X Tables
Athletics Maths

Maths in athletics: event data

Make charts from results.

Quick answer

You can use maths to make charts and graphs from athletics results to show who did best, how fast people ran, or how far they jumped.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to make simple charts from athletics event data, like showing who won a race or how far people jumped. Success signs:
  • You can read and understand simple charts with names and numbers
  • You can compare results to see who did best
  • You can draw your own bar chart or picture chart from athletics data
  • You can explain what your chart shows

Why this matters

Maths helps us understand how good people are at sports. When athletes compete, they get times, distances, or scores. We can use maths to make charts that show who did best. These charts help people see the results clearly, like in newspapers or at school sports days. Whether it's a race, a long jump, or a shot put, maths helps us compare and share the information in a fun way.

How it works

To make a chart from athletics data, you need to:
  1. Collect the results from an event
  2. Choose a way to show the data (like a bar chart or picture chart)
  3. Draw or create your chart
  4. Label your chart so people know what it shows

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine a school athletics day with a 50-metre race. Here are the results:
Name Time (seconds)
Alex 8.2
Bella 9.1
Charlie 7.9
Daisy 8.7
Now, we can make a chart to show who ran fastest. The fastest runner has the shortest time, so Charlie is first.

Bar chart example

We can make a bar chart where the height of each bar shows how fast each person ran. The shorter the bar, the faster the runner.

Picture chart example

We can use small pictures of runners to show the results. Each runner gets a number of pictures based on their time (for example, 1 picture for every 0.5 seconds). Charlie (7.9 seconds) would get 16 pictures, Bella (9.1 seconds) would get 18 pictures.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The School Sports Day Chart Challenge You are the chart-maker for your school's athletics day! You have the results from the 100-metre race. Here are the results:
Name Time (seconds)
Emma 12.4
Frank 11.8
Grace 13.1
Harry 12.9
Your mission is to make a chart showing who won the race.
  1. First, find who had the fastest time (shortest time)
  2. Next, draw a bar chart with names on the left and times on the right
  3. Make sure the bars are different heights to show who was fastest
  4. Finally, write a sentence about your chart

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking the longest time means the fastest runner.
    Why it happens: Children might confuse time with speed.
    Fix: Remember: the faster someone runs, the shorter their time.
  • Mistake: Drawing the bars the wrong way up.
    Why it happens: Not knowing which way to go on the chart.
    Fix: Always check that the tallest bar shows the best result.
  • Mistake: Not labelling the chart properly.
    Why it happens: Rushing to draw the chart.
    Fix: Always write the title and labels before drawing.

Parent and carer guide

You can help your child by:
  • Choosing a fun event to chart together, like a race or jump
  • Letting them decide what kind of chart to make (bar chart or picture chart)
  • Checking that the chart shows the correct results
  • Encouraging them to explain their chart to you
  • Using real data from local or online sports events
It’s okay if they make mistakes – it’s part of learning! You can ask questions like:
  • “Which person had the fastest time?”
  • “How do you know who won?”
  • “Why is your bar the tallest?”

Practice questions

  1. Who won a 200-metre race with these times: 24.5, 23.8, 25.1, 24.2 seconds?
    Answer: Person with 23.8 seconds
  2. Make a picture chart using 1 picture for every 0.5 seconds. How many pictures does a runner with 6.3 seconds get?
    Answer: 12 pictures
  3. What is the best result in this long jump data: 1.8m, 1.6m, 2.0m, 1.9m?
    Answer: 2.0m
  4. Draw a bar chart for these high jump results: 1.1m, 1.3m, 1.2m, 1.0m. Which is the tallest bar?
    Answer: 1.3m
  5. Which of these is the fastest time: 10.3s, 9.8s, 11.2s, 10.7s?
    Answer: 9.8s

FAQ

What is a chart? A chart is a way to show information using pictures, bars, or lines so it’s easy to understand.

Why do we use charts for athletics? Charts help us see who did best quickly and easily, especially when there are many results.

Can I make charts with any sport? Yes! You can make charts for any sport with results like times, scores, or distances.

How do I know which is the best result? In races, the shortest time is best. In jumps or throws, the longest distance is best.

Do I need to know all the times tables to make charts? No, but knowing how to compare numbers and count helps a lot!