Differentiate the Track and Field

Answer 1

Track events are generally running events, normally run in the form of a race, with a start line and a finish line, meaning there is a prescribed distance of the event. Everybody in the event generally starts at the same time and the first one across the finish line is the winner.

I put the word generally in these sentences because there are occasional exceptions when someone invents an event, like handicap races, that deviates from the norm.

Track races would occur on a track, a flat measured surface that is designed for the best consistency for all contestants to have an equal chance. When you see a track race with a staggered start, each of those start lines is carefully measured so it is exactly the same distance from start line to finish line for each participant if they stay in their lane. The further the distance from the center of a circle, the longer the circumference. Most tracks are 400 meters outdoors or 200 meters indoors, though there are many exceptions. The one consistency is that every effort is made so that the competitors have as equal circumstances as possible, so the competition is based on the athletic ability. Most modern tracks, where top level competition takes place are called All Weather tracks, which means they have a rubberized surface, good for traction, with a consistent amount of bounce, which will not absorb water (rain).

A field event is where each athlete competes in their event by themselves, one at a time on the same competition area. These would generally be jumps and throws. In a throwing event, most throw from some form of circle (even the javelin has a circular throwing line at the end of its runway). The throw must be made from inside the circle (if the athlete steps out of the circle, the throw is a foul and is not counted) and is measured to the closest point the implement lands to the circle. Long jump and triple jumps function the same way, with the jump measured from a board on the runway to the closest mark their body leaves after landing in a sand pit. Vertical jumps, the High Jump and Pole Vault are slightly different, the bar progresses up at regular intervals. The athletes can choose which height they wish to attempt. Each miss is counted against them to break the frequent ties, but they can keep attempting new heights until they miss three times in a row.

All of these events, track races of various distances (including relays and hurdle races) and field events happen at the same event, known in the United States as a Track and Field meet. Its another case of the USA obstinately doing its own thing, like measuring in feet and inches or Fahrenheit. The rest of the world knows the same sport as Athletics. The sports governing body, the IAAF (the International Association of Athletics Federations, formerly known as theInternational Amateur Athletics Federation) uses Athletics in its title to describe the sport. Also under that umbrella are road racing (which includes marathons), Cross Country Racing (XC, where the varying course conditions are part of the event), mountain ultra trail running (MUT, difficult courses over extremely long distances) and race walking (RW, the athlete must remain in contact with the ground with knees straightened until they pass under the athlete). That group of sports is also referred to as Athletics. Back in the USA, the national governing body is still trying to find a way to put a blanket over that same group of sports. In 1979, the government broke up the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to allow the path for professional athletes in the sport. The new body became known as The Athletics Congress, TAC. After a decade of confusion, in 1992 they changed their name to United States Track and Field, USATF, which has subsequently offended the road runners and other participants in the other related sports by making them feel left out.

Answer 2

'Track and field', called athletics in some of the world, is a collection of sports grouped together as they share similar aspects and a common history many of them are, or were developed from, the original Olympic sports. The two major parts are, obviously, the track events (running as a sport) and the field events (which includes many disciplines); some events, such as the decathlon, tie both parts together in a single competition.

Answer 3

Track refers to the running events: sprints, hurdles etc. Field refers to events like discus, javalin, and shot put.

Answer 4

field is sports and track is just running, hurdles etc.