Oregon 22 - TRACK AND FIELD BASICS - Athletics Ireland
General

Oregon 22 - TRACK AND FIELD BASICS

13 July 2022

You're viewing an article from our old website. While we've made efforts to retain all news from past Athletics Ireland websites, this article was created based on the old site's capabilities, so there may be formatting or layout issues on this page.

TRACK AND FIELD BASICS 

There are plenty of things to watch at this year’s World Athletics Championships at the reimagined Hayward Field at the University of Oregon with medals being handed out in 49 events. Here are some important things to know whether you’re watching this year’s event in stadium, along the marathon and race walking routes, or from home. 

 

 

 

100 Meters

The women’s and men’s winners of this event are regarded as the fastest women and men on the planet. In 2019, that was Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price of Jamaica and Christian Coleman of the United States, and they’re both here to defend their titles against impressive fields. Fraser-Pryce is a four-time World Athletics champion in this event and could stamp her claim as the greatest women’s sprinter in history with a fifth title at WCH Oregon22. 

World Records

Women: Florence Griffith-Joyner, 10.49 seconds, 1988 

Men: Usain Bolt, Jamaica, 9.58 seconds, 2009 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Marion Jones, United States, 10.70 seconds, 1999 

Men: Usain Bolt, Jamaica, 9.58 seconds, 2009 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Elaine Thompson-Herah, 10.54 seconds, 2021 

Men: Fred Kerley, United States, 9.76 seconds, 2022 

 

200 Meters 

This event has the deepest field of any women’s track event. Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith is the defending champion. Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah is the reigning two-time Olympic gold medalist and the second-fastest performer ever at 21.53 seconds. Shericka Jackson ran 21.55 at the Jamaican Championships to become the third-fastest performer ever. American champion Abby Steiner ran 21.77 at the U.S. national meet and is the collegiate record-holder. She took the collegiate record from Favour Ofili (Nigeria, 21.96), who set it earlier this year. American Jenna Prandini has a 21.89 PR, and countrywoman Tamara Clark ran 21.92 at the U.S. Championships. Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji was the bronze medalist at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. And don’t forget about Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the four-time World Athletics champion in the 100m, and 2013 world 200m champion. 

World Records

Women: Florence Griffith-Joyner, United States, 21.34 seconds, 1988 

Men: Usain Bolt, Jamaica, 19.19 seconds, 2009 

World Athletics Championships Records

Women: Dafne Schippers, Netherlands, 21.63 seconds, 2015 

Men: Usain Bolt, Jamaica, 19.19 seconds, 2009 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Gabby Thomas, United States, 21.61 seconds, 2021 

Men: Noah Lyles, United States, 19.52, 2021

 

400 Meters 

One lap around the track might not sound hard, but you’ll have a different impression if you line up and run all-out for the entire distance. The best 400m runners know how to push the pace early in the race and still have something left for the homestretch when most runners go into oxygen debt and tighten up. Being able to maintain good running form over the final 100m often means the difference between a gold medal and finishing out of the medals. No one in this year’s women’s field has won this event at an outdoor World Athletics Championships. 

World Records

Women: Marita Koch, East Germany, 47.60 seconds, 1985 

Men: Wayde van Niekerk, South Africa, 43.08 seconds, 2016 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Jarmila Kratochvilova, Czechoslovakia, 47.99 seconds, 1983 

Men: Michael Johnson, United States, 43.18 seconds, 1999 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Bahamas, 49.08 seconds, 2021 

Men: Michael Norman, United States, 43.56 seconds, 2022 

 

800 Meters 

If you come to Hayward Field down Alder Street from Franklin Boulevard, you can’t help but notice the 10-story Bowerman Tower. And when you’re approaching the stadium, you can’t miss the likeness of former University of Oregon standout Raevyn Rogers, the 2019 World Athletics Championships silver medalist and one of the favorites this year, on the tower. 

