London 2012 Olympics: athletics guide - Telegraph London 2012 Olympics: athletics guide Read Telegraph Sport's guide to athletics events at the London 2012 Olympics. RUNNING The running and walking disciplines are staged over events ranging from 100m to 50km. Besides the marathon and race walk events, held on the road, the running will take place on a 400m oval track inside London’s Olympic stadium. While the majority of races are on the flat, the hurdles and steeplechase competitions require athletes to jump over barriers en route to the finish line. JUMPING In long jump, athletes sprint down a runway before propelling themselves as far as possible into a sand pit. Triple jump is similar in form, although competitors have to complete a hop and a step before completing the jump. Smooth transitions are essential. For the high jump, the object is to leap over a bar that is then raised with each successful attempt. Three attempts are possible at every stage and the winner is the athlete who arches over the bar at the greatest height. Pole vault adheres to the same rules, but here competitors must use a long, flexible pole to launch themselves into the air.

THROWING The throws are divided into javelin, shot put, discus and hammer. Athletes are given six attempts to throw the object as far as possible into a field. A delicate balance of speed, technique and explosive power is needed.

Events/disciplines Men’s 200 metres, women’s 200 metres, Men’s 400 metres, women’s 400 metres Men’s 800 metres, women’s 800 metres Men’s 1500 metres, women’s 1500 metres Men’s 5,000 metres, women’s 5,000 metres Men’s 10,000 metres, women’s 10,000 metres Men’s 3,000 metre steeplechase, women’s 3,000 metre steeplechase Men’s 110 metre hurdles, women’s 100 metre hurdles Men’s 400 metre hurdles, women’s 400 metre hurdles Men’s 20km race walk, women’s 20k race walk Men’s 50 km race walk Men’s marathon, women’s marathon Men’s 4 x 100 metre relay, wwomen’s 4 x 100 metre relay Men’s 4 x 400 metre relay, women’s 4 x 400 metre relay Men’s decathlon, women’s

 heptathlon JUMPING Men’s long jump, women’s long jump Men’s triple jump, women’s triple jump Men’s high jump, women’s high jump Men’s decathlon, women’s heptathlon Men’s pole vault, women’s pole vault THROWING Men’s hammer, women’s hammer Men’s shot put, women’s shot put Men’s javelin, women’ javelin Men’s discus, women’s discus Men’s decathlon, women’s heptathlon Gold medals available Image 1 of 17 RUNNING In all running events a good start is imperative, but in sprinting it can be the difference between winning a medal and just missing out.

A smooth, relaxed sprinting style with powerful strides and driving arms attains maximum speed. Don't forget to lean forward at the finish line in case of a photo finish. In the longer track events (800m and 1500m) athletes must conserve energy for a big sprint finish without falling too far behind the rest of the field. These events are a tactical minefield with everyone wondering what everyone else is planning. The longest events require stamina and determination to keep going till the very end. JUMPING Strength and flawless technique are essential in jumping events, in order to generate as much speed as possible before take-off. In the triple and high jump, an athlete's arms should go forwards and upwards propelling them as far forward as possible, before they extend their legs as far in front of themselves as they can for those all important extra centimetres. In the high jump, the art of arching your back and raising your hips is key to clear higher heights. A good plant and jump are needed in pole vaulting to transfer the energy generated in the approach to vertical distance in the jump. Don't forget to twist your body and keep your arms and legs tucked in when clearing the bar.

The decathlon and heptathlon require athletes to be multi-skilled, with strong running and throwing techniques and unmatchable stamina. Points are awarded on the basis of certain benchmarks being met, meaning athletes often reserve energy in events they know they have less chance of doing well in, so they can focus on their core disciplines. THROWING While upper body strength is important, throwing events require more than just raw power. Strong legs and stable cores are essential to generate the necessary acceleration needed for a lengthy throw. The angle of release is key: too high and the throw will travel into the skies initially impressing the crowd before falling way short of the required distance. Too low and the throw will travel quickly and directly into the ground causing a large divot. What to say RUNNING "Athletics is the purest of all sports: just a human, an open space, and the boundaries of their capability." JUMPING "That pole vault looks as if it is made out of carbon fibre rather than fibreglass." THROWING "They are going to have to modify their starting position to compensate for this north easterly breeze." What not to say “...

