The Thrill of the Turn: The 200-Meter Dash
What Is the 200 Meters?
The 200-meter dash is one of the most popular sprint events in track and field. It is a short race where athletes run half a lap around a standard 400-meter track. Since it is a sprint, runners go as fast as they can from start to finish. In major competitions like the Olympics, the 200 meters is often seen as a test of both pure speed and technical skill. Unlike the 100-meter dash, which is run in a straight line, the 200 meters forces runners to navigate a large curve before hitting the home stretch.
How the Race Works
To make sure the race is fair, track officials use a "staggered start." Because the track is an oval, the outer lanes have a wider circumference than the inner lanes. If everyone started on the same line, the person in the outside lane would have to run much farther than the person on the inside. To fix this, runners are placed at different starting points along the curve. The runner in lane eight starts much further ahead than the runner in lane one. However, by the time they reach the finish line, every athlete has run exactly 200 meters.
- Staggered Start:
- A starting method where runners begin at different points on a curve to ensure everyone runs the same distance.
- Circumference:
- The total distance around the edge of a circle or an oval track.
- Disqualified:
- Being removed from a race or having a result cancelled because a rule was broken.
- Centrifugal Force:
- A force that acts on a body moving in a circular path and is directed away from the center.
- Straightaway:
- The straight part of a running track, usually following the curve.
- momentum:
- The force or speed gained by motion that keeps a moving person or object traveling forward.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How much of a standard 400-meter track does the 200-meter dash cover?
- 2Why is a staggered start necessary for a race that takes place on an oval track?
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About this informational passage for Upper Elementary
“The Thrill of the Turn: The 200-Meter Dash” is a informational reading passage about Track and Field, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (625 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.