HOW DID HE DO IT ?

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 60, 12 March 1934, Page 8

HOW DID HE DO IT ?

Remarkable as were Metcalfe's efforts iti the high jump, still more amazing to the majority of the spectators at Saturday's sports meeting were the movements he employed in making his jumps. "Now, how did he do it?" was the question thex asked. His run tip to the point where he sprang into the air was easy enough,-of course, to follow, but from that stage on to the completion of his jump he had the crowd, or most of them, at any rate, puzzled. Metcalfe employs' what is known as the "eastern cut-off" method of jumping, which has not been the vogue in New Zealand. He was tha first to practise it in Australia, and even there it :s stated it is not used a great deal. When he is actually over the bar his body leans outwards from it, and while lie is still in midair he gives a pronounced "kick" -with his legs. But his quickness of movement" deceived the eye in nearly all cases. His approach to the bar -was also different from that of his opponents, in that, instead -of a run! from the right or left, as is the practice* in. New Zealand.-he came straight at thet bar. His jumping provided an interest* ing study, but the only really satisfactory) way to follow it would be by a.slowrnio* tion picture. Crowe, who h_i lievejj jumped better, adopts a different-^i^hy %nown--as-the' :cSvesterivi,olli'i ™