A sprinter races down a runway, hits a takeoff board, and launches into a flight that ends in a sand pit. That event is the long jump. The jump is measured from the foul line to the nearest mark in the sand.

Speed on the runway is the largest contributor to distance, but takeoff technique and aerial control also matter. Athletes use hitch-kick or hang techniques to manage body position in the air and prepare for landing. Fouls occur when the takeoff foot crosses the line. Each competitor usually receives a set number of attempts, with the best legal jump counting.

Training blends sprint development, plyometric power, and technical runway work. Consistency of the approach run is critical; small errors in stride pattern produce large losses at takeoff. The long jump remains one of the most straightforward yet demanding tests of speed and power.

• Track-and-field event jumping for horizontal distance
• Combines sprint approach with single takeoff
• Measured to the nearest mark in the landing pit
• Rewards speed, timing, and landing efficiency