Athletics Tracks

The athletics problem

An athletics stadium is a football pitch with a 400 m ring around it and field events in the segments — so the light has to cover a larger, irregular area with consistent uniformity. Runners on the bend look across the masts; high jumpers and pole vaulters look upward at the bar against the sky. Both are glare-sensitive moments.

Design priorities

• Uniformity across all lanes, including the outer lanes on the bends, which corner masts tend to under-light.
• Glare control at the jump and vault areas — aiming is checked from the athlete's viewpoint, not only from a plan.
• Photo-finish and timing cameras at the finish line, which may need higher vertical illuminance on that straight.

Luminaire choice

Stadium modules with a mix of medium and wide optics usually suit athletics, because throw distances to the track are shorter than to the pitch centre. Asymmetric optics help when masts sit close behind the track.