SHORT TRACKREVISION OF RULES 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 OF THE COMPETITION RULES
AND 2, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 48, 52, 54 OF THE TECHNICALRULES
APPROVED BY WORLD ATHLETICS COUNCIL – AUGUST 2023
(to be in force from 1 November 2023)

COMPETITION RULES
PART III - WORLD RECORDSWorld Records...
The following categories of World Records are accepted by World Athletics:
World Records;
World U20 Records;.
World Indoor Records;
World U20 Indoor Records.

in the case of a performance submitted under Rules 31.2.2 or 31.2.4 of the Competition
Rules unless …
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31.10.3 … This list shall represent the performances regarded by World Athletics as being, fromthe date of the list, the best ratified performances yet set by an athlete or team of athletes ineach of the recognised events listed in Rules 32, 33, 34 and 35 of the Competition Rules.

World Athletics Competition Rules

1

Specific Conditions
Except in Road Events For World Records on 400m Standard Oval Track:
The performance shall be made in a World Athletics certified athletics facility or at acompetition area which conforms to Rule 2 of the Technical Rules or, where applicable, Rule11.2 or 11.3 of the Technical Rules.
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A performance made in a Track Event outdoors on a 400m Standard Oval Track may bemade only on a track which conforms to Rule 14 of the Technical Rules.
For World Indoor Records on 200m Standard Oval Track (Short Track):
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For performances made outdoors up to and including 200m, except for races on a 200m
Standard Oval Track, information concerning wind velocity, ...
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For performances up to and including 400m (including 4 × 200m and 4 × 400m) under
Rules 32 and 34 of the Competition Rules, starting blocks linked to a World Athletics
Certified Start Information System under Rule 15.2 of the Technical Rules must have beenused and have functioned correctly so that reaction times were obtained and are shown on
the results of the event.
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Events for which World Records and World U20 Records are Recognised
Fully Automatically Timed performances (F.A.T.)
Hand Timed performances (H.T.)

World Athletics Competition Rules

2Transponder Timed performances (T.T.)

Men
Running, Combined and Race Walking Events:
F.A.T. only:

100m; 200m; 400m; 800m;
110m Hurdles; 400m Hurdles;
4 × 100m Relay; 4 × 200m Relay; 4 × 400m Relay;
Decathlon.

F.A.T. or H.T.:

1000m; 1500m; 1 Mile; 2000m; 3000m;
5000m; 10,000m; 1 Hour;
3000m Steeplechase;4 × 800m Relay; Distance Medley Relay; 4 × 1500m Relay;
Race Walking (Track): 20,000m; 30,000m°; 35,000m°; 50,000m.

F.A.T. or H.T.or T.T.:

Road Races: Road Mile+, 5km; 10km; Half Marathon; Marathon; 50km#; 100km;
Road Relay (Marathon distance only);
Race Walking (Road): 20km; 35km°; 50km.

Jumping Events:

High Jump; Pole Vault; Long Jump; Triple Jump.

Throwing Events:

Shot Put; Discus Throw; Hammer Throw; Javelin Throw.

Women
Running, Combined and Race Walking Events:
F.A.T. only:

100m; 200m; 400m; 800m;
100m Hurdles; 400m Hurdles;
4 × 100m Relay; 4 × 200m Relay; 4 × 400m Relay;
Heptathlon; Decathlon.

F.A.T. or H.T.:

1000m; 1500m; 1 Mile; 2000m; 3000m;
5000m; 10,000m; 1 Hour;
3000m Steeplechase;

World Athletics Competition Rules3

4 × 800m Relay; Distance Medley Relay; 4 × 1500m Relay;
Race Walking (Track): 10,000m; 20,000m; 35,000m°; 50,000m*.
F.A.T. or H.T. or T.T.:

Road Races: Road Mile+, 5km; 10km; Half Marathon; Marathon; 50km#; 100km;
Road Relay (Marathon distance only);
Race Walking (Road): 20km; 35km°; 50km.

