Athletics / Guide 03
The track and lanes
World Athletics · 2026In short
Track layout · Staying in lane
Track layout
A standard oval track measures 400 m; its lanes are normally 1.22 m wide. Staggered starts compensate for the different distances around bends. Short-track competitions use their own provisions for a standard 200 m oval, lane allocation and breaklines. A shorter track does not make every outdoor lane rule directly interchangeable.
Staying in lane
Athletes must keep to their assigned lane where lanes are required. Some limited exceptions apply when there is no material advantage or obstruction, including a single specified inner-line infringement on a bend. That exception is counted across rounds of the same event; a further such infringement causes disqualification. Cutting inside to escape a boxed position is not permitted.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Independent explanations of the supplied World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules, including amendments through 1 July 2026. Event-specific regulations may add conditions. References use PDF viewer page numbers; guide numbers are editorial.
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