Track Athletics in Detail (extract)

56 TRACK ATHLETICS IN DETAIL English high jumpers, as a rule, have very little form. Ryan, the Irish champion, goes over the bar with both feet at once. Almost all other Eng­ lishmen run towards the bar at an angle, instead of straight down the runway, and "cut" over it, first one leg and then the other. This style is well illustrated in the accompanying portrait of A. 13. Johnson, who jumped for the London Athletic Club in the International Games of 1 8 9 5 . And now to return to the detail of the high jump itself. There is no rule that can be laid down as to how far away from the posts a jumper should start to run. The nearer the better, be­ cause less power is then wasted in the approach. Sweeney and Baltazzi both start about seventy- five feet back and run slowly down to a point within three long strides of the posts. This point must be measured and absolutely fixed by every jumper. He should then start in the middle of the runway and swing slowly towards the right edge of the cinder track, turning sharply to the left at this fixed point, and then taking his three strides as rapidly andwith as much force as he can compel. This brings his left foot on the take-off, and gives his body a sort of twist that aids greatly in getting over the bar. A man who jumps with his right foot should swerve in towards the left edge of the track so as to get the 41 lift" on the left side of the body. The first illustration of the series, on page 59;