World Records

Women: Jarmila Kratochvilova, Czechoslovakia, 1 minute, 53.28 seconds, 1983 

Men: David Rudisha, Kenya, 1 minute, 40.91 seconds, 2012 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Jarmila Kratochvilova, Czechoslovakia, 1 minute, 54.68 seconds, 1983 

Men: Donavan Brazer, United States, 1 minute, 42.34 seconds, 2019 

Hayward Field Records

Women: Athing Mu, United States, 1 minute, 55.04 seconds, 2021 

Men: Clayton Murphy, United States, 1 minute, 43.17 seconds, 2021 

 

1,500 Meters 

At the 2019 World Athletics Championships, Sifan Hassan of Netherlands turned in an unprecedented double when she won the 1,500m in World Championships record time after earlier winning the 10,000m. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she won a bronze medal in this event after earlier winning gold in the 5,000m and the 10,000m. Hassan’s biggest challenge at WCH Oregon22 might be deciding which events she’s going to compete in. 

World Records 

Women: Genzebe Dibaba, Ethiopia, 3 minutes, 50.07 seconds, 2015 

Men: Hicham El Guerrouj, Morocco, 3 minutes, 26.00 seconds, 1998 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Sifan Hassan, Netherlands, 3 minutes, 51.95 seconds, 2019 

Men: Hicham El Guerrouj, Morocco, 3 minutes, 27.65 seconds, 1999 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Faith Kipyegon, Kenya, 3 minutes, 52.59 seconds, 2022 

Men: Ayanleh Souleiman, Djibouti, 3 minutes, 32.72 seconds, 2014 

 

5,000 Meters 

Four women have won this event back-to-back since it was introduced to the World Athletics Championships program in 1995 after women ran the 3,000m in the first four outdoor World Athletics Championships. Kenya’s Hellen Obiri is the latest person to win back-to-back World Championships in this event, and if she repeats at WCH Oregon22, she’ll be the first three-time women’s 5,000m champion. 

World Records 

Women: Letesenbet Gidey, Ethiopia, 14 minutes, 6.62 seconds, 2020 

Men: Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda, 12 minutes, 35.36 seconds, 2020 

World Athletics Championships Records

Women: Hellen Obiri, Kenya, 14 minutes, 26.72 seconds, 2019 

Men: Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 12 minutes, 52.79 seconds, 2003 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Ejgayehu Taye, Ethiopia, 14 minutes, 12.98 seconds, 2022 

Men: Berihu Aregawi, Ethiopia, 12 minutes, 50.05 seconds, 2022 

 

10,000 Meters 

Liz McColgan of Great Britain won this event in Tokyo in 1991. When the gun goes off at WCH Oregon22, McColgan’s daughter, Eilish, who is the British record holder in the 5,000m and the Eruopean record-holder in 10km and 10-mile road races, will be among the favorites. Eilish McColgan is also the Scottish record-holder in this event and the 3,000m steeplechase. 

World Records

Women: Letesenbet Gidey, Ethiopia, 29 minutes, 1.03 seconds, 2021 

Men: Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda, 26 minutes, 11.00 seconds, 2020 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Berhane Adere, Ethiopia, 30 minutes, 4.18 seconds, 2003 

Men: Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia, 26 minutes, 46.31 seconds, 2009 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Tirunesh Dibaba, Ethiopia, 30 minutes, 24.39 seconds, 2012 

Men: Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia, 26 minutes, 25.97 seconds, 2008 

 

Marathon

There will be plenty of opportunities for fans to see the world’s best marathon runners, who will run three loops of the 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) course that begins and ends outside of Autzen Stadium, the home of the University of Oregon’s football team. The Ducks played their home football games at Hayward Field until Autzen Stadium opened in 1967. Originally built for $2.5 million, Autzen Stadium underwent a $90 million renovation prior to the 2002 season. 

World Records 

Women: Brigid Kosgei, Kenya, 2 hours, 14 minutes, 4 seconds, 2019 

Men: Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2 hours, 1 minute, 39 seconds, 2018 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Paula Radcliffe, Great Britain, 2 hours, 20 minutes, 57 seconds, 2005 

Men: Abel Kirui, Kenya, 2 hours, 6 minutes, 54 seconds, 2009 

 

100-Meter Hurdles 

The last person to repeat as the World Athletics Champion was American Michelle Perry, who won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2007. Nia Ali of the United States is the defending champion, but the favorite is Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the reigning Olympic champion who is looking to become the first woman from Puerto Rico to win a World Athletics Championships gold medal in any event. Kendra Harrison, the world record-holder from the U.S., is seeking her first gold medal at a major global outdoor championships. 

