How big are the steeplechase hurdles and the water jump?
Officials' detail · The event and the start · 1 of 2A steeplechase hurdle is 0.914 m high for men and 0.762 m for women, at least 3.94 m wide and 80 to 100 kg in weight, so it does not tip. The water jump is a hurdle fixed in front of a pit 3.66 m long. The water is 0.50 m deep by the hurdle and slopes up to track level.
How it works
- Height: 0.914 m for senior and under-20 men, 0.838 m for under-18 men and 0.762 m for women of all ages.
- Width: at least 3.94 m. It is recommended that the first hurdle of the race is at least 5 m wide.
- Weight: "between 80kg and 100kg", on a base 1.2 m to 1.4 m long on each side.
- The top bar: 0.127 m square, painted in white and black stripes or other strongly contrasting colours.
- Position: at least 0.30 m of the top bar reaches inside the inner edge of the track.
- The water jump hurdle: 3.66 m wide and fixed to the walls of the pit so that it can hardly move.
- The pit: 3.66 m long including the hurdle, and 3.66 m wide.
- The water: 0.50 m deep nearest the hurdle for about 1.20 m. From there the bottom rises at a steady slope to the level of the track at the far end.
- The floor of the pit: a synthetic surface or matting thick enough for a safe landing and for spikes to grip.
- Where the water jump is: off the main oval, inside or outside a bend. Athletes leave the track on a marked path to reach it.
Tricky cases
Will a steeplechase hurdle fall if an athlete hits it?
No. It weighs 80 to 100 kg and the one at the water jump is fixed in place.
Is the water the same depth all the way across the pit?
No. It is 0.50 m deep by the hurdle and gets shallower up the slope until the floor meets the track.
Are the women's hurdles narrower than the men's?
No. Only the height differs. The width and weight are the same.
Why the rule exists
A sprint hurdle is made to fall. A steeplechase hurdle is made to be stepped on by a tired athlete, sometimes several at once, so it is wide and heavy. The slope of the pit rewards the athlete who jumps furthest, because they land in the shallowest water.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 23.5; TR 23.6 |
| Older pits | Pits built to the 2018 and 2019 specifications remain acceptable | TR 23.6 (note) |
| Spacing | The distance between hurdles may be adjusted to keep safe distances from the start and after the finish line | TR 23.4 (note) |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 23.4 to 23.6 and Figures (a) and (b) TR23. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).