HEPTATHLON

women's athletics competition in which contestants take part in seven different track-and-field events on two days. The heptathlon replaced the women's pentathlon in the Olympic Games after 1981. The heptathlon consists of the 100-metre hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200-metre run on the first day; and the long (broad) jump, javelin throw, and 800-metre run on the second day. Competitors are scored for their performance in each event according to a table established by the International Amateur Athletic Federation. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, two-time U.S. Olympic gold-medal winner, was the most notable heptathlete.