and about 15 miligrams of clenbuterol.” JUMPING “It is not that high is it, really?” THROWING "Throw it higher! My grandma could chuck it further than that." If it were a TV programme, it would be RUNNING Friends. You know how it’s going to end, but you can’t tear your eyes away. JUMPING CSI. Initially fast paced and exciting before peaking for a brief spell, then ends in either triumph or disappointment. THROWING Robot Wars. There is more to it than first meets the eye. RUNNING Running performances have improved with each Games, thanks in part to advances in sports science. When Jim Hines first dipped under the 10-second barrier in 1968, at altitude in Mexico City, he could hardly have forseen that Usain Bolt would lower the mark to 9.58 in Beijing 40 years later. JUMPING Athletics has been integral to the Olympics ever since the ancient Games were first recorded in 776BC, when combat and chariot-racing formed parts of the programme. Even then, a pentathlon involving jumping, not to mention discus and javelin throws, would be staged.

Athletics serves as the perfect encapsulation of the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius – Faster, Higher, Stronger. At the first modern Games in Athens, in 1896, athletics encompassed 10 events – although all were restricted to men. Only at the Amsterdam Olympics of 1928 did women begin to take part. THROWING Discus and shot put were part of the original Olympic Games in 1896 and American Robert Garrett won both events. Javelin throw was introduced in 1908 and has since been dominated by Norway, Sweden and Finland, who have won 32 of the 69 Olympic medals awarded in this discipline. The men's hammer throw started in 1900 but it was a century before women were allowed to compete at the Olympics. Jargon Anchor: The last runner in a relay race. Sprint: Technically defined as a race of 400m or under. Heat: An early race of an event, where the top finishers (usually the top three or four, plus fastest losers) advance to the finals or semi-finals of the competition.

JUMPING Fosbury flop: A style of high-jumping – named after the man who perfected it, American Dick Fosbury, where the athlete clears the bar facing upwards and lands with his or her back on the mat. THROWING Rhythm: The flow of the athlete while progressing through the motion of throwing Orbit: The path of the object thrown Throwing circle: The circle that athletes must not exit while attempting a discuss or hammer throw Legends RUNNING Carl Lewis (US) is considered by many to be the greatest sprinter of all time (at least, before Michael Johnson and Bolt came along). Lewis won 10 Olympic medals, of which nine were gold, and dominated the world of track and field throughout the 1980s. Quite apart from his prodigious feats over 100m and 200m, both of which he won at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, he garnered four consecutive Olympic golds in long jump from LA ’84 to Atlanta ’96. A new legend was born at the Beijing Olympics, when Usain Bolt demolished both the 100m and 200m world records, seemingly without even trying.

He looks like he has the potential to go even faster, and has hinted he will turn his hand to middle distance running and perhaps even long jump when he gets tired of sprinting, a fearsome prospect. JUMPING Daley Thompson (GB, decathlon), Charles Austin (US, high jump) THROWING 50 Kilometres Race Walk | iaaf.org 50 Kilometres Race Walk 50 Kilometre Race Walk How it works The longer of the two Olympic race walking distances – and the longest athletics event on the Olympic programme – is the only athletics event at major championships still contested by men only. Race walking differs from running because one foot must be in contact with the ground at all times. Failure to do so is known as ‘lifting’. The rules also state that the advancing leg must straighten from the point of contact with the ground and remain straight until the body passes over it. Three violations of the rules during a race lead to disqualification. The race is held on a road course. At major championships, race walks often start and finish in the main stadium but sometimes races finish in places of historic or scenic interest.

Download guide: Race walking, what you need to know (PDF) English | French | Spanish | Portuguese History Race walking dates from the 17th and 18th centuries. The first competitors were the footmen who would run and/or walk by the side of their masters’ coaches. The aristocracy of the day began to stake wagers as to which of their footmen would win a race – some of which lasted for six days! – and the sport became an increasingly popular professional activity during the 19th century, when it was known as 'pedestrianism'. Race walking first appeared at the Olympics in 1904 with a half-mile race that was part of the 10-event ‘All-Around Championship’, an early forerunner of the decathlon. Individual races, initially over shorter distances than are common today, were introduced at the Intercalated Games of 1906 and, apart from the 1928 Amsterdam Games, have been a fixture at Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships ever since. The 50km race walk became part of the Olympic schedule in 1932, although it was not contested at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

Did you know The first man to complete the distance within four hours was the Soviet race walker Gennadiy Agapov, who clocked 3:55:36 in Alma Ata on 17 October 1965. Gold standard Russia is the pre-eminent nation, but race walkers from Australia and China also regularly make an impact at major championships. Historically, Germany, Italy and Mexico have great traditions in race walking and have won many medals on the global stage. The men's 50km race walk at the IAAF World Championships (Getty Images) © Copyright Icons Robert Korzeniowski Following his disqualification less than five kilometres from the finish at the 1992 Olympics when lying second, the Pole then made history by becoming the only man to win three successive race walking Olympic titles, winning in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He was also the first race walker to do the 20km and 50km double at the Olympic Games, winning both titles in 2000.

