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Middle
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Middle distance track events are track races longer than sprints up to (and arguably including) 5000 meters. Biological factors that go primarily into a middle distance racer are developed fast and type 1 slow twitch muscles, adrenaline (usually for the final kick), anaerobic respiration (bringing it in after the final kick), racing tactics, and aerobic conditioning. The 1500 m has been estimated to require an equal contribution from fast and slow twitch muscles.
Common distances (and not so common ones):
The standard middle distances are the 800 m, 1500 m, mile (in the US), and the
3000 m. The 3000 m is more common in the US at the high school and collegiate
level (along with the US two mile) and is in fact not run at the world championships.
600 m
This middle distance length is rather uncommon. The record at this distance
for men:
Johnny Gray 1:12.81 Santa Monica, USA 24 May 1986
For women:
Ana Fidelia Quirot 1:22.63 Guadalajara, ESP 25 July 1997
800 m
The 800 m is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event.
It was included in the first women's track programme in 1928, but suspended
until 1960 because of shock at the exhaustion it caused the competitors. By
contrast, without today's training regimes, male competitors of the day were
expected to run themselves to exhaustion in competition.
Tactics
In a modern competition, the first 100 m is run in lanes, after which competitors
may break for the inside without deliberately obstructing or pushing another
competitor. Running flat out for this distance is impossible and tactics can
be a factor in reaching the finish line first. Running in the lead is often
considered a disadvantage as trailing runners can choose when to accelerate
past the leader, and the effect of wind resistance. Runners not in first place
on the inside can find themselves boxed if other runners start to overtake them.
Running in last place is not recommended as there may be too much ground to
make up when the final sprint for the finish starts.
In top class races, the lane start usually ensures a brisk pace for the first 200 m. Occasionally, no one will be happy to lead and the field will bunch for the remainder of the first lap leaving a sprint on the second lap. More often, one runner will ensure a fast first lap and the winner will be the one who slows least on the second lap, despite the appearance of sprinting at the finish. However, the occasional 800-meter runner is able to produce a world-class 800 with even laps, or even negative splits.
Records
800 m runners are often fast enough to run in the 4 x 400 metres relay but only
Alberto Juantorena and Jarmila Kratochvilova have won major international titles
at 400 m and 800 m. Competing successfully at 800 m and 1500 m is more common.
World Record for men:
Wilson Kipketer 1:41.11 Köln 24 August 1997
World Record for women:
Jarmila Kratochvílová 1:53.28 München 26 July 1983
Trivia
In the last 11 Olympic Games, athletes from 10 different countries have won
the mens 800 metres title.
1000 m
More popular than the 500 metres is to the sprints. The record at this distance
for men:
Noah Ngeny 2:11.96 Rieti 5 September 1999
For women:
Svetlana Masterkova 2:28.98 München 23 August 1996
1200 m
Common distance that is part of the distance medley relay
1500 m
The other premier middle distance race. Is becoming more of a prolonged sprint
nowadays, with each lap averaging 55 seconds for the world record performance
by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 1998 at Rome (two 1:50 s 800 m performances
back to back). Thus, speed is necessary, and it seems that the more aerobic
conditioning, the better. Three and three-quarter laps around the track. Lots
of tactics can be employed in this race, too numerous to discuss here. A very
tough distance to perform at mentally. The distance is often witness to some
of the more tactical, more physical races in the sport, as many championship
races are won in the final few meters.
This is also known in the US as "the metric mile". The record at this
distance for men:
Hicham El Guerrouj 3:26.00 Roma 14 July 1998
For women:
Yunxia Qu 3:50.46 Beijing 11 September 1993
Mile
This length of track, 1760 yards, (1609 metres), is very common in countries
that don't use the metric system, and is still often referred to as the "Blue
Riband" of the track.
When the International Amateur Athletic Federation decided in 1976 to recognise only world records for metric distances, it made an exception for the mile and records are kept to this day.
Historically, the mile took the place that the 1500 m has today. It is still raced on the world class level, but only at select locations. It can be romantically appreciated as a remnant of the past but is still fiercely contested. It is famous for its 4 minute barrier that so many people tried to break. The term "miler" is sometimes also applied to a 1500 m runner. The record at this distance for men:
Hicham El Guerrouj 3:43.13 Rome 07 July 1999
For women:
Svetlana Masterkova 4:12.56 Zürich 14 August 1996
2000 m
Another event that is rarely run, it is one where a miler's speed will generally
prevail over that of anyone challenging him or her. The record at this distance
for men:
Hicham El Guerrouj 4:44.79 Berlin September 7, 1999
For women:
Sonia O'Sullivan 5:25.36 Edinburgh July 8, 1994
3000 m
Truly on the borderline between middle and longer distances, the 3000 m are
a standard race. Requires decent speed, but can be made up with superior aerobic
conditioning and race tactics to support that. The record at this distance for
men:
Daniel Komen 7:20.67 Rieti 01 September 1996
For women:
Junxia Wang 8:06.11 Beijing 13 September 1993
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