Pacemaker (track)

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A pacemaker (sometimes colloquially called a rabbit) is a runner who leads a middle distance track event for the first section to ensure a fast time and avoid excessive tactical racing. Pacemakers are frequently employed by race organisers for world record attempts with specific instructions for lap times. Some athletes have become essentially professional pacemakers. A competitor who chooses the tactic of leading is called a front-runner rather than a pacemaker.

Purists argue that employing pacemakers detracts from the competitive nature of racing and yet it does ensure that the fastest over the whole distance rather than merely the fastest finisher wins the race. Original rules frowned on a competitor who was not actively trying to win and pacemakers were required to finish a race for any record to count. This rule has now been dropped. A lapped competitor may not act as a pacemaker.

The 1500m at the Bislett Games in 1981 became part of track folklore when star athletes including Steve Ovett chose not to follow pacemaker Tom Byers, but race among themselves. Ovett's scintillating last lap was not quite enough to catch the rapidly tiring Ohio runner who held on to win by a few metres.