World Record 

Women: Kendra Harrison, United States, 12.20 seconds, 2012 

World Athletics Championships Record 

Women: Sally Pearson, Australia, 12.28 seconds, 2011 

Hayward Field Record 

Women: Kendra Harrison, United States, 12.24, 2016 

 

110-Meter Hurdles 

The 2017 World Athletics Championships in London was the only time the United States hasn’t won a medal in this event dating to the first Championships in Helsinki in 1983. With defending champion Grant Holloway, world leader Devon Allen, and reigning NCAA champion Trey Cunningham leading the way, the U.S. has a great shot at more medals here. Also watch reigning Olympic gold medalist Hansle Parchment of Jamaica, the 2015 World Athletics Championships silver medalist. 

World Record 

Men: Aries Merritt, United States, 12.80 seconds, 2012 

World Athletics Championships Record 

Men: Colin Jackson, Great Britian, 12.91 seconds, 1993 

Hayward Field Record 

Men: Grant Holloway, United States, 12.81 seconds, 2021 

 

400-Meter Hurdles 

This is often called the hardest track race because runners must jump over a set of 10 hurdles and stay in their lanes while sprinting one lap around the track. Since 2019, there have been a combined seven world records from women and men in this event, including in both races at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

World Records 

Women: Sydney McLaughlin, United States, 51.41 seconds, 2022 

Men: Karsten Warholm, Norway, 45.94 seconds, 2021 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Dalilah Muhammad, United States, 52.16, 2019 

Men: Kevin Young, United States, 47.18 seconds, 1993 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Sydney McLaughlin, United States, 51.41 seconds, 2022 

Men: Rai Benjamin, United States, 46.83 seconds, 2021 

 

3,000-Meter Steeplechase 

The event originated in Ireland, where riders raced horses from one town's steeple to the next. Because of the probability of low visibility, steeples were used as markers over the long distances, which riders often had to have their horses jump over streams and low stone walls that separated estates. The 3,000m steeplechase racing on the track you’ll see here has 7 water jumps and 28 barriers over 7½ laps. 

World Records 

Women: Beatrice Chepkoech, Kenya, 8 minutes, 44.32 seconds, 2018 

Men: Saif Saaeed Shaheen, Qatar, 7 minutes, 53.63 seconds, 2004 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Beatrice Chepkoech, Kenya, 8 minutes, 57.84 seconds, 2019 

Men: Ezekiel Kemboi, Kenya, 8 minutes, 1.71 seconds, 2015 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Norah Jeruto, Kenya, 8 minutes, 53.65 seconds, 2021 

Men: Ezekiel Kemboi, Kenya, 8 minutes, 0.43 seconds, 2009 

 

20-Kilometer Race Walk 

Race walking has two rules. First, a walker’s back foot cannot come off the ground until the heel of the front foot has contacted the ground. Violating the rule is called a loss of contact. The second rule requires a walker to have their supporting leg straightened from when it contacts the ground and must remain straightened until the body passes directly over it. Race walking rules are enforced by judges, who have no technology at their disposal, meaning they must keep a close eye on every race walker. 

World Records 

Women: Jiayu Yang, China, 1 hour, 23 minutes, 49 seconds, 2021 

Men: Yusuke Suzuki, Japan, 1 hour, 16 minutes, 36 seconds, 2015 

World Championships Records 

Women: Olimpiada Ivanova, Russia, 1 hour, 25 minutes, 41 seconds, 2005 

Men: Jefferson Perez, Ecuador, 1 hour, 17 minutes, 21 seconds, 2003 

 

35-Kilometer Race Walk 

In race walking events, walkers try to minimize sideways motion as much as possible to attain maximum forward propulsion. Speed in race walking comes from stepping quickly to achieve rapid turnover, which also helps reduce the risk of the feet leaving the ground. Pushoff coming forward from the ball of the foot helps keep strides short and quick. The 35km race walk has never been held at a major championship meet before, and world records in this event will be recognized after Jan. 1, 2023. 

