What is the technique for clearing hurdles?

• A. Lean forward after landing.
• B. Run softly with short strides.
• C. Run hard, high knee lift of lead leg, and lean forward after landing.
• D. Stay upright and avoid knee lift.

Answer: (C)

Efficient hurdle clearance is about keeping your speed while getting the lead leg over the obstacle with a strong knee lift and then landing in a forward position to drive into the next stride. Driving hard, lifting the lead knee high over the hurdle, and leaning forward after landing helps you minimize time in the air and on the ground, so momentum is preserved for the next hurdle. A forward-leaning landing aids quick transition, which is essential in sprint hurdles. Simply leaning forward without a high lead-leg drive, or staying upright with little knee lift, slows you down and disrupts rhythm, and soft, short strides won’t carry you over efficiently.