World Athletics has introduced a significant rule change for the indoor 800m event by moving the break point to provide athletes with more space and a safer racing environment.
Details of the Rule Change
- New Breakpoint Location: The new breakpoint will be located around the entrance to the home straight, approximately 165 meters after the start. (Home Straight, 400m Breakpoint)
- New Startline Location: Given new breakpoint the Start Line for the 800m is now the 400m Start line (normally solid white)
- Purpose: The main goal of this change is to give athletes more time and space to spread out before cutting into the inside lane, thus improving safety and the overall racing experience for both athletes and spectators.
- Athletics Ireland is Implementing this rule change from U14s right through to Masters for Indoor 800m.
This is a change from the current rule, where athletes must stay in their assigned lanes until the end of the first bend (back straight), at which point they can break for the inside lane. The new, later break point aims to reduce the jostling and potential for collision that often occurs when many athletes converge on the first lane simultaneously.
