Ranking Every Track and Field Event 

If you disagree with me on any event let me know in the comments! I'd love to spar over opinions

This video is going to piss a lot of people off 😂

Every former track athlete know the 4x400m is the best event at every meet. There is a reason it's the closer. As a former hammer thrower, I reluctantly agree... It's a strange event that not many people know about. The shot is the money maker of throwing events, so it deserves to be highest... discus and jav are both in the middle somewhere. One way to look at a list like this is "how simple is the event to translate into a casual viewer's perspective?" What I mean is that anyone sitting at home can understand a flat out sprint or running a mile for time or throwing a heavy thing as far as possible or jumping high or long. Those are the events where you can measure yourself against the athletes on TV and really appreciate what they're doing. Events like triple jump or 110 hurdles or even the 10k are just too far from our every day experience to get too excited about. One final thought on the 4x100m relay. While its certainly exciting, it's just about teamwork and handoffs. It rarely comes down to which team has the 4 fastest runners... whereas the 4x400m relay or DMR are all about lining up your 4 best runners and going at it... so I agree with the 4x100m placement.

bro forgot racewalk💀

10k can stay if they make it a road race and finish the last 400 on the track.

As a thrower who never gets shown on tv because they need to show every single lap of the long distance races im bitter abt both disc and hammer being so low lolll like please they dont need to see the replay of the 5k in slow mo show me the damn throw

Imo the 1500m should get replaced with the 1600m. By every count it's the same as the 1500m and it's an even number of laps around the track, so splits make much more sense to the average or experienced person ("it's just 2 800's, or 4 400's, or ..."). I can get behind not wanting to do a full mile since 1600 is a nice round number and is usually run instead of the mile in American high schools, but running 3.75 laps isn't much better of a solution than running the extra 9m.

When you understand the decathlon and get to know the athletes (which events they’re good at and who’s good) it definitely makes it more fun to watch. For example, in the 2019 wc in Doha, if one knew that niklas kaul is an incredible javelin thrower and incredible 1500m runner (last two events), they would know that it’s possible for him to medal despite not being in the top 5 with seven events completed. He eventually won gold after winning javelin and the 1500m by a huge margin. It’s understandable that most track and field athletes don’t appreciate the decathlon, perhaps outside of their incredible athleticism, but there’s so much to the event that most people don’t see/appreciate. These days the multis are exploding in talent, especially in the US with Anna hall, kyle garland Harrison Williams, so hopefully it gets more recognition in the future

allie’s been real quiet since the 3000 steeplechase got put in “just another event”

I wish there was an Olympic dmr race

7:55 are we not gonna talk abt the dude in the last lane😂

The triple is cooler than the long jump to me. I honestly think Pole Vault is just under the "Best Strongest Greatest" category. I agree that the 200 is the best sprint event.

I feel like the best way to think about ranking events like this from a viewer’s perspective is based on peoples' innate understanding about the difficulty and therefore how amazing the performances are in each event. If the event is one that a person can image themself doing than it is more interesting to watch. Things like the hammer throw and discus are not as interesting because most viewers have never tried to throw a discus or a hammer and have no idea what those things even feel like or how heavy they are. Whereas the shot put or javelin, even if viewers have never held either one, they can image what it feels like to try and throw a heavy rock or throw a spear because those are actions they have experiences with from childhood or whatever. In that same vein, events like the high jump and long jump are fun to watch because people understand trying to jump high or far, however the triple jump on the other hand is not something anyone has ever attempted besides the athletes who do the triple jump. Most people would have no idea about how to even do it even after watching it because it is an awkward thing to do with all sorts of little rules and mechanics. The 100, 200, 400 and maybe the 800 are the most fun to watch because everyone has tried to run these distances at some point in their lives. Maybe not on an actual track, but the distances are imaginable for people. The 1500/mile is a bit less fun for the laymen to watch because most people have not tried to go all out for 4 laps on the track. Only athletes who run have had experience running all out for this distance and therefore understand just how hard it is and can place themselves in an athlete's shoes and really understand how crazy a 3:30 1500 meter is and can appreciate it. The same can be said for the 5,000, but many people have casually tried a road 5,000, so at some level they understand what a 12 or 13 minute 5,000 means as far as athletic greatness. The 10,000 is very lame to watch because it is just too long and I think it does not add anything to the sport as you said and just having the 5,000 is sufficient. Events like the pole vault are a bit weird because most people can't really imagine what it feels like to do it themselves, but they understand gravity and the obvious strength and coordination it must take as well as the fear of heights and risk of injury, so it is very entertaining to see someone hurl themselves through the air like that. The hurdle events are very hard for the laymen to understand unless they have stood on the track next to one of the hurdles before or tried to jump over it themself, so for other track athletes it's amazing, but for normal spectators it is a bit of a stretch to understand it well enough for it to be truly amazing to watch, but I do think the 400 hurdles is more interesting than the 110s and of course the steeple which is just a weird event from a casual viewers perspective.

