Athletics (British Sports Library)

SPRINTING 51 athlete or to a bad foot position, brought about by raising the balls of the feet away from the back walls of the holes upon the starter's caution to "Get set." If, however, the holes are properly dug, as will be described presently, the latter diffi– culty may be easily overcome. It has already been said that each hand should form a tripod and the two arms props. The third prop of a still greater tripod, supporting the whole body, is supplied by the proper disposition of the forward foot. For the sake of argument let us assume that the runner starts left foot forward. Sketches I and 2 should be studied in conjunction with the following remarks. The position of the forward foot must, of course, be governed by the build of the individual athlete ; generally speaking, however, it should be placed from 5 to 6 inches in rear of the seratch line or mark. The back foot must be far enough behind the front one to allow the runner to get on his mark and " Get set " comfortably. In most cases it will be found that when the knee of the right, or rear, leg rests on the track level with the centre of the left foot, a good, easy position is assured. The distance between the two hands will vary according to the individual runner from l! to 2 feet. When the athlete has decided upon his position he should mark the stations of his two feet with his