Success in Athletics and how to obtain it

SPRINTING - 23 the front, for the shoulders should always be kept square to the tape throughout the sprint. As the body rises on the toes, the elbow should pass the hip; it is at this point that the greatest power is generated. A sprint race, whether of roo or 220 yards, may be divided into three parts-" the start" (already dealt with}, the actual run itself, and the finish. The intermediate stage between the start and the finish is carried out at the greatest speed of which the athlete is capable ; he bounds along from the ball of one foot to the ball of the other, with the body inclined forward and arms working strongly. When about thirty or forty yards from the tape, all the fo,rces .are gathered for the final effort ; the body is inclined still further forward, whereby the runner is brought right up on the toes, and the chin is thrust out and the running still further accelerated, so that he breasts the tape . with shoulders square in a lightning burst of speed. The main point to remember is that this method of finishing brings the body right up on the toes and generates the utmost power. There are two faults of which many fine runners are guilty, and by which races are not infrequently lost. The first is flinching at the tape or imperceptibly easing up in the last few strides; the other is caused by over-anxiety to finish well. In the latter case the athlete throws up the arms and jerks back the head, whereby his progress is retarded, and, instead of running straight through to a clean finish, he begins to run up and down, " fighting the air,"· and loses his pace. The correct way to finish is to run smoothly through with arms and legs working regularly in the