Athletes in Action

HIGH HURDLES (5) IN Fig. 5 on the opposite page the high pick-up action of the rear knee, which accompanies the strong downward chop of the leading leg and also the gradual resumption of the correct sprinting angle of the body, are well portrayed. It will be noticed that the right foot, the heel of which is visible, is still pointing directly to the side, and the facts may again be emphasised that the head is well thrust fo rwa rd and the right arm is in a perfectly correct position; but one must admit, also, that the left arm is badly at fault. At this stage the left arm should be flexed at the elbow, which in its turn should be close in to the side with the hand pointing straight forward and the forearm almost parallel to the ground . The knee of the rear leg is beginning to complete the sideways rotary swing, from rear to front upwards, whereby it was carried clear over the top rail of the hurdle . The turning out of the foot, already mentioned, is important, for if the toes arc allowed to point do\vnwards instead of being directed out to the side, there is every probability that they will have hit the top rail of the hurdle really hard. The chop-down action of the leading leg, with the foot directed straight ahead and clawing hard down for the cinders, must be practised continually, as the climax of a slow clearance action, at first; but, as proficiency increases, one's speed in hurdle clearance must be accentuated . '-1 \..N