Athletic Training

HURDLING 87 THE HIGH HURDLES Primarily, the athlete should learn the proper method to clear or jump the hurdles. To accomplish this he should practise with one hurdle until it is fairly well mastered. As the first hurdle in the l!W-yard event is 15 yards from the start, it should be placed at this distance for practice in order to ac– custom onesel£ to getting the correct stride. The hurdles should be taken at moderate speed. As the athlete rises to go over it the front foot should be pointed well up. As soon as this foot is over the back leg should be brought along, though not too hard. This leg should have a lateral motion, that is, grad– ually turning outward, so that when the ath– lete is on top of the hurdle the leg will be almost at right angles to the body. To do this properly the back leg should be brought forward and outward the moment it leaves the ground so that it will bring the knee clear of the hurdle without compelling one to jump too high. If the hurdler is just learning the knack of clearing the hurdle he will find that his great-