World Records and World Athletics Championships Records 

First time contested for women and men 

 

4x100-Meter Relay 

Speed is important in this relay event, but handoffs and timing are more important as teams can’t win if they don’t finish with the baton in their hand. When watching this event, look closely to see which teams pass the baton better without breaking stride. Teams that pass the baton better oftentimes beat teams that are faster on paper. 

World Records 

Women: United States (Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight, Carmelita Jeter), 40.82 seconds, 2012 

Men: Jamaica (Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt), 36.84 seconds, 2012 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Jamica (Veronica Campbell-Brown, Natasha Morrison, Elaine Thompson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce), 41.07 seconds, 2015 

Men: Jamaica (Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt), 37.04 seconds, 2009 

Hayward Field Records

Women: LSU (Mikiah Briscoe, Kortnei Johnson, Rachel Misher, Aleia Hobbs), 42.09 seconds, 2018 

Men: Houston (John Lewis III, Elijah Hall, Mario Burke, Cameron Burrell), 38.17 seconds, 2018 

 

4x400-Meter Relay 

At any major championship meet, whether it be at the high school, collegiate or professional level, this event is always the last one and oftentimes the most exciting. Runners tend to give a little something extra to win for the team. For the first time in World Athletics Championships history, the women’s 4x400 relay will be the last event of WCH Oregon22. 

World Record 

Women: Soviet Union (Tatyana Ledovskaya,Olga Nazarova,Mariya Pinigina, Olha Bryzhina), 3 minutes, 15.17 seconds, 1988 

Men: United States (Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson), 2 minutes, 54.29 seconds 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: United States (Gwen Torrence, Maicel Malone, Natasha Kaiser-Brown, Jearl Miles), 3 minutes, 16.71 seconds, 1993 

Men: United States (Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson), 2 minutes, 54.29 seconds 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Texas A&M (Tierra Robinson-Jones, Charokee Young, Jaevin Reed, Athing Mu), 3:22.34, 2021 

Men: Florida (Jacory Patterson, Ryan Willie, Jacob Miley, Champion Allison), 2:58.88, 2022 

 

4x400-Meter Mixed Relay 

This event made its debut at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, and features two women and two men. The winner of this event will have the Hayward Field record as this will be the first time the event has been run here. It is the only final event at Hayward Field on the opening day of this year’s Championships. 

World Record 

United States (Wil London, Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo, Michael Cherry), 3 minutes, 9.34 seconds, 2019 

World Athletics Championships Record 

United States (Wil London, Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo, Michael Cherry), 3 minutes, 9.34 seconds, 2019 

Hayward Field Record

None 

 

High Jump 

No one has dominated the high jump like Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova, who cleared 2 meters in an astonishing 197 meets in her career. She set the still-standing world record of 2.09 meters (6 feet, 10¼ inches) at the 1987 World Athletics Championships in Rome. That is one of the two oldest women’s field event world records. 

World Records 

Women: Stefka Kostadinova, Bulgaria, 2.09 meters (6 feet, 10¼ inches), 1987 

Men: Javier Sotomayor, Cuba, 2.45 meters (8 feet, 0½ inches), 1993 

World Athletics Championships Records

Women: Stefka Kostadinova, Bulgaria, 2.09 meters (6 feet, 10¼ inches), 1987 

Men: Bohdan Bondarenko, Ukraine, 2.41 meters (7 feet, 10¾ inches), 2013 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Maria Lasitskene, Authorized Neutral Athlete, 2.03 meters (6 feet, 8 inches), 2017 

Men: Mutaz Essa Barshim, Qatar, 2.41 meters (7 feet, 10¾ inches), 2015 

 

Pole Vault 

What is it like to be propelled by your speed and a fiberglass pole 15 feet to 20 feet off the ground? It can be both beautiful and terrifying, and Sweden’s Armand Duplantis has done it better than anyone else in history. No pole vaulter has ever cleared 20 feet (6.10 meters) on U.S. soil before. What a sight it would be to see Duplantis, or anyone else, do it at Hayward Field. 