He also won at the IAAF World Championships in 1997, 2001 and 2003, and at the European Championships in 1998 and 2002. 50 Kilometres Race Walk men Outdoor All time 1 50 Kilometres Race Walk women Outdoor All time 1 50 Kilometres Race Walk women Outdoor 2017 1 The Distance Run Per Game in Various Sports | Runner's World The Distance Run Per Game in Various Sports If you want a workout, go with soccer or field hockey over baseball. By Kit Fox Wednesday, June 29, 2016, 9:50 am Hideki Yoshihara/Aflo When it comes to running in sports, some have it worse than others. Players in soccer’s World Cup, for example, run an estimated seven miles per game. ( And the refs will run even more! ) Here’s how that compares to athletes in other sports.

1/6 Mitch Mandel Baseball: .0375 miles This is a rather generous estimate that translates into approximately 198 feet per game, taken from the 2015 statistics of the current Major League Basebal star Mike Trout from the Los Angeles Angels. The distance between each base is 90 feet. Adding all of the total bases (singles, doubles, triples, and home runs) and stolen bases that Mike Trout logged during the 2015 regular season, the total distance run comes to just more under six miles. (Obviously, as a centerfielder he covers a lot of extra ground on defense, as well.) Those not as successful at the plate log even less mileage—or more accurately, feet. RUNNER’S WORLD STORE: Show your love for running and baseball with this RW Miles Baseball Tee 2/6 Football: 1.25 miles for receivers and cornerbacks Football players don’t have a lot of time to travel very far. According to the Wall Street Journal , the average NFL game includes only 11 minutes of actual playing time. Receivers and cornerbacks run the most at just over one mile a game.

That’s still an impressive feat considering 11 massive and highly trained athletes would prefer they run as little as possible. 3/6 Basketball: 2.55 miles Cutting-edge tracking technology has allowed coaches and statisticians to track NBA player performance in real time , including the distance traveled per game. (Our average is a rough estimate of the top 10 players in distance per game during the 2016 NBA season.) According to the site NBAMiner.com, which tracks advanced player statistics, running the most during the 2016 season was Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls at 2.74 miles per game. 4/6 Tennis: 3 miles Distance traveled depends heavily on playing style and the duration of a match, but competitive players can expect to shuffle and sprint nearly a 5K while chasing down balls. During the longest recorded tennis match, at Wimbledon in 2010, it’s estimated that John Isner and Nicholas Mahut each ran about six miles during 11 hours and five minutes of play.

5/6 Joe Dielis VIA FLICKR AND LICENSED UNDER CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION (CC BY) 2.0 LICENSE Field Hockey: 5.6 miles According to Tribesports , field hockey players travel more than athletes in almost any other sport, chasing and defending the ball for nearly a 10K during 70 minutes of play. 6/6 Soccer: 7 miles A large field, a fast moving ball, and rare substitutions mean soccer players can expect to log some heavy mileage over 90-plus minutes. Midfielders tend to run the most, sometimes reaching nearly 9.5 miles, according to SportVU . Track and Field Events | MomsTeam Track and Field Events Track & Field The Events This section will first list the standard events in the Olympic Games since the events and rules established by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations), the international governing body for Track & Field, usually trickle down to the national, collegiate, and with some modifications, to the age-group level. We will then go over the differences in events for indoor track & field, as well as differences one would see for high school age and younger kids.

There are 44 events in the Track & Field competition of an Olympic Games making the sport, by far, the most contested of all Olympic sports. These 44 events can be divided in to their different event areas beginning by separating track events (all of the running and walking events), from field events (all of the throwing and vaulting events). There are also two multi-events, the decathlon and heptathlon, which combine disciplines from both track and field.

