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Pole vaulting is an athletics (track and field) event in which an athlete uses a pole to jump over an obstacle. Pole-vaulting for height began as a practical technique of clearing items such as ditches, brooks, and fences, but by the mid-nineteenth century, it had evolved into a competitive sport. Since the inaugural modern Games in 1896, this has been an Olympic event for men, but for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, a women's pole vault event was added . Each vaulter has three tries to clear a certain height during competition. A bar is supported by two uprights and will readily fall if touched. It is gradually increased until a winner is determined through a process of elimination. Ties are broken by a “count back” based on the number of failures at the final height, the total number of failures in the contest, or the total number of attempts in the contest. The pole can be made of any material: bamboo poles, introduced in 1904, swiftly surpassed heavier hardwood poles in popularity; by the early 1960s, glass fibre had shown to be the most effective and popular. The length and diameter of the poles are entirely up to you.
A slideway, sometimes known as a box, is buried in the ground with its back exactly beneath the crossbar (see illustration). Upon leaving the ground, the vaulter thrusts the pole into this box. Behind the crossbar is a landing hole that is at least 5 meters (16.4 feet) square and filled with soft, cushioning material. Athletes must possess a high level of coordination, timing, speed, and gymnastic skill. While carrying the pole, the modern vaulter makes a 40-meter (131.2-foot) run and approaches the takeoff with considerable speed. The vaulter performs the shift as the stride before the spring is finished, which entails advancing the pole toward the slideway while allowing the lower hand to creep up the pole until it reaches the upper hand, then raising both hands as high as possible above the head before leaving the ground. As a result, the vaulter can use the entire pulling strength of both arms to raise the body and assist in the swinging up of the legs. The vaulter firmly places the pole in the box and, rather than jumping, runs off the ground, leaving his body hanging by his hands as long as possible; the glass-fibre pole's rapid, catapulting action makes time extremely critical. The pole's legs swing upward and to the side, then shoot high above the crossbar. The body turns down to face the ground. The vaulter's body crosses the crossbar using "carry," which is the forward speed gained during the run.
A rubberized artificial running surface for track and field athletics is known as an all-weather running track. It provides a level playing field for competitors to put their athletic abilities to the test without being hampered by inclement weather. According to IAAF rule 166.3, the seeded lanes are 3,4,5, and 6, while the lesser seedings are 1,2,7, and 8. The drawings within these seeds are done in a random order. Lane 4 is generally regarded as the best lane because it has the gentlest curve (as opposed to 1-3) while still allowing the driver to view the majority of the other rivals. Lanes 5-8 are on the outside, and 1-3 can only be seen in the distance. Indoors, lane 5 is the favored lane due to the tightness of the bends outweighing any concerns about seeing your competition. According to Michael Johnson's book, the finest racers have complete control over the race. They will frequently run in a specific direction in order to outrun their opponents in some way. 'Run their own race' isn't enough.
Various types of earth, grass, sand, and crushed cinders were employed in the past. Many examples of these kind of tracks may still be found around the world. Artificial surfaces made of a blend of rubber and asphalt first appeared in the late 1950s. For the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, an artificial warm-up track was built. Many of these tracks were built during the 1960s, and many still exist today. Tartan tracks were designed in the mid-1960s and surfaced with a 3M substance. Tartan is a registered trademark, however it is also used as a generic trademark. Though it was originally designed for horse racing, this method was the first to commercialize a polyurethane surface for running tracks. Several Tartan tracks have been erected around the world, including at many of America's finest institutions. A Tartan track was installed in the Estadio Olmpico Universitario in Mexico City, which hosted the 1968 Summer Olympics, the first worldwide championships to use such a track. Bill Nieder, an Olympic shot put champion, was instrumental in creating and marketing the equipment for its debut usage in the Olympics. Since then, an all-weather surface has become the norm. Another Tartan track was built for the 1968 US Olympic Trials in California, then relocated to South Tahoe Middle School, where it remained for nearly 40 years. On a satellite of the school at 10th Street and Alma, an original Tartan track is still in place at "Speed City" San Jose State University.