Every time I watch the pole vault, I always think to myself that I am not nearly as athletic as I think that I am! 😂 Crazy good event!

What are you on man? Triple Jump - I agree, its not even necessary. Long jump, High Jump, Javelin are top tier events for me. I think they measure something very relatable in life (Like how far can you jump over that puddle, or over the wall, or how far can you throw a spear)

I think he just really wanted to show that he doesn’t like triple jump 😂

4x100 is an incredible race! So awesome to watch; and exciting! The baton dropping adds an element of jeopardy.

Being a Senior Olympics person that was a middle/long distance runner in the 1970s/80s, now doing Shot/Javelin/400/800/1500....love that SB voted my 5 favorites in the upper tier!

Much of one's opinion on any given event is often dictated by how it's showcased/presented. How many 10,000's do you see in it's entirety- without interruption ? NEVER !! Always cutting off to another PV, shot or HJ... I love the slow burn of a 10,000- watching everyone's expression- are they struggling- are they not ? The accelerations, those resisting temptation to "go"- wondering when the one without a kick is going to go... The 5000m is a little too short to really hurt someone- most can suffer this long... As for order of events- I truly love them all... get genuinely excited by every one- almost... I'd bin the relays... and the steeple doesn't really get the juices flowing- as not enough nations put much emphasis on it...

Not mentioning Femke Bol while talking about 400mH is an absolute crime 😢😢

Man the discus was one of the originals and is so iconic. Agree about the 10k though

This video may come back to bite you if you ever make an Olympic team and get a triple jumper as a roommate 😂

Please do a tier list ranking all conferences in either track or crosscountry for D1 and D2

As someone who has competed in 33 unique track and field events, this ranking was botched. 5k is top tier, but steeple is mid and triple jump is bottom??

Sir, how to run a mile under 5 min. Can you please make a video on workouts to run a mile under 5 min. Thank you!

Top tier I would say 100m, 800m, long jump, high jump, javelin, shot put. These are the classic how fast can you run, how high or long can you jump and how far can you throw.

Are we forgetting the 100m Wheelchair. That was an event in my last meet I’m not even kidding

fun to see a middle distance runner do this. as a sprinter, i’m like 50/50 with your takes haha

Actually agree with most of this aside from the triple jump, not fussed by relays at all.

While I love almost every event in T&F and each event at the Olympics is glorious from my point of view, everyone also knows that the 100m dash is THE “glory event” at the Olympics. You know it. I know it. You know it in your bones. Don’t try to deny it.

4x4, 400, triple jump all top tier. Pretty solid tho. 10k is silly. Imagine going to a cross country race and there's a 5k and a 10k for no reason. Or a 10k and a 15k or whatever you people do

Watch it cause I’m a 10k racer & Steeplechaser & I love these events to watch & do

400 for viewers 😃 400 for runners 😢

You should do this with all distance spikes

Well at least the 800 is in thr right spot. You mf forgot a lot of events

100% agree about the triple jump lol, such an odd event

1500 is definitely a GOATED event. Great tier list.

10k is fire, best test of aerobic strength in stadia. Also steeple is super baller, should be way higher

I've come to love the 800 as well. Mainly because those athletes have no fear. I don't think I've ever seen an 800 that wasn't on world record pace at 400. Not saying there's no strategy, but I love how tactics never obscure the pure guts it takes to suffer like that. Plus, there's the symmetry of waiting for someone to break the "100-second barrier."

