SECTION III - TRACK EVENTS

This section contains:
 
RULE 160 - Track Measurements
RULE 161 - Starting Blocks
RULE 162 - The Start
RULE 163 - The Race
RULE 164 - The Finish
RULE 165 - Timing and Photo Finish
RULE 166 - Seedings, Draws and Qualification in Track Events Rounds and Heats
RULE 167 - Ties
RULE 168 - Hurdle Races
RULE 169 - Steeplechase Races
RULE 170 - Relay Races

(Rules 162.2, 162.3 (2nd paragraph), 163.2, 164.3 and 165 also apply to Sections VII, VIII, and IX.)

RULE 160 - Track Measurements

1. The length of a standard running track shall be 400m. It shall consist of two parallel straights and two bends whose radii shall be equal. Unless it is a grass track, the inside of the track shall be bordered by a kerb of suitable material, approximately 5cm in height and minimum 5cm in width.

If a section of the kerb has to be temporarily removed for field events, its place shall be marked with a white line 5cm in width and by cones or flags, minimum height 20cm, placed on the white line so that the edge of the base of the cone or flag pole coincides with the edge of the white line closest to the track, and placed at intervals not exceeding 4.00m. This shall also apply to the section of the steeplechase track where runners divert from the main track to negotiate the water jump. For a grass track without a kerb, the inner edge shall be marked with lines 5cm in width. It shall also be flagged at intervals of 5m. Flags shall be so placed on the line as to prevent any competitor running on the line, and they shall be placed at an angle of 60° with the ground away from the track. Flags approximately 25cmx20cm in size mounted on a staff of 45cm long are the most suitable for this purpose.

2. The measurement shall be taken 30cm outward from the kerb or, where no kerb exists, 20cm from the line marking the inside of the track.

3. The distance of the race shall be measured from the edge of the start line farther from the finish, to the edge of the finish line nearer to the start.

4. In all races up to and including 400m, each competitor shall have a separate lane, with a minimum width of 1.22m and a maximum width of 1.25m to be marked by lines 5cm in width. All lanes shall be the same width. The inner lane shall be measured as stated in paragraph 2 above, but the remaining lanes shall be measured 20cm from the outer edges of the lines.

Note: The line on the right hand only of each lane shall be included in the measurement of the width of each lane (see Rule 163.3 and 163.4).

5. In international meetings under Rule 12.1(a), (b), (c) the track should allow for eight lanes.

6. The maximum allowance for lateral inclination of tracks should not exceed 1:100 and the overall inclination in the running direction shall not exceed 1:1000 downwards.

Note: It is recommended that, for new tracks, the lateral inclination should be towards the inside lane.

7. Full technical information on track construction, layout and marking are contained in the IAAF Track and Field Facilities Manual. This Rule gives basic principles, which need to be followed.

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RULE 161 - Starting Blocks

1. Starting blocks shall be used for all races up to and including 400m (including the first leg of the 4x200m and 4x400m) and shall not be used for any other race. When in position on the track, no part of the starting block shall overlap the start line or extend into another lane.

Starting blocks shall comply with the following general specifications:
 

(a) They shall be entirely rigid in construction and shall give no unfair advantage to the athlete.

(b) They shall be fixed to the track by a number of pins or spikes, arranged to cause the minimum possible damage to the track.

The arrangement shall permit the starting blocks to be quickly and easily removed. The number, thickness and length of pins or spikes depend on the track construction. The anchorage shall permit no movement during the actual start.

(c) When an athlete uses his own starting blocks they shall comply with paragraphs (a) and (b) above. They may be of any design or construction, provided that they do not interfere with other athletes.

(d) When starting blocks are provided by the Organising Committee, they shall, in addition, comply with the following specifications:
 
The starting blocks shall consist of two foot plates, against which the athlete's feet are pressed in the starting position. The foot plates shall be mounted on a rigid frame, which shall in no way obstruct the athlete's feet as they leave the blocks. The foot plates shall be sloped to suit the starting position of the athlete, and may be flat or slightly concave. The surface of the foot plates shall be prepared to accommodate the spikes in the athlete's shoes, either by using slots or recesses in the face of the foot plate or by covering the surface of the foot plate with suitable material permitting the use of spiked shoes.
 
