Sprints Track and field

the finish of women s 100 m race

races on short distances, or sprints, among oldest running competitions. first 13 editions of ancient olympic games featured 1 event, stadion race, race 1 end of stadium other. sprinting events focused around athletes reaching , sustaining quickest possible running speed. 3 sprinting events held @ olympics , outdoor world championships: 100 metres, 200 metres, , 400 metres. these events have roots in races of imperial measurements later changed metric: 100 m evolved 100-yard dash, 200 m distances came furlong (or 1/8 of mile), , 400 m successor 440 yard dash or quarter-mile race.

at professional level, sprinters begin race assuming crouching position in starting blocks before leaning forward , gradually moving upright position race progresses , momentum gained. athletes remain in same lane on running track throughout sprinting events, sole exception of 400 m indoors. races 100 m largely focused upon acceleration athlete s maximum speed. sprints beyond distance increasingly incorporate element of endurance. human physiology dictates runner s near-top speed cannot maintained more thirty seconds or because lactic acid builds once leg muscles begin suffer oxygen deprivation. top speed can maintained 20 metres.

the 60 metres common indoor event , indoor world championship event. less-common events include 50 metres, 55 metres, 300 metres , 500 metres run in high school , collegiate competitions in united states. 150 metres, though competed, has star-studded history: pietro mennea set world best in 1983, olympic champions michael johnson , donovan bailey went head-to-head on distance in 1997, , usain bolt improved mennea s record in 2009.