Athletics is one of the oldest and most fundamental sports in human history — combining speed, strength, skill, and endurance.
It includes a wide variety of events known as Track Events (races and relays) and Field Events (throws and jumps).
From ancient Olympic games to modern intercounty championships, athletics has remained the foundation of all sports, testing an athlete’s natural and trained abilities.
Athletics dates back over 2,700 years to the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece (776 BC).
The earliest event recorded was the “stadion”, a short sprint across the length of the stadium.
Through the centuries, athletics evolved into a structured sport that now includes:
Running events (short and long distance)
Jumping events
Throwing events
Combined events like decathlon and heptathlon
Modern athletics is governed by World Athletics (formerly IAAF), which standardizes rules and records globally
Athletics is divided into two main categories:
These take place on a running track and test speed, rhythm, and endurance.
Examples include:
Sprints: 100m, 200m, 400m
Middle Distance: 800m, 1500m
Long Distance: 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m
Hurdles & Steeplechase
Relays: 4x100m, 4x400m
These happen on the field inside or around the track and test power, coordination, and technique.
Examples include:
Jumps: Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault
Throws: Shot Put, Javelin, Discus, Hammer Throw
Each event type focuses on a unique combination of athletic ability and discipline.
For all-round athletes, combined events test performance across multiple disciplines.
Decathlon: 10 events (for men)
Heptathlon: 7 events (for women)
Points are awarded based on performance in each event, and the highest total score wins.
Athletics events can be individual or team-based, depending on the competition format.
At intercounty or school levels, athletes earn points for their teams based on finishing positions.
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 10 |
| 2nd | 8 |
| 3rd | 6 |
| 4th | 4 |
| 5th | 2 |
Note: Scoring systems may vary slightly between championships.
Athletics is more than competition — it’s personal development through discipline.
It teaches:
Teamwork and leadership
Endurance and goal setting
Body control and injury prevention
Sportsmanship and fair play
That’s why most professional athletes, regardless of sport, begin with athletics training as their physical foundation.
The world of athletics has embraced cutting-edge technology, revolutionizing training, performance analysis, and competition. Modern tools include:
For example, sprinters now use force plates to measure ground reaction forces, helping them perfect their starts. Similarly, pole vaulters rely on video analysis to fine-tune their approach and takeoff. This fusion of sports science and digital precision is shaping a new era of athletics, empowering athletes to push human limits further.
As intercounty championships approach, athletes, coaches, and teams can leverage the fundamentals of athletics to excel. Here are actionable tips:
By combining disciplined training with strategic planning, athletes can dominate at intercounty meets and beyond.
Athletics is the core of human physical expression — running, jumping, and throwing are movements we’ve known since childhood.
Whether you’re a coach, an athlete, or a sports enthusiast, mastering the basics of athletics gives you the foundation to succeed in any sport.
As the intercounty games approach, understanding these fundamentals will help every athlete train smarter, compete better, and win with strategy.