The mounting of the foot plates on a rigid frame may be adjustable, but it shall allow no movement during the actual start. In all cases, the foot plates shall be adjustable forward or backward in relation to each other. The adjustments shall be secured by firm clamps or a locking mechanism, which can be easily and quickly operated by the athlete.

2. In competitions held under Rule 12.1(a) and (b) and (c), the starting blocks shall be linked to an IAAF approved false start apparatus. The Starter and/or an assigned Recaller shall wear headphones in order to clearly hear the acoustic signal emitted when the apparatus detects a false start (i.e. when reaction time is less than 100/1000ths of a second). As soon as the Starter and/or an assigned Recaller hears the acoustic signal, and if the gun is fired, or the approved starting apparatus is activated, there shall be a recall and the Starter shall immediately examine the reaction times on the false start apparatus in order to confirm which athlete(s) is/are responsible for the false start. This system is strongly recommended for all other competitions.

3. In competitions held under Rule 12.1(a) and (b), (c), (d) and (e), competitors shall use starting blocks provided by the Organising Committee of the meeting and in other meetings, on all-weather tracks the Organising Committee may insist that only starting blocks provided by them may be used.

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RULE 162 - The Start

1. The start of a race shall be denoted by a white line 5cm wide. In all races not run in lanes the start line shall be curved, so that all the runners start the same distance from the finish.

2. All races shall be started by the report of the Starter's gun or approved starting apparatus fired upwards after he has ascertained that competitors are steady and in the correct starting position.

3. At all international meetings, the commands of the Starter in his own language, in English or in French shall, in races up to and including 400m (including 4x200m and 4x400m), be "On your marks", "Set", and when all competitors are "Set", the gun shall be fired, or approved starting apparatus activated. A competitor shall not touch either the start line or the ground in front of it with his hands or his feet when on his marks.

In races longer than 400m, the commands shall be "On your marks" and when all competitors are steady, the gun shall be fired, or approved starting apparatus activated. A competitor shall not touch the ground with his hand or hands during the start.

4. If for any reason the Starter is not satisfied that all is ready for the start to proceed after the competitors are on their marks, he shall order all competitors to withdraw from their marks and the Starter's Assistants shall place them on the assembly line again.

In all races up to and including 400m (including the first leg of the 4x200m and 4x400m), a crouch start and the use of starting blocks are compulsory.

After the "On your marks" command, a competitor shall approach the start line, assume a position completely within his allocated lane and behind the start line. Both hands and one knee shall be in contact with the ground and both feet in contact with the starting blocks. At the "Set" command, a competitor should immediately rise to his final starting position retaining the contact of the hands with the ground and of the feet with the foot plates of the blocks.

5. On the command "On your marks" or "Set", as the case may be, all competitors shall at once and without delay assume their full and final set position.

Failure to comply with this command after a reasonable time shall constitute a false start.

If a competitor after the command "On your marks" disturbs the other competitors in the race through sound or otherwise, it may be considered a false start.

6. If a competitor commences his starting motion after assuming his full and final set position, and before the report of the gun, or approved starting apparatus, it shall be deemed a false start.

7. Any competitor making a false start shall be warned. Except in Combined Events, only one false start per race shall be allowed without the disqualification of the athlete(s) making the false start. Any athlete(s) making further false starts in the race shall be disqualified from the race. In Combined Events, if a competitor is responsible for two false starts, he shall be disqualified.

8. The Starter or any Recaller, who is of the opinion that the start was not a fair one, shall recall the competitors by firing a gun.

Note: In practice, when one or more competitors make a false start, others are inclined to follow and, strictly speaking, any competitor who does so has also made a false start. The Starter should warn only such competitor or competitors who, in his opinion, were responsible for the false start. This may result in more than one competitor being warned. If the false start is not due to any competitor, no warnings shall be given.

1000m, 2000m, 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m
9. When there are more than 12 competitors in a race, they may be divided into two groups with one group of approximately 65% of the competitors on the regular arced start line and the other group on a separate arced start line marked across the outer half of the track. The other group should run as far as the end of the first bend on the outer half of the track.

The separate arced start line shall be marked in such a way that all the competitors shall run the same distance.

The breakline for 800m described in Rule 163.5 indicates where the athletes in the outer group in 2000m and 10,000m may join the runners using regular start. The track shall be marked at the entrance to the finish straight for group starts in 1000m, 3000m and 5000m to indicate where athletes starting in the outer group may join the runners using the regular start. This mark may be a 5cmx5cm mark on the line between lanes 4 and 5 (lanes 3 & 4 in a six-lane track) on which a cone or flag is placed until the two groups converge.

