Description

Runs and sprints are two types of footraces in which an athlete must travel a specified distance by foot as fast as possible. Runs are usually longer races of more than 400 meters which test the athlete's speed and endurance, while sprints are shorter and usually test acceleration and speed.

Sprinting

• 100 Meter Sprint
  
  • Men's World Record - Tim Montgomery - 9.78 seconds - 14 September 1999
    
  • Woman's World Record - Florence Griffith Joyner - 10.49 seconds - 16 July 1988
  
  
• 200 Meter Sprint
  
  • Men's World Record - Michael Johnson - 19.32 seconds - 8/1/96
    
  • Woman's World Record - Florence Griffith Joyner - 21.34 secodns - 9/29/88
  
  
• 400 Meter Sprint
  
  • Men's World Record - Michael Johnson - 43.49 seconds - 7/29/96
    
  • Woman's World Record - Marie-Jose Perec - 48.25 seconds - 7/29/96
  
  
• Hurdles - The hurdles is an athletic event that consists of running while jumping over obstacles. 100 Meter Hurdles and 400 Meter Hurdles are the main hurdle events.

Longer Distance Runs

• 800 Meter
  
  • Men's World Record - Joaquim Cruz - 1:43.00 - 8/6/84
    
  • Woman's World Record - Nadezhda Olizarenko - 1:53.43 - 7/27/80
  
  
• 10000 Meter
  
  • Men's World Record - Haile Gebrselassie - 27:07.34 - 7/29/96
    
  • Women's World Record - Fernanda Ribeiro - 31:01.63 - 8/2/96
  
  
• 15000 Meter
  
  • Men's World Record - Sebastian Coe - 3:32:53 - 8/11/84
    
  • Woman's World Record - Paula Ivan - 3:53.96 - 10/01/88
  
  
• Steeplechase - A 3000 meter race in which 35 high barriers (known as steeples) are placed in the competitor's path followed by water pits. There are 35 barriers which are 91.4 cm heigh for men, or 76 cm heigh for women. 7 of these barriers are followed by a 3.6 meter water pit. Steeples are the same height as the normal hurdles but are much larger and heavier. The steeple is wider, thicker, and mounted so that it will not topple if triped.
  
  
• 5000 Meter
  
  • Men's World Record - Said Aouita - 13:05.59 - 8/11/84