Combined events are combination of track and field events. It started during the ancient Olympic Games to test the all-round athletic ability of the competitors. There are three types of combined events. These are:
Table of Contents
- Decathlon (for men)
- Heptathlon (for both men and women)
- Pentathlon (for women)
Decathlon: The term “decathlon” is a Greek term that means “ten test.” The decathlon consists of ten athletics events.They are events mainly for men. They are held on two consecutive days. Points are awarded for each event to find the best all-round athlete. An athlete that compete in decathlon is called decathlete
First day: Second day:
- 100m hurdle (i) 110m hurdle
- High jump (ii) Discus
- Shot put (iii) Pole vault
- Long jump (iv) Javelin
- 400m race (v) 1,500m race
Pentathlon: The term “Pentathlon” is a Greek term that means “five test.”The pentathlon consists of five athletics events. An athlete that compete in pentathlon event is called penthathlete.They are events mainly for women. They shall be held in one day in the following order:
Long jump
Javelin throw
200m race
Discus throw
1,500m race
Heptathlon: The term “Heptathlon” is a Greek term that means “seven test” The heptathlon consist of seven athletics events. They are events mainly for women. They are shall be held on two consecutive days in the following order.
Day one Day Two
100m hurdles Long jump
High jump Javelin
Shot put 800m race
200m race
The scoring
The winners of the events are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a point in each event, not by the position achieved
Official of combined events
- The referee
- Umpire
- Chief field judge
- Chief track judge
- Field judge
- Time keeper
- Starter
- Announcer
- Recorders
- Marksmen
Facilities and equipment
- Hurdles stands and high jump stands
- Pole vault stands and poles
- Landing foams, javelin, shot put and disowns implements
- Stop watches, whistles, starting gun
- Measuring tapes and writing materials
- White and reflags
- Public address system
Rules and regulations
- The athletes should not run out of their lanes
- The jumper must not fall against the edge of the pit near the take off board than where he landed
- The athlete that gained the greatest total points over all events is judged the winner
- Failure to participate in an events brings about elimination from the over competition
- The discus thrower must leave the circle from behind.
See also
CAUSES OF DISEASES AND THEIR PREVENTION