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RULE 163 - The Race

1. The direction of running shall be left-hand inside. The lanes shall be numbered with the left-hand inside lane numbered 1.

Obstruction
2. Any competing runner or walker who jostles or obstructs another competitor, so as to impede his progress, shall be liable to disqualification from that event. The Referee shall have the authority to order the race to be re-held excluding any disqualified competitor or, in the case of a heat, to permit any competitor(s) seriously affected by jostling or obstruction (other than any disqualified competitor), to compete in a subsequent round of the event. Normally such an athlete should have completed the event with bona fide effort.

Regardless of whether there has been a disqualification, the Referee, in exceptional circumstances, shall also have the authority to order the race to be re-held if he considers it just and reasonable to do so.

Running in Lanes
3. In all races run in lanes, each competitor shall keep within his allocated lane from start to finish. This shall also apply to any portion of a race run in lanes. Except as stated below in 4, if the Referee is satisfied, on the report of a Judge or Umpire or otherwise, that a competitor has run outside his lane, he shall be disqualified.

4. If a competitor is pushed or forced by another person to run outside his lane, and if no material advantage is gained, the competitor shall not be disqualified.

If an athlete either:
 
(i) runs outside his lane, and no material advantage is gained in the straight, or
 
(ii) runs outside the outer line of his lane on the bend, with no material advantage thereby being gained, and no other runner is obstructed then he shall likewise not be disqualified.

5. In competitions held under Rule 12.1(a), (b) and (c), the 800m event shall be run in lanes as far as the breakline marked after the first bend where runners may leave their respective lanes.

The breakline shall be an arced line, 5cm wide, across the track, marked at each end by a flag at least 1.50m high, positioned outside the track.

Note 1: To assist competitors identify the breakline, small cones or prisms, 5cmx5cm and no more than 15cm high, of the same colour as the breakline, may be placed on the intersection of the lane line and the breakline.

Note 2: In international matches, countries may reach agreement not to use lanes.

Leaving the Track
6. A competitor, after voluntarily leaving the track shall not be allowed to continue in the race.

Check-Marks
7. Except in the case of relay races run in lanes, competitors may not make check-marks or place objects on or alongside the running track for their assistance.

Wind Measurement
8. The periods for which the wind velocity shall be measured from the flash of the Starter's gun or approved starting apparatus are as follows: Seconds 100m 10 100m Hurdles 13 110m Hurdles 13

In the 200m event, the wind velocity shall be measured for a period of 10 seconds commencing when the first runner enters the straight.

9. The wind gauge for track events shall be placed beside the straight, adjacent to lane 1, 50m from the finish line. It shall be positioned 1.22m high and not more than 2m away from the track.

10. The wind gauge shall be read in metres per second, rounded to the next higher tenth of a metre per second, in the positive direction (that is, a reading of +2.03 metres per second shall be recorded as +2.1; a reading of -2.03 metres per second shall be recorded as -2.0). Gauges that produce digital readings expressed in tenths of metres per second shall be constructed so as to comply with this Rule.

Gauges must be certified by an appropriate authority.

11. A mechanical wind gauge should have appropriate protection to reduce the impact of any crosswind component. Where tubes are used, their length on either side of the measuring device should be at least twice the diameter of the tube.

12. The wind gauge may be started and stopped automatically and/or remotely, and the information conveyed directly to the competition computer.

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RULE 164 - The Finish

1. The finish of a race shall be denoted by a white line 5cm wide.

2. To assist alignment of the Photo Finish equipment and to facilitate the reading of the Photo Finish film, the intersection of the lane lines and the finish line shall be painted black in a suitable design.

3. The competitors shall be placed in the order in which any part of their bodies (i.e. torso, as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, legs, hands or feet) reaches the vertical plane of the nearer edge of the finish line as defined above.

4. In any race decided on the basis of the distance covered in a fixed period of time, the Starter shall fire the gun exactly one minute before the end of the race to warn competitors and Judges that the race is nearing its end. The Starter shall be directed by the Chief Timekeeper and, at exactly the appropriate time after the start, he shall signal the end of the race by again firing the gun. At the moment the gun is fired to signal the end of the race, the Judges appointed for that purpose shall mark the exact spot where each competitor touched the track for the last time before or simultaneously with the firing of the gun.

