Track Meet Order of Events 🏃

The typical order of events at a high school track and field meet — what runs when, how field events fit in, and where to find your meet’s official schedule.

Running events
Usually 10
4×800 opens, 4×400 closes
Field events
Concurrent
Jumps and throws run alongside the races
Girls & boys
Back-to-back
Alternating sections within each event
Meet length
2–4 hours
Dual meets ~2; invitationals run longer

What Does "Order of Events" Mean at a Track Meet?

The order of events is a track meet’s schedule: the sequence in which the running events are raced and the field events are contested. It is printed on the heat sheet (also called the meet program), which lists every event, its sections or flights, and the athletes entered. At most US high school meets the running events follow a fairly standard order, while the field events — high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, and javelin in the states that contest it — begin around the meet’s start time and run concurrently alongside the races. The exact order is always set by the host school or the state association, so treat the sequence below as the typical template rather than a rule.

The Standard Order of Running Events (Outdoor High School)

Here is the order of track events you will see at most outdoor high school meets in the United States:
  1. 4×800m relay — the traditional opener at many meets (some open with the 3200m instead).
  2. 3200m run — run early at many meets, but moved to late in the schedule at others; this is the most variable slot on the card.
  3. 100m hurdles (girls) / 110m hurdles (boys).
  4. 100m dash.
  5. 800m run.
  6. 4×100m relay.
  7. 400m dash.
  8. 300m hurdles — the intermediate hurdles race (400m hurdles in some formats).
  9. 200m dash.
  10. 4×400m relay — the traditional final event of the meet.

Within each event, girls and boys usually race back-to-back sections — girls first at some meets, boys first at others — followed by any additional heats or the varsity and junior vars sections. Championship meets sometimes split the girls’ and boys’ programs into separate sessions instead.

Field Events: When They Start and How They Run

Field events do not wait for the running events to finish. They start at (or slightly before) the scheduled meet time and run concurrently, which is why an athlete can be jumping while a relay is on the track. A few patterns hold almost everywhere. Vertical jumps (high jump and pole vault) run in flights, with the bar rising progressively until only the clearers remain. Horizontal jumps (long jump and triple jump) and the throws (shot put, discus, javelin) usually give each athlete three attempts, with the top performers taking three more in a finals round at larger meets. Girls and boys typically alternate — for example, girls shot put while the boys take discus, or girls long jump followed by boys long jump on the same pit. If an athlete is also in a running event, they should check out with the field-event official before leaving; officials hold the bar or allow make-up attempts where the rules permit.

How Girls’ and Boys’ Events Interleave

The girls’ and boys’ schedules mirror each other: same events, same order, raced in consecutive sections. The one structural difference is the sprint hurdles — girls contest the 100m hurdles while boys run the 110m hurdles outdoors. Indoors, both switch to 55m or 60m hurdles depending on the facility. Which gender runs first varies by state and by meet, so the heat sheet is the authoritative answer.

Indoor Track: A Different Order for a Shorter Track

Indoor meets contest the same discipline on a 200m banked or flat track, and the order of events changes with it. The outdoor 100m and 200m sprints are replaced by 55m or 60m dashes and hurdles (which distance depends on the state and the facility), a 4×200m relay is common, the 300m/400m hurdles disappear, and some meets add 600m or 1000m runs to the middle-distance block. Because the lap is shorter and sessions are compact, many indoor meets finish within two to three hours.

Why the Order of Events Matters

The fixed sequence is what makes a meet plannable. A sprinter knows the 100m comes roughly a third of the way through the running program and can time warm-ups accordingly. Hurdlers get their lane preparation in before the hurdles race; relay teams know which legs fall near other events, which matters because high school rules cap an athlete at a set number of events per meet (commonly four under NFHS rules). Athletes check in with the clerk of the court by second or third call before their event, and knowing the order tells you when to report. If your heat sheet says the order is subject to change, re-check it on meet day — weather and facility issues can collapse or reorder events.

Where to Find Your Meet’s Exact Order of Events

Three places have the authoritative answer. First, the heat sheet or meet program published by the host school — often posted on the school’s athletics page the week of the meet. Second, entry platforms such as Athletic.net, where the meet listing usually includes the event schedule and entry lists. Third, the state association — for example, the IHSA publishes the official schedule for the Illinois state series, and other states do the same for their championship meets. Junior high and middle school meets often run a trimmed slate (fewer distance events and relays), so double-check the district’s own program for those.

Plan Your Meet Day with Date Tools

Counting down to a big meet? The days between dates calculator tells you exactly how many days remain until the meet, and the working days calculator counts the practice weekdays left on the training plan. Want to make the final call before a relay feel official? Read what T minus means — the same countdown convention rocket launches use — and browse every date and countdown tool on the site.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the order of events at a track meet?

At most US high school outdoor meets the running order is: 4×800m relay, 3200m run, 100m/110m hurdles, 100m dash, 800m run, 4×100m relay, 400m dash, 300m hurdles, 200m dash, and the 4×400m relay last. Field events start around the beginning of the meet and run concurrently.

What is the first event at a high school track meet?

The 4×800m relay is the traditional opener at many meets, though some schedules start with the 3200m run instead. Field events often begin at or before the first running event, so jumpers and throwers may be the first athletes in action.

What is the last event at a track meet?

The 4×400m relay. It is the traditional closer at nearly every high school meet, often deciding the team score on the final leg.

How many events are in a high school track meet?

A full outdoor program typically has 10 running events plus six or seven field events (high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, and javelin where contested). Dual meets and junior high meets often run a trimmed version.

Do girls and boys run at the same time at a track meet?

No — they contest the same events in back-to-back sections, girls first at some meets and boys first at others. Outdoors the sprint hurdles also differ: girls run the 100m hurdles and boys the 110m hurdles.

How long does a high school track meet last?

A dual or league meet usually wraps up in about two hours. Invitationals with dozens of teams commonly run three to eight hours, and championship or state meets can span a full day or multiple days.

What is the order of events at an indoor track meet?

Indoor meets replace the outdoor sprints with 55m or 60m dashes and hurdles, often add a 4×200m relay, drop the 300m/400m hurdles, and sometimes include 600m or 1000m runs. The distances (800m up) and the field events stay largely the same, and sessions are typically more compact.

What is the order of events at a junior high or middle school track meet?

Junior high meets usually run a shortened program — often the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1600m races plus the 4×100m and 4×400m relays, with four or five field events. The exact slate varies by district, so check the host school’s program.

Where can I find the exact order of events for my meet?

Check the heat sheet or meet program from the host school, the meet listing on Athletic.net, or your state association (for example, the IHSA posts the official Illinois state-series schedule). Re-check on meet day in case the order changes.

Why does the 3200m run at different times at different meets?

The 3200m is the most flexible slot on the schedule. Meets with large distance fields may run it early (right after the 4×800) to fit in all the sections, while others save it for late in the meet to keep distance runners fresh for relays or to shorten the wait for the crowd.

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