Hurdle is a light portable barrier over which competitors jumps during hurdle races. The hurdle frame consist of two vertical uprights on which a bar is kept. The bar is not attached to the frame because it may harm the runner in case of hitting the bar.
Hurdle Races
Hurdle race is a track and field event, in which the runners jump over a series of hurdles placed at a certain distance to each other. Standard hurdle races are :
- Sprint hurdle race whose distance is 110 m for men and 100 m for women.
- Long hurdle race whose distance is 400 m for both men and women.
The height of hurdle is adjustable according to the events. But usually two basic hurdle heights are used in standard races : High hurdles and Intermediate hurdles.
- In sprint hurdle races like 60 m, 100 m and 110 m high hurdles
are used, which are 42 inches (1.07 m) high for men and 33 inches
(0.84 m) high for women.
- In long hurdle races (400 m), hurdles of intermediate height are used, which are 36 inches (.914 m) high for men and 30 inches (.762 m) high for women.
The horizontal bar used in hurdles is made of materials keeping in mind the safety of runner. Frequently used materials are :
- PVC
- Foam
- Fiber
- Metals (or metallic alloys)
- Fibers
