Editing Track and field (section)

====Javelin throw====
{{Main|Javelin throw}}
[[File:Bregje crolla Europacup 2007.jpg|thumb|A [[javelin throw]] athlete]]
As an implement of war and hunting, the [[javelin throw]] began in prehistoric times.<ref name="trackandfield.about.com">{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=http://trackandfield.about.com/od/javelin/ss/illhistjavelin.htm |title=An Illustrated History of Javelin – The early days of Javelin throwing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508080031/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/javelin/ss/illhistjavelin.htm |archive-date=8 May 2009 |url-status=usurped |website=About |access-date=11 May 2010}}</ref> Along with the discus, the javelin was the second throwing event in the ancient Olympic pentathlon. Records from 708 BC show two javelin competition types co-existing: throwing at a target and throwing the javelin for distance. It was the latter type from which the modern event derives.<ref name=IAAFJT>[http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=9427.html Javelin Throw – Introduction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606232418/http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid%3D9427.html |date=6 June 2012 }}. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 11 May 2010.</ref> In ancient competitions, athletes would wrap an ''ankyle'' (thin leather strip) around the javelin that acted as a sling to facilitate extra distance.<ref name=Miller69>Miller, Steven G. (2004). ''Ancient Greek Athletics''. Pg. 69. Yale University. {{ISBN|0-300-11529-6}}.</ref> The javelin throw gained much popularity in [[Scandinavia]] in the late 19th century and athletes from the region are still among the most dominant throwers in men's competitions.<ref name=IAAFJT /> The modern event features a short run up on a track and then the thrower releases the javelin before the foul line. The runway measures at a minimum of 30m in length, and is covered with the same surface as the track.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Athletics throwing events |url=https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/sport-and-recreation/sports-dimensions-guide/athletics-throwing-events |access-date=5 February 2021 |website=DLGSC |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213033719/https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/sport-and-recreation/sports-dimensions-guide/athletics-throwing-events |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first Olympic men's javelin throw contest was held in 1908 and a women's competition was introduced in 1932.<ref name="trackandfield.about.com"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=http://trackandfield.about.com/od/javelin/ss/illhistjavelin_2.htm |title=An Illustrated History of Javelin – Women enter Olympic competition |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508102525/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/javelin/ss/illhistjavelin_2.htm |archive-date=8 May 2009 |url-status=usurped |website=About |access-date=11 May 2010}}</ref> The first javelins were made of various types of wood, but in the 1950s, former athlete [[Bud Held]] introduced a hollow javelin, then a metal javelin, both of which increased throwers performances.<ref name=IAAFJT /> Another former athlete, [[Miklós Németh (athlete)|Miklós Németh]] invented the rough-tailed javelin and throws reached in excess of 100&nbsp;m – edging towards the limits of stadia.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=http://trackandfield.about.com/od/javelin/ss/illhistjavelin_3.htm |title=An Illustrated History of Javelin – Changing configurations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508025951/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/javelin/ss/illhistjavelin_3.htm |archive-date=8 May 2009 |url-status=usurped |website=About |access-date=11 May 2010}}</ref> The distances and the increasing number of horizontal landings led the IAAF to redesign the men's javelin to reduce distance and increase the implement's downward [[pitching moment]] to allow for easier measurement. Rough-tailed designs were banned in 1991 and all marks achieved with such javelins were removed from the record books. The women's javelin underwent a similar redesign in 1999.<ref name=IAAFJT /> The current javelin specifications are 2.6 to 2.7&nbsp;m in length and 800&nbsp;grams in weight for men, and 2.2 to 2.3&nbsp;m and 600&nbsp;g for women.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenbaum |first=Mike |url=http://trackandfield.about.com/od/javelin/p/Introjavelin.htm |title=Introduction to Javelin Throwing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119041551/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/javelin/p/Introjavelin.htm |archive-date=19 November 2012 |url-status=usurped |website=About |access-date=11 May 2010}}</ref>