Track is a sport that tests an athlete’s stamina and endurance, but there is another side to track that people often will forget about. Field events have been associated with the sport of track ever since ancient times. Since then, the sport has evolved light-years beyond old Greek times. The one thing that hasn’t changed is the players’ love of the field events they play.

            One of the main sports that high school athletes play is shot put. It started as players throwing a stone ball and starting in a static position. Now the rules have changed a bit, but the concept is the same- get the shot as far as you can. Seems simple, but there is always a method that works best.

            “You have to learn the technique. A lot of kids try to muscle it, but you can’t. You actually have to learn the technique to throw it,” sophomore Jacob Rumler said.

            Discus is another quite popular sport among high school track runners. With the same concept of getting distance, discus is closely related to shot put. There are plenty of differences between the two. First, the object being thrown is completely different. A shot is a weighted ball and a discus is a weighted disc. The different techniques also set the events apart from each other.

            “You’re throwing a ball for one of them and a disc for the other. The techniques are a little different, but they’re way different from all the other sports. Coach says we’re the core of the team because we are the most athletic. We work the hardest,” sophomore Jasmine Stull said.

            The one sport that is usually forgotten among all field sports is pole vault. The focus on this event has nothing to do with distance; it has to do with height. The way the event works is completely different from all other field events that are played today.

             “It’s hard to explain. You start with your lead foot as you run you put the end of the pole into the metal box. Then, leap off with your lead foot while throwing your arm right over your head and then you just push forward and go as high as you can,” freshman Josh Moss said.

            Field events are the secret part of track that can easily be hidden behind all the running events, but are still important to the sport itself. Ever since the first Olympics in Greece they have been enjoyed by watchers and players alike and will continue to be enjoyed for years to come.