– why aren’t all middle/long distance athletics track events in multiples of 400? Why the 1500 metres and not 1600 metres so that the race is an exact number of laps.
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All tracks built in the USA before the 80s were 1/4mile tracks. 440 yards. 4 laps made a mile and that was the ultimate race for running. Fit TV perfectly as it was about 4 minutes in duration. Every kid in the 60s and 70s knew who Jim Ryun and Dr. Roger Bannister and Steve Prefontaine were.
It was only when the races started to be standardized according to Olympic rules did they start marking them at 400 meters.
400 meters happens to be 437.4 yards. Really close to the 440 yard quarter mile.
I hope this helps
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