From ‘covered track’ to ‘short track’: What does the name change imply?

From January 1, 2024, and following the line set by World Athletics at an international level, adopted by the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation the ‘short track’ concept, replacing what was previously known as the ‘indoor track’.

However, this name change goes beyond the name of the competitions themselves. After this, Courts are not differentiated based on whether they are indoor or outdoor, but rather according to their size: the standard 400 meters, and the 200 meters or short track.

This change came from the hand of globalization of athletics that World Athletics is looking for, and it increases the possibilities of organizing short track championships in territories where there is no indoor track, such as Africa, South America and Oceania, because the construction (or temporary set up ) of a 200-meter outdoor track presents fewer complications than doing so in a closed facility.

From the same exercise, All Spanish Indoor Championships are now known as Spanish Short Track Championships., which opens the possibility that in the future these competitions may be held on the 200-meter outdoor track. This change does not affect the standard ‘internal period’ dates.

The new short track system also brings changes to records and rankings. From this moment, The duality of ‘outdoor and indoor’ lists disappears, leaving a ranking. Here, the straight events and contests were unified, combining the old indoor and outdoor ranks of 50 m, 55 m, 60 m, 60 m hurdles (although the speed marks were not distinguished from the 100 races mo 110 m obstacle), height, pole, length, triple and weight. Which means: There is only one Spanish record in straight and competition events, not two. The indoor records of these disciplines remain the best historical records within the Spanish, but to achieve a new Spanish record, the record to be surpassed is the best of the outdoor-indoor combination.

Thus, they will coexist in the ranks of 50 m, 55 m, 60 m, 60 m hurdles, long and triple marks made in indoor facilities (without wind) and marks achieved outdoors, as long as the wind does not exceed 2.0 m. /s.

As for ring tests, ranking and records distinguish two different disciplines with the same distance (for example, 1500 m and 1500 m short track), which are independent. In any case, marks made on the short track can enter the ranks of the 400 m track distance, but not vice versa.

The combined tests which used to be part of the indoor program will be called short track pentathlon and short track heptathlon provided that the 800 m and 1000 m are conducted on a 200 m track.

Finally, marks achieved on indoor or outdoor tracks greater than 200 meters but less than 400 will count for ranking and recording purposes as if they were made on a 400-meter track.