What is the toughest event in track and field? What IHSA coaches and athletes said (2024)

If you think track and field is just running and jumping, think again.

The mix of sprints, distances and hurdles on the running side, then combining jumps, throws and vaults in the field events make track and field easily one of the most difficult high school sports. Just ask the coaches.

"Every event has its own challenges," Eureka boys track and field coach Brett Carlton said, "and I appreciatethe dedication an athlete makes to master their event."

IHSA state track: Every Peoria-area girls track and field athlete who advanced to the 2024 IHSA state finals

So, the question was posed: "What is the toughest event in high school track and field?" Here's what Peoria-area coaches and athletes had to say on the sport's hardest event.

100-meter dash

• "I also believe the100-meter dash can be considered very challenging in thefact that the race has to be so technically sound. It happens so fast that an athlete has no room for error. My son, Brett, won the (2014 Class 1A) state championship in the 100 meters as a junior withtheperfectrace. As a senior, he didn't have a great start and finished4th. — Brett Charlton, Eureka boys track and field coach

300-meter hurdles

• "In my opinion it is the 300 hurdles.It is already hard enough to get kids to run the hurdles and the 400. When you combine the two events it's even harder to find kids who want to even try the event. Once a kid gets it figured out though it's pretty special to watch!" — Sheridan Ray, Metamora boys track and field coach
• "I have always said 300 hurdles is the hardest event in high school because you have to have speed like the 400 but enough technique to hurdle successfully. The 800 is a close second." — Chris Friedman, Dunlap boys track and field coach
• "In my opinion the toughest events would be the 300-meter hurdles and the 400-meter dash. I may be biased as a former sprinter though. Both of these races are short enough that they require you to be sprinting the entire race, but if you've ever tried sprinting that far you know it's NOT easy." — Tyler Padera, Richwoods boys track and field coach

400-meter dash

• "I would have to say that every event in track could be considered a toughevent if run at the highest level. If I was singling out one event, it would have to be the 400. This event requires a solid training base of speed and endurance. Training forthe400 can be challenging and tough on the athlete. Racing a 400 requires anathlete to compete at 90-95 effort over thetotal distance. As a past high school andcollege 400 runner, I can testify as to thechallenges of this event. The majority of talented athletes in this event will double back and run it again in the4x4 relay. — Brett Charlton, Eureka boys track and field coach

Honor roll: Here are the top times, distances for Peoria-area high school track and field in 2024

800-meter run

• "If we had pole vault, I would likely say that. However, since we do not, I must side with the 800-meter run. This race is a pure combination of the overall athlete. It's half distance, half sprinter. Running the perfect race model is incredibly hard because you must have speed endurance. Think about some of the fastest 800-meter runners who are running an even two minutes. They would have to hit 58 secondson their first 400 and look to maintain their speed to close a 1:02 on their second lap. Some kids struggle to even run one 400 at either of those paces. Sprinterscan get by in the 100, 200, or 400 with form and speed training. Those in the mile or two-mile need miles and interval training at different paces. In the 800, it truly combines both of those aspects."— Kyle Daubs, Lowpoint-Washburn/Roanoke-Benson boys and girls track and field coach
• "800. You need the endurance of a miler, but you also need to have the speed of a 400-meter runner. Most people are one or the other." — Geoff Girsch, Peoria Notre Dame girls track and field coach
• "I think the toughest event is the 800. It's twice the 400, which is challenging." — Taygen Beyer, Morton senior and state qualifier in the 4x800-meter relay and 1600-meter run

Field events

• "I feel that there are a couple of events that could be considered the toughest. One being pole vault. It takes a combination of speed and strength. Also takes some fearlessness to learn. I also feel that the discus is a tough one. You have to have a great deal of balance, strength, and speed to be good." — Matt Russell, Illinois Valley Central girls track and field coach
• "High jump is pretty tough." — Metamora sophom*ore Naomi Roth
• "Pole vault. You have to sprint with a 10-foot pole in your hands, place the pole in the correct area, jump off the ground, pull yourself up using the pole, flip upside down, twist your body, clear the bar, throw your pole, and then land safely on the mat. And you have to be totallyfearless." — Geoff Girsch, PND girls track and field coach
• "Pole vault. There is so much to it. Flexibility, strength, speed. And the approach path is everything. There's just so many layers to it." — Ryan Cinotte, Limestone girls track and field coach

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.