about middle & long distance

         Middle distance contain  800m,1500m and 3000m.　Short distance usually carries out a crouching start. But a method changes from the middle distance to a standing start. Since this is an item for which both speed and tenacity are needed, it is very severe.


          In 800m, the tendency of speed-izing is remarkable. For example, the runner of the top level in the world are below 13 seconds in recent years per 100 m. 


         No less than 1500 m is a severe game.In the woman 800m, the situation where runners collapsed and fainted one after another in the Amsterdam Olympic Games (1928) immediately after the goal arose. Under this influence, it is from Munich Olympic Games in 1972  that 1500m was admitted to the formal event.


         Although 3000m are classified into a middle distance event, it may be contained in a long-distance event in a game. Moreover, in track and field, it is an event with 3 km different from 3000 m. 3km is road race (a runner runs a road),but 3000 m is a track race (a runner runs the inside of a track). So record is totaled separately. 


         Long distance events are 5000m, 10000m, full/half marathon, long distance relay road race(ekiden) and so on. In this topic, I'll write 5000m and 10000m.


         The ranking of 5000m and 10000 m are decided by one race without dividing into a primary and the final.　Man and woman's runner of Kenya are　strong. In the woman 10000m, Japan is also strong following African vigor or the Europe vigor. 

The next  topic  is  "about marathon and ekiden".

about short distance

         A short distance is a general term for the game which runs short distance in track and field (to 400 m). Official events are 100m, 200m, and 400m. In unofficial events, there are 50 m, 300 m, etc. It is decided that the method of a start will be a crouching start. Moreover, a runner uses a starting block.

           Especially in 100m and 200m, runners can run very fast when a fair wind is strong. So a fair wind exceeds 2 m/s, it is considered that the record is a wind-aided record. (That is, it does not become an official time.)

         A 100-m world record is 9"58 which Usain Bolt established in 2009. When this record is changed to speed, it is an average of 37 km/h. In the Olympic Games, the title "the man of the human-beings fastest" is conferred on the boy's 100m champion. In track and field, 100 m is very popular and is a star game.

         In case of 200m ,world record is 19"19 which Usain Bolt established ,too.At the Olympic Games, 200m　is an event from the Paris Olympic Games in 1900.Unlike 100m, even if a frame and muscular power are inferior to other runners , it can cover with the way and technology of running.


         400m is the most hardest event in short distance block. Distance of 400 m is medically made into "distance of the limit that man can run the whole distance by sprint", therefore a race will become very severe.
The world record is 43"18 which Michael Duane Johnson established in 1999.Incidentally, the Japanese runner who ran 400 m on the level of 44 seconds has Susumu Takano. 



The next topic is "about middle & long distance".

history in Japan

         Track and field were introduced to Japan from Europe in early stages of Meiji.It is supposed that it was transmitted from the British teacher of the navy soldier college house as it wrote the front diary.Japan got an educational institution of navy (next navy soldier college house) in early stages of Meiji. And 22 instructors were employed from Europe for the navy education of Japan.
It is said that there was probably British teacher well versed in track and field in those 22.


         The Japan Association of Athletics Federations was founded in 1928.
Moreover, in the 9th Amsterdam Olympic Games of this year,  Mikio Oda  won the victory in record of 15 m 21 cm in the part of the boy's triple jump. And, in the woman's 800m part, Hitomi Kinue  won the silver medal.




         There is "track and field of Masters" for people who want to continue track and field even if it grows up. If it is a person aged 35 and over, anyone can register. Masters started in Britain in 1932. In Japan, it was held for the first time in Wakayama in 1978. And  Mikio Oda was made into the chairman and the Japanese Masters track-and-field union was established in April, 1980.


         At last, there are many players who are doing remarkable activity.
For example...

• Kouji Murofushi (the player of the hammer throw)
• Chisato Fukushima (a short-distance player)
• Ryuji Kashiwabara (The player of Toyo univercity who played an active part in Hakone ekiden
  )

and so on. I want Japanese players to play an active part in the world!

 The next topic is "about short distance".

Foreign-history and outline of track and field

         Track and field are a game with the history which goes back to the 1st ancient Olympics in B.C. 776 at Olympia. It seems that races, such as Celt people, people from Zhudong, and people from Gort, also hold the convention of track and field, and were collecting popularity.
         Track and field developed as a modern sport after the Renaissance, and spread through every country in the world taking advantage of the 1st Athens Olympics held in 1896.


         It was introduced to Japan by a British teacher of the navy soldier college house in early stages of Meiji(I can't find his or her name!).
         Many events of track and field have the origin which traces back to ancient times, and  it  was already established that the form of event in ancient Greece.


         Since even the Olympic Games in 1896 were held, track and field have always been carried out.
 The game participation in the female Olympic Games was not permitted till 1928.


         The event of track and field can devide into these 10.

• short distance(100m etc.)
• middle distance (800m etc.)
• long distance (3000m etc.)
• relay (4x100m relay etc.)
• hurdling(110m hurdle etc.)
• long distance relay road race (Japanese name : ekiden)
• competitive walking
• jumps (high jump etc.)
• throws (javelin throw etc.)
• composite game

         Main International Convention of track and field has the Olympic Games, IAAF World Championships in Athletics, World Indoor Championships in Athletics, etc.
         In a domestic convention, there are the Japanology student track-and-field championship (common name:intercollegiate game), a Tokyo-Hakone-collegiate-ekiden race (common name:Hakone ekiden), etc.

 The next topic is "history in Japan".