1. Track and Field Researched via: http://wikipedia.org http://wikipedia.org Student Name: Patrice Oseni Date: 5/20/10

2. History: The first recorded examples of organized track and field events at a sports festival are the Ancient Olympic Games. At the first Games in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece, only one event was contested: the stadion footrace. The scope of the Games expanded in later years to include further running competitions but the introduction of the Ancient Olympic pentathlon marked a step towards track and field as it is recognised today – it comprised a five-event competition of the long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, the stadion foot race, and wrestling

3. Events Track and field events are divided in to three broad categories: track events, field events, and combined events. Track events involve running on a track over a specified distances and – in the case of the hurdling and steeplechase events – obstacles may be placed on the track. There are also relay races in which teams of athletes run and pass on a baton to their team member at the end of a certain distance. There are two types of field events: jumps, and throws. In jumping competitions, athletes are judged on either the length or height of their jumps.

4. Olympics and World Championships Track and field contests make up the majority of events on the Olympic athletics programme which occurs every four years. Events such as the 100 meters receive some of the highest levels of media coverage of any Olympic sporting event.

5. PSAL: Public School Athletic Leagues The Public Schools Athletic League, known by the acronym PSAL, is an organization that promotes student athletics in the public schools of New York City. It was founded in 1903 to provide and maintain a sports program for students enrolled in New York City public schools. The PSAL serves both boys and girls. PSAL holds competitions in a wide range of indoor and outdoor sports in fall, winter and spring seasons. In 2007, the league included 185 schools involving nearly 2,400 teams.

6. Famous people/role model: Carl Lewis Usian Bolt

7. What do you like most about Track and Field? Nothing