Track Hurdle Placement, Spacing & Color Specifications
Official hurdle spacing, heights, and paint marking colors pursuant to World Athletics Technical Rule 22, NCAA Rule 2, and NFHS Rule 5.
Standard outdoor hurdle races (100m Women, 110m Men, 400m Men & Women) contain exactly 10 hurdles per lane. High school 300m hurdle races contain 8 hurdles per lane. All marks are painted across the lane lines as 100mm × 50mm tick marks in event-specific colors.
| Event | Division | Hurdle Count | Start to H1 | Between Hurdles | Last Hurdle to Finish | Hurdle Height | Marking Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100m Hurdles | Women | 10 | 13.00 m | 8.50 m | 10.50 m | 0.838 m (33″) | Yellow |
| 110m Hurdles | Men | 10 | 13.72 m | 9.14 m | 14.02 m | 1.067 m (42″) | Blue |
| 400m Hurdles | Men | 10 | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m | 0.914 m (36″) | Green |
| 400m Hurdles | Women | 10 | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 40.00 m | 0.762 m (30″) | Green |
| 300m Hurdles | Boys (NFHS) | 8 | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 10.00 m | 0.914 m (36″) | White / Red |
| 300m Hurdles | Girls (NFHS) | 8 | 45.00 m | 35.00 m | 10.00 m | 0.762 m (30″) | White / Red |
Hurdle Tick Mark Dimensions on Polyurethane Running Tracks
According to World Athletics Facilities Manual Chapter 2, hurdle locations are painted on both border lines of every individual lane using 100mm long by 50mm wide rectangular tick marks:
- 100m Hurdles (Women): Yellow tick marks painted 13.00m from start line to H1, 8.50m intervals, 10.50m from H10 to finish.
- 110m Hurdles (Men): Blue tick marks painted 13.72m from start line to H1, 9.14m intervals, 14.02m from H10 to finish.
- 400m Hurdles (Men & Women): Green tick marks painted 45.00m from staggered start line to H1, 35.00m intervals around bends and straights, 40.00m from H10 to finish.
- 300m Hurdles (High School NFHS): White tick marks with red tips painted 45.00m to H1, 35.00m intervals, 10.00m from H8 to finish.
Regulatory Hurdle Construction & Tipping Force Standards
World Athletics Rule 22.2 enforces strict mechanical specifications for competition hurdle gates:
- Top Bar Construction: Hurdle top bars must be 1.18m to 1.20m in width, 70mm in height, and painted with black-and-white (or high-contrast) stripes with the lighter stripe on the outside edges (at least 225mm wide).
- Counterweight Adjustment: Hurdle bases feature adjustable weights inside the base tubes. When set to any regulation height, the force required to tip the hurdle forward must be between 3.6 kg and 4.0 kg (8.0 to 8.8 lbs) applied horizontally at the top center of the crossbar.
- Base Length: Maximum base length extending backward is 700mm to prevent tripping in adjacent lanes.
Need Track Stagger Plans?
Run exact survey calculations with our Master Track Stagger Calculator, view the 400m 2-Turn Stagger Chart, or check How to Mark Track on Grass (DIY).