The distance achieved shall be measured to the nearest metre behind this mark. At least one Judge shall be assigned to each competitor before the start of the race for the purpose of marking the distance achieved.

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RULE 165 - Timing and Photo Finish

1. Two alternative methods of timekeeping shall be recognised as official:
- Hand timing;
- Fully Automatic timing obtained from a Photo Finish system.

Hand timing
2. The Timekeepers shall be in line with the finish and outside the track. Wherever possible, they should be placed at least 5m from the outside lane of the track. In order that they may all have a good view of the finish line, an elevated stand should be provided.

3. Timekeepers shall use either stopwatches or manually operated electronic timers with digital readouts. All such timing devices are termed "watches" for the purpose of IAAF Rules.

4. Times for all finishers shall be recorded. In addition, whenever possible, lap times in races of 800m and over and times at every 1000m in races of 3000m and over, shall be recorded either, by designated members of the timekeeping team using watches capable of taking more than one time, or by additional Timekeepers.

5. The time shall be taken from the flash/smoke of the gun or approved starting apparatus to the moment at which any part of the body of a competitor (i.e. torso, as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, legs, hands or feet) reaches the perpendicular plane of the nearer edge of the finish line.

6. Three official timekeepers (one of whom shall be the Chief Timekeeper) and one or two additional timekeepers shall time the winner of every event. The times recorded by the additional Timekeepers' watches shall not be considered unless one or more of the official Timekeepers' watches fail to record the time correctly, in which case the additional Timekeepers shall be called upon, in such order as has been decided previously, so that in all the races, three watches should have recorded the official winning time.

7. Each Timekeeper shall act independently and without showing his watch to, or discussing his time with, any other person, shall enter his time on the official form and, after signing it, hand it to the Chief Timekeeper who may examine the watches to verify the reported times.

8. For all hand-timed races on the track, times shall be read to the next longer 1/10th of a second. The times for races partly or entirely outside the stadium shall be converted to the next, longer full second, i.e. for the Marathon 2:09:44.3 shall be returned as 2:09:45.

If the hand of the watch stops between two lines indicating the time, the longer time shall be accepted. If a 1/100th second watch, or an electronic manually operated digital timer, is used, all times not ending in zero in the second decimal shall be rounded to the next longer 1/10th second, i.e. 10.11 shall be read as 10.2.

9. If two of the three watches agree and the third disagrees, the time recorded by the two shall be the official time. If all three Timekeepers disagree the middle time shall be official. Should only two times be available, and if they differ, the longer time shall be official.

10. The Chief Timekeeper, acting in accordance with the Rules mentioned above, shall decide the official time for each competitor and provide the result to the Competition Secretary for publication.

Fully Automatic Photo Finish
11. Fully Automatic Photo Finish equipment approved by IAAF should be used at all competitions.

General Conditions
12. The Photo Finish System must be able to produce a printed picture, which shows the time of every competitor.

13. The timing mechanism shall be started automatically by the Starter's gun or approved starting apparatus and the equipment must similarly record the finish times of the athletes automatically.

14. A timing system which operates automatically at either the start or the finish, but not at both, shall be considered to produce neither hand nor fully automatic times and shall not therefore be used to obtain official times. In this case, the times read on the film will not, under any circumstances, be considered as official, but the film may be used as a valid support in order to determine placings and adjust time intervals between runners.

Note: If the timing mechanism is not started by the Starter's gun, or approved starting apparatus, the time-scale on the film shall indicate this fact automatically.

15. Fully Automatic Photo Finish equipment shall be approved by the IAAF, based upon a test of accuracy made within 4 years prior to the competition. It shall be started automatically from the Starter's gun, or approved starting apparatus, so that the overall delay between the report from the muzzle and the start of the timing system is constant and less than one millisecond.

16. In all fully automatic and video-based systems, the picture production and the time system shall be synchronised.

The system
17. A video-based system may be used, provided:
 
(a) It conforms to the General Conditions above;
 
(b) It uses a video camera aligned with the finish line, which produces at least 50 frames per second;
 
(c) It incorporates a timing device that generates a reading to 1/50th of a second;
 
(d) The time for each competitor is read from the time of the frame where any part of the torso of the athletes reaching the perpendicular plane of the leading edge of the finish line.

