Track and Field is a very popular sport that has existed for thousands of years—since the Olympics of 776 B.C.E! However, the track didn’t gain popularity until the 1860s. Track was made for men to show their strengths (at the time).
However, besides the Olympics, the track existed for much longer. Legend says that in 490 B.C. after the Greeks won the battle against Persia, Phieidippides ran 25 miles. Shortly after, he died. To support him a marathon was hosted and they ran 24.8 miles at the first modern Olympics. The marathon distance was set to 26 miles in the 1908 London Games. The first-ever college track meet was held in 1864 between Oxford and Cambridge. The International Amateur Athletic Federation became the governing body of the sport in 1912. In 2001 the name was changed to “International Association of Athletics Federations”. In 2019 it was finally changed to World Athletics.
