Track Athletics in Detail (extract)

THE POLE VAULT 93 his right or higher hand well up under his head. The athlete starts down the runway at full speed, and when he reaches his take-off he plants the pole firmly into the ground with all his foice, and springs straight for the cross-piece. The moment his body leaves the ground the right arm \ stretches taut (illustration No. 3), and his body swings towards the pole. I he motion of the body as it rises is a turning one, the object being to twist and face the pole, so that when the proper height is reached the back will be towards the bar, so that the heels may be lifted over. The fourth illustration shows the vaulter half­ way up from the ground to the bar, which in this