Where no frame shows any part of the torso in this position, the time shall be taken from the frame where the athlete's torso is placed just beyond the finish line.

Note: Where competitors are involved in a close finish and none of the frames show any part of the torso of the athletes reaching the perpendicular plane of the leading edge of the finish line, the frame showing the athletes concerned, immediately before and immediately after their arrival at the finish line, must be considered.

If there is a change in finishing position between the two frames then the Chief Photo Finish Judge shall declare a dead-heat between the runners concerned.

18. A non video-based system may be used, provided:
 
(a) It conforms to the General Conditions above;
 
(b) It records the finish through a camera with a vertical slit, positioned in the extension of the finish line, producing a continuous image. The image must also be synchronised with a uniformly marked time-scale graduated in 1/100th of a second;
 
(c) The times and places are read from the image with a special device guaranteeing perpendicularity between the time scale and the reading line.

Operation
19. The Chief Photo Finish Judge shall be responsible for the functioning of the timing device.

20. Before the start of the meeting, he will meet the technical staff involved and familiarise himself with the equipment. He will supervise the positioning and testing of the equipment.

21. If possible, there should be at least two photo finish cameras in action, one from each side. Preferably, these timing systems should be technically independent, i.e. with different power supplies and recording and relaying the report of the Starter's gun, or approved starting apparatus, by separate equipment and cables.

Note: Where two or more photo finish cameras are used, one should be designated as official by the Technical Delegate (or International Photo Finish Judge where appointed) before the start of the meeting. The times and places from the other camera(s) should not be considered unless there is reason to doubt the accuracy of the official camera or if there is need to use the supplementary photos to resolve uncertainties in the finishing order (i.e. runners wholly or partially obscured on the official camera).

22. The Chief Photo Finish Judge, in cooperation with the Referee for track events and the Starter, shall initiate a control, before the beginning of each session, to ensure that the equipment is started automatically by the Starter's gun, or approved starting apparatus, and is correctly aligned and he shall supervise the zero control operation.

23. In conjunction with the two Assistants, the Chief Photo Finish Judge shall determine the places of the competitors and their respective times. He shall enter these placings and times on the official form and, after signing it, convey it to the Competition Secretary.

24. Times from photo finish camera shall be regarded as official unless for any reason the appropriate official decides that they obviously must be inaccurate. If such is the case, the times of the back-up Timekeepers, if possible adjusted based on information on time intervals obtained from the photo finish picture, shall be official. Such back-up Timekeepers must be appointed where any possibility exists of failure of the timing device.

25. Times shall be read from the photo finish picture as follow:
 
a) For all races up to and including 10,000m, the time shall be read and recorded from the photo finish picture in 1/100th second. Unless the time is an exact 1/100th of a second, it should be read to the next longer 1/100th of a second.
 
b) For all races on the track longer than 10,000m, the time shall be read in 1/100th second. All read times not ending in zero shall be converted and recorded to the next longer 1/10th second, e.g. For 20,000m, a time of 59:26.32 shall be recorded as 59:26.4.
 
c) For all races held partly or entirely outside the stadium, the time shall be read in 1/100th second. All times not ending in two zeroes shall be converted to the next longer whole second, e.g. for the Marathon, a time of 2:09:44.32 shall be recorded as 2:09:45.

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RULE 166 - Seedings, Draws and Qualification in Track Events Rounds and Heats

1. Preliminary rounds (heats) shall be held in track events in which the number of competitors is too large to allow the competition to be conducted satisfactorily in a single round (final). Where preliminary rounds are held, all competitors must compete in, and qualify through, all such rounds.

2. The heats, quarter-finals and semi-finals shall be arranged by the appointed Technical Delegates. If no Technical Delegates have been appointed they shall be arranged by the Organising Committee. In meetings under Rule 12.1(a), (b) and (c), the following tables shall, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, be used to determine the number of rounds, and the number of heats in each round, to be held and the qualification procedure for each round of track events:
 
100m, 200m, 400m, 100mH, 110mH, 400mH

800m, 4x100m, 4x400m

1500m

3000m SC, 3000m

5000m

10,000m

Whenever possible, representatives of each nation shall be placed in different heats.

Note: When heats are being arranged, it is recommended that as much information as possible about the performances of all competitors should be considered and the heats drawn so that, normally, the best performers reach the final.

