Track and Field Word Search

About this puzzle

Track and field gathers running, jumping and throwing into one sport. The track events range from the sprint and the relay (with its baton) to hurdles, the steeplechase and the marathon; the field events include the long jump, high jump and pole vault, and the shot put, discus and javelin throws. The decathlon combines ten events over two days, and the triathlon, a multi-sport cousin, adds swimming and cycling to running.

The default layout is Medium on a 13×13 grid. Easy, Medium and Hard each use their own checked layout of the same words, and every one can be printed in standard or large print on US Letter or A4.

Word notes

Marathon

42.195 kilometers, about 26.2 miles.

Relay

Teams of four each run one leg and pass a baton within a marked exchange zone.

Hurdles

Barriers that runners clear in their stride; common races are 100 or 110 meters and 400 meters.

Javelin

A spear thrown for distance; modern javelins are designed to land point first.

Pole Vault

Athletes use a flexible pole to clear a high bar; elite men clear more than six meters.

Decathlon

Ten events completed over two days.

Shot Put

Athletes "put" — push — a heavy metal ball from the shoulder rather than throwing it.

Steeplechase

A running race with barriers and a water jump.

Try this after the puzzle

Sort the events into running, jumping and throwing. Then hold a mini athletics day with safe versions: a short sprint, a standing long jump and a beanbag "shot put", recording results in a table. Older students can research the ten events of the decathlon.

All 14 words

Sprint · Marathon · Relay · Hurdles · Javelin · Discus · Long Jump · Pole Vault · Decathlon · Shot Put · High Jump · Triathlon · Steeplechase · Baton