Athletes in Action

t: u• o,Jllli}';:)VJI) .£J.iJ.\.I. iiJU '-'&&&'l'""'& t;J"&'-•'" v • ..r..aa'-..,.••·•IIA""& V •• ... • -·•••-.. ... .......... - ---··-..,••r· -··"' --·- .---- - -- -· - ·--·•} "':JJ-~J Fig. t. Approaching a hurdle. 440 Y_\.RDS LOW HURDLES (r) THE +fO Yards Race over ro flights of 3 ft. hurdles furnishes the most gruelling and exhausting eYent in the vvhole gamut of athletic contests. There is a clear run of 4-9t yds. from the start to the first flight of fences, a distance of 384- yds. between flights and a run-in from the last hurdle to the winning-post of 46t yds. The hurdles are set up round the track en echelon, which necessitates the athlete acquiring good judgment of his O\-Yn pace and that of his opponents; otherwise the man in the out- side "string" has no means of judging his position in the race, in relation to the positions of his opponents, until the home stretch is reached . The start is made in the normal '· Crouch" position used by sprinters (see " Starting " pages IO-I9)) and the Low Hurdler should endeavour to stabilise the number of strides which will carry him from the start to the take-off for the clearance of the first hurdle. Speaking gene;ally, one should take-off about 6 ft. in front of each fence and land about 5 ft. beyond it. Fifteen strides between hurdles, from landing to take-off calling for an a-v·crtZge stride-length of 6 ft. 3 ins., is the ideal to aim at, but very few athletes are able to maintain so high a standard of striding; many, indeed, are content if they can cover the distance between flights in I 7 strides, others hold to the 15 or 17 stride form as long as possible, and then drop to 17 or even to a natural stride. In any case, one should frequently practise running at a single hurdle from varying distances. Fig. I opposite shows J. Simpson, \Vorld's Student Champion and record holder, 1930, approaching a hurdle at full speed. His style may be criticised, on the ground that his body is too upright, otherwise he shows a well-balanced position for a left-foot take-off for hurdle clearance, with the right leg leading.