Track Athletics in Detail (extract)

THE RUNNING HIGH JUMP 63 jump; thus it is always better to balk rather than to attempt a jump if you do not come squarely on your take-off. A competitor may decline to jump at any height in his turn, but by so doing he for­ feits his right to again jump at the height de­ clined. Many jumpers wait until the bar reaches a fair height before entering a competition, thus reserving their strength, but this may only be done by an athlete who is certain of his ability to clear the bar at that height.