The first state track meets were open events, without qualifying times, heights, or distances. Starting in 1926, district qualifying meets were initiated to limit the number of teams taking part in the championship meet. The early days also saw several changes in scoring and events. From 1906 to 1909, only the top three placewinners in each event earned points for their school. This was increased to the top 4 in 1910, then to the top five in 1928. Hammer throw was dropped from the program following the 1910 meet, while javelin was contest for only a few year, 1927 to 1941, before also being dropped, and replaced by football throw (which would itself be dropped after the 1963 meet). The biggest change in the number of events came in 1935, when the number of relay events was increased to five, from just two in all prior years. Classifications were used for the first time in 1948, initially splitting teams into two classes, before being modified to four classes two years later. An indoor state track meet was also organized, beginning with the 1930-31 school year. The outdoor meet continued to be held in the spring, while the indoor meet was held during the winter sports season until it was cancelled following the 1971-72 school year. Indoor meet winners can be found on this site, alongside the outdoor meet champions on team pages and on separate pages from the outdoor winners on the pages that have a full list of year-by-year winners.

During the 1970s, a few changes were made to the meet rules. Beginning with the 1971 meet, points were awarded to the top 6 placewinners in individual events. Then, in 1978, distances of state events were adjusted to fit metric measurements. For example, the 440 yard (quarter-mile) dash, became the 400 meter dash, while the mile (1760 yard) run became the 1600 meter dash. Starting in 1983, district qualifying was eliminated in class 4A, in favor of using season performances. Classes 3A and 2A followed suit in 1990. These changes were reversed, however, in 2004, when it was mandated by the IHSAA that all classes hold qualifying meets. Starting in 2003, the number of point-winners was again expanded, this time to the top 8 places. Two years later, the IHSAA and IGHSAU began holding a combined state track meet, helping propel the meet to become the nation's most attended high school track & field event in the country. 

The initial state track meet included seven individual running events (100 yd, 220 yd, 440 yd, 880 yd, 1 mile; 120 yd high hurdles and 220 yd low hurdles), three height events (long jump, high jump, and pole vault), three throwing events (shot put, discus, and hammer throw), and two relays (4x220 and 4x440). In addition to the changes noted in the paragraphs above, competition in the 2 mile run was initiated in 1968, pole vault was dropped following the 1989 meet, wheelchair competition (in four events) was added beginning in 1990, a shuttle hurdle relayed was added in 2007 and a second medley relay (the sprint med) was added to the state meet lineup beginning in 2017, after being part of the girl's state meet for decades and a common event at regular season meets for several years. 

Until 1990, there were no offerings in the the IHSAA sports lineup that served those who are physically handicapped. But, just as track & field initiated IHSAA championships for standard competition, it also initiated IHSAA competition for those in wheelchairs. Beginning in 1990, state individual titles were awarded by the IHSAA in five wheelchair track & field events: the 100-meter, 200-meter, 800-meter, shot put and discus. Team points initially were not awarded, but this changed in 2003, a separate scoring system and separate team state championship was set-up for Track & Field Wheelchair competition. Two years later, with girl's and boy's now competing the same weekend, team scoring for Wheelchair events became co-ed. This remained the case through 2009, after which time a boy's-only Wheelchair team champion was named once again. Individual events have changed a few times over the years. The 800-meter was replaced with the 400-meter after the 2003 meet, discus was dropped from the lineup after the 2004 meet, and beginning in 2019 the 800-meter returned as a fifth event.