Editing Track and field (section)

==Stadiums==
<!-- {{main|Track and field stadium}} As of May 2010, this redirects to [[Stadium]] -->
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===Outdoor===
[[File:Pista di atletica.svg|thumb|A typical layout of an outdoor track and field stadium]]
[[File:Track and field facilities around football field.webp|thumb|Track and field facilities layout around a football field for high school or college]]
The term ''track and field'' is intertwined with the [[stadium]]s that first hosted such competitions. The two basic features of a track and field stadium are the outer oval-shaped [[running track]] and an area of [[lawn|turf]] within this track—the [[Playing field|field]]. In earlier competitions, track lengths varied: the [[Panathinaiko Stadium]] measured 333.33&nbsp;metres at the [[1896 Summer Olympics]], while at the [[1904 Olympics]] the distance was a third of a [[mile]] (536.45&nbsp;m) at [[Francis Field (St. Louis)|Francis Field]]. As the sport developed, the IAAF standardised the length to 400&nbsp;m and stated that the tracks must be split into six to eight running lanes. Precise widths for the lanes were established, as were regulations regarding the curvature of the track. Tracks made of flattened [[Cinder track|cinder]]s were popular in the early 20th century but [[synthetic fiber|synthetic]] tracks became standard in the late 1960s. [[3M]]'s [[Tartan track]] (an [[all-weather running track]] of [[polyurethane]]) gained popularity after its use at the 1968 [[United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|US Olympic Trials]] and the [[1968 Summer Olympics]] and it began the process in which synthetic tracks became the standard for the sport. Many track and field stadiums are [[multi-purpose stadium]]s, with the running track surrounding a field built for other sports, such as the various types of [[football]].

The field of the stadium combines a number of elements for use in the jumping and throwing events. The [[long jump]] and [[triple jump]] areas comprise a straight, narrow 40-metre running track with a [[sandpit]] at one or both ends. Jumps are measured from a take off board—typically a small strip of [[wood]] with a [[plasticine]] marker attached—which ensures athletes jump from behind the measurement line. The [[pole vault]] area is also a 40-metre running track and has an indentation in the ground (the box) where vaulters plant their poles to propel themselves over a crossbar before falling onto cushioned [[landing mat]]s. The [[high jump]] is a stripped-down version of this, with an open area of track or field that leads to a crossbar with a square area of landing mats behind it.

The four throwing events generally all begin on one side of the stadium. The [[javelin throw]] typically takes place on a piece of track that is central and parallel to the [[Straight (racing)|straights]] of the main running track. The javelin throwing area is a [[Circular sector|sector]] shape frequently across the Pitch (sports field) in the middle of the stadium, ensuring that the javelin has a minimal chance of causing damage or injury. The [[discus throw]] and [[hammer throw]] contests begin in a tall metal cage usually situated in one of the corners of the field. The cage reduces the danger of implements being thrown out of the field of play and throws travel diagonally across the field in the centre of the stadium. The [[shot put]] features a circular throwing area with a toe board at one end. The throwing area is a [[Circular sector|sector]]. Some stadia also have a [[water jump]] area on one side of the field specifically for [[steeplechase (athletics)|steeplechase]] races.

===Indoor===
{{See also|Indoor practice facility}}
[[File:Harvard gordon indoor track z.JPG|thumb|The Gordon Indoor Track features an 80-yard sprint straight, and the track is 220 yards in length.]]
Basic indoor venues may be adapted [[gym]]nasiums, which can easily accommodate high jump competitions and short track events. Full-size indoor arenas (i.e. those fully equipped to host all events for the [[IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]) bear similarities with their outdoor equivalents. Typically, a central area is surrounded by a 200-metre oval track with four to eight lanes. The track can be banked at the turns to allow athletes to run around the radius more comfortably. Some have a second running track going straight across the field area, parallel to the straights of the main circuit. This track is used for the [[60 metres|60 meters]] and [[60 metres hurdles]] events, which are held almost exclusively indoors.

