Women's Sprint Hurdles Specifications Study

Not for the first time there are calls for the women's sprint hurdles specifications to be looked at. Following a small scale German study, conducted at Halle University looking at 3'0" 100m hurdling as against the current 2'9" barrires, the IAAF asked member federations for their views on the matter, which were then to be reported to the IAAF Women's Committee for .

As a result UKA conducted a poll amongst some of Briatin's leading hurdles coaches as to their veiws on the issue. A small majority were prepared to look at change at some stage, and most accepted that this would increase the premium of technical development of the event, though as important was the pros and cons that change might cause and what changes, if any, should be made to hurdle spacing , if the heights should go up, and also what progression of heights should occur through the age groups.

The main points that came out of the survey were:

• 8 coaches were in favour of a change, and 6 were against
• 11 coaches thought the Euro-Junior age-group should keep the present specifications because of the fear of drop-out
• Change would place a premium on athletes acquiring greater technical skills
• Taller athletes would have less of a challenge than smaller athletes
• The research presented from the German University was felt to be incomplete and flawed
• GB youths (under 17) currently train and compete over 100m @ 3’0” and have no difficulty, so senior women should be similar
• There was a real fear that the additional height would affect the numbers of senior hurdlers, and one coach queried the effect on multi-event athletes
• Many were in favour of a review of GB hurdle specifications and age-groups, with the fairly recent introduction of the u18 event of 100m @ 2’6” cited
  

The summary of the points raised were fowarded to Gwenda Ward of the AAA's Women Committee, who will draft the response for the IAAF Women's Committee, whilst UKA Technical Director Graham Knight also forwarded the comments to Victor Lopez of the IAAF Technical Committee [who had also looked at this issue in 2001- though with little resolution], and David Littlewood one of Briatin's leading officials. Knight hopes to be able publish more information on Ward's response once this has been formulated.

4 March 2004