The Track Events Sprints: 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters Middle Distance: 800 meters, 1500 meters Distance: 3,000 meter Steeplechase, 5,000 meters (5K), 10,000 meters (10K), Marathon (26.2 miles) Hurdles: 100 meter hurdles (women), 110 meter hurdles (men), 400 meter hurdles Relays: 4 x 100 meters relay, 4 x 400 meters relay Walks: 20 kilometer race walk, 50 kilometer race walk 100m This event is essentially an all-out sprint from the gun to the finish line. Perfecting the start is essential as is learning to run at top speed while staying relaxed. It is run on the straightaway of the track. 200m Very similar to the 100m, but success in this event requires additional strength to enable the athlete to maintain a fast pace over the entire 200 meter distance. The majority of short sprinters compete in both events.

It covers ½ of the oval. 400m The long sprint. This event requires a combination of speed, strength and tolerance for pain. The fast pace the athletes run usually results in the formation of lactic acid by the 300 meter mark, which causes a sensation of burning and fatigue in the muscles. It is one full lap of a standard size outdoor track. 800m A "tweener" event. There are 800m specialists but athletes in this event usually either are good sprinters who can run both the 400m and 800m, or they have good endurance and can run both the 800m and 1500m well. This event requires excellent natural endurance, as well as good speed for a strong finish. It is two laps around a standard outdoor track. 1500m The "metric mile." The relationship between the 1500m and the 800m is very similar to that between the 200m and 100m. It requires the same basic skill set with some added strength and endurance to cover the additional distance.

Athletes must have the endurance to maintain a demanding pace for nearly a full mile, but must be prepared to sprint home with a strong finish over the final lap of this 3 ¾ lap race. 3000m Steeplechase This is one of the most interesting events in track & field- a distance race with hurdles. While covering this 7 ½ lap distance, the athletes must traverse four barriers placed on the track. One of the barriers is placed in front of a water pit that must also be negotiated on each lap. Unlike the lightweight hurdles used for the hurdling events, these heavy wooden barriers will not budge if hit. Some steeplechasers hurdle the barriers cleanly, but most step on them with one foot to clear them. Steeplechasers are usually also very capable 5000m runners. 5000m This 12 1/2 lap race is equivalent to 3.1 miles of running at a hard pace. Exceptional endurance is required, as is a healthy amount of speed for the intense race to the finish line frequently seen in 5k races. 10000m This is the longest event contested solely on the track.

It is for those who have the strongest cardio-pulmonary systems capable of keeping enough oxygen flowing to the muscles while maintaining a punishing pace for 6.2 miles or 25 laps around the track. 100mh/110mh An all out sprint while traversing 10 hurdles placed between the start and the finish. The men's event is 10 meters longer and the hurdles are higher. The men's event is sometimes called the high hurdles. 400mh Also known as the intermediate hurdles, this event requires the speed of a sprinter, the strength of an 800 meter runner and the technical skill of a 100 or 110 meter hurdler. This race also involves ten hurdles, but unlike the short hurdle race where runners will use the same lead leg and trail leg over each hurdle, in the intermediate hurdles they must be able to use either leg as their lead leg. 4 x 100m Relay/ 400m Relay Four athletes each run approximately 100m or one quarter of the track. It is not just the speed of the runners, but the precision of their baton passes that determines how well the team does.

Each baton exchange must be made within a marked zone on the track. Failure to exchange the baton in the zone results in disqualification. For the 4 x 100m, the baton pass is usually "blind" meaning that the outgoing runner does not look at the baton but extends her hand back to receive it while running close to maximum speed and facing forward. 4 x 400m Relay/ 1600m Relay Traditionally, this is the last event contested at most track meets. Each athlete runs one full lap and exchanges the baton in a zone near the finish line. For this relay the outgoing athlete generally turns his face and watches the baton exchange. The incoming athlete, who is finishing the final meters of a tough 400m, is usually quite tired so the outgoing athlete has to accelerate to racing speed while being cautious not to go too fast before getting the baton. 20 Kilometer Race Walk Both race walking events are endurance events and usually contested on a road course. Race walk requires a complex physical motion involving the feet, legs, hips, back and arms. A primary rule of race walking is that at no time can both feet be in the air at the same time.

