What are the hurdle races, and how is one won?
B · Beginner · The event and the start · 1 of 7Hurdle races are sprints over barriers: 110 m for men, 100 m for women and 400 m for both, each with ten hurdles. Athletes stay in their lanes and must go over every hurdle. Knocking one down is not a fault in itself. Knocking it down with a hand, the body or the front of the leading leg is.
How it works
- The distances: men run 110 m, 300 m and 400 m. Women run 100 m, 300 m and 400 m.
- How many hurdles: "there shall be ten flights of hurdles in each lane" in the 100 m, 110 m and 400 m races, and seven in the 300 m.
- Lanes: "All races shall be run in lanes and each athlete shall go over each hurdle and keep to their own lane throughout."
- The start: a crouch start from blocks, as in the sprints.
- False start: an athlete responsible for one is disqualified.
- Over the top: the foot or leg may not pass beside a hurdle below the level of its top bar.
- Knocked hurdles: apart from the cases above, "the knocking down of hurdles shall not result in disqualification nor prevent a Record being made".
- The finish: the torso reaching the finish line, as in any race.
- Wind: measured in the 100 m and 110 m hurdles.
Tricky cases
Is an athlete disqualified for knocking down a hurdle?
It depends on how. A hurdle clipped with the trailing leg or the heel is no fault. A hurdle knocked down or moved by a hand, the body or the front of the leading leg means disqualification.
Do men and women run over the same height of hurdle?
No. In the short race the men's hurdle is 1.067 m high and the women's 0.838 m. In the 400 m they are 0.914 m and 0.762 m.
Is the 400 m hurdles run in lanes all the way round?
Yes. All hurdle races are run in lanes throughout.
Is the 300 m hurdles a standard event?
Yes. The 2026 rule lists 300 m for both men and women, with seven hurdles.
Why the rule exists
A hurdle race is a sprint with a fixed rhythm of strides between barriers. The rules protect that test. Every athlete meets the same ten barriers at the same height and spacing, and nobody may save time by going round one or pushing through it.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 22.1; TR 22.6; TR 22.7 |
| Under-20 and under-18 | Lower hurdles: 0.991 m and 0.914 m for the boys' 110 m, 0.762 m for under-18 girls | TR 22.3 |
| Combined events | One false start is allowed in each race before disqualifications begin | TR 39.8.3 |
| Short track (indoor) | Shorter hurdle races under rules that were not read | TR Part V |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 16, 17.12 and 22. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).