3. After the first round, the competitors shall be placed in the heats of subsequent rounds in accordance with the following procedures:
 
(a) for events of 100m to 400m inclusive, and relays up to and including 4x400m, seeding shall be based upon placings and times of each previous round. For this purpose, competitors shall be ranked as follows:
 
-Fastest heat winner
-2nd fastest heat winner
-3rd fastest heat winner, etc.
-Fastest 2nd place
-2nd fastest 2nd place
-3rd fastest 2nd place, etc.
(Concluding with)
-Fastest time qualifier
-2nd fastest time qualifier
-3rd fastest time qualifier, etc.
The competitors shall then be placed in heats in the order of seeding in a zigzag distribution, i.e. 3 heats will consist of the following seedings:
 

The order of running heats A, B, C shall be drawn.
 
(b) for other events, the original performance lists shall continue to be used for seeding, modified only by improvements in performances achieved during the earlier round(s).
 
For the first round, the competitors shall be placed in heats, and the order of heats drawn, using the above system, but with the seeding determined from the relevant list of valid performances achieved during the predetermined period.

4. For events 100m to 800m inclusive, and relays up to and including 4x400m, where there are several successive rounds of a race, lanes will be drawn as follows:
 
(a) In the first round the lane order shall be drawn by lot.
 
(b) For the following rounds, competitors shall be ranked after each round in accordance with the procedure shown in Rule 166.3(a) or in the case of 800m, 166.3(b).
 
Two draws will then be made:
 
- one for the four highest ranked athletes or teams to determine placings in lanes 3, 4, 5 and 6.
 
- the other for the four lowest ranked athletes or teams to determine placings in lanes 1, 2, 7 and 8.

Note 1: When there are less than 8 lanes, the above system with the necessary modifications should be followed.

Note 2: In competitions under Rule 12.1(d) to (h) the 800m event may be run with one or two athletes in each lane, or with group start, starting behind an arced line.

Note 3: In meetings under Rule 12.1 (a), (b) and (c) this should normally only be applied in the first round, unless due to ties or advancement by the Referee, there are more athletes in a heat of a subsequent round than were anticipated.

5. A competitor shall not be allowed to compete in a heat other than the one in which his name appears, except in circumstances which, in the opinion of the Referee, justify an alteration.

6. In all preliminary rounds, at least the first and second in each heat shall qualify for the next round and it is recommended that, where possible, at least three in each heat should qualify.

Except where Rule 167 applies, any other competitors to qualify for the next round shall be decided either according to their placings or according to their times. In the latter case, only one system of timing may be applied.

The order in which heats are to be run shall be determined by draw after the composition of the heats has been decided.

7. The following minimum times must be allowed, when practicable, between the last heat of any round and the first heat of a subsequent round or final:
 
Up to and including 200m 45 minutes
Over 200m up to and including 1000m 90 minutes
Over 1000m Not on the same day
Single Rounds

8. In competitions under Rule 12.1(a), (b) and (c), for events longer than 800m, relays longer than 4x400m and any event where only a single round (final) is required, lanes/starting positions shall be drawn by lot.

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RULE 167 - Ties

Ties shall be resolved as follows:
 
In determining whether there has been a tie in any round for a qualifying position for the next round based on time, the Chief Photo Finish Judge shall consider the actual time recorded by the competitors to 1/1000th of a second. If it is thus determined that there has been a tie, the tying competitors shall be placed in the next round or, if that is not practicable, lots shall be drawn to determine who shall be placed in the next round.
 
In the case of a tie for first place in any final, the Referee is empowered to decide whether it is practicable to arrange for the competitors so tying to compete again. If he decides it is not, the result will stand. Ties in other placings shall remain.

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RULE 168 - Hurdle Races

1.Distances. The following are the standard distances:
 
Men and Boys: 110m, 400m     Women and Girls: 100m, 400m
 
There shall be ten flights of hurdles in each lane, set out in accordance with the following table:
 

Men and Boys

Women and Girls

Each hurdle shall be so placed on the track that the feet shall be on the side of the approach by the competitor. The hurdle shall be so placed so that the edge of the bar nearest the approaching hurdler coincides with the track marking nearest the athlete.

2. Construction. The hurdles shall be made of metal or some other suitable material with the top bar of wood or other suitable material.

