If bowling and change, why can't track and field? Test it out.
Bowling going from point scoring to head to head competition frame by frame.
Track and field should be able to figure out a good head to head competitive game that would be exciting and clear for fans to understand. No more yip about world record performances, be they tainted or not, no more time trials races that signify nothing.
Come on track and field, break out and join the modern world.