Athletics (British Sports Library)

60 ATHLETICS for the lOO Yards on Mussabini's cross-arm action will now find himself at the greater advantage, as the longer distance necessitates longer striding, which is something different to Paddock's fore-leg, down-chop action. Finally, it must be remembered that the 220 Yards race is run around the bend of a track, if not actually in a stringed course, which provides each athlete with his own lane. In the latter event the man who draws the outside station, and therefore starts in advance of the other competitors to compensate for the wide swing of the track, must not let his apparent, but not necessarily real, lead influence him, otherwise he may relax his efforts a little, and find himself well behind the field when the positions are adjusted at the commencement of the straight run in. It is necessary also for the furlong runner to know how to negotiate a bend. This is best accomplished by dropping the arm nearest to the inner edge of the track-normally the left arm-at the same time inclining the head slightly to the left to preserve the balance of the body going round the corner. The use of running corks has not yet been men– tioned. Most boys will have nothing to do with them at first, but once they have learned their value will not be persuaded to run without them. Properly employed, the corks should be loosely