In the epic Men’s 400M Hurdles, Norwegian winner Warholm beat American Benjamin by 0.21 seconds. Leading with his right foot over every hurdle, Benjamin ran as many as 2.5 meters farther (+0.33 sec) on the track than Warholm did, who instead led with his left foot.
https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/1423400399264956419
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What do you say?
You have to watch the discussion with NdT and Edwin Moses to hear it explained:
Edwin Moses explains that he realized on an oval track, the shortest distance would be to run 8" from the inner line of the curve. And leading with the left leg causes you to land closest to the inner line without being DQ'ed by hooking your leg around the end of the hurdle or crossing the line.
The main point is to run on the inside of your lane, not the center of your lane. And leading with the left leg as your run counterclockwise on an oval track causes you to do that in the easiest way.
Why can't some track meets change direction...
Great video.
FYI - Edwin may have not won in 76 if some of the African nations didn't boycott the Games. John Akii-Bua was a beast and had one in 72. Added note: Akii-Bua won from lane #1 and was a right lead hurdler!
D.Katz wrote:
Great video.
FYI - Edwin may have not won in 76 if some of the African nations didn't boycott the Games. John Akii-Bua was a beast and had one in 72. Added note: Akii-Bua won from lane #1 and was a right lead hurdler!
Moses also prevented Danny Harris from racing him when Harris was at his peak. The streak is fake.
It is a great video. Early analytics by Edwin Moses. It's also the reason the women's 400 hurdles record has more room to drop, as I've emphasized. Femke Bol is very new to hurdles but she makes the most of her ability level, always leading with her left leg and remaining on the inside of the lane. I watched the women's final countless times and noted the discrepancy. Sydney McLaughlin one lane to Bol's inside was all over the place, switching from one leg to the other and one section of the lane to the other. In particular, it is really wasteful to go over hurdle 5 with your right leg, as McLaughlin did. That is the beginning of the turn. Bol using her left leg came out of that hurdle with noticeably better angle and momentum than McLaughlin.
Sydney used her right leg on three consecutive hurdles around the bend, if I remember correctly. Fortunately she hit the final barrier perfectly in stride and was able to use her left leg. She was correct to learn to use either leg as lead. But particularly around the turns she needs to understand the immense value of the left lead.
BTW, I do remember this being mentioned 30+ years ago by a track and field analyst. It didn't receive as much attention as I expected, or as warranted.
It’s also a fact that Edwin is insanely biased, and would use every stupid reason to explain why Rai really is the fastest.