Judges watch for this running motion and disqualify athletes who accidentally allow one foot to leave the ground before the other has landed. 20 kilometers is 12.4 miles. 50 Kilometer Race Walk This is the longest of all the track & field events, covering more than 30 miles of intense racing. This event requires exceptional endurance and cardiovascular ability, not only for the competitions, but also for the training involved to be successful in this event. The Field Events Horizontal Jumps: Long Jump, Triple Jump Vertical Jumps: High Jump, Pole Vault Throws: Discus Throw, Javelin Throw, Hammer Throw, Shot Put Long Jump Who can jump the farthest? That is what the Long Jump boils down to. Jumpers start at one end of the runway and take a flying leap in to a pit of sand. A board, 20 cm wide, near the end of the runway, marks the take off point and the distance jumped is measured from the end of the board to the spot where the athlete first breaks the sand. If any part of the jumper's feet goes beyond the board during takeoff, the jump is ruled a foul and will not be measured or counted.

Triple Jump This event requires exceptional abdominal strength as the jumper must use the momentum from her run-up to make three separate jumps before landing in the sand pit. The jumper first takes off and lands with the same foot (the hop phase), takes off again from that same foot and lands on the opposite foot (skip phase), and then takes off from that landing foot to leap into the sand. Maintaining correct body position and alignment in the air during the three phases is a crucial component to completing a lengthy jump. High Jump Who can jump the highest? (Well, the highest, without a pole). That is the point of the high jump. High jumpers run a curved approach, then, at a precise spot, translate that forward motion in to vertical motion as they drive their arms, shoulders, hips and opposite leg in to the air to get as much height as possible. They lay first their head, then shoulders, back, hips and legs over the bar. Having impeccable technique to put all of these steps together is crucial, but being naturally long and lean is a big plus as well. Athletes have three misses at each height before being eliminated from the competition. Whoever clears the highest bar wins, although ties are frequent in the HJ.

Pole Vault Athletes sprint down the runway carrying a long pole. At the end of the runway they plant the pole in to a box, bend the pole down and catapult themselves over the bar. An event not suited to those with a fear of flying, but those with a background in gymnastics have done well transitioning to the vault. The same rules as the high jump apply: each athlete has three attempts to successfully clear a height in order to remain in the competition. The Throws The name of the game in all of the throwing events is distance. The farthest throw wins. Amongst the throwing events the other similarities that they share is: 1) the athlete' s feet must remain within a designated area to launch the throw; and 2) the implement must land within a designated area, the sector, to be considered a fair throw that will be measured. Discus Throw The discus requires ballet-like footwork as the athlete rotates through a series of spins to build momentum to hurl the discus nearly the entire length of the track. The disc is thrown out of a high-sided steel mesh cage that protects bystanders from errant throws. In the cage is a circle that designates the throwing area.

Stepping out of the circle during a throw constitutes a foul and the throw will not be measured. Each competitor is allowed three initial throws with the longest distance determining her place in the standings. After the first three throws the competition can be narrowed to allow only a set number of the top placers in the standings to take an additional three throws to determine the final order of finish. Hammer Throw The Hammer shares many similarities with the discus including the cage, the circle and the spinning approach to the throw. The major difference is that the implement being thrown is a steel ball on the end of a wire. Distances achieved are also similar to that of the discus. Javelin Throw The javelin is a long, spear-like implement with a sharp tip on the end. Athletes take a running approach before launching their javelins, and often their bodies, in to the air. The trick is to get the maximum forward motion on the approach without stepping over the line. As in the other throws, if the athlete steps over the designated throwing line, the result is a foul and an unmeasured throw. Another tricky thing about the Javelin is that it must land tip down to be considered fair.

The small country of Finland is the cradle of this event and has consistently produced the most accomplished practitioners. Shot Put The shot is a steel ball, and the competition is to see who can put, or throw it the farthest. As in the Discus and Hammer a circle delineates the fair area from which the put must be launched. There are two techniques for generating the momentum to get maximum distance on one's put. The glide involves starting in a crouched position, shot tucked between neck and shoulder under the chin, then taking a large, powerful stride backwards towards the launching point while turning the body and uncoiling the legs to release the put up and out towards the landing area. New putters usually master the glide technique before graduating to the spin. Spinners will do one to 1 ½ rotations before releasing the shot from the edge of the circle and, often, hopping around on tiptoe to keep themselves from over-rotating out of the circle thereby fouling and nullifying their puts. The Multi-Events Decathlon- The winner of the Olympic title in this event is known as the greatest athlete in the world as it requires showing mastery of ten different events across the track & field spectrum to succeed in the decathlon.

