What Is Team Track?

Team track gives a largely individual sport a sense of unity.

Team track is an athletic competition in which scores are accumulated by the performance of individuals and relay teams in track and field events. The team with the most points is declared the champion of the meet.

Events

Team track is practiced most frequently at the high school and college levels. All track and field events are included, but male and female competitors are separated. In this way, every meet has two champions--one for male teams and one for female teams.

Scoring

Teams receive points based on their representatives' places in the final of each event. In Texas high school competition, the first-place competitor in individual events earns 10 points for his team, second place earns eight, third place earns six, fourth place earns four, fifth place earns two and sixth place earns one. In relay events, the point totals are doubled.

Strategy

Teams with a large number of competitors often have multiple entries in the qualifying heats of each event, even competitors who don't normally compete in said event. This is done with the intent of having multiple finalists in each event in an attempt to maximize a team's total number of points.

References

• UIL Athletics - Track and Field Manual
• Stillwater Gazette - True team track and field is rousing success