Glossary of Track and Field Terms
Track and Field Glossary
General Terms
Athlete: (atleta) A person who is skilled in track and field events; a sportsperson.
Athletics/Track and Field: (atletismo) The sport of competing in track and field events.
Curb/Kerb/Rail: (Cuerda) Typically, an aluminum bar running along the inside of the first lane. The rail makes it easier to spot distance runners stepping off the track. Rails are commonly used on outdoor tracks.
Event: (Prueba) Any one contest in a program of sporting or other contests.
Meeting: (Mitin, reunión deportiva, reunión atlética) A sporting competition, as of athletes, or of horse racing.
Performance: (Marca) Final result obtained in a sporting event.
Record: (Record) The best performance in a sporting event that has been officially measured and noted.
Flat Racing (Carreras Llanas)
Break Away: (Aceleración, escapada) To make a sudden effort, as in running to escape, to get away.
Bell Lap: (Última vuelta) The final lap in a distance race, signaled by the ringing of a bell.
Change of Pace: (Cambio de ritmo) Altering the speed of the race.
Endurance: (Fondo) The physical quality of being able to extend the duration of a given activity.
False Start: (Salida nula) Failed start of a race, usually caused by a runner moving forward before the starting gun is fired.
Field: (Campo) An area in which an athletic event takes place, especially the area inside or near to a running track, where field events are held.
Final Sprint: (Esprín final) A fast finishing speed at the end of a longer race, as in running or cycling, etc.
Finish Gantry: (Parrilla de llegada) The frame situated at the point where the race finishes.
Start Gantry: (Parrilla de salida) The frame situated at the point where the race starts.
Lane: (Calle) Each of a number of parallel strips marked on a running track for athletes to run along.
Lap: (Vuelta) One circuit of, or one time around, a running track or a racetrack.
Long-Distance Runner: (Fondista) Runner participating in long-distance events, which are defined as races covering three kilometers (1.86 miles) and above.
Main Group: (Pelotón) Large group of runners in long and middle-distance races.
Marathon: (Maratón) A long-distance running race of 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km).
Marathoner: (Maratoniano) An athlete participating in a marathon.
Middle-Distance Races: (Carreras de media distancia) Commonly considered races above 400 meters in distance, but below (or sometimes including) the 3,000-meter distance.
Middle-Distance Runner/Miller: (Mediofondista) An athlete participating in a middle-distance race.
Pace: (Ritmo) The rate at which a runner is running. It’s important in long-distance races to have the proper pace; slow enough so the runner doesn’t tire out before the end of the race, but fast enough to win.
Pace Maker/Pace Setter/(Rabbit): (Liebre) A runner who leads a middle or long-distance running event for the first section to ensure a fast time and avoid excessive tactical racing.
Race: (Carrera) A contest of speed, as in running.
Sprint/Dash: (Esprín) A short running race (over a distance of 400 m. or less) where acceleration and top speed are important.
Sprinter: (Esprínter, velocista) An athlete participating in a sprint race.
Starting Blocks: (Tacos de salida) Items used in sprint races where the runner puts their feet in to get a good start for the run.
To Lap: (Doblar) To overtake (an opponent) in a race so as to be one or more circuits ahead.
Track: (Pista) A prepared circuit for athletes to run on; the sport of running on such a track.
Obstacle Races (Carreras de Obstáculos)
Hurdles: (Vallas) Upright frames, normally placed in a series, which athletes jump over.
Hurdle Race: (Carrera de vallas) A race over such frames.
Hurdler: (Vallista) An athlete participating in a hurdle race.
Leading Leg: (Pierna de ataque) The first leg with which an athlete attacks the hurdle to clear it.
Steeplechase: (Carrera de obstáculos) Running race in which competitors must clear hurdles and water jumps.
Water Jump Barrier: (Ría. Lo más completo sería obstáculo con ría) The water jump includes a hurdle with a water pit directly behind it. The pit is 70 centimeters deep nearest to the hurdle but slopes upwards. The purpose of the slope is so runners try to jump longer to encounter less water.
Relay Events (Carreras de Relevos)
Baton: (Testigo) A tube that is passed from one relay race member to another. The runner holding the baton is the current runner for that team in the race. They are typically about 1 foot long and 1.5 inches in diameter.
Line of Takeover Zone: (Zona de transferencia) Designated area where athletes must exchange the baton.
Relay Runner: (Relevista) Athlete participating in a relay race.
Relay Race/Relay Event: (Prueba de relevos, carrera de relevos) A race involving multiple runners (typically 4) where each runner runs a leg of the race, handing off a baton to the next runner.
Race Walking Events (Pruebas de Marcha)
Walker: (Marchador) An athlete participating in race walking.
Walking (Race Walking): (Marcha atlética) It is a long-distance athletic event. Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times.
Walking Events Judge: (Juez de marcha) Judge situated on the course of the race to monitor it. These three judges submit “red cards” for violations, resulting in disqualification.
Referee for Walking Events: (Juez principal) If the third violation is received, this “chief judge” removes the competitor from the course by showing a red paddle.
Cross-Country Running: (Cross, campo a través, a campo traviesa) It is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically 4–12 kilometers (2.5–7.5 mi) long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road.
Field Events
Field: (Campo) An area of open land; events in athletics that involve throwing, jumping, and vaulting.
Foul: (Nulo) An unfair or illegal act, e.g., foul throw, foul jump.
Trial: (Intento) An attempt or effort to do something.
Throwing Events
Discus: (Disco) A heavy, thick-centered disk.
Discus Throw: (Lanzamiento de disco) The sport of throwing the discus.
Stop Board: (Contenedor) A stop board of 1.21m by 0.112m by 0.10m is used at the edge of the throwing circle.
Swing: (Balanceo) Movement that the discus thrower performs with his arm before starting the “turn” (giro).
Javelin Throw: (Lanzamiento de jabalina) A track and field throwing event where a spear-like javelin is thrown for distance.
Run-Up: (Carrera de impulso) The run-up is started from a check mark with the left foot forward, or a few preliminary walking or slow running strides before the left foot hits the checkmark. The run-up begins with a smooth acceleration and aims to reach in 8 to 10 running strides a movement speed that corresponds to the thrower’s capacities and technical level. The final speed must allow the thrower to move into an efficient pre-delivery position to be ready for the beginning of the actual delivery.
Hammer: (Martillo) A 16-pound metal ball attached to a wire for throwing in an athletic contest.
Hammer Throw: (Lanzamiento de martillo) The sport of throwing the hammer.
Preliminary Swings: (Molinete) Fast rotating movements of arms made by the hammer thrower at the start of its launch.
Shot: (Peso) Very heavy metal ball.
Shot Put: (Lanzamiento de peso) An athletic contest in which a very heavy metal ball is thrown as far as possible.
Jumping Events
Attack: (Ataque) The Attack Phase is where all of your effort goes into sprinting.
Sandpit: (Foso de arena o zona de caída) An area in a jumping event (i.e., long jump or triple jump) where the athlete lands.
Take-Off Leg: (Pierna de impulso) The leg with which the athlete begins the jump (take-off: despegue).
Trial: (Intento) An attempt or effort to do something.
Jumper: (Saltador) A participant in a jumping event.
Fosbury Style/Fosbury Flop: (Estilo Fosbury) A technique used in the high jump where the jumper goes head first over the bar with their back toward the bar when going over it.
High Jump: (Salto de altura) Sport in which competitors jump over a bar without knocking it over, that is raised until only one competitor can jump over it.
Straddle Jump: (Salto de rodillo, rodillo ventral) Unlike the scissors or flop style of jump, where the jumper approaches the bar so as to take off from the outer foot, the straddle jumper approaches from the opposite side, so as to take off from the inner foot.
Landing: (Recepción) Moment in which the athlete, after his jump, touches land again.
Long Jump/Broad Jump: (Salto de longitud) An athletic event in which competitors jump as far as possible along the ground in one leap.
Long Jumper/Broad Jumper: (Saltador de longitud) An athlete participating in a long jump event.
Triple Jump: (Triple salto) A track and field jumping event with three distinct phases to the jump, including a hop, a step, and a jump.
Triple Jumper/Tripler: (Saltador de triple, triplista) An athlete participating in a triple jump event.
Stamp Board/Take-Off Board: (Tabla de batida) A piece of wood about 8in long across the track marking the point at which competitors must take off. Beyond this is a 4in Plasticine board that captures the footprint of any athlete overstepping the takeoff board.
Pole: (Pértiga). (In South America, “garrocha” is common) A long, flexible bar (which today is usually made either of fiberglass or carbon fiber) as an aid to jump to great heights.
Pole Vault: (Salto con pértiga) A track and field jumping event where a long pole is used to propel the jumper to great heights.
Pole Vaulter: (Saltador de pértiga, pertiguista) An athlete participating in a pole vault event.
Combined Events
Decathlete: (Decatloniano) An athlete participating in a Decathlon.
Decathlon: (Decatlón) A combined track and field event that consists of 10 different events. Sometimes the decathlon winner is dubbed the greatest athlete in the world.
Heptathlete: (Heptatloniano) An athlete participating in a Heptathlon.
Heptathlon: (Heptatlón) A combined track and field event that consists of 7 different events.
Pentathlete: (Pentatleta) An athlete participating in a pentathlon.
Pentathlon: (Pentatlón) A combined track and field event that consists of 5 different events.