Athletes in Action

STARTING (1) STARTI~C is to ha,·e a section of its own in this book, because the art of starting is of equal interest to the Sprinter, the Quarter- and Half-miler, and the High and Low Hurdler. The first consideration is that of starting holes and their position. To get their direction the athlete should stand with his toes touching the scratch-line and his eyes looking along the track. A line drawn back from the middle toe of each foot will then give the direction and distance apart of the holes. The next consideration is that of their position. Roughly speaking, the hole for the front foot should be about the length of the athlete's own foot behind the line. The position of the other hole is such as will allow of the knee of the athlete's rear leg coming about level with the ankle of his front foot when he is " On the :\lark," as shown in Fig. I opposite. The front hole should be approximately zt ins. deep and the rear hole from 3 to 3t ins. deep. On being told to take his mark the athlete should walk forward, from 3 or 4 yds. in rear, place his back foot between the holes he has dug, place both hands and the front foot on the mark and then place the back foot firmly in its hole. The hands should be so disposed that the thumbs and index fingers rest upon the line as shown in Fig. I opposite. The arms may be bent a little at the elbows, but the hands should be under the shoulders and slightly v.;ider apart than their \vidth. The eyes should be fixed on a marked spot on the tract where the rear foot will strike in its first stride. 1-4 1-4