Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-27

unless the manner struck within an arc
of 10 degrees. The one precaution pro-
tected spectators and athletes. while the
second compelled accuracy in throwing
AS a result this event was conducted
with surprising safety. There is no rea-
son why, If the l. c. A. A. A. A. wants
to keep the hammer throw, it should not
adopt rules similar to those enforced at
Stockholm.
1t is hard to see how the l. c. A. A.
a. A. can improve upon it's present rules
regarding the hurdles. Several years ago,
in order to make one set of hurdles an
swer for both. the 12o-yard and the 2oo-
yard events. swinging hurdle was de-
signed. so that if it was turned one way
it was three feet six inches in height,
and If turned the other way two feet six
swing if touched the danger to the ath-
lete of falling was reduced to a minimum
This form of hurdle had it's advantages.
but 1t was responsible for the many men
skimming the hurdle too close in order to
make records. Not infrequently a man Just
grazed every hurdle. hitting the obstacle
with just enough force to make it fall
and yet not to trip him. To prevent this
abuse the intercollegiate Associat ion re-
Gently adopted rule by which the hur-
dies should be made so that If struck by
the hurdler's foot the entire hurdle would
fall instead of merely swing. 1t was fur
Their provided that IL man knocked
down three or more hurdles he should be
disqualified and his record disallowed
unless every hurdle remained standing.
On account Of the way the hurdles are
run In America the latest suggestion OF
the !. c. A. A. A. A. could not be carried
out except at great expense. 1t would be
impossible to run the hurdles on the Gin
der path. as is now done. because, in
order TO make the hurdles absolutely sta
tionary, the track would have to be dug
up to some extent. Furthermore, it would
require great deal of time to install the
hurdles. The only possible way 1t could
be done would be to have all four hurdles
fastened together. But in this way one
man striking hurdle might interfere
with his competitors. On the WHOLE the
changes affecting the hammer throw and
the hurdles do not seem at all practical.
A Relay Reform.
The best suggestion made by the I. c.
A. A. A. A. is TIE one affecting relay rae
ing. The Swedish method. was a novel
one, and while anfamilisfity with it ham
dicapped the Americans at first, they
were compelled to admit that the idea
was a good one. The present rule in
America is that the runners must touch
hands within a prescribed zone. and if
they fail to do so the whole team is dis
qualified. There has always been more or
less dissatisfaction over the charge that
ALitilcdHS uO HOt always touch .eaCh
other off legally and that officials find it
difficult to determine whether or not the
rule has been violated.
There can be no doubt however, as to
whether or not. the baton is actually
passed from one runner to another Ex-
cept for the awkwardness of carrying the
stick distance of a quarter of a mile
this does not slow up the runners, and
from the way the Swedes pass the stick
from one to another 1t is certain this
transfer can be made quite as quickly as
one athlete can touch off another. Any
how. the Swedish rule is to be the one
used at future Olympic games. and the
Americans should be the first ones to
master ii.
The chances are that if the I. c. A. A.
A. A. at its coming meeting indOrses this
suggestion the University of Pennsylva-
mia will adopt 1T at it's annual relay car
nival the last Saturday in April While
Pennsylvania originated relay racing In
this country. the Quakers have usually
accepted all the suggestions of the Inter-
collegiate association for the improve
ment of this event
1t is question whether or not there
is any strong demand for a change in
the rules determining whether a man has
actually finished the race The rule now
is that first place is awarded to the man
whose entire body Is first across the
finish line There have been a few rare
instances in which man fell as he reach
ed the tape line and was unable to drag
his legs across. Under this rule such q
to have finished. There have been a
number of notable dead heats in inter-
collegiate meets in which two decisions
would have been possible had the race
been judged by the present and suggested
method. The latest instance was at the