There are other variations besides the ones listed below but races of unusual length (e.g. 300 m) are run much less often. With the exception of the mile run, races based on imperial distances are rarely run on the track anymore since most tracks have been converted from a quarter mile (402.3 m) to 400 meters.

Men and women do not compete against each other. Women generally run the same distances as men although hurdles and steeplechase barriers are lower and the weights of the shot, discus, javelin and hammer are less.

• Track events - running events conducted on a 400 meter track.
  • Sprints: events up to and including 400 m. Common events are 60 m (indoors only), 100 m, 200 m and 400 m.
  • Middle distance: events from 800 m to 3000 m, especially 800 m, 1500 m, mile and 3000 m.
    • steeplechase - a race (usually 3000 m)(2000 m in High School) in which runners must negotiate barriers and water jumps.
  • Long distance: runs over 5000 m. Common events are 5000 m and 10000 m.
  • Hurdling: 110 m high hurdles (100 m for women) and 400 m intermediate hurdles (300 m in high school).
  • Relays: 4 x 100 m, 4 x 400 m, 4 x 200 m, 4 x 800 m, etc. Some events, such as medley relays, are rarely run except at large relay carnivals.
• Road running: conducted on open roads, but often finishing on the track. Common events are half-marathon and marathon.
• Race walking: usually conducted on open roads. Common events are 10 km, 20 km and 50 km.
• Field events
  • Throwing events
    • Shot put
    • Hammer throw
    • Javelin throw
    • Discus throw
  • Jumping events
    • High jump
    • Long jump
    • Pole vault
    • Triple jump
• Combined events
  • Pentathlon
  • Heptathlon
  • Decathlon