'It's not about what is fastest for one barrier, it is about what is most efficient for 28 of them (not talking water here.) If you are not a good hurdler, step the barriers. Hurdling to be faster is like taking a 10 minute 3k out in 65 because it's faster. Especially at speeds it takes to run over 10 minutes you don't have the momentum to clear the hurdle efficiently which means you will be need to surge to each barrier to hurdle it'
Don't agree
I was running 3,000m s/c for club when not fit ran something crap like 11 mins or just under and it was my first ever one. Tried the foot on and you come crashing down the other side. So switched to hurdling which I had no practice but have reasonable flexibilty and found it much easier. Like someone else said you need more bottle to hurdle rather than put the foot on. Those solid barriers are bloody scary especially when you are tired.
Another time I was really fit so naturally got picked for the 400m hurldles as I can't sprint or hurdle great choice. Anyway a decent hurdler gave me some tips and I tried a few hurdles before no problem
Come the race I was going faster and after the 1st one every bloody hurdle! Going faster I just couldn't get the height running faster ie Going faster did not help me hurdle, but the opposite!
Unless you are short, have no fexibility or really slow like 12 mins you need to hurdle them