Hurdling
Hurdling is the act of jumping over an obstacle at a high speed or in a sprint. passing under or intentionally knocking over hurdles will result in disqualification.
Accidental knocking over of hurdles is not cause for disqualification,
In track races, hurdles are normally 68–107 cm (27–42 in) in height, depending on the age and sex of the hurdler.
A hurdling technique can also be found in the steeplechase, although in this event athletes are also permitted to step on the barrier to clear it.[5] Similarly, in cross country running athletes may hurdle over various natural obstacles, such as logs, mounds of earth, and small streams – this represents the sporting origin of the modern events. Horse racing has its own variant of hurdle racing, with similar principles.[8]
Distances
Event | Sex | Olympic | World Championship |
---|---|---|---|
50 m hurdles
|
Both | No | No |
55 m hurdles
|
Both | No | No |
60 m hurdles
|
Both | No | 1987–present
|
80 m hurdles
|
Women | 1932–1968 | No |
100 m hurdles
|
Women | 1972–present | 1983–present
|
110 m hurdles
|
Men | 1896–present | 1983–present
|
200 m hurdles | Men | 1900–1904 | No |
300 m hurdles | Both | No | No |
400 m hurdles
|
Both | 1900–08 & 1920–present (men) 1984–present (women) |
(1983–present)
|
The standard sprint or short hurdle race is
The men's 200 meters low hurdles event was on the Olympic athletics programme for the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics. These low hurdles events were widely participated in the early part of the 20th century, particularly in North America. However, beyond these two Olympic outings, they never gained a consistent place at international competitions and became increasingly rare after the 1960s. This 10-hurdle race continues to be run in places such as Norway.[10][11]
Other distances are run, particularly indoors but occasionally outdoors. The sprint hurdle race indoors is usually
Height and spacing
There are five hurdle heights on most standard hurdles. The highest position (sometimes "college high" or "open high") is used for men's sprint hurdle races (60 m, and 110 m), which are 42 inches (106.7 cm). The next highest, (sometimes "high school high"[12] ) 39 inches (99.1 cm) is used by veteran men under age 50, and younger boys. The middle position of 36 inches (91.44 cm), (sometimes "intermediate") which is used for men's long hurdle races (400 m) plus some
In sprint hurdle races for men, regardless of the length of the race, the first hurdle is 13.72 m (45 ft) from the starting line and the distance between hurdles is 9.14 m (30 ft). In sprint hurdle races for women, the first hurdle is 13 m (42 ft 8 in) from the starting line and the distance between hurdles is 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in). In long hurdle events, whether for men or women, the first hurdle is 45 m (147 ft 8 in) from the starting line and the distance between hurdles is 35 m (114 ft 10 in). Most races which are shorter than the standard distance (such as indoor races) are simply run over fewer hurdles but use the same distances from the starting line.
Technique
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2012) |
In order to obtain the optimal hurdling technique, one must first learn the proper running techniques. It is important that the runner stays on the balls of his or her feet for the entirety of the race. This makes a fluid movement between each stage of the race.
There is a technique that is desirable to accomplish efficient hurdling action during a race. Many runners rely mainly on raw speed, but proper technique and well-planned steps leading up to and between each hurdle can allow an efficient hurdler to outrun faster opponents. Generally, the efficient hurdler spends the minimum amount of time and energy going vertically over the hurdle, thus achieving maximum speed in the horizontal race direction down the track.
When approaching the first hurdle, athletes try to avoid stutter stepping (a term used to refer to the cutting of stride length before reaching a hurdle). This cuts the runner's momentum and costs valuable time. Athletes attack the hurdle by launching at it from 6–7 feet away (depending on the runner's closing speed); the lead leg extended yet slightly bent (because a straight leg leads to more time over the hurdle) so that the heel just narrowly clears the barrier's height. After launching, the trail leg is tucked in horizontally and flat, close to the side of the hip. The objective is to minimize center-of-gravity deviation from normal sprinting and reduce time spent flying through the air.
In order to hurdle properly and not simply jump over it, a runner must adjust his or her hips to raise them over the hurdles. This involves the correct use of the lead leg, trail leg, and arm positions. The lead leg is the leg that goes over the hurdle first and should remain fairly straight. Upon crossing over the hurdle barrier, the runner's lead leg snaps down quickly landing roughly 1 metre (3 feet) beyond the hurdle. The trail leg follows the lead leg. The trail leg drives forward at the knee (not swinging, as swinging causes the trunk to straighten up), and pulls through to maintain stride length. An effective trail leg will be parallel to the top of the hurdle and will be as close to the top of the hurdle as possible. As the lead leg is being lifted over the hurdle, the opposite arm should cross the body parallel to the ground. This helps with the runner's balance and rhythm throughout the race.
