Athletics of To-Day 1929

Throwing the Discus '297 (rr) Hold the cross-leg position as long as possible, but let the right foot move quickly forward and the left foot swing up from behind when the reverse is made. Greater spin may be given to the discus if the thumb and fore– finger are closed with a squeezing movement as the discus leaves the hand. England has not yet produced a really great discus thrower but will do so shortly. The event was added to the Public Schools Championship programme in 1929, and meanwhile such counties as Bedfordshire have held Junior Championships, the boys throwing with a youth's discus, weighing 3 lb. 4l ozs. The taking up of this sport in the schools will have a marked effect in the near future, for this event must be mastered early in life. What can be accomplished with proper early coaching is proved by the performances of G. M. Moll, Bedford School. I had him first in 1924 when he was twelve, and that year he threw the light discus 67ft. 4 ins. At sixteen years of age his records were-Light Discus, 124ft. 4l ins. ; Javelin, I3I ft.; Long Jump, 17 ft. 4 ins. ; High Jump, 5 ft. 5t ins. ; and 120 yards (3 ft.) Hurdles, 17 secs. He has since thrown the light discus 142 ft., and the full-sized, 4l lb. missile over roo ft. The nude studies of a famous English athlete in Plate 5I and those of him in white in Plate 52 must be carefully studied. In Plate 5r note the working of the inter-costal muscles between the ribs and of the muscles at the junction of the arms and body. No. r, Plate 5r, shows the commencement of the left foot turn. Note guidance of head, left arm balance, and loose hang of right arm. No. 2 shows the continuation of the left foot turn and further pronounces the head and left arm control, but the balance should have been kept more over the left leg. In No. 3, the right foot spin has commenced at increased speed. Note how the greater rate of rotation has raised the height of the loose arm swing and that the body is moving well ahead of the discus. In No. 4, the right foot spin is nearing completion with the right arm still hanging out loosely and well behind the body. In the next action the athlete will reach the essential preliminary throwing position shown in No. 3, Plate 52.