Athletics (British Sports Library)

HURDLING 63 it is seldom that the man who excels at one will show equal proficiency at either of the other two. First of all we must consider what constitutes a good high hurdler-that is to say, one who is training for the 120 yards dash. In the first place he has got to have speed and the nervous energy we have required of the sprinter in the last chapter. He must also be tall and well split up, particularly from the knee to the hip-joint; loose limbed, particularly il\ the hip-joints ; preferably over 6 feet in height ; and weighing anything between 12 stone and 3 or 4 pounds under 14 stone. The weight is necessary to bring the hurdler quickly to earth with a downward chop of the leading leg after the hurdle clearance has been made. The men who work at longer distances over lower hurdles need weight, but not necessarily such great length of limb. The records at all three distances are already super-excellent; it seems improbable, indeed, that anyone will ever better Earl Thomson's 14-i seconds for the 120 yards dash over 3-foot 6-inch hurdles. The furlong figures, however, may be cut down by some slashing sprinter who has a natural ability for taking the 2-foot 6-inch obstacle in his stride ; and there is every probability that the Quarter Mile time will get a trouncing at the hands of some strong strider who is really fast at the distance on the fiat and cultivates the