List of Short-Distance Running Sports A-Z
Short-distance running sports contain a diverse array of events, races, and relays that all contain the component of a short distance race completed at a running pace. With facilities such as indoor tracks, athletes can practice and compete in short-distance running sports all year round. In fact, track and field sports are some of the oldest in our history.
Track and field sports have been documented since the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece. However, international competitions began in 1896, which is when the first modern Olympics were held.
When athletes compete in short-distance running events, such as sprints, their primary focus is on their power and technique. For sprinters, they need to focus on putting as much force into the ground as possible in order to burst off with maximum speed. In fact, people who run short-distance speed events spend most of the time with their feet off the ground, which is not the case in middle or long-distance events.
Short-Distance Running Sports List A to Z
FAQ
What are short-distance running sports?
Short-distance running sports consist of a variety of different events, such as pentathlons, steeplechases, and three-legged races. Although there is no clear definition to determine whether a particular sporting event qualifies as a short-distance running sport, all of the sports listed above consist of an activity that requires athletes to run a short distance less than 5,000 meters.
What are the most popular short-distance running sports?
The most popular and widely competed short-distance running sports are featured in athletics, also known as track and field, which is a category of events in the Summer Olympics. Professional athletes from across the world compete to sprint the fastest during a specified distance which varies by event. Steeplechase is another popular race competed on a track at the high school, college, and professional levels. Many people are also familiar with three-legged races and obstacle courses.
What short-distance running sports are in the Olympics?
In the Summer Olympics, short-distance running sports are included within the “athletics” discipline. Athletics contains three categories: track, field, and road. Track contains different walking and running events, field consists of throwing and jumping events, and road events include marathon and walking events. The short-distance running events in the Olympics are 100m, 200m, 400m, short distance hurdles, and 4x100m relay races, which are run by both men and women.
Which short-distance running sport in the Olympics covers the least distance?
The short-distance running sports in the Olympics that covers the least distance are the 100m race and the 4x100m relay, for both men and women’s categories. These sports fall under the athletics category. In these events, athletes compete to sprint in the quickest amount of time on the track. Since it is a short running distance, they must all stay in their own lane on the track.