Track and field

Track and Field

Track and Field (pronunciation: /træk ænd fi:ld/) is a sport which includes athletic contests established on the skills of running, jumping, and throwing. The name is derived from the sport's typical venue: a stadium with an oval running track enclosing a grass field where the throwing and some of the jumping events take place.

Etymology

The term "Track and Field" is a direct translation of the Greek words "stadion" and "agones". The "stadion" was a measure of distance, a foot-race, and the place where the race was held and is an ancient Greek term. The "agones" means "games" and is the root of "athlete" and "athletics".

Related Terms

Athletics: A collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and racewalking.

Running: The act of locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground.

Jumping: The act of propelling oneself rapidly upward such that momentum causes the body to become airborne.

Throwing: The act of launching a projectile with force. In track and field, this often refers to events such as shot put, javelin, discus, and hammer throw.

Stadium: A place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.