Timeline: Track and field, with a special focus on throwing and jumping events

2300 BCE

First known competences

Athletic contests in running, walking, jumping and throwing.

2250 BCE

First jumps

High jump in Ancient Egyptian tombs in Saqarra.

1800 BCE

First throws

The Tailteann Games (an ancient Celtic festival in Ireland) including running and stone-throwing in the 30 day meet.

1601 BCE

First 'festival'

Cotswold Olympic Games (a sports festival) featuring athletics in the form of sledgehammer throwing contests.

500 BCE

First time in the ancient olympics.

Olympics expanded to include throwing and jumping events within the ancient pentathlon. Other athletic competitions were held at the Panehellenic Games.

1796

Measurement

Olympiade marked the introduction of the metric system into the sport.

1850

First games to include them

The annual Wenlock Olympic Games were first held incorporating athletics events into its sports programme.

1860

First "modern" event

The first modern-style indoor athletics meeting included a meet at Ashburnham Hall in London which featured 4 running events and a triple jump competition.

1876

First annual competition

The US began holding an annual national athletics competitions - the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, first held by the New York Athletic Club.

1896

First modern Olympic Games

An athletics competition was included in the first modern Olympic Games (however only men could compete).

1896

Throwing and jumping in the Olympics

The jumping events such as long jump, high jump, triple jump, and pole vault were all included along with the throwing events of shot-put, disk and javelin.

1912

IAAF

An international governing body, the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), was founded.

1928

First women to compete

Women's events were introduced into the Olympic Games.

1928

Female discus throw

Women began throwing in this event since the first games were they were allowed to compete.

1932

Women and javelins

Women started to compete with the javelin at these year's games.

1948

Women and shot-put

Women started to compete with the shot-put at that year's games.

1952

First handicapped events

The 1st organised international competitions for athletes with a physical disability (excluding deafness), here there were throws for the handicapped.

1960