The Swiss Athletics Championships (German: Leichtathletik Schweizermeisterschaften, French: Championnats Suisses Elites d’Athlétisme) is an annual outdoor track and field competition organised by the Swiss Athletics Federation, which serves as the national championships for the sport in Switzerland. The two-day event is typically held in mid-summer and the venue varies on an annual basis. It is open to adults of all ages and is thus referred to as the senior or élite championships.
The competition was initiated as a men-only event in 1906, with women's events being given national championship status in 1936.[1]
Events
On the current programme a total of 38 individual Swiss Championship athletics events are contested, divided evenly between men and women. For each of the sexes, there are six track running events, three obstacle events, four jumps, four throws, a racewalk and a combined track and field event.[1]
The women's programme was restricted in earlier years, compared to the men's. On the track, the 400 m was added in 1965, 1500 m in 1968, the 3000 m in 1972, the 10,000 m in 1986 and finally the 5000 m in 1995 (replacing the 3000 m event). The 400 m hurdles was added for women in 1977 and the steeplechase in 2007. The women's field programme was expanded in the 1990s, starting with triple jump in 1991, then hammer throw in 1995 and pole vault in 1996.[1]
A men's 200 metres hurdles race was previously held, finishing in 1967. Women contested this event in 1970 and 1971.[1]