You should rank swimming events next, but put all but 1 in 'get rid of it' lol Im just dunking on swimming cuz if 1 person is the best at all events then they are too similar. Could you imagine the 100m champ also being the 10000m champ?

Gonna be honest - what an L take on relays. It’s so fun to see your country competing as a team at the Olympics in track or swimming. I’m a distance runner but no one is getting excited about the 5k or the 1500m in America. 4x400 is GOAT for sure. Also I know you dislike the jumps, but pole vault and high jump can be so entertaining when it’s coming down to the last few heights and people are dropping like flies

Nearly Goated list. If 4x4 was an option that’s the real 🐐

I thought he was gonna say to get rid of the 1500 to bring back the mile

The history of the long jump moves it up.

you forgot to put racewalk in the last

All the relays are good closing events at world champs / olympics. All the sprinters from their individual comps get to go at it one last time. All definitely at least in the fun to watch category. Also helped Bolt cement his legacy as a 3x3 time gold medal winner at all his olympics

Great idea btw! You were brave. You stuck your neck out. A discuss will soon enter your home through a closed window. You need to do a part 2 to cover the events you missed.

I agree in that 10km is way too long to be a track event, theres simply no interest in watching 30 or so mins of laps of the track. I would definitely be happy if they switched it up by making it either a cross country race or making it a road race like the marathon/race walk.

We need more tiers

200 goes in "get rid of it". The event itself isn't that bad, but everyone on the planet thinks they can do it, so 200 heats are still going at highschool & college meets that started last year.

I was waiting with anticipation to hear your take on race walking!! Running backwards would be more entertaining. Also Marathon, which would be interesting considering your brutalizing of the 10K. : ( When will there finally be a 4x200m?? I also love the 4x400 much more than the 4x100. The woman's 4x400 is a thing of beauty!!! My god!!!!! You also forgot the mixed sex 4x400m relay - awesome!!! Pure power and beauty!!

Spencer! You should do the same video but with ALL summer olympics sports!

Can someone out there help me. I love to watch track and field but I'd like to know what is the best streaming service to watch the most track meets.

4x1 should be up there, fun asf to run and watch

I agree with the 1500 EXCEPT at the Olympics when they jog for 2 minutes and sprint the last lap

I might agree with Javelin's position

- Agreed with 75%-90% of your list. - I disagree with the 200m over 100m. There is much more competition in the 100m, and most of these competitors don't enter many 200m races. - 5K is only fun when they race way before 800m to go. They should also get rid of it since, in most cases, it becomes a 600m to 800m event. - Steeplechase had some dramatic races in the past. It is sometimes much more fun to watch than a 3k or a 5k race. I would put it in the middle.

As a pole vaulter this list was S-tier as soon as you put pole vault in top tier

Like you, I love both the 800m and 1500m, they're my favorite events, but when you're being tough like this you have to choose one. If one is in, the other has to be out. If we had no 1500m, distance runners would choose 800m or 5000m and adapt, the cream would still rise to the top.

200m is also the oldest Olympic event. Middle and long distance came next, then wrestling

My ratings: Tier 0: 4x400m (so awesome it deserves its own tier) Tier 1: 200m, 400m, 800m, 5000m, pole vault Tier 2: 100m, 1500m, high jump, javelin Tier 3: 400m hurdles, shot put, discus, long jump, 3000sc, 100/110m hurdles, hept/decathlon, 4x100m Tier 4: Triple jump, hammer throw, 10k + some REALLY spicy takes: - Replace 1500m with mile - Add 600m

The 1500 is the off brand mile

Where would you put 3000/3200

I have the same thing with arhilleas tendon, had big plans for 2024, but at januari arhileas tendonitis suprised mi, we are in the same situation

Bro not even lying but I had my 4x400m event today and our first runner messed up very badly and we came dead last and I’m pretty sure I tore sth in my calf, so yea I hate 400m now

I say get rid of 10k, hammer throw,Discus, triple jump, and pole vault. The best event I believe is Shot put, 200m, 800m, 1500m and high jump

The mile definitely the best event. Non fans won’t really know what an 800 is but everyone knows what a mile is. So it’s hyped for non fans and actual fans. Plus now since the world record is about to be broken!

