The Sports Staff shared what event they think is the hardest in track and field.

Zaria Flippin (Sports Editor): Shot put

I think shot put is the most difficult event in track and field.

Shot put is an event that takes a lot of arm strength, but I don’t think people understand just how much leg strength the event also requires.

Shot put has to be one of if not the most technical event, as it requires strength, speed and power.

The shot, the metal ball shot putters have to throw, are 16 pounds for men and 8.8 pounds for women. What I think is incredibly hard about shot putting is that they can only throw it with one hand.

If shot putters had the ability to throw with two hands, I think this would be a different conversation on what the hardest event in track and field is.

Also, the shot has to be released above the height of the shoulder. Athletes have to push up and out, which can be extremely difficult to do, especially if you’re timed. Shot putters only have 60 seconds to throw their shot as far as they can.

Luther Yoder (Assistant Sports Editor): 400-meter dash

I believe that the 400-meter dash is the hardest event in track and field. I think that it is the hardest because you have to run at a full sprint for 400 meters.

Last year to qualify for the Illinois High School Association state championships in the 400-meter dash, you had to run a time of 52.18 seconds. That is like running a 13 second 100-meter dash four times without ever slowing down.

It seems that it would be harder to run at a full sprint for 400 meters because that is a little long compared to other sprints like the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. It’s twice as long as the next closest sprint, the 200, but athletes still have to try and maintain that speed.

The world record for the fastest 100-meter dash is held by Usain Bolt at 9.58 seconds. The world record for the fastest 400-meter dash is held by Wayde van Niekerk at 43.03 seconds. That time is like running a 10.76 second 100-meter dash four times.

This means that to set the world record in the 400, you would have to run the 100-meter dash at a little over a second slower than the world record four times.

Payton Liggins (Sports Reporter): Shot put and Discus

Throwing events in track and field are notoriously challenging due to the unique combination of strength, technique and mental focus required to excel. Unlike running events where the primary focus is on speed and endurance, throwing events require athletes to generate explosive power and control to maximize their distance. This can be particularly difficult for those who are not naturally gifted in terms of strength or coordination.

In addition to the physical demands, throwing events also require a great deal of mental focus and strategizing. Athletes must be able to analyze their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses to determine the best approach for each throw. They must also be able to maintain their composure under pressure, as even the slightest mistake can result in a significant decrease in distance.

Going against some of the strongest girls in the country made me realize how much time and effort shot putters really put into their workouts and conditioning.

Furthermore, the equipment used in throwing events, such as the shot and discus, can be extremely heavy and difficult to handle. Proper technique is essential to avoid injury and achieve maximum distance. This requires hours of practice and training, both in the weight room and on the field.

Chloe Proffitt (Sports Reporter): 800-meter run

In my opinion, the 800-meter run is the hardest event in track.

The 800 is a true test of speed but also endurance; it is practically an all-out sprint.

As a distance runner, the 800 always tests me and leaves me beyond exhausted. It is one event I would prefer not to race.

Many could also argue the 400-meter hurdle event is right up there with the 800.

400m hurdles are also extremely challenging. The 400-meter run is difficult enough to begin with; adding the extra obstacles makes it significantly more exhausting.

Hurdles also takes a lot more skill than just running, as hurdle events can be super challenging to train for.

Maurice Phipps (Sports Reporter): 400-meter dash

​I think the hardest track event would be the 400-meter dash. You’d assume the fastest runner on the team would be able to run the 400 the fastest, but you’d be wrong in that assumption.

The thing about the 400 is that it takes the right balance of speed and pacing yourself. I used to wonder why when I’d watch the Olympics I didn’t see the same runners participate in the 400-meter dash that raced in the 100-meter dash. It’s because you’re running an entirely different race.

Running a 400 with 100 pace means that you’ll burn out way before you need to use your speed. It’s a balancing act, and I don’t think most people are aware of that.

The 400 is also considered a sprint. Sprinting in general is something that people generally don’t do for long, so sprinting for as long as it takes to complete a 400-meter dash seems ridiculous.

Even more so when you consider just how much time the best 400 runners shave off compared to everyone else. Can you even imagine running at sprint speed for a minute straight? I think when you consider that, the 400 meter-dash stands as the most difficult track event.

Patrick Schmitz (Sports Reporter): 400-meter dash

In track and field, there are many exceedingly difficult events that athletes compete in. However, one stands out as the most difficult to me: the 400-meter dash.

The 400-meter is called a dash for a reason. The runners must sprint a lap around the track without slowing down. It is the longest event where you must sprint the entire race. Some people might say that you must sprint in the 800-meter dash, but most runners pace themselves for the first 600 meters and then sprint.

In the 400, you get no warm-up or pace throughout the race. It is straight into sprinting around the entire track. Many of my friends back in high school ran the 400 and would complain constantly. I also knew people who ran the other events, and they all would get through them fine. The people who ran the 400 were the only people to complain about their event.

In short, all events in track and field are difficult. I would not be good at any of them. However, the one event I would never want to try is the 400. I would not want to sprint around the track at full speed for a good minute straight.

Cameron Thomas (Sports Reporter): Shot Put

I think the hardest track and field event is the shot put. I think that it is the hardest because you need to have great upper body strength, great balance and great technique.

The technique is hard because you have to get every step down from the placement of the shot put, to the angle of the starting position and even the rotation of your hips. Unlike running track, shot put is so technical, which makes it harder to master than the other events.

Shot put also requires a lot of mobility because you can mess up your shoulder. If your technique is off, your throw won’t get anywhere, and you can’t say the same for sprinters. Shot put requires a lot more strength than other events, and it can be difficult for many to put on muscle.

The shot put can injure athletes’ knees, hands and backs. These issues can persist on to later in life

Aidan Cusack (Sports Reporter): Shot Put

The most difficult event in all of track and field has to be the shot put.  

I will admit that shot put has some strong competitors, as there are no easy events in track. Both the 400- and 800-meter dashes are physically grueling, while the technique required for both javelin and triple jump is tough to truly master. Yet, the shot put combines delicate technical skill with impressive physical prowess, making it my pick for hardest event in track. 

If we define hard as the most difficult event for an average student to compete in, then without a doubt shot put would be the hardest. Some students could put up an ok time in the 3000 meter. Some students could put up an ok mark in the high jump. 

Even if some students managed to hold the shotput properly, the chances they would be able to throw farther than ten feet are slim, if not none. In other words, if a person picked up track and field with no prior experience, the shot put would be the hardest to succeed in. 

Also, I have to shout out the throwers, who rarely get love from the media.  

The sports staff can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].