a step, and a jump before landing in the pit. The sequence must stay in that order.
In horizontal jumps, the takeoff point matters as much as the landing. Stepping beyond the takeoff line makes an attempt a foul, so athletes balance a fast approach with control.
Throwing events
- Shot put: Athletes push a heavy metal shot from near the shoulder. It is pushed, not thrown like a ball.
- Discus throw: Athletes spin and release a flat, round discus from a throwing circle.
- Hammer throw: Athletes rotate with a metal ball attached to a wire and handle, then release it from a circle.
- Javelin throw: Athletes run along a runway and throw a spear-shaped implement. The javelin must land tip-first in the sector for a valid mark.
Throwing events use marked landing areas, and athletes must follow event-specific rules for staying inside the circle or runway. A longer throw outside the legal sector does not count.
Road events and race walking
Race walking is an athletics discipline with a distinctive walking technique. In standard race walking, athletes must keep contact with the ground visible to the human eye, and the advancing leg must be straight from first contact until it passes beneath the body. Judges monitor technique during the race.
Race walks are commonly held on road courses, though shorter races can take place on a track. Distances offered depend on the competition. Road running events, including marathons, belong to the broader sport of athletics, but they are generally listed separately from track-and-field events.
Combined events
Combined events test athletes across several disciplines. Competitors earn points for their results in each event, and the athlete with the highest total wins. This format rewards versatility rather than excellence in just one race or field event.
The best-known outdoor combinations are the decathlon and heptathlon. A decathlon has ten events, usually spread over two days: the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 meters on the first day; then the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500 meters on the second.
The outdoor heptathlon has seven events, commonly the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200 meters on day one, followed by the long jump, javelin, and 800 meters on day two. Indoor meets may use different combinations, such as the men’s heptathlon and women’s pentathlon. Event programs can vary by competition and athlete category.
How indoor track and field differs
Indoor track and field uses a smaller track, so some events change or are left off the program. Indoor meets commonly feature sprints, middle-distance races, hurdles, relays, jumps, throws, and combined events. A 200-meter indoor track has tighter bends than a standard outdoor track, which can affect how races are run.
Outdoor distance events such as the 5,000 and 10,000 meters are less typical indoors. Indoor meets may instead feature a 3,000 meters, while the 60-meter sprint and 60-meter hurdles are common indoor events. The exact schedule depends on the venue and organizer.
Which events count as track and field?
The term is sometimes used narrowly for events held on the track and in the field area. In that sense, it means running, relays, jumps, and throws. In everyday conversation, people may also include road races and race walking because they are part of athletics.
Cross-country running is closely related, but it usually takes place on outdoor courses rather than an oval track. It is generally treated as a separate athletics discipline. This distinction explains why two event lists can differ without either one being wrong: one may cover track and field narrowly, while the other covers the wider sport of athletics.
How to choose an event to watch or try
If you are choosing an event to watch, start with the kind of contest you enjoy. Sprints and relays are brief and fast-paced; distance races involve more tactics; field events give you a series of measured attempts; and combined events show how athletes handle very different challenges.
- Pick a broad event group. Decide whether you prefer racing, jumping, throwing, or all-around competition.
- Check the meet’s schedule. Event offerings vary by age group, level, and indoor or outdoor setting.
- Look at how results are decided. Races are timed, jumps and throws are measured, and combined events use points across multiple events.
- For a young athlete, try more than one type. Speed, endurance, coordination, and strength all matter in different events. Exploring first can help reveal what feels enjoyable and suits the athlete’s interests.
A common mix-up is treating every event as a race. In fact, field-event athletes may have a set number of attempts, and combined-event athletes need a strong overall score. Knowing the scoring format makes it easier to follow the competition.
The main track-and-field events are races, relays, jumps, throws, race walking, and multi-event contests such as the decathlon and heptathlon. Road running and cross-country are related athletics disciplines, but they are often listed separately from track and field.
To get started, choose one event group and check the schedule for a local meet or school competition. If you plan to participate, ask a coach which events are available for your age group and how to learn their rules safely.