Rowing and Track Athletics (extract)

380 Track Athletics was limited to 3 feet 6 inches. Since and in– cluding 1887, the hammer complete, head and handle, weighs sixteen pounds, and the length of the handle is four feet. In 1888 the seven– foot circle was established in this country for both the hammer and the shot. Within this circle the hammer-thrower may do anything that he chooses, but he must not step over it in releasing the hammer or the shot. In spite of the fact that bigness and great strength are essential in the weights, it is equally true that they require a clever skill and finesse, which is as absolutely necessary to any respect– able performance as it is, to the ordinary observer, almost completely concealed. The putting of the shot or throwing of the hammer looks like a mere feat of brute strength, and it is not until some husky football guard, for example, who has been accustomed to ploughing like an express train through half the opposing team, tries off-hand to throw the hammer and ignominiously fails, that one suddenly realizes that there is something in the game besides mere beef and steam. Weight– throwing requires as clever "foot-work," almost, as boxing, and the distribution of the weight of the body calls for the subtlest instinct and judg– ment. The lengths of the teps, inclination of the body, and management of the elbow in the shot-put, the speed with which the hammer is