The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-01
RUNNING BROAD JUMP.

l1TOul Ill photography
back from that line The take off line con-
sists of joist inches wide and or inches
thick, sunk flush with the ground with the
inch surface up. Its length is immaterial,
and may range anywhere from 8 to 6 feet
long, according to the width of the jumping
path. a ditch is dug in front Of the joist or
on the side toward the direction the jump is
made. The rules say that this ditch shall be
at least inches wide and 5 inches deep. It's
purpose is to prevent the athlete from toeing
over the line while jumping, for it can readily
be seen that although one may encroach two
or three inches over the miniature precipice,
any further getting forward would result in
the foot slipping down in the ditch while in
the act Of jumping, which OF course would
prevent even an ordinary distance being
cleared.
The place where the athlete lands is dug
up to the depth of about a foot Its nearest
edge to the take off is about Ia feet and its
furthest edge 20 feet from the scratch line.
The length of this trough all depends upon
the class of athletes that use it, If an athlete
jumps over % feet be should land in dirt dug
up TO a distance of % feet, so that there is no
possibility of his sliding as he lands in the
soft dirt, and being stopped suddenly against
the hard ground. Accidents of this kind
have happened which have laid athletes on
the shelf for some time with d sprained ankle
or a strained tendon in foot.
To explain the take off little further, it
may be mentioned that the reason Of its pres
ent construction is so that fouls can be easily
judged. The old custom was TO have simply
a whitewash line on the level path. If an
athlete should toe over quarter of an inch
or SO it would be apt 10 cause a dispute The
suggestion of a ditch marking the scratch
line would of course be considered imprac-
ucable unless a square edge could be main
tanned. Therefore q board is sunk All
jumps are measured from the edge of this
board, which is also the edge of the preci-
pice If an athlete touches the ground in
front of this ditch il is foul, and as the ex-
cavatiou is inches wide no one can touch
the ground without getting almost the whole
foot in front Of the take of on TO the fa5
ground eFen in front OF the ditch, and OF
course any judge would notice that. The
joist is specified 10 I've inches wide, because
that distance is sufficient 10 cover the ball
Of Tie foot If the board were wider 1t
would interfere with the spikes in the jump
<r's heel.
a great many athletes, when they first try
running broad jump With spike shoes, slow
timidity in running up 10 ths scratch mark
and placing their foot CT the board on &C
count of'the feeling that the spikes viii stick
in the wood and throw them. a few trialS
at It, however. remove all fear in this re-
gard. Another diSazreeable feeling expert
enced by novices is caused By the liability OF
the foot going over toa far, slipping down in
the ditch bringing about wreached muscle
or tendon. Accidents OF this kind are fire.
quent, ana only after considerable practice
can an athlete run UP 20 the take of with full
force and feel sure of not gginS over too far
The method used By most athletes in S;rik-
ing the take OF properly il 10 marx or AZ
some distance back line ca the path aud
start running from tAat point, using fairly
regular stride winch br.lgS them TO Tire t4Ee
OF With tie prv:seT foot, SoTre have sheir
marks 100 or - feel away from the lake Of,
while Others wslI nave Indicator within >,
or - feet Of the take Of. Those who have
MARKS around the letter distance ge2gGIly |