They shall consist of two feet and two uprights supporting a rectangular frame, reinforced by one or more cross bars, the uprights to be fixed at the extreme end of each base. The hurdle shall be of such a design that a force at least equal to the weight of 3.6kg applied to the centre of the top edge of the top bar is required to overturn it. The hurdle may be adjustable in height for each event. The counterweights shall be adjustable so that at each height a force at least equal to the weight of 3.6kg and not more than 4kg is required to overturn it.

3. Dimensions. The standard heights of the hurdles shall be:
 

The width of the hurdles shall be from 1.18m to 1.20m.
 
The maximum length of the base shall be 70cm.
 
The total weight of the hurdles shall be not less than 10kg.
 
In each case there shall be a tolerance allowance of 3mm, above and below the standard heights, to allow for variation in the manufacture.

4. The width of the top bar shall be 7cm. The thickness of this bar should be between 1cm and 2.5cm, and the top edges should be rounded. The bar should be firmly fixed at the extremities.

5. The top bar should be painted with white and black stripes, or with other distinctive contrasting colours, such that the lighter stripes, which should be at least 22.5cm wide are on the outside.

6. All races shall be run in lanes and each competitor shall keep to his own lane throughout.

7. A competitor who trails his foot or leg below the horizontal plane of the top of any hurdle at the instant of clearance, or jumps any hurdle not in his own lane, or in the opinion of the Referee deliberately knocks down any hurdle by hand or foot, shall be disqualified.

8. Except as provided in paragraph 7, the knocking down of hurdles shall not result in disqualification nor prevent a record being made.

For MEN
9. For a World Record all hurdles must comply with the specifications of this Rule.

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RULE 169 - Steeplechase Races

1. The standard distances shall be 2000m and 3000m.

2. There shall be 28 hurdle jumps and 7 water jumps included in the 3000m event, and 18 hurdle jumps and 5 water jumps in the 2000m event.

3. For the 3000m event, there shall be five jumps in each complete lap with the water jump as the fourth. The jumps shall be evenly distributed, so that the distance between the jumps shall be approximately one fifth of the nominal length of the lap.

4. In the 3000m event, the distance from the start to the beginning of the first lap shall not include any jumps, the hurdles being removed until the competitors have entered the first lap.

5. The hurdles shall be 0.914m high for men's events and 0.762m for women's events (±3mm both) and shall be at least 3.96m wide. The section of the top bar of the hurdles, and the hurdle at the water jump, shall be 12.7cm square.

The hurdle at the water jump shall be 3.66 (±2cm) wide, and shall be firmly fixed to the ground, so that no horizontal movement is possible.

The top bars should be painted with white and black stripes, or with other distinctive contrasting colours, such that the lighter stripes, which should be at least 22.5cm wide, are on the outside.

The weight of each hurdle shall be between 80kg and 100kg. Each hurdle shall have on either side a base between 1.20m and 1.40m.(See diagram).

The hurdle shall be placed on the track so that 30cm of the top bar will extend inside the inner edge of the track.

Note: It is recommended that the first hurdle taken in the race should be at least 5m in width.

6. The water jump, including the hurdle, shall be 3.66m (± 2cm) in length and the water pit shall be 3.66m (± 2cm) in width.

The bottom of the water pit shall consist of a synthetic surface, or matting, of sufficient thickness to ensure safe landing, and allow for the spikes to grip satisfactorily. At the start of a race, the surface of the water shall be level with the surface of the track within a margin of 2cm. The depth of the water closest to the hurdle shall be 70cm for approximately 30cm. From there, the bottom shall have a uniform slope upwards to the level of the track at the farther end of the water pit.

Water Jump
7. Each competitor shall go over or through the water and anyone who steps to the one side or other of the jump or trails his foot or leg below the horizontal plane of the top of any hurdle at the instant of clearance shall be disqualified. Provided this Rule is observed, a competitor may go over each hurdle in any manner.

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RULE 170 - Relay Races

1. Lines 5cm wide shall be drawn across the track to mark the distances of the stages and to denote the scratch line.

2. Each take-over zone shall be 20m long of which the scratch line is the centre. The zones shall start and finish at the edges of the zone lines nearest the start line in the running direction.

3. The zone centre lines of the first take-over zones for the 4x400m (or the second zones for the 4x200m) are the same as the start lines for the 800m.

4. The take-over zones for the second and last take-overs (4x400m) will be the 10m lines either side of the start/finish line.

