Middle distance Track and field

arne andersson (left) , gunder hägg (right) broke number of middle distance world records in 1940s.

the common middle-distance track events 800 metres, 1500 metres , mile run, although 3000 metres may classified middle-distance event. 880 yard run, or half mile, forebear of 800 m distance , has roots in competitions in united kingdom in 1830s. 1500 m came result of running 3 laps of 500 m track, commonplace in continental europe in 20th century.

runners start race standing position along curved starting line , after hearing starter s pistol head towards innermost track follow quickest route finish. in 800 m races athletes begin @ staggered starting point before turn in track , must remain in lanes first 100 m of race. rule introduced reduce amount of physical jostling between runners in stages of race. physiologically, these middle-distance events demand athletes have aerobic , anaerobic energy producing systems, , have strong speed endurance.

the 1500 m , mile run events have historically been of prestigious track , field events. swedish rivals gunder hägg , arne andersson broke each other s 1500 m , mile world records on number of occasions in 1940s. prominence of distances maintained roger bannister, (in 1954) first run long-elusive four-minute mile, , jim ryun s exploits served popularise interval training. races between british rivals sebastian coe, steve ovett , steve cram characterised middle-distance running in 1980s. 1990s onwards, north africans such noureddine morceli of algeria , hicham el guerrouj of morocco came dominate 1500 , mile events.

beyond short distances of sprinting events, factors such athlete s reactions , top speed becomes less important, while qualities such pace, race tactics , endurance become more so.