Combined Events
Combined Events (or Multi-Event) competitions are a totally unique and fantastically special aspect of athletics. Some of Britains greatest ever athletes including Daley Thompson, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katarina Johnson-Thompson have found their success in combined events - the quest to become the best all-round athlete that you can be. Team Blyth are unquestionably the place to be for combined events in the North East - So what is it all about?
For junior athletes, you will almost certainly start in the younger age groups with a Pentathlon. This is a single-day competition in which athletes compete in 5 events, scoring points based on their time/distance in each event, which then accumulates for the athletes final score. At the end of the day, the final rankings are based on the total points accumulated by each athlete accross the final day.
The day traditionally starts with the Hurdles. This can be nerve-racking, but the aim is to complete the race safely and get points on the board. Remember, every hundreth of a second is worth points - so its not about where you finish in relation to other athletes, but recording your own fastest possible time regardless of position.
The high jump, shot put, and long jump usually follow next (in any order). In the high jump, the bar goes up in 3cm increments, and you increase your score with every new height you clear. Rule are the same as with a normal HJ competition, 3 consecutive fouls and you are out. Your points are based on the highest bar you cleared, so it does not matter about previous fouls/clearances. In shot put and long jump, yoiu will only receive 3 throws/jumps, so its important to get a safe attempt in first to get points on the board! The 800m always finishes the day, and races are seeded based on overall points standings heading into the event. Positions can be gained or lost by the smallest of margins, so give it your all through to the line! If you are doing the Gateshead Indoor Pentathlon, you will finish with the 60m rather than the 800m.
Remember, the aim is to accumulate as many points as you can. Its hard to produce PB's in every event - so if you have an event that does not go so well - don't worry. Close it off, focus on the next event. All athletes in each age group compete together through the day, and you will make new friends and make great memories. The days can be long (up to 8 hours), so its important to fuel and hydrate, and manage your effort and recovery.
Pentathlons, and later on Hexathlons, Heptathlons, Octathlons and Decathlons are fantastic competitions - embrace every second!
Want to know how Combined events scoring works - check out this link and you can see how many points your performances can earn!
COMBINED EVENTS POINTS CALCULATOR
Combined Events Competitions for Each Age Group:
Indoors
NECAA Indoor Pentathlon (Late March) - For all age groups U13+. 60m instead of 800m. No entry standard, but numbers limited
Scottish Indoor Combined Events (Late January) - For all age groups U13+. Entries limited, and being a member of Scottish Athletics is recommended. Penathlon for all junior age groups except U17+ boys who complete Heptathlon.
England Athletics Indoor Combined Events - (Early March) - For U15/U17. Limited numbers, entry standards for U17's. Penathlon for all junior age groups except U17+ boys who complete Heptathlon. Recommend for more experienced athletes.
Outdoors
ESAA Regional Qualifiers - 24/25th June - For Age groups U15/U17/U19. Athletes compete for their county, only 4 athletes in each age group will be selected. Potential progression to ESAA Nationals. Pentathlon for U15's. U17 & U19 girls complete Heptathlon. U17 boys Octathlon, U19 boys Decathlon.
ESAA National Finals - 16/17th September - Progression only from regional qualifiers.
England Athletics Combined Events - 5/6th August. For U15/U17. Limited numbers, entry standards for possible. U15G - Hexhathlon. U17G - Heptathlon. U15B Octathlon, U17M Decathlon
NECAA Pentathlon (Late September) - For all age groups U13+. Pentathlon for all age groups. No entry standard, but numbers limited
Scottish National Combined Events - Entries limited, and being a member of Scottish Athletics is recommended. U13/U15''s pentathlon. U17+ Women Heptathlon. U17M+ Decathlon
Other Events:
Combined Events (or Multi-Event) competitions are a totally unique and fantastically special aspect of athletics. Some of Britains greatest ever athletes including Daley Thompson, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katarina Johnson-Thompson have found their success in combined events - the quest to become the best all-round athlete that you can be. Team Blyth are unquestionably the place to be for combined events in the North East - So what is it all about?
For junior athletes, you will almost certainly start in the younger age groups with a Pentathlon. This is a single-day competition in which athletes compete in 5 events, scoring points based on their time/distance in each event, which then accumulates for the athletes final score. At the end of the day, the final rankings are based on the total points accumulated by each athlete accross the final day.
The day traditionally starts with the Hurdles. This can be nerve-racking, but the aim is to complete the race safely and get points on the board. Remember, every hundreth of a second is worth points - so its not about where you finish in relation to other athletes, but recording your own fastest possible time regardless of position.
The high jump, shot put, and long jump usually follow next (in any order). In the high jump, the bar goes up in 3cm increments, and you increase your score with every new height you clear. Rule are the same as with a normal HJ competition, 3 consecutive fouls and you are out. Your points are based on the highest bar you cleared, so it does not matter about previous fouls/clearances. In shot put and long jump, yoiu will only receive 3 throws/jumps, so its important to get a safe attempt in first to get points on the board! The 800m always finishes the day, and races are seeded based on overall points standings heading into the event. Positions can be gained or lost by the smallest of margins, so give it your all through to the line! If you are doing the Gateshead Indoor Pentathlon, you will finish with the 60m rather than the 800m.
Remember, the aim is to accumulate as many points as you can. Its hard to produce PB's in every event - so if you have an event that does not go so well - don't worry. Close it off, focus on the next event. All athletes in each age group compete together through the day, and you will make new friends and make great memories. The days can be long (up to 8 hours), so its important to fuel and hydrate, and manage your effort and recovery.
Pentathlons, and later on Hexathlons, Heptathlons, Octathlons and Decathlons are fantastic competitions - embrace every second!
Want to know how Combined events scoring works - check out this link and you can see how many points your performances can earn!
COMBINED EVENTS POINTS CALCULATOR
Combined Events Competitions for Each Age Group:
Indoors
NECAA Indoor Pentathlon (Late March) - For all age groups U13+. 60m instead of 800m. No entry standard, but numbers limited
Scottish Indoor Combined Events (Late January) - For all age groups U13+. Entries limited, and being a member of Scottish Athletics is recommended. Penathlon for all junior age groups except U17+ boys who complete Heptathlon.
England Athletics Indoor Combined Events - (Early March) - For U15/U17. Limited numbers, entry standards for U17's. Penathlon for all junior age groups except U17+ boys who complete Heptathlon. Recommend for more experienced athletes.
Outdoors
ESAA Regional Qualifiers - 24/25th June - For Age groups U15/U17/U19. Athletes compete for their county, only 4 athletes in each age group will be selected. Potential progression to ESAA Nationals. Pentathlon for U15's. U17 & U19 girls complete Heptathlon. U17 boys Octathlon, U19 boys Decathlon.
ESAA National Finals - 16/17th September - Progression only from regional qualifiers.
England Athletics Combined Events - 5/6th August. For U15/U17. Limited numbers, entry standards for possible. U15G - Hexhathlon. U17G - Heptathlon. U15B Octathlon, U17M Decathlon
NECAA Pentathlon (Late September) - For all age groups U13+. Pentathlon for all age groups. No entry standard, but numbers limited
Scottish National Combined Events - Entries limited, and being a member of Scottish Athletics is recommended. U13/U15''s pentathlon. U17+ Women Heptathlon. U17M+ Decathlon
Other Events: