Sprint events
100m, 200m, 400m. The 100 is pure top-end speed. The 200 adds a curve. The 400 is a full lap and requires pain tolerance in the final 100 meters. Youth programs sometimes use 55m or 75m indoors. Sprinters run in assigned lanes for the entire race.
Middle distance
800m (two laps) and 1500m or 1600m (mile). Runners typically break from lanes after the first turn. These events require a mix of speed and endurance. The 800 is one of the more physically demanding events in the sport at any age.
Distance
3200m (two miles) at the youth and high school level. Some meets include a 5000m. Distance runners develop pacing instincts over multiple seasons. First-year runners almost always go out too fast.
Hurdles
100m hurdles (girls), 110m hurdles (boys) at high school. Youth programs use lower hurdle heights and shorter distances. Technique matters: the lead leg drives over the hurdle, not around it, and the trail leg pulls through. A bad hurdler wastes more energy than a good one.
Relay events
4x100m (speed relay, baton handoffs in exchange zones) and 4x400m (each runner runs a full lap). Baton exchanges outside the exchange zone result in disqualification. The 4x100 exchange is a practiced skill; dropped batons and zone violations are common at the youth level.
Long jump and triple jump
Athletes sprint down a runway, hit a takeoff board, and jump for distance. Stepping over the board is a foul. The long jump is one approach-plus-jump; the triple jump is hop-step-jump in sequence.
High jump
Athletes clear a bar, landing on a mat. The Fosbury Flop (back arching over the bar) is standard. Bar is raised in increments; athletes are eliminated after three failed attempts at the same height.
Shot put and discus
Throws for distance from a circle. Youth implements are lighter than adult standards. Technique determines distance more than raw strength at this age.
Pole vault
Not common at younger youth levels. Requires coaching and trained facilities.