Athletes in Action

HIGH HURDLES (3) TnE manner in \•.:hich the rear leg comes into action is seen in Fig. 3 opposite. The leading leg has now passed as far as mid-thigh over the hurdle and the chop-down action, which brings the leading foot to the ground about 3 ft . beyond the hurdle, is about to begin; therefore the athlete is beginning to point the toes of the left foot . The full forward body-dip is still prcsen-ed, the arms arc still in balance and the chin is still in advance of the knee of the leading leg. There is, hov,·ever, a slight twist of the hips from left to right which is incorrect and suggests lack of full flexibility in the (right) rear hip. The action of the rear leg is, however, correct, in that the whole limb, bent at the knee, is being raised abruptly sideways. 1\t this stage the right leg should form three right angles; the first right angle is between the body and the thigh, the second right angle is between the thigh and the lower leg and the third right angle is between the lower leg and the foot. It will be seen from Fig. 3 that the inner ankle-bone of the right leg is pointed directly towards the ground and the toes are pointed directly to\vards the side, so that the right thigh and the right foot arc carried over parallel to the ground and to the top rail of the hurdle. :\ote that the shoulders are still held absolutely square to the line of direction, and that the squareness of the hips to the front ought also to have been maintained. One further point. Observe that the underside of the thigh is clearing the top rail of the hurdle by a substantial margin. It is only the underside of the buttock which Just grazes the top rail of the hurdle as the chop-down action of the leading leg is given effect. The forcing of the trunk down over the thigh assists in driving the leading foot quickly to ground . 0\ \0