 Discrete modern track and field competitions , separate from general sporting festivals , were first recorded in the 19th century . These were typically organised by educational institutions , military organisations and sports clubs as competitions between rival establishments . Competitions in the English public schools were conceived as human equivalents of horse racing , fox hunting and hare coursing , influenced by a Classics @-@ rich curriculum . The Royal Shrewsbury School Hunt is the oldest running club in the world , with written records going back to 1831 and evidence that it was established by 1819 . The school organised Paper Chase races in which runners followed a trail of paper shreds left by two " foxes " ; even today RSSH runners are called " hounds " and a race victory is a " kill " . The first definite record of Shrewsbury 's ( cross @-@ country ) Annual Steeplechase is in 1834 , making it the oldest running race of the modern era . The school also lays claim to the oldest track and field meeting still in existence , originating in the Second Spring Meeting first documented in 1840 . This featured a series of throwing and jumping events with mock horse races including the Derby Stakes , the Hurdle Race and the Trial Stakes . Runners were entered by " owners " and named as though they were horses . 13 miles ( 21 km ) away and a decade later , the first Wenlock Olympian Games were held at Much Wenlock racecourse . Events at the 1851 Wenlock Games included a " half @-@ mile foot race " ( 805 m ) and a " leaping in distance " competition . 
 Discrete modern track and field competitions , separate from general sporting festivals , <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> first recorded in the 19th century . These <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> typically organised by educational institutions , military organisations and sports clubs as competitions between rival establishments . Competitions in the English public schools <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> conceived as human equivalents of horse racing , fox hunting and hare coursing , influenced by a Classics @-@ rich curriculum . The Royal Shrewsbury School Hunt <a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>is</mark></a>the oldest running club in the world , with written records going back to 1831 and evidence that it was established by 1819 . The school organised Paper Chase races in which runners followed a trail of paper shreds left by two " foxes " ; even today RSSH runners are called " hounds " and a race victory <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>is</mark></a>a " kill " . The first definite record of Shrewsbury <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>( cross @-@ country ) Annual Steeplechase is in 1834 , making it the oldest running race of the modern era . The school also <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>lays</mark></a> claim to the oldest track and field meeting still in existence , originating in the Second Spring Meeting first documented in 1840 . This featured a series of throwing and jumping events with mock horse races including the Derby Stakes , the Hurdle Race and the Trial Stakes . Runners <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> entered by " owners " and named as though they <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>were</mark></a> horses . 13 miles ( 21 km ) away and a decade later , the first Wenlock Olympian Games <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> held at Much Wenlock racecourse . Events at the 1851 Wenlock Games included a " half @-@ mile foot race " ( 805 m ) and a " leaping in distance " competition . 
Discrete modern track and field competitions , separate from general sporting festivals , was first recorded in da 19th century . These was typically organised by educational institutions , military organisations and sports clubs as competitions between rival establishments . Competitions in tdaEnglish public schools was conceived as human equivalents of horse racing , fox huntin and hare coursing , influenced by a Classics @-@ rich curriculum . Thdaoyal Shrewsbury School Hunt thedadest running club in the dald , with written records goin back to 1831 and evidence that it was established by 1819 . The sdaol organised Paper Chase races in which runners followed a trail of paper shreds left by 2 " foxes " ; even today RSSH runners r called " hounds " and a race victory a " kill " . The first definite record of Shrewsbury  ( cross @-@ country ) Annual Steeplechase is in 1834 , making it the oldest running race of the modern era . The school also lay claim to the oldest track and field meeting still in existence , originating in the Sedad Spring Meeting first documented in 1840 . This featured a series of throwin and jumping events with mock horse races including the Derby Stakes , the Hurdle Race and the TridaStakes . Runners was entered by " owners " and named as though they was horses . 13 miles ( 21 km ) away and a decade later , the firsdaenlock Olympian Games was held at Much Wenlock racecourse . Events at the 1851 dalock Games included a " half @-@ mile foot race " ( 805 m ) and a " leaping in distance " competition .