Another common adaptation in the United States is a 160-yard track (11 laps to a mile; 148m) that fits into a common [[basketball court]]-sized arena. This was quite popular when races were held at imperial distances, which gradually was phased out by different organizations in the 1970s and 1980s. Examples of this configuration include the [[Millrose Games]] at [[Madison Square Garden]], and the [[Sunkist Invitational]] formerly held in the [[Los Angeles Sports Arena]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-14-sp-8235-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |first=John |last=Ortega |date=14 February 1999 |title=Bussey of Taft Comes Up Big on Inside Track |access-date=8 March 2011 |archive-date=16 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516023807/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/feb/14/sports/sp-8235 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Short track indoor athletics track and field without inner track.webp|thumb|200m short track oval running field. Does not show the inner central 60m lanes.]]
All four of the common jumping events are held at indoor venues. The long and triple jump areas run alongside the central 60&nbsp;m track and are mostly identical in form to their outdoor counterparts. The pole vault track and landing area are also alongside the central running track. [[Shot put]] and [[weight throw]] are the only throwing events held indoors due to size restrictions. The throwing area is similar to the outdoor event, but the landing sector is a rectangular section surrounded by netting or a stop barrier.<ref>[http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/AboutIAAF/Publications/05/45/31/20091001092345_httppostedfile_CompRules-2009-Eng_16838.pdf Competition Rules 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605005950/http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/AboutIAAF/Publications/05/45/31/20091001092345_httppostedfile_CompRules-2009-Eng_16838.pdf |date=5 June 2011 }}. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 26 March 2010.</ref>

In addition to hosting the World Indoor Championships, the IAAF has hosted the [[IAAF World Indoor Tour]] since 2016.

In May 2023, [[World Athletics]] announced they were renaming "indoor track" and "indoor athletics" to "short track", effectively expanding the "indoor track" category to allow for the theoretical possibility of an outdoor 200 meter-track being used for valid "indoor" qualification marks. The change took effect at the beginning of 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Athletics to create new short track product to grow the sport {{!}} PRESS-RELEASES {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/creation-short-track-athletics-records |website=worldathletics.org |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225124618/https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/creation-short-track-athletics-records |url-status=live }}</ref>

Extensive research has been done to highlight the physiological differences between running surfaces, suggesting nonmotorized indoor surfaces warrant higher oxygen uptake, heart rate etc.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wee |first1=Veronika Myran |last2=Heimburg |first2=Erna von |last3=Tillaar |first3=Roland van den |date=2016-12-19 |title=Comparison of perceptual and physiological variables of running on a track, motorized treadmill, and non-motorized curved treadmill at increasing velocity |url=https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/AKUT/article/view/akut.2016.22.02 |journal=Acta Kinesiologiae Universitatis Tartuensis |volume=22 |pages=20–35 |doi=10.12697/akut.2016.22.02 |issn=2228-3501|hdl=11250/2433427 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Several track athletes have experienced decreased mobility and stability after the strain of running on a shorter, indoor track.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gustafson |first1=Aliyah M. |last2=Darby |first2=Lynn A. |last3=Berger |first3=Bonnie G. |date=February 2021 |title=Functional Movement Testing of Female Track and Field Athletes: Before and After an Indoor Season |journal=Journal of Exercise Physiology |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=2–20 |issn=1097-9751 }}</ref> These conditions have caused running organizations, such as the NCAA to implement slower time conversions for indoor competition; conversion formulas vary by event.

Various events [[World Athletics Indoor Championships#Events|have been discontinued]] from the World Athletics Indoor Championships, including 200m and [[racewalking]]. Some race distance events have been held in world tour ([[IAAF World Indoor Tour]] and [[IAAF Indoor Permit Meetings]] in 1997 or later) events, including at [[Aviva Indoor Grand Prix]] and the [[Russian Winter Meeting]], but never at the world championships, including:
*300m.
*500m ([[Millrose Games]] during Permit Meeting status).
*600m.
*1,000m.
*1 mile.
*2,000m.
*2 miles.
*5,000m.
*{{nowrap|4 × 100 m}} ([[Sparkassen Cup (athletics)|Sparkassen Cup]]).
*{{nowrap|4 × 200 m}} (Millrose Games).
*{{nowrap|4 × 800 m}} (Millrose Games during Permit Meeting status).
*400m hurdles (2011 Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix).
*2,000m steeplechase ([[Indoor Flanders Meeting]]).