Track and field arena

Abstract

A track and field arena having internationally approved performing areas enabling the same event to take place, even simultaneous, at more than one station. The arena has an oval track with at least six lanes, at least two straightaway tracks each having at least six lanes, at least two high jump stations and at least two long jump/triple jump located so that all can be utilized without interfering with other events. Two out-of-oval shot put stations are also provided. The arena roof design has no forward support pillars that could make viewing the ongoing events difficult for some spectators.

1 . A track and field arena having internationally approved track and field event performing areas including multilane oval and straightaway tracks, high jump and long jump/triple jump stations and pole vault and shot put stations, the arena comprising: an oval track having two turns of a required inside radius and at least six lanes; at least two straightaway tracks each having at least six lanes; at least two high jump stations and at least two long jump/triple jump stations located so each can be utilized competitively without interfering with the other and with competitively active oval and straightaway tracks; at least two pole vault stations located so each can be utilized competitively without interfering with the other and with competitively active oval and straightaway tracks and competitively active pole vault stations; and at least two shot put stations located so each can be utilized competitively without interfering with the other, with competitively active oval and straightaway tracks and competitively active pole vault stations, the tracks and the stations being arranged to accommodate at least two participants on one of the at least two tracks and stations engaging in the same event at the same time with two of the other participants on another of the at least two tracks and stations.  
   
   
       2 . The arena as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least two long jump/triple jump stations, the at least two pole vault stations and the at least two high jump stations are located inside the oval track.  
   
   
       3 . The arena as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least two shot put stations are located outside the oval track.  
   
   
       4 . The arena as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the tracks and the field event stations are covered by an arena roof.  
   
   
       5 . The arena as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the tracks and the field event stations are covered by an arena roof.  
   
   
       6 . The arena as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the arena roof is without vertical support members within the oval and straightaway tracks and the field event stations.  
   
   
       7 . The arena as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the arena roof is without vertical support members within the oval and straightaway tracks and the field event stations.  
   
   
       8 . A method of conducting a track and field meet having oval and straightaway running events, relay events and field events, the method comprising the steps of: conducting at least two straightaway running events at the same time.  
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein at least two long jump/triple jump events are conducted at the same time.  
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein at least two pole vault events are conducted at the same time.  
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein one of the at least two straightaway running events features male participants and the other of the at least two straightaway running events features female participants.  
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein one of the at least two long jump/triple jump events features two or more male participants and the other of the at least two long jump/triple jump events features two or more female participants.  
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein one of the at least two pole vault events features male participants and the other of the at least two pole vault events features female participants.  
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the at least two shot put events are conducted at the same time.  
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the at least two high jump events are conducted at the same time.  
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein one of the at least two shot put events features male participants and the other of the least two shot put events features female participants.  
   
   
       17 . A method of conducting a track and field meet having oval and straightaway running events, relay events and field events, the method comprising the steps of: having the at least two straightaway running events, the at least two relay events and the at least two field events conducted at the same time to reduce the time needed to complete the meet at least by 40 percent.