4x400m has been on a decline since the 2000s. It is basically an afterthought at the end of major championships. 4x100m basically surpassed it in popularity due to the Bolt era and it has continued to be the most popular relay event because of how many top tier athletes are in the 100m and 200m also. It also doesn't help that the 400m is on a decline itself. Most 400m runners are jumping ship to the 100m/200m. Heck the 400mh is more popular than the 400m this days and some runners that would be very good in the 400m are running the 400mh instead. 4x400m is still very popular at high school and college level tho, just not at the pro level.

I think the steeplechase is one of if not the most fun to watch

The hate on discus is real

My only problem is throwing cause with running you can be good at multiple events but in throwing you have to commit to one to be good

putting jumps that low is ridiculous

I agree with the pole vault comment, you got a like 👍🏻 for it!

I agree with triple jump get rid if it

1500 is the best event, the sweet spot

400m by far is the hardest one

I agree with most of your takes, Spencer. Especially, the multi events and 4 x 100. I'm just trying to establish who is who on a 4 x 1 leg and the baton is on to the next one. I would probably swap PV and HJ. I do enjoy PV, but I really love the beauty and elegance of the HJ. That's just personal though. Where I really have to disagree is with discus. I find the athleticism of the discus far superior to the shot. I would definitely swap them. I kind of feel about the 800 and Rudisha the way you feel about the 100 and Bolt. That said, there's no way I wouldn't put the 800 at top tier: it's just too fire. Great video. I think it's cool to look at each one of these.

As someone who does 800m I see this as a absolute w

Ion blame you as a triple jump my shins are dying

5k and 800 need to move down, and that’s coming from a 5k runner. I agree with the 100 being not as exciting after Usain Bolt, but I feel like overall its prestige should have it swap with the 200. The 4x400 definitely needs to be added and at the top tier, second only to the great 1500. Also 400H I honestly think is top tier in our current era. Top tier: 1500, 4x4, 400H, 100, Pole Vault

4x4 is so good it didn't even get a spot on the list

I actually agree with most of the list in general, even the 10k, as reluctant as I am to admit it and what you said about decathlon/heptathlon was spot on. I want to like steeplechase, but it's always kinda disappointing (though I love seeing people hurdle the water jump now). The only track event I don't watch is the 100h (not sure why since I do watch the 110h). The field events I don't watch are hammer, disc, LJ and TJ. 800 is mid-tier for me and 400>200>100 for the sprints.

Best event: 1500m Best field event: Long Jump and High Jump Underrated event: Javelin Overrated event: Pole Vault and Shot Put Get rid of: Triple Jump, Steeple Chase, Discus and/or Hammer Throw, Heptathlon (maybe). Move 10k to road only.

Agree!!! 1500 and the mile are the best two events in the Track and Field, but i think 5k shouldn't be the top, probably just the second tier

The 800 is where it should be good job👍

Triple is my favorite event

Bruhh only the triple jump 😢

I think steeple chase and the 400 were done wrong, but I agree with everything else. Steeple chase is weird and fun, and it deserves to be put into the fun to watch class. Could be a bit shorter though. As for the 400, it’s the purest event in track. It has maximum speed, but also endurance since you can’t 100% the whole thing, as well as an extraordinary amount of guts. More than that, it is also a purely speed dependent race. There’s no measure of who’s kick was better, block starts don’t play a huge role, there’s no positioning strategies with the 800 and beyond, and it’s both with and against the wind. It’s hype as hell

The 200 is great until you’re in Pittsburg, KS and there is 36 heats of it combined and you just sit there for hours waiting.

the discus ranking is criminal

Let’s go pole vault

Should Spencer's next race be a 10K? 🏃!? Please like this comment if you would like to see him EARN some respect for this distance 😄

As a triple jumper I gotta disagree with you. Triple jump is the most technical event there is. Also requires the most strength and power.

800m is the least interesting event for me. The winner will be different if done one more time by the same runners. It’s depending too much on the luck. It's most unlike T&F.

200x4 was the best event I’ve watched

800 = Best, Toughest, Greatest!!!

Never heard of the 1500

Marsten warholm won the world octathelon, now he’s the greatest 400m hurdler in the world.

5k, 800 and 1500 in the top tier is all distance bias😂

I ran the 100 and 200 meters in highschool ...