In men's hurdles, it is usually necessary to straighten the leg at the top of the flight path over the hurdle, although a partial bend in the
As soon as the lead leg begins its descent, a strong downward push is exerted to enable the trailing leg's knee to come up under the armpit and in front of the chest. This enables the recovery of some of the energy expended in the flight. As the lead leg touches down to the ground, it is critical that the runner remains in a sprint. As soon as his or her lead leg touches down, the trail leg arm drives the rest of the body forward.
In the 100 and 110-meter hurdle events, the fastest hurdlers use the three-step technique. This means that three large steps are taken in between all of the hurdles. In order to do this efficiently, hurdlers must take long strides and maintain their speed for the entire race. If a hurdler begins to slow down while three-stepping, they may not be able to make it through all of the hurdles and may have to switch to a four-stepping or five-stepping technique. When three- or five-stepping, a hurdler will use the same lead leg for all of the hurdles. If a hurdler four steps, they will have to switch lead legs at each hurdle.
A modern hurdle will fall over if a runner hits it. There is no penalty for hitting a hurdle (provided this is not judged deliberate). The misconception is based on old rules before the hurdles were weighted. In the
Variants
There are also shuttle hurdle relay races, although they are rarely run. They are usually only found at track meets that consist entirely of relay races. In a shuttle hurdle relay, each of four hurdlers on a team runs the opposite direction from the preceding runner. The standard races correspond to the standard sprint hurdle races: 4 × 110 m for men and 4 × 100 m for women.[15]
The shuttle hurdle relay has a maximum of only 4 teams, since most tracks only have 8 lanes. Two lanes will be taken up by one team. The #1 and #3 runners on the team will run in one direction down one specific lane and the #2 and #4 runners will run in the opposite direction in the other lane. The runners on each team go in sequence from 1 to 4.
Instead of using batons, the runners waiting for their teammate to finish must wait until their teammate gets to a certain point to begin their part of the race. There will be an official looking to see if they take off too early. If they do so, then they will be disqualified; if they take off late then it will just hurt their time and chances of winning the event.
In the United States, the men's team of
Shuttle hurdle relay was introduced at the
See also
- List of hurdlers
- Women's 100 metres hurdles world record progression
- Women's 400 metres hurdles world record progression
- Men's 110 metres hurdles world record progression
- Men's 400 metres hurdles world record progression
- Steeplechase (athletics)
References
- ^ a b "hurdling | athletics". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
- ISBN 978-0-911521-67-2.
- ISBN 978-0911521672.
- ^ "Competition Rules 2012–2013" (PDF). International Association of Athletics Federations. pp. 161–162.
- ^ a b c "Competition Rules 2012–2013" (PDF). International Association of Athletics Federations. pp. 161–162.
- ^ "Competition Rules 2012–2013" (PDF). International Association of Athletics Federations. p. 214.
- ISBN 978-0911521672.
- ^ "Horse Racing Victoria" (PDF). racingvictoria.net.au. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
- ^ a b "IAAF Rulebook" (PDF). iaaf.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-11.
- ^ "Friidrett for barn og ungdom" (PDF). Norsk Friidrett. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
- ^ "Hekkeøvelser og hekkeavstander" (PDF). Norsk friidrett. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Trackinfo Hurdles 101". trackinfo.org.
- ^ "Regeländringar tävlingssäsongen 2014". Svensk Friidrott. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
- ^ The specifications for those variations are enumerated in the rule amendments for those divisions and are explained on this website.
- ^ "Masters Shuttle Hurdles specifications" (PDF). woodhurdles.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
- ^ a b "USATF – Statistics – Records". www.usatf.org. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
- ^ "TWO NEW EVENTS ADDED TO IAAF WORLD RELAYS PROGRAMME". iaaf.org. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
- White, Tommie Lee; Carty, George Gordon (April 2002). "Seven Keys to Hurdling Excellence". Coach & Athletic Director. 71 (9): 24. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- Group, Diagram (1979). Enjoying Track and Field Sports. United States: Diagram Visual Information. pp. 36–41.