Records Track and field

athletes performances timed or measured @ virtually track , field competitions. doing can not serve way of determining winner in event, can used historical comparison (i.e. record). large variety of record types exist , men s , women s performances recorded separately. foremost types of records organise athlete s performances region represent—beginning national records, continental records, global or world record level. national governing bodies control national record lists, area associations organise respective continental lists, , iaaf ratifies world records.

a graph of world record progression in men s 100 metres

the iaaf ratifies track , field world records if meet set criteria. iaaf first published world records list in 1914, men s events only. there 53 recognised records in running, hurdling , relay, , 12 field records. world records in women s events began in 1936 more events gradually added list, significant changes made in late 1970s. first, records in imperial measurements abandoned in 1976, sole exceptional being mile run due prestige , history of event. following year, world records in sprint events recognised if automatic electronic timing used (as opposed traditional hand-timing stopwatch method). in 1981, electronic timing made compulsory world record runs in track , field, times being recorded within 1 hundredth of second. 2 additional types of world record introduced in 1987: world records indoor competitions, , world records junior athletes under 20 years old.

the next important record type achieved @ specific competition. example, olympic records represent best performances athletes @ summer olympics. major championships , games have relevant competition records , large number of track , field meetings keep note of meet records. other record types include: stadium records, records age range, records disability, , records institution or organisation. cash bonuses offered athletes if break significant records, doing can generate greater interest , public attendance in track , field competitions.