Olympic factoid: walk the line

Through thick and thin

Nearly all the line markings on an athletic track are 5cm wide.

But do you know which one line is wider than that? And which one is narrower?

• The javelin arc / scratch line should be 'at least 70mm wide' (Rule 32.9)
• The zero line for pole vault uprights is 10mm wide (Rule 28.1)

This zero line for pole vault uprights help indicate when they are set at zero. Mostly this zero position of the stands is used when the height of the bar is to be measured with a tape to ensure it is vertical. Or perhaps you know a pole vaulter who likes their stands set to zero for a vault?

Marking the spot

Have you ever noticed all the different coloured marks on an athletics track? Well each colour and position has a meaning and that's the same all over the world.

Hurdle positions

• Blue both sides: 110m hurdles positions.
• Yellow both sides: 100m hurdles positions.
• Green both sides: 400m hurdles positions.
• Blue square inside lane 1 and outside lane 3: steeplechase barrier positions (red if a blue track).

Relay starts

• White with 40cm blue inset in the middle: 4x400m start.
• White with 40cm green inset in the middle: 800m start and 4x400m 2nd athletes line.
• White 40cm long mid-lane line: 4x100m 2nd and 4th athletes line.
• Blue 80cm long mid-lane line: end of relay takeover zone 4 x 400m 3rd and 4th athletes.

Relay takeover zones

• Blue hooked line: 4 x 400m 2nd athletes relay takeover zone (red if a blue track).
• Yellow hooked line: 4 x 100m 2nd, 3rd and 4th athletes relay takeover zone.

Note: hooks point towards inside of zone.

Distance races

• Green square between lanes 4 and 5: break point for 1000m, 3000m, 5000m group start.
• Green curved line lanes 2 to 8: breakline 800m, 4x400m 2nd athletes.
• Curved white lines crossing full width of track or just lanes 5 to 8: starts for various distance races.
• Straight white lines across a full lane: starts for races up to 400m which begin in lanes.