Why? The Science of Athletics

384 WHY?-THE SCIENCE OF ATHLETICS The foregoing statement must, however, be qualified. Mention has been made of the genius of Owens in high jumping and hurdling. Here, I think, are two events in which the negro may achieve a degree of excellence equal to that which he has shown in sprinting and long jumping, once the technique of high jumping and hurdling has become familiar to him. · Digressing for one moment, my experiences in East and Central Africa may not be altogether irrelevant. During the time I was serving with the King's African Rifles I saw any number of untutored, bare-footed natives who could jump anything between 6 ft. and 6 ft. 5 ins. with the greatest ease. Moreover, the natives of the ' Watussi tribe in Central Africa (Fig. Igo), who jump from a mound raised three or four inches above ground level, clear as much as 8ft. 2 I / 2 ins. with a sort ofnatur~llay-out of their own invention. On the other hand, one would imagine that spear or javelin throwing would be a physical feat at which the African native is bound to excel. To my no smalLsurprise, however, I found that using a spear of the weight and length of approximately the Olympic javelin I could ~eat any native I eyer took on, whereas with their own light casting spears they could always beat me by yards. Where the negro high jumper has already been taught technique we are beginning to see some surprising results. Two negro youths, Cornelius Johnson (Fig. I29) and Albert Britton, tied for the American Championship, I 936, at 6 ft. 9 3/4 ins. Incidentally, Johnson, who apparently comes into a contest at 6 ft. 6 ins. without taking off his sweat suit, has actually jumped 6 ft. I o ins. in training and in competition also has cleared that height, but was unlucky enough to tip off the bar with his fingers when falling . His fellow negro, E. D. Burke, was more fortunate in negotiating the height successfully at an indoor meeting. Willis Ward (Fig. I34) and Burke are two other negroes who will bear watching, by reason of their apti-tude for hurdling. ·