The shot put is an athletic throwing event that involves putting, or pushing, a heavy metal ball with one hand as far as possible from a circle 7 feet in diameter. The shot put has been featured in every modern Olympic games since 1896.

The shot put and discus are two of the oldest field events in the sport of track and field. Both depend on explosive strength. However, it's not just muscle power that helps athletes dominate their sport. Shot putters and discus throwers also need quickness to generate momentum.

Track and field events allow athletes to use their running, jumping and throwing skills to win competitions. Track meets take place on an athletic track that may be located indoors or outdoors. Track and field events can be performed as individual sports or as a team sport.

Shot putters come in all sizes and shapes. Eight-year-old girls and 80-year-old men can participate in the shot put, but they won't all throw the same weight. Based on an athlete's sex and age, the rules for U.S. competition allow eight weights of shots.

The 100-meter dash requires speed, strength and the mental readiness to outrun all your competition. A competitive sprinter spends hours every day training for the 100-meter dash, a race that's only a few seconds long.

Rules for track and field events are designed to keep participants safe and secure while racing. While track and field events may have complex rules and rule books, basic events such as sprinting and long distance running have only a few key rules that must be followed by all participants.

Shotput is an athletic field event where competitors take turns throwing a heavy metal ball from a 7-foot diameter circle using one arm. The shot is pushed -- called putting -- as opposed to thrown under or over arm.

Track and field consists of competitions that include running, hurdles, jumping and throwing. A common running and hurdle event in high school is the 300-meter hurdles. Competitors are required to run 300 meters while jumping over a series of eight hurdles.

The 400-meter dash has been part of the Olympic Games since the start of the modern games in 1896. The distance is roughly one-fourth of a mile, or one lap around a modern track. When runners compete in the 400-meter dash, they are staggered in lanes, and must stay in the same lane throughout the race.

Sticking to the status quo the week before a track meet can aid in mental and physical preparation for the competition.

The discus throw is a track-and-field competition typically held on a field inside the track. The sport features prominently in everything from middle school track competitions to the Olympics. A discus is a circular disc typically made of wood and edged by a metal rim.

The discus throw is a field event that has been competed since the days of the ancient Greek Olympiad. The discus is a circular object held in the tips of the fingers by an athlete standing in a circle, initially facing away from the landing area or sector.