Athletes in Action

35 TH QUARTER-MILE (3) TII£ nd of the stride-action is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 on the opposite page. As the foot hit the track there is a slight crouch, ontingent upon the amount f knee fle ·ion mployed, the hands drop to hip-level, and it hould be noted, c pecially, that the foot is placed down directly under the body, with the toes pointi11g straight ahead. Thi' positioning of the fo t beneath the weight allows the body to go f rward smoothly and increases the length [ the next ensuing stride. It should be noticed, also that the foot comes down squarely on the track and a little further back on the sole than would be advisable for a sprinter and a little higher up on the ball of the fo t than would be favoured by a half- miler. The body is being kept close to the ground and the arms are in position for a direct forward-and- back swing in the process of the next stride being taken. Again, it hould be noted that there is no wasteful kick-up of the heel of the r ar leg. The whole body i swinging moothly forward over the fulcrum of the gr unded foot there is tremendous direct traction fr m the sole of the foot which is on the ground, and, in en ral, Butler hows an admirably balanced running p sition, for the transition period between strides, when travelling under full pressure.