What Races are run in lanes?
Each meet can be set up differently, and we will tell you basic trends you will see at meets. This is never set in stone, and is up to the meet director on how they will organize it. Hurdle and sprint events (55 meters, 100 Meter, 200 Meter, 400 Meter) are run in lanes. The sprint relays (sprint medley, 4 X 100 & 4 X 200) are run in lanes as well. The 4 X 400 in Outdoor Track, the first lap, or leg, of the relay is run in lanes, after that, all runners can break towards the inside lane if they are clear of other runners (can do so with out interfering). The 4×400 in Indoor Track, each leg typically runs two laps, and the leadoff leg must run the first lap in their lane, then they can cut in after the second turn. This is typically how the 300 and 500 during indoor track is run also. Some of the longer races (800 and 1600) will require runners to run in lane for a short distance before allowing them to break towards the inside lane. Whenever you see runners starting in a stagger at the
