If you were king of the IAAF for a year what changes would you make?
Posts by Sam Fillious
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UK with (coach) and club listed
MEN:
100m:
James Dasaolu (Steve Fudge) – Croydon
Richard Kilty (Self Coached) – Gateshead
Chijindu Ujah (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) – Enfield & Haringey
200m:
Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills) – Shaftesbury Barnet
Daniel Talbot (Dan Cossins) – Birchfield
400m:
Jarryd Dunn (Keith Holt) - Birchfield
Rabah Yousif Bkheit (Carol Williams) – Newham & Essex
800m:
Kyle Langford (George Harrison) Shaftesbury Barnet
Michael Rimmer (Jon Bigg) – Liverpool Pembroke Sefton
1500m:
Charlie Grice (Jon Bigg) - Brighton Phoenix
Chris O’Hare (Terrence Mahon) - Edinburgh
5000m:
Mo Farah (Alberto Salazar) – Newham & Essex
Tom Farrell (Mark Rowland) - Border
10000m:
Mo Farah (Alberto Salazar) – Newham & Essex
110mH:
Lawrence Clarke (Malcolm Arnold) – Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow
400mH:
Niall Flannery (Nick Dakin) – Newham & Essex
High Jump:
Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Ahmed) – Newham & Essex
Long Jump:
Dan Bramble (Frank Attoh) – Shaftesbury Barnet
Greg Rutherford (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) – Marshall Milton Keynes
Pole Vault:
Steve Lewis (Dan Pfaff) – Newham & Essex
Hammer Throw:
Mark Dry (Chris Black) – Woodford Green with Essex Ladies
Nick Miller (Tore Gustafsson) – Border
20k Walk:
Tom Bosworth (Andi Drake) - Tonbridge
4 x 100m:
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Sutton & District
James Ellington (Linford Christie) – Newham & Essex
Adam Gemili (Steve Fudge) – Blackheath & Bromley
Plus from individual events:
Richard Kilty (Self Coached) – Gateshead
Danny Talbot (Dan Cossins) - Birchfield
Chijindu Ujah (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) – Enfield & Haringey
4 x 400m:
Jack Green (Loren Seagrave) – Kent
Martyn Rooney (Rana Reider) – Croydon
Conrad Williams (Linford Christie) – Kent
Delano Williams (Neil Harrison) – Enfield & Haringey
Plus from individual events:
Jarryd Dunn (Keith Holt) - Birchfield
Rabah Yousif Bkheit (Carol Williams) – Newham & Essex
WOMEN:
100m:
Asha Philip (Steve Fudge) – Newham & Essex
200m:
Margaret Adeoye (Linford Christie) – Enfield & Haringey
Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie) – Blackheath & Bromley
Bianca Williams (Lloyd Cowan) – Enfield & Haringey
400m:
Christine Ohuruogu (Christine Bowmaker) – Newham & Essex
Anyika Onuora (Rana Reider) – Liverpool Harriers
800m:
Jenny Meadows (Trevor Painter) - Wigan
Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (Ayo Falola) – Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow
Lynsey Sharp (Reider) - Edinburgh
1500m:
Laura Muir (Andy Young) – Dundee Hawkhill
Laura Weightman (Steve Cram) - Morpeth
5000m:
Steph Twell (Mick Woods) – Aldershot Farnham & District
10000m:
Kate Avery (Tony Simmons) Shildon
100mH:
Cindy Ofili (James Henry) – Woodford Green with Essex Ladies
Tiffany Porter (Rana Reider) – Woodford Green with Essex Ladies
400mH:
Meghan Beesley (Nick Dakin) - Birchfield
Eilidh Child (Malcolm Arnold) - Pitreