 The sport involves the three major themes of running, throwing, and jumping and can be divided into four disciplines: track, field, road, and combined. The track events are all measured in meters and consist of the following: the sprints (100m, 200m, 400m), the middle-distance running (800m and 1500m), long-distance running (5000m and 10,000m), hurdling (100m for women, 110m for men and 400m for both), relay racing (4x100m and 4x400m) and finally the men's 3000m steeplechase.
The field events are the long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin, and hammer throw. The Sydney Games will mark the Olympic debut of women's pole vault and hammer throw. The road events are the separate men's and women's marathons, the women's 10km race walk and the men's 20km and 50km race walks.
The combined events are held over two days. The women's heptathlon consists of seven events (200m, 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, javelin and finally the 800m) and the men's decathlon is made up of 10 events (100m, 400m, 110m hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, discus, javelin, pole vault, and finally the 1500m).
Since there are such a wide variety of events under the umbrella of track and field, athletes, about 2000 of them in fact, of all shapes and sizes will compete in track and field at the 2000 Summer Games-from the oversized weight throwers to the slightly built marathon runners.
Like every Olympics, the world's greatest athletes will be present. One of those expected to star at Sydney is American Marion Jones, who will be aiming for an unprecedented five gold medals. Jones will be competing in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x400m, and long jump.
OLYMPICS 2000
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Also look for two big showdowns. First there's the women's 400m final between defending gold medallist Marie-Jose Perec of France and hometown favorite and world champion Cathy Freeman of Australia. Then watch the men's 100m which should shape up as a three-way duel between defending gold medallist Donovan Bailey of Canada, world record holder Maurice Greene of the U.S. and Ato Boldon of Trinidad, as the unofficial title of "world's fastest human" is awarded.
All the track and field events, except the marathons and race walks, will be held at Sydney's majestic new Olympic Stadium. The stadium, the largest outdoor venue in Olympic history, cost $690 million, seats 110,000, and will also host the Games' opening and closing ceremonies as well as the men's gold medal soccer match.
The marathon course will start in North Sydney, cross the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge and eventually finish at Olympic Park. The course is predominantly flat with few sharp corners so fast times are expected. The women's race starts at 7:30 a.m. on Sept. 24 and the men's race will start at 4 p.m. on Oct. 1.
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