Women have been competing with men in all spheres of life. Sports, especially women’s track and field, have performances by women that are just as spectacular as those by men.
Women began competing in track and field events in the US in the late 1800s. Initially, most college women participated. As the popularity and acceptance of women’s track and field events grew, women in general slowly began to arrive to compete.
Athletics events were included in the first Olympic Games in 1896. But it was in 1928, the ninth Olympic Games held in Amsterdam, that the first women’s athletics events were included. 100 meters, 4×100 meter relay, 800 meter, high jump and discus throw were the tests presented in the female category. The 16-year-old American student Elizabeth Robinson was the winner of the first women’s track and field even over 100 meters. And after that as they say, the rest is history.
Events for women, which require great endurance, stamina, agility and strength, are not limited to sprints and throws. Events included are 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and 10000m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, steeplechase, 4x100m relay, high jump, long jump , triple jump, pole vault, shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, javelin and heptathlon.
The IAAF, founded in 1912, is the international governing body for track and field events. The events are included in all the major games, such as the Pan American Games and the Commonwealth Games. In the US, USA Track and Field oversees the development, promotion and management of events.
With the commercialization of sports, athletic events attract money and sponsorships.
Track and field events are divided into two seasons, winter and summer for universities or regions. During winters, indoor events are held. Sometimes the distance to travel is reduced due to space limitation. Events such as javelin, hammer and discus throws are not included. Long distance events like 10,000 meters are also not feasible indoors. The indoor tracks have banked turns to compensate for the hairpin turns and are 200 meters long and consist of four to six lanes. Other odd distance events such as 300 meters or 500 meters are added. Field and multi-track events such as the women’s pentathlon are held in place of the regular heptathlon.
Outdoor track events held in the summer have 400-meter tracks that usually surround a soccer field. Regular track and field events are held. The tracks made of a rubber surface consisting of six to ten lanes. Some old tracks may have a dirty surface.
So to all these women who are competing and want to compete in these events, I wish you good luck and may your dreams come true!