Best Track and Field Events

The Top Ten
1 100m Sprint

I did track and cross country, and I just find that having a balance between distance running and very short distance is great for developing both skills alike - speed and distance. The 100-meter sprint is by far one of the hardest events. You have to be running full speed pretty much throughout the whole thing without dying out. If you die out, it means you slow down, and if you slow down, then there's a likely chance of you getting passed and not placing highly, say 1st or 2nd.

It's helped me with cross country because at the end of an XC race, there's that chute. Yeah, well that's where it gets really competitive against the other athletes. Despite being dead from running three miles, you need to gain back some energy quickly and sprint through that chute. This past year of sprinting in track will surely come in handy for my upcoming XC season. But the 100-meter is a very difficult event (I'm not a beginner either).

2 Pole Vault

Coming from a pole vaulter, it is not at all an easy sport to learn. And especially to get good at it, you need to run up and not mess up your step while bringing the pole down slowly, plant it in the pit, jump off the right foot, keep your lead leg straight, bend the pole, swing the foot up, invert yourself, push up and off the pole - all while not trying to knock down the bar.

Pole vault is probably one of the most difficult jumping events in track and field and is super fun to watch in the Olympics as well as compete in. Getting a PR in this event is so rewarding!

3 400m Dash

It's probably the most well-rounded event in track because if you focus too much on speed or long distance, you're not going to place. It also puts athletes in agonizing pain.

Such a tough event. It feels as if you are being stabbed in the stomach and legs while trying to sprint. Very difficult and a mix of speed and endurance.

The most physically demanding of the sprints. It's the perfect distance to test your fitness level.

4 4x400m Relay

By far the most fun event to watch and run in, in my opinion. Usually the last event, extremely fast, and filled with the adrenaline from the cheering of all teams.

Lead changes back and forth make the mile relay very exciting to watch.

5 4x100m Relay

I do this relay too, but the people I do it with are so lazy. But I always finish off and catch up to be second or first. So I love this event too.

6 110m Hurdles

I personally love the 110-meter and all hurdles because it adds more technique to the race than a normal race. Going over the hurdles feels so nice, especially once it gets to the point where you don't really have to think about it.

Watching runners fly over the hurdles efficiently is really cool.

7 High Jump

It requires great acceleration, jumping ability, and technique. It doesn't get much better than jumping over a bar well over your head.

It is the best event. It is fun when you have the technique down and you can jump over the bar that is over your head and make it.

High jump is so fun if you know what you're doing. It's cool to see the physics that go into why people can jump the way they can over a bar.

8 Shot Put
9 Long Jump

The long jump is a fun event during a track meet or competition. It is a unique way to compete, and it is very different from other events. I love the long jump!

10 200m Sprint

I think that when you are at the amateur level and have to sprint it like a 100-meter and not slow down, then it is one of the harder events out there. Running it includes leaning, perfect reaction to the gun, perfect start, mental game with the stagger and your opponents, leaning into the curve, "slingshotting" to the straightaway, speed maintenance, keeping your form, and the lean. I'd say it deserves to be in the top five hardest to be good at.

This race gives you more time to really push and go your fastest.

In my opinion, this event is way better than the 100m dash.

The Contenders
11 800m

The hardest middle-distance event in terms of discomfort. It's hard to pace and even harder to maintain speed for that distance. A fast start in lanes, then out of the lanes, and lots of bumping for position.

I feel like this one is good for long-distance runners. It's long enough where they're not bored but also short enough to get a break from long distances.

The last 200 meters of the 800m is the neuromuscular equivalent to driving nails into your hamstrings. It is the pinnacle of combined speed and endurance.

12 1600m

The mile is four laps and equal to about the attention span of a human to watch. It combines strategy, speed, and endurance.

Most people ask how fast you can run a mile when they ask how fast you are, so this makes sure you're fast. Plus, nothing is better than distance.

13 3000m Steeplechase

My god, what is sicker than running through water?

14 3200m

It's good in every way. You need endurance but not a crazy amount. Workouts for this event will strengthen times in the 400m and 800m.

Some athletes can hold an incredible pace in the 3200m, and watching them lap others is awesome.

15 Javelin Throw
16 Marathon
17 Decathlon
18 Discus

I find the facial expressions and the grunts rather amusing.

19 Hammer Throw
20 100m Hurdles
21 400m Hurdles

The ultimate test of sprinting. All the challenges of the 400m, plus the dexterity of jumping.

22 1500m

I do the 1500m run and it's my favorite. If you're trying to lose weight, run or walk the 1500m and it will definitely be worth it.

Best event. Don't need to sprint. Can think about what's happening.

23 80m hurdles

It is very fun doing hurdles, and the 80m hurdles are the best because for beginners it isn't too far but is still a sprint, unlike the 400m hurdles.

24 50m Sprint
25 55m Hurdles
8Load More
PSearch List