Note (i): Except Race Walking and Road Mile competitions, World Athletics shall keep two World Records
for women in Road Races: a World Record for performance achieved in mixed gender (“Mixed” or “Mx”)
races and a World Record for performance achieved in single gender (“Women only” or “Wo”) races.
In Race Walking, only one World Record is kept, and it can be achieved either in a Mixed or Women onlyrace.
In the Road Mile, only single gender World Records are kept.
Note (ii): A women only road race can be staged by having separate women’s and men’s start times. The
time differential should be chosen to prevent any possibility of assistance, pacing or interference,
especially on courses involving more than one lap of the same section of the course.
*Initial record to be recognised after 1 January 2019. The performance shall be better than 4:20:00.
ºInitial records to be recognised after 1 January 2023. The performance shall be better than 2:22:00 for
men and 2:38:00 for women.
The 30,000m for men shall be deleted from the list upon ratification of the initial record for 35,000m.
#

The initial records will be the best performances that comply with Rule 31 of the Competition Rules as at
1 January 2022. The performances shall be equal or better than 2:43:38 for men and 3:07:20 for women
only and 2:59:54 for mixed race.
+

From 1 January 2023. Prior to 1 September 2023, official recognition of a World Record will require aperformance of at least 3:50.00 (men) / 4:19.00 (women). If these standards are not met by 1 September
2023, the best record-eligible performances at this date will be recognised as the World Records.
Either Fully Automatic Times to 0.01 second accuracy or Hand / Transponder Times to 0.1 second
accuracy will be accepted.
Jumping Events:

High Jump; Pole Vault; Long Jump; Triple Jump.

Throwing Events:

Shot Put; Discus Throw; Hammer Throw; Javelin Throw.

Universal
Running, Combined and Race Walking Events:
F.A.T. only:
4 × 400m Relay (mixed)

World Athletics Competition Rules

4

Events for which World U20 Records are Recognised
Fully Automatically Timed performances (F.A.T.)
Hand Timed performances (H.T.)
Transponder Timed performances (T.T.)

U20 Men
Running, Combined and Race Walking Events:
F.A.T. only:

100m; 200m; 400m; 800m;
110m Hurdles; 400m Hurdles;
4 × 100m Relay; 4 × 400m Relay;
Decathlon.

F.A.T. or H.T.:

1000m; 1500m; 1 Mile; 3000m;
5000m; 10,000m; 3000m Steeplechase;
Race Walking (Track): 10,000m.

F.A.T. or H.T. or T.T.:

Race Walking (Road): 10km.

Jumping Events:

High Jump; Pole Vault; Long Jump; Triple Jump.

Throwing Events:

Shot Put; Discus Throw; Hammer Throw; Javelin Throw.

U20 Women
Running, Combined and Race Walking Events:
F.A.T. only:

100m; 200m; 400m; 800m;
100m Hurdles; 400m Hurdles;
4 × 100m Relay; 4 × 400m Relay;
Heptathlon, Decathlon*.

F.A.T. or H.T.:

1000m; 1500m; 1 Mile; 3000m;
5000m; 10,000m; 3000m Steeplechase;
Race Walking (Track): 10,000m.

F.A.T. or H.T. or T.T.:

Race Walking (Road): 10km.

World Athletics Competition Rules

5Jumping Events:

High Jump; Pole Vault; Long Jump; Triple Jump.

Throwing Events:

Shot Put; Discus Throw; Hammer Throw; Javelin Throw.

*Only ratified if over 7300 points.
Events for which World Indoor Records are Recognised
Fully Automatically Timed performances (F.A.T.)
Hand Timed performances (H.T.)

Men
Running, Combined and Race Walking Events:
F.A.T. only:

50m; 60m; 200m; 400m; 800m;
50m Hurdles; 60m Hurdles;
4 × 200m Relay; 4 × 400m Relay;
Heptathlon.

F.A.T. or H.T.:

1000m; 1500m; 1 Mile; 3000m; 5000m;
4 × 800m Relay;
Race Walking: 5000m.

Jumping Events:

High Jump; Pole Vault; Long Jump; Triple Jump.

Throwing Event:

Shot Put.

Women
Running, Combined and Race Walking Events:
F.A.T. only:

50m; 60m; 200m; 400m; 800m;
50m Hurdles; 60m Hurdles;
4 × 200m Relay; 4 × 400m Relay;
Pentathlon.

