Athletics of To-Day 1929

144 • .ll ~ I 1; ~ ~~ ~ ~ ' ... ... ~ t!:! t.. i:: 'I 'K I ~ I' ~ ·= i •\D ~~- . ·~ ~ ~ ~I ., N ~~ . 'it ~ 1' 6o '2 ~1 . 0 "~ ~ ., ~~ ... 1'1) V) ~ N- ""0 ~ :l :r 1· C\1 ~ ~ \,. Q) > 0 E ... m .. !0 ~~ .!!! lx. IX) -o Q) "'0 I.. +- " V) ID 11) .... .,., N Athletics of To-day upon those measurements. The hurdler should always train on cinders, if possible, and should prepare charts of his striding from actual measurements taken on the track after each run over. The composite picture (Plate r6) made up of six photographs of Earl Thomson taking a hurdle shows nearly the whole clearance action. The only fault is in the first figure, in that he should not have allowed his heel to touch the track. It will be seen that in rising to the hurdle Thomson increased his body lean, as he extended both hands forward, palms downwards. As the back leg was straightened and its foot left the ground with a strong push -away, the lower part of the leading leg was swung forward with toes pointed upwards, the arms were shot out and the chest brought down towards the rising thigh, with back re– laxed, not arched (Fig. 3). The full extension of the leading (right) leg (Fig. 4), brought the thigh in contact with the breast and the left hand out beyond the right foot; as the right arm swung to the right, the stomach was drawn in to give the leading leg additional knee room. No attempt had yet been made to draw up the rear leg. In Fig. 5 the lead– ing leg is clawing down to the ground and the back knee is being snapped up to the height of the left should r. ote the vertical lift of the right arm to balance the lift of the left knee, and the maintained forward body lean. Fig. 6 shows the amazingly correct sprinting angle Thomson contrived to reach in his first stride after landing from hurdle clearance, and the way the arms are working in concert with the legs to maintain the high pick-up of