 Races over short distances , or sprints , are among the oldest running competitions . The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event , the stadion race , which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other . Sprinting events are focused around athletes reaching and sustaining their quickest possible running speed . Three sprinting events are currently held at the Olympics and outdoor World Championships : the 100 metres , 200 metres , and 400 metres . These events have their roots in races of imperial measurements that later changed to metric : the 100 m evolved from the 100 yard dash , the 200 m distances came from the furlong ( or 1 / 8 of a mile ) , and the 400 m was the successor to the 440 yard dash or quarter @-@ mile race . 
 Races over short distances , or <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>sprints</mark></a> , are among the oldest running competitions . The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event , the stadion race , which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other . Sprinting events are focused around athletes reaching and sustaining their quickest possible running speed . Three sprinting events are currently held at the Olympics and outdoor World Championships : the 100 metres , 200 metres , and 400 metres . These events <a href='got' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> their roots in races of imperial measurements <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a>later changed to metric : the 100 m evolved from the 100 yard dash , the 200 m distances came from the furlong ( or 1 / 8 of a mile ) , and the 400 m was the successor to the 440 yard dash or quarter @-@ mile race . 
Races ova short distances , or sprint , r among the oldest running competitions . da first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event , the stadion race , which was a race from one end of the stadium to tdaother . Sprinting events are focused around athletes reaching and sustaining their quickest possible running speed . Three sprinting events arrurrently held at the Olympics and outdoor World Championships : thda00 metres , 200 metres , and 400 metres . These events got their roots in races of imperial measurements later changed to metric : the 100 m evolved from theda0 yard dash , the 200 m distances came from the furlong ( or 1 / 8 of a mile ) , and the da m was the sdaessor to the 440 yard dash or quarter @-@ mile race .