World Records 

Women: Yelena Isinbayeva, Russia, 5.06 meters (16 feet, 7¼ inches), 2009 

Men: Armand Duplantis, Sweden, 6.20 meters (20 feet, 4¼ inches), indoors, 2022 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Yelena Isinbayeva, Russia, 5.01 meters (16 feet, 5¼ inches), 2005 

Men: Dmitri Markov, Australia, 6.05 meters (19 feet, 10¼ inches), 2001 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Katie Nageotte, United States, 4.95 meters (16 feet, 2¾ inches), 2021 

Men: Renaud Lavillenie, France, 6.05 meters (19 feet, 10¼ inches), 2015 

 

Long Jump 

In the third edition of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in 1991, Americans Mike Powell and Carl Lewis engaged in the greatest long jump competition ever. Powell jumped 8.95 meters (29 feet, 4½ inches) to break Bob Beamon’s 1968 world record of 8.90 meters (29-2½). Lewis had wind-aided marks of 8.83m and 8.91m before finishing with legal marks of 8.87m and 8.84m, breaking his PR of 8.78m. Lewis had a 65-meet winning streak in the long jump dating back to 1981.  

World Records 

Women: Galina Chistyakova, Soviet Union, 7.52 meters (24 feet, 8¼ inches), 1988 

Men: Mike Powell, United States, 8.95 meters (29 feet, 4½ inches), 1991 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, United States, 7.36 meters (24 feet, 1¾ inches), 1987 

Men: Mike Powell, United States, 8.95 meters (29 feet, 4½ inches), 1991 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Brittney Reese, United States, 7.31 meters (23 feet, 11¾ inches), 2016 

Men: Dwight Phillips, United States, 8.74 meters (28 feet, 8¼ inches), 2009 

 

Triple Jump 

The hop, skip, and jump can be one of the sport’s most beautiful events while also being one of the hardest on the body for the impact it has on a jumper’s legs. At the 1995 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, Great Britain’s Jonathan Edwards amazed the crowd by becoming the first person to surpass 18 meters and later in the competition became the first to surpass 60 feet (18.29 meters) as his world record still stands. 

World Records 

Women: Yulimar Rojas, Venezuela, 15.74 (indoors) meters, (51 feet, 7¾ inches), 2022 

Men: Jonathan Edwards, Great Britain, 18.29 meters (60 feet, 0¼ inches), 1995 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Inessa Kravets, Ukraine, 15.50 meters (50 feet, 10¼ inches), 1995 

Men: Jonathan Edwards, Great Britain, 18.29 meters (60 feet, 0¼ inches), 1995 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Yekaterina Koneva, Russia, 15.04 meters (49 feet, 4¼ inches), 2015 

Men: Christian Taylor, United States, 18.11 meters (59 feet, 5 inches), 2017 

 

Shot Put 

The first world record at the reimagined Hayward Field was set by Ryan Crouser at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has yet to win an outdoor or indoor world title, however. At the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, one centimeter determined the top three finishers with American Joe Kovacs winning at 22.91 meters (75 feet, 2 inches), with Crouser second and Tom Walsh of New Zealand third, both at 22.90m. 

World Records 

Women: Natalya Lisovskaya, Soviet Union, 22.63 meters (74 feet, 3 inches), 1987 

Men: Ryan Crouser, United States, 23.37 meters (76 feet, 8¼ inches), 2021 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Natalya Lisovskaya, Soviet Union, and Valerie Adams, New Zealand, 21.24 meters (69 feet, 8¼ inches), 1987 and 2011 

Men: Joe Kovacs, United States, 22.91 meters (75 feet, 2 inches), 2019 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Chase Ealey, United States, 20.51 meters (67 feet, 3½ inches), 2022 

Men: Ryan Crouser, United States, 23.37 meters (76 feet, 8¼ inches), 2021 

 

Discus 

Val Allman will be favored to become the first American woman to win the event at the World Athletics Championships. She became only the second woman from the U.S. to win the Olympic gold medal when she won in Tokyo last summer. It won’t be easy for the Hayward Field record-holder, however, as she faces a loaded field that includes Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who also has four World Championships medals, and Cuba’s Yaime Perez, the defending champion. 

