Track and field is a sport that many colleges include in their athletic programs. Colleges that have track programs participate in meets at the local, state and regional levels. Often, college athletes are awarded a scholarship for track and field, in which the college pays the partial or full amount of an athlete's college education. There are many different events in track and field, and most athletes compete in three events per meet.
Short Distance
Short distance races, also known as dashes, are for those athletes that are quick on their feet. In these dashes, the runner crouches at the starting line in starting blocks. Once the starter's pistol goes off, the runners take off at full speed. There is a 50 m and 60 m race for indoor tracks, and the athletes compete in the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m dashes for outside tracks.
Middle Distance
Middle distance events are for those who are quick, but also have some endurance to run for a longer distance. According to All Star Activities, a parent's guide to sport activities website, athletes in the middle distance runners must watch their speed carefully and pace themselves in order to avoid exhaustion. The events include the 800 m, 1,500 m --- also known as the "one mile" --- and the 3,000 m runs.
Relays
There are also short distance relays in which a team of four runners pass a baton. These short events include the 4X100 m, 4X200 m and 4X400 m relays. In the 4X100, each runner runs 100 m; in the 4X200, each runner runs 200 m; and the 4X400, each runner runs 400 m. The middle distance events include a team of four baton-passing runners in the 4X800 m and the 4X1,600 m relays. In the 4X800, each person runs 800 m, and in the 4X1,600, each persons runs 1,600 m.
Hurdles
Another short distance event is the hurdle. According to All Star Activities, hurdling events are dashes in which the athletes must run and clear 10 hurdles. Men and women compete in the outdoor 100 m and 110 m high hurdles, the 200 m low hurdles and the 400 m intermediate hurdles.
Field Events
Running is an important aspect of track and field events, but some field events require little-to-no running. The shot put, discus throw and javelin throw are all field events based on measuring the distance of a thrown object. The long jump and triple jump require a quick short dash while jumping and landing in a sand pit. The high jump and pole vault are field events that require athletes to propel their bodies over a crossbar set at a height determined by officials.
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