F.A.T. or H.T.:

1000m; 1500m; 1 Mile; 3000m; 5000m;
4 × 800m Relay;
Race Walking: 3000m.

World Athletics Competition Rules

6Jumping Events:

High Jump; Pole Vault; Long Jump; Triple Jump.

Throwing Event:

Shot Put.

Events for which World U20 Indoor Records are Recognised
Fully Automatically Timed performances (F.A.T.)
Hand Timed performances (H.T.)

Men
Running and Combined Events:
F.A.T. only:

60m; 200m; 400m; 800m;
60m Hurdles;
Heptathlon.

F.A.T. or H.T.:

1000m; 1500m; 1 Mile; 3000m; 5000m.

Jumping Events:

High Jump; Pole Vault; Long Jump; Triple Jump.

Throwing Event:

Shot Put.

Women
Running and Combined Events:
F.A.T. only:

60m; 200m; 400m; 800m;
60m Hurdles;
Pentathlon.

F.A.T. or H.T.:

1000m; 1500m; 1 Mile; 3000m; 5000m.

Jumping Events:

High Jump; Pole Vault; Long Jump; Triple Jump.

Throwing Event:

Shot Put.

Running
Events

Event

Men

Women

50m

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60m
100m
200m
200m sh400m
400m sh
800m

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World Athletics Competition Rules

U20 Men

U20
Women

Timing
FAT

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FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT

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Hurdle Races

Field Events

Combined
EventsRace Walking
EventsRoad Races

800m sh
1000m
1000m sh
1500m
1500m sh1 Mile1 Mile sh
2000m
3000m
3000m sh
5000m
5000m sh10,000m
1 Hour
3000m SC
50m Hurdles
60m Hurdles
100m Hurdles
110m Hurdles
400m Hurdles
High Jump
Pole Vault
Long Jump
Triple Jump
Shot Put
Discus Throw
Hammer Throw
Javelin Throw
Pentathlon sh
Heptathlon
Heptathlon sh
Decathlon
3000m sh

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5000m sh10,000m
10km

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20km

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30,000m
35,000m
35km

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50,000m
50km

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Road Mile

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5km

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10km

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World Athletics Competition Rules

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FAT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HT
FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HT
FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HT
or TT

8Relay Races

Half Marathon

Marathon

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50km

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100km

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Road Relay(42.195km)
4 x 100m
4 x 200m
4 x 200m sh
4 x 400m
4 x 400m sh
4 x 400m Mixed*
4 x 800m
4 x 800m sh
4 x 1500m
Distance Medley

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FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HTor TT
FAT or HT
or TT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT
FAT or HT*Universal eventsh = Short Track (200m Standard Oval Track – Part V of the Technical Rules)
Fully Automatically Timed performances (FAT)
Hand Timed performances (HT)Transponder Timed performances (TT)Note (i): Except Race Walking and Road Mile competitions, World Athletics shall keep two World Records
for women in Road Races: a World Record for performance achieved in mixed gender (“Mixed” or “Mx”)
races and a World Record for performance achieved in single gender (“Women only” or “Wo”) races.
In Race Walking, only one World Record is kept, and it can be achieved either in a Mixed or Women only
race. In the Road Mile, only single gender World Records are kept.
Note (ii): A women only road race can be staged by having separate women’s and men’s start times. The
time differential should be chosen to prevent any possibility of assistance, pacing or interference,
especially on courses involving more than one lap of the same section of the course.
Note (iii): For the Road Mile, either Fully Automatic Times to 0.01 second accuracy or Hand / Transponder
Times to 0.1 second accuracy will be accepted.
Decathlon U20 Women: Only ratified if over 7300 points.
The 30,000m for men shall be deleted from the list upon ratification of the initial record for 35,000m.
35,000m Race Walk: Initial records to be recognised after 1 January 2023. The performance shall bebetter than 2:22:00 for men and 2:38:00 for women.
35km Race Walk Men: Initial records to be recognised after 1 January 2023. The performance shall bebetter than 2:22:00. for men and 2:38:00 for women.
50,000m Race Walk Women: Initial record to be recognised after 1 January 2019. The performance shallbe better than 4:20:00.
Road Mile: From 1 January 2023. Prior to 1 September 2023, official recognition of a World Record will
require a performance of at least 3:50.00 (men) / 4:19.00 (women). If these standards are not met by 1