World Records 

Women: Gabriele Reinsch, East Germany, 76.80 meters (252 feet, 0 inches), 1988 

Men: Jurgen Schult, East Germany, 74.08 meters (243 feet, 0 inches), 1986 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Martina Hellmann, East Germany, 71.62 meters (235 feet, 0 inches), 1987 

Men: Virgilijus Alekna, Lithuania, 70.17 meters (230 feet, 2 inches), 2005 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Valarie Allman, United States, 70.01 meters (229 feet, 8 inches), 2021 

Men: Ben Plucknett, United States, 71.32 meters (234 feet, 0 inches), 1983 

 

Javelin 

What’s it like to see a spear fly the entire length of a football field? It’s a sight you won’t want to miss at this year’s World Athletics Championships. While strength helps, you can’t muscle a javelin to a winning distance. Because there is a runup before launching the javelin, the athleticism and agility that runners and jumpers need are also required to be a great javelin thrower.  

World Records 

Women: Barbora Spotakova, Czech Republic, 72.28 meters (237 feet, 2 inches), 2008 

Men: Jan Zelezny, Czech Republic, 98.48 meters (323 feet, 1 inch), 1996 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Olisdeilys Menendez, Cuba, 71.70 meters (235 feet, 3 inches), 2005 

Men: Jan Zelezny, Czech Republic, 92.80 meters (304 feet, 5 inches), 2001 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Christina Obergfoll, Germany, 67.70 meters (222 feet, 1 inch), 2013 

Men: Thomas Rohler, Germany, 89.88 meters (294 feet, 10 inches), 2018 

 

Hammer 

The hammer throw is not what it sounds like. It’s a metal ball attached by a steel wire to a grip. The women’s hammer weighs 4 kilograms (8.82 pounds) and is 3 feet, 11 inches long while the men’s hammer is 7.26 kilograms (16 pounds) and measures 3 feet, 11¾ inches. Strength is important in the hammer, but speed across the ring is also necessary to launch the implement. 

World Records 

Women: Anita Wlodarczyk, Poland, 82.98 meters (272 feet, 3 inches), 2016 

Men: Yuriy Sedykh, Soviet Union, 86.74 meters (284 feet, 7 inches), 1986 

World Athletics Championships Records 

Women: Anita Wlodarczyk, Poland, 80.85 meters (265 feet, 3 inches), 2015 

Men: Ivan Tikhon, Belarus, 83.63 meters (274 feet, 4 inches), 2007 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: DeAnna Price, United States, 80.31 meters (263 feet, 6 inches), 2021 

Men: Rudy Winkler, United States, 82.71 meters (271 feet, 4 inches), 2021 

 

Heptathlon 

The seven-event discipline is contested over two days. The first day consists of, in order, the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200m. Day two consists of the long jump, javelin, and 800m. Athletes who are fast and good jumpers have the advantage as the scoring table is far friendlier to strong performances in the 100m hurdles, 200m, high jump, and long jump. The U.S. has only one World Athletics Championships medal in the heptathlon since the retirement of Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and that came in 2001. Joyner-Kersee has the top six scores all-time in this event and no one has come closer than 259 points of her world record. Only two women have scored over 7,000 points in the past 15 years. 

World Record 

Women: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, United States, 7,291 points, 1988 

World Athletics Championships Record 

Women: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, United States, 7,128 points, 1987 

Hayward Field Records 

Women: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, United States, 6,770 points, 1993 

 

Decathlon 

The 10-event discipline is contested over two days. The first day consists of, in order, the 100m long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400m. Day two consists of the 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500 meters. Athletes who are fast and good jumpers typically put up big first-day scores, but athletes who excel in the second-day events usually have the overall advantage in the decathlon as they maintain consistency over all 10 events. 

World Record 

Men: Kevin Mayer, France, 9,126 points, 2018 

World Athletics Championships Record 

Men: Ashton Eaton, United States, 9,045 points, 2015 

Hayward Field Record 

Men: Ashton Eaton, United States, 9,036 points, 2012

Courtesy of World Athletics

You may also be interested in

Stay connected

Sign-up for the Athletics Ireland E-Zine with exclusive interviews, coaching news and offers!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.