The decathlon events are these, in competition order: Day 1: 100 Meters, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, 400 Meters Day 2: 110 Meter Hurdles, Discus Throw, Pole Vault, Javelin, 1500 Meters Modifications Age Group Track & Field Events Now that you have an understanding of the Olympic Track & Field program, you have the big picture. This is a good time to point out the myriad modifications that you might encounter in age group, or youth track & field. The basic model is that, the younger the age group, the fewer events officially contested. For obvious reasons, there are several events that young children, generally pre-adolescent, are not developmentally ready to learn and contest. Obvious examples would be the hurdles, pole vault and long distance events like the 3000 meters and 5000meters (the longest event for kids 10 and under is 1500 meters). Even in high school there continue to be modifications. Some states have eliminated the javelin and pole vault due to safety concerns And some states contest modified distances for common events.

For instance, the 400 meter hurdles is the official distance for the Olympic Games and collegiate track, but many high schools run the 300 meter hurdles instead (even though at the USATF Junior Nationals the kids run 400 meter hurdles in the high school age divisions). They also run the 2000 meter Steeplechase instead of the full 3000 meters. For more detailed information about which high school events are contested in your state, get in touch with your state education department' s athletics division. For more information about the events offered for each age group by the two major youth track & field organizations, the Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) and USA Track & Field (USATF), check their championship meet results online at and . Athletics | Toronto 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games 1 / 4 > Sport Overview Athletics offers a variety of iconic events. The track events feature distances from 100 metres to 10,000 metres, with the excitement of hurdles and the steeplechase as well.

The field events include the throwing events of shot put, discus, javelin and hammer throw while the jumping events offer pole vault, high jump, long jump and triple jump. Track and field also includes, for men, the legendary decathlon (runs of 100 metres, 400 metres and 1,500 metres; 110-metre high hurdles; throws of javelin and discus; shot put; pole vault; high jump and long jump) and for women, the equally impressive heptathlon (100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-metre run, long jump, javelin and 800-metre run). Track and field events will be held at the CIBC Pan/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium at York University and the road events will be held at the Ontario Place West Channel, with the start and finish line on Lake Shore Blvd. Canada is expecting to field one of its strongest teams ever in 2015. The Canadian team won a historic five medals in the sport at the 2013 World Championship, including a bronze in the 4 x 100 m sprint relay.

At the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Canadian team won 17 medals, including gold from Sultana Frizell (women’s hammer), James Steacy (men’s hammer), Derek Drouin (men’s high jump), Brianne Theisen-Eaton (women’s heptathlon) and Damian Warner (men’s decathlon). Colombian triple jumper Caterine Ibargüen, a silver medallist at the London 2012 Olympic Games, helped her country win a record eight medals at those Games. She is expected to be one of the favourites in Toronto. Another pair to watch — arguably the ''world’s fittest couple” — in 2015 are Canadian heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, who won a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships, and her American husband Ashton Eaton, Olympic champion, world champion and world record holder in the decathlon. History Athletics dates back to the ancient Greeks of 776 BC when the only event at the first Olympic Games was a foot race that covered the length of the Athenian Olympic stadium.

The modern form of athletics, including a variety of running, jumping, throwing, walking and combined events, evolved in the 19th century. Athletics includes the disciplines of marathon, track and field and race walk. How it works Marathon A test of endurance, the marathon is a mass start event where athletes run 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometres) on pavement. First to cross the finish line wins. Track and field Track and field consists of sprint, middle- and long-distance track events, hurdles, relays, long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, hammer throw, javelin, steeple chase and the combined events of decathlon and heptathlon. Race walk In the race walk, athletes must have one foot in contact with the ground at all times as well as keeping their supporting leg straight. They must hold this position from the time their foot first impacts the ground until the supporting leg passes below the body. To increase their pace, athletes will swivel and tilt their hips to lengthen their stride. Participants are watched closely by officials surrounding the race course to ensure that they comply with the rules.

Men race in distances of 20 and 50 kilometres; women compete in a 20-kilometre event. Terminology USATF - Events - 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field Decathlon *In accordance with the amendments made to the Olympic Games qualifying standards in November 2011 by the IAAF, the Menï¿½s 400M qualifying standard has been adjusted from 45.25 to 45.30 and the Womenï¿½s 400M qualifying standard has been adjusted from 51.50 to 51.55. The Sport Committee Chair will, and only where necessary, adjust the standards no later than 45 days prior to the competition, based on entries received up to that time. Due to recent arbitration, USATF may have no ï¿½Automaticï¿½ standard that is superior to the Olympic ï¿½Aï¿½ standard.