World Athletics Competition Rules

9September 2023, the best record-eligible performances at this date will be recognised as the World
Records.
50km: The initial records will be the best performances that comply with Rule 31 of the Competition Rules
as at 1 January 2022. The performances shall be equal or better than 2:43:38 for men and 3:07:20 for
women only and 2:59:54 for mixed race.
36. 33. Other Records...

World Athletics Competition Rules

10

TECHNICAL RULES

The Athletics Facility...
Outdoor 400m Standard Oval Track Stadium competitions under paragraphs 1. (a) and (b) of the World
Rankings Competition definition may be held only on facilities that hold a World Athletics Class 1 Athletics
Facility Certificate. It is recommended that, when such facilities are available, outdoor 400m Standard
Oval Track Stadium competitions under paragraphs 1. (c), (d), (e) and 2. of the World Rankings Competition
definition should also be held on these facilities.
In any case, a World Athletics Class 2 Athletics Facility Certificate shall be required for all facilities intended
for use for outdoor 400m Standard Oval Track Stadium competitions under paragraphs 1. (c) and 2. (a),(b), (c) of the World Rankings Competition definition. It is recommended that all competitions underparagraphs 1. (d), (e), 2. (d), (e) and 3. of the World Rankings Competition definition should also be held on
certified facilities or, at least, the facility must conform to the Rules and Regulations, as amended from time
to time. If the applicable regulations or World Rankings Competition categories so require, the facility mustbe certified.
...

Note (iv): For the indoor 200m Standard Oval Track (Short Track) Athletics Facility, see Rule 41 of theTechnical Rules.
Validity of Performances...
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Performances in events conducted indoors or in an otherwise fully or partly covered venue where
the length or other specifications of the facility do not comply with the rules for indoor Short
Track competitions shall be valid and recognised as if they were achieved outdoors on a 400m
Standard Oval Track, if they are made subject to all of the following conditions:...
When a result is achieved on a complying facility with no advantage gained and all related rules observed,
the fact that it happened at a covered competition site does not prevent a result being listed among theoutdoor equivalent distances and used for any statistical purpose (performances, e.g. on covered 400m
tracks and straights). The current practice that results made in indoor tracks shorter than 200m counttowards the indoor 200m Short Track results does not change.
14. Track Measurements
14.1 The nominal length of a standard running track shall be 400m (“400m Standard Oval Track”).
15. Starting Blocks...
15.3 In competitions held under paragraphs 1. (a), (b), (c) and 2. (a), (b) of the World Rankings

World Athletics Technical Rules

11Competition definition and for any performances submitted for ratification as a World Record
under Rules 32 or 34 of the Competition Rules, the starting blocks shall be linked to a World
Athletics certified Start Information System. …
17. The Race
17.10 The Running and Race Walking Events Referee shall ensure that the wind gauge for Track
Events is placed beside the straight, adjacent to lane 1, 30m (50m and 60m races) or 50m(100m,110m and 200m races) from the finish line. The measuring plane shall be positioned
1.22m ± 0.05m high and not more than 2m away from the track.

