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It was created alongside religious events and celebrations for the Greek gods where men (no women were allowed) could show off their athletic abilities. -
the first games included categories such as sprint races, long jump, discus, shot put and javelin. -
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the Romans who continued the games until the Christian Emperor Theodosius I banned them in 394 A.D. because of their ties to pagan beliefs. -
Spikes have their origins in the 1850’s, where they were heavy leather shoes with nails driven through the soles. They provided added grip on the dirt and cinder athletics tracks of the day. Today, they are lightweight shoes with replaceable spikes to suit a number of track surfaces, incorporating space age technology. -
In 1866, England held its first championships for men amateurs. -
Momentum behind track and field started to grow in England and later traveled to the United States. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) was founded in the U.S. in 1887 and has been the governing body for the sport since. -
10 years later, the modern Olympics began in 1896 with track and field amongst the list of participating sports. -
Track and field events were opened to women by the Amateur Athletic Union. -
The first starting blocks emerged in the late 1920s and became a standard and accepted practice in the 1930s. -
track and field were opened to women at the Summer Olympic Games, with stipulations that women’s shorts are no more that four inches above their knees. In the 100 meter race, American Betty Robinson was the first woman to win a gold medal in track and field. -
By 1937, the use of starting blocks became mandatory so runners could not have any unfair advantages and all the runners would have "a fair start. -
The earlier starting blocks would be large enough that the entire length of the runners' feet could rest on the block, but in the early 1970s, starting blocks were modified so the heel would overlap the top edge of the block. The thought behind this was an increased burst because of the calf muscle was more fully engaged.