Thus, ï¿½Automaticï¿½ standards were adjusted in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 110mH and 400mH. The number of rounds have also changed from 4 to 3 in the 100m, 200m and 110mH to coincide with the Olympic Games program, where those who achieve the ï¿½Aï¿½ standard will advance directly to the quarter-final round. The Menï¿½s and Womenï¿½s T&F Chairs will handle all entry appeals up to 48 hours prior to the start of competition in each event. Thereafter, the Entry Appeals Committee, consisting of two Athletes Advisory Committee members, one Menï¿½s T&F Committee member and one Womenï¿½s T&F Committee member will have the sole responsibility to handle entry appeals. For each event, the approximate field size (not the minimum) and number of rounds are shown.

Also shown are the Automatic (ï¿½Aï¿½) and the Provisional (ï¿½Bï¿½) Qualifying Standards that will be used for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials. All verified entries who have met the ï¿½Automaticï¿½ standard within the prescribed period, shall be qualified to participate in the U.S. Olympic Trials. Additional verified entries from the rank order list of those who have qualified with the ï¿½Provisionalï¿½ standard, shall be invited to participate in the Trials only to the extent that the indicated field size has not been filled by those with the ï¿½Automaticï¿½ standard. An invitation will be extended to these additional persons based on verified entries in their performance rank order. 2012 USOT - QUALIFYING GUIDELINES: All qualifying performances for the U.S.

Olympic Trials must be attained on a standard outdoor track in the period Sunday, May 1, 2011 through Sunday, June 17, 2012, or on an indoor track, in the same event, in the period Sunday, January 1, 2012 through Sunday, June 17, 2012; except for the 10,000 meters, Decathlon & Heptathlon and 20km Race Walks, whose qualifying period is from Sunday, January 1, 2011 through Sunday, June 17, 2012. The qualifying performance for the menï¿½s 50km Race Walk must be attained in the period Sunday January 1, 2010 through Sunday, January 7, 2012. Qualifying marks must be made in accordance with USATF Rule 149 and verifiable in one of the following: USATF or IAAF sanctioned meets/events which prescribe to or exceed USATF competition rules, or college meets/events which prescribe to or exceed USATF competition rules, or high school meets but not dual or triangular meets.

meets or events which meet a minimum for competitiveness as set by the Chair of the Sport Committee and determined to be valid by the USATF staff member responsible for the verification and validity of marks. Hand times are acceptable only for those events in which the distance is equal to or greater than 800 meters. No timing allowance factor for qualifying shall be made for hand times. Hand times will be adjusted using USATF Rule 166-6 for the purposes of seeding. Wind-assisted performances will not be accepted for 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying. There will be no adjustment for marks made at altitude. Qualifying marks must be attained in a 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials event. No qualifying marks will be allowed using alternate events, except for the men's Mile run as follows: An appeal to use a Mile qualifying mark for the 1500 will be accepted only if the mile mark was made during the 2012 season, from Sunday, January 1, 2012 through Sunday, June 17, 2012, and the mark is 3:54.00 or better.

An Athlete must be U.S. citizen and eligible to represent the United States in international competition, as well as being a U.S. citizen on the date of Declaration for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in that event - this date being 48 hours prior to the first day of competition in the event. Athletes who have earned Automatic Qualification into the meet under USATF Rule 8 must follow all entry procedures and declarations procedures, and will be counted in that eventï¿½s field sizes by the seeding committee. At the U.S. Olympic Trials, the mark used for qualifying and the mark used for first round seeding might not be the same, as described per USATF Rule 166.1.(d).i. Each qualified entrant in each event should submit a 2012 season best (January 1, 2012 ï¿½ June 17, 2012) performance, if one exists, whether it meets the qualifying standard or not.

Seeding for the first round of competition is based, first, on all 2012 season performances in rank order, followed by any 2011 season performances, even if they do not meet the qualifying standard (Rule 166-1.(d) i ). Note that a 2011 season mark may qualify an individual into the competition, but will not be used for seeding purposes when a 2012 season mark exists. SHOP NOW

Question: How many kilometres long is the walk - the longest race in men's athletics?
Answer: 50