Athletes in Action

SPRINTING (I) THE ten pictures chosen to illustrate the art of Sprinting are of Arthur Jonath, possibly the best of the German stylists, who has returned ICi secs. for IOO metres and 2I ~ secs. for 200 metres. The style depicted is of the strong, forceful variety, so much favoured by American and Continental athletes. In the opinion of many it is not as good as the l\1ussabini cross-arm action, but it yet remains the style by ·which the world's sprint records have been achieved. Fig. I opposite shows the knee-lift stride \vith direct action and forceful drive from the fully extended rear leg. The knee has been raised to a fair elevation, but not so high as would be the case if Jonath was using the quick chop-do,\·n action. He is, in fact, aiming at a downward leg movement which may be stretched out as the foot and fore-leg go out in an additional fonvard stretch. This action is seen commencing in Fig. 2 opposite. It accounts for the upright body poise and will tend to bring the runner on to the ball of the foot, as his foot reaches the track, but the action has the adYantage of adding considerably to the stride-length. It will be noted that the head is well thrust forward, without being dropped, and that the hand of the rear arm is not checked at the hip on the backward sv.·ing, while the fist of the leading arm swings hard across the body and up to shoulder-level. The shoulders, howeYer, do not follm'' the arms out or back and the hips, also, remain square to the front. i\ote, especially, that full use is being made of the arms in conjunction with the leg-action. The hang of the rear leg is particularly notable. t-) .....