50m
50m Hurdles
60m
60m Hurdles
100m
100m Hurdles
110m Hurdles

Seconds
5
5
5
5
10
13
13

In the 200m event, except for races on a 200m Standard Oval Track, the wind velocity shallnormally be measured for a period of 10 seconds commencing when the first athlete enters thestraight.
Seedings, Draws and Qualification in Track Events...
20.2 …
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The requirements of the Rule in relation to the “best performed athletes” does require some deviation fromthe strict protocol outlined above. For example, an athlete who might normally be seeded in a high position
might not have any, or only a poor, valid performance in the predetermined period (through injury, illness,ineligibility or in the case of indoor Short Track meetings only have outdoor 400m Standard Oval Track
Stadium results). Whilst they would normally be placed lower or at the bottom of the seeding list,
adjustment should be considered by the Technical Delegate(s). Similar principles should be applied to avoid
a clash in a Qualification Round between athletes considered to be the favourites to place highly in theevent if the results of the previous round would strictly dictate that they should be in the same heat. At
this same time any adjustments to ensure as much as possible that athletes from the same nation or teamare in different heats should also be made.
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PART V – INDOOR 200M STANDARD OVAL TRACK STADIUM (SHORT TRACK) COMPETITIONSApplicability of Outdoor 400m Standard Oval Track Stadium Rules to Indoor Short Track
Competitions
With the exceptions stated in the following Rules of this Part V and, in the case of performances made in
an enclosed and covered facility, the requirement for wind measurement set out in Rules 17 and 29 ofWorld Athletics Technical Rules

12the Technical Rules, the Rules of Parts I to IV for outdoor 400m Standard Oval Track Stadiumcompetitions shall apply to Indoor Short Track Competitions.
The Indoor Short Track Stadium
The stadium shall may be completely enclosed and covered. If enclosed and covered, lighting,heating and ventilation shall be provided to give satisfactory conditions for competition.
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Indoor Short Track Track and Field Athletics competitions under paragraphs 1. (a), (b), (c) and 2.
(a), (b) of the World Rankings Competition definition should be held only on facilities that hold aWorld Athletics Indoor Short Track Athletics Facility Certificate. It is recommended that, whensuch facilities are available, competitions under paragraphs 1. (d), (e) and 2. (c), (d), (e) of the World
Rankings Competition definition should also be held on these facilities.

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Note (ii): The World Athletics Track and Field Facilities Manual, which is available from the World
Athletics Office, or may be downloaded from the World Athletics website, contains more detailed
and defined specifications for planning and construction of indoor Short Track stadia including
diagrams for track measurement and marking.
...
Lack of suitable lighting is a common problem for Indoor covered stadium competitions. A covered
stadium must have a lighting which allows a correct and fair delivery of the events and if there is television
coverage the illumination level may need to be higher. The finish line area(s) may require additional lighting
for the Fully Automatic Timing.

...
The Straight Track(See the Rules for outdoor 400m Standard Oval Track Stadium competitions and the World Athletics
Track and Field Facilities Manual.)
The Oval Track and Lanes

Oval Track
The nominal length should preferably of a standard running track shall be 200m (“200mStandard Oval Track”). It shall consist of two parallel straights and two bends, which may bebanked, and whose radii should be equal.

Lanes
...

Banking...

World Athletics Technical Rules

13

Marking of the Inside Edge....

Note: For all indoor Short Track competitions directly under World Athletics, the use of an insidekerb is strongly recommended.
...
When positioning the flags or cones, it must be taken into account that the white line on the inside edgeof lane 1 does not belong to the runner athlete drawn in that lane. Cones are preferred and recommended
for Indoor Short Track competitions.
Start and Finish on the Oval Track
Technical information on the construction and marking of a 200m standard banked indoor Short
Track track oval are is given in detail in the World Athletics Track and Field Facilities Manual. The
basic principles to be adopted are given hereunder.

Basic Requirements
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...
...
....

Conduct of the Races...

Start Line and Finish Line for a Track of 200m Nominal Length
....
...

...
Relay Races

Conduct of the Races
...
....
....
...

World Athletics Technical Rules

14

Note: Owing to the narrow lanes, indoor Short Track Relay Races are much more liable to collisions andunintended obstruction than outdoor Relay Races on 400m Standard Oval Tracks. It is, therefore,
recommended that, when possible, a spare lane should be left between each team.

...

...

These shall comply with Rule 33.4 and 33.5 of the Technical Rules, for the Shot Put outdoors.

...
PART VI - RACE WALKING EVENTS
Race Walking

Distances
The standard distances on a Short Track shall be: indoor: 3000m, 5000m;, outdoor: on a 400m
Standard Oval Track, 5000m, 10km, 10,000m, 20km, 20,000m, 35km, 35,000m, 50km,
50,000m and on road courses, 10km, 20km, 35km, 50km.

World Athletics Technical Rules

15