KINEMATIC ALTERATIONS IN WOMEN'S 100M HURDLE TECHNIQUE OVER CURRENT 84CM HURDLE AND PROPOSED 91 CM HURDLE HEIGHTS

Alterations in collegiate women's 100 m hurdling technique were examined over the proposed hurdle height (91.4cm) compared to the current hurdle height (84cm). Four female collegiate hurdlers at Indiana State University were given 4 hurdle practice days over the current height and 8 hurdle practice days at the proposed hurdle height (91cm). The 3rd hurdle clearance was videotaped for each athlete performing 4 trials at race speed over 4 hurdles for each height. The fastest 3 trials at each height were analyzed using an Ariel APAS. The results indicated that the COM was lower at take-off in the higher hurdle height trial, higher at the peak, and closer to the hurdle at the peak height. The higher height hurdles had the athlete in an ideal sprint position at the landing for the higher hurdle height with a smaller reach distance. KEY WORDS: women's hurdle technique, kinematics, hurdle heights. INTRODUCTION: In 1932 Olympic Games, the first women's hurdle race was run over 8 hurdles at a total distance of 80 m with a hurdle height of 76.2 cm and a 8m spacing between hurdles (Stein, 2000). In 1969 the women's hurdle race was increased to 10 hurdles over 100m with a height of 84.0 cm with a spacing of 8.5 m between hurdles, which is still the standard i