5. The arc across the track at the entry to the back straight showing the positions at which the second stage runners (4x400m) and third stage runners (4x200m) are permitted to leave their respective lanes, shall be identical to the arc for the 800m event, described in Rule 163.5.

6. 4x100m and, where possible, 4x200m relay races, shall be run entirely in lanes.

In 4x200m (if this event is not run entirely in lanes) and 4x400m relay races, the first lap, as well as that part of the second lap up to the line after the first bend (breakline), will be run entirely in lanes.

Note: In the 4x200m and 4x400m relays, where not more than 4 teams are competing, it is recommended that only the first bend of the first lap should be run in lanes.

7. In races of 4x100m and 4x200m, members of a team other than the first runner may commence running not more than 10m outside the take-over zone (see paragraph 2 above). A distinctive mark shall be made in each lane to denote this extended limit.

8. In the 4x400m relay, at the first take-over, which is carried out with the athletes remaining in their lanes, the 2nd runner is not permitted to begin running outside his take-over zone, and shall start within this zone. Similarly, the 3rd and 4th runners shall begin running from within their take-over zones.

The second runners in each team may break from their lanes immediately they have passed the line after the first bend (breakline) which shall be marked with an arced line 5cm wide across the track and by a flag at least 1.50m high positioned on each side of the track.

Note: To assist competitors identify the breakline small cones or prisms, 5cmx5cm and no more than 15cm high, of the same colour as the breakline, may be placed on the intersection of the lane lines and the breakline.

9. The runners in the third and fourth legs of the 4x400m relay race shall, under the direction of a designated official, place themselves in their waiting position in the same order (inside to out) as the order of their respective team members as they complete 200m of their legs. Once the incoming runners have passed this point, the waiting runners shall maintain their order, and shall not exchange positions at the beginning of the take-over zone. Should any athlete not follow this Rule he shall cause the disqualification of his team.

10. In other relay races, when lanes are not used, waiting runners can take an inner position on the track as incoming team members arrive, provided they do not jostle or obstruct another competitor so as to impede his progress.

11. Check-Marks. When all or the first portion of a relay race is being run in lanes, a competitor may place one check-mark on the track within his own lane, by using self-adhesive tape, maximum 5cmx40cm, of a distinctive colour which cannot be confused with other permanent markings. For a cinder or grass track, he may make a check-mark within his own lane by scratching the track. In either case no other check-mark may be used.

12. The baton shall be a smooth hollow tube, circular in section, made of wood, metal or any other rigid material in one piece, the length of which shall not be more than 30cm and not less than 28cm. The circumference shall be 12cm to 13cm and it shall not weigh less than 50gm. It should be coloured so as to be easily visible during the race.

13. The baton shall be carried by hand throughout the race. If dropped, it shall be recovered by the athlete who dropped it. He may leave his lane to retrieve the baton provided that, by doing so, he does not lessen the distance to be covered. Provided this procedure is adopted and no other athlete is impeded, dropping the baton shall not result in disqualification.

14. In all relay races, the baton shall be passed within the take-over zone. The passing of the baton commences when it is first touched by the receiving runner and is completed the moment it is in the hand of only the receiving runner. Competitors are not permitted to wear gloves or to place substances on their hands in order to obtain a better grip of the baton. Within the take-over zone, it is only the position of the baton which is decisive, and not the position of the body of the competitors. Passing of the baton outside the take-over zone shall result in disqualification.

15. Competitors, before receiving and/or after handing over the baton, should keep in their lanes or zones, in this last case until the course is clear to avoid obstruction to other competitors. Rule 163.3 and 4 shall not apply to these athletes. Should any competitor wilfully impede a member of another team by running out of position or lane at the finish of his stage, his team shall be disqualified.

16. Assistance by pushing or by any other method shall result in disqualification.

17. Once a relay team has started in a competition, only two additional athletes may be used as substitutes in the composition of the team for subsequent rounds. Substitutions in a relay team may only be made from the list of athletes already entered for the meeting whether for that or any other event.

18. The composition of a team and the order of running for a relay shall be officially declared no later than one hour before the published first call time for the first heat of each round of the competition.

Further alterations may be made on medical grounds only (verified by a medical officer appointed by the Organising Committee) until the final call time for the particular heat in which the team is competing. Once an athlete, who has started in a previous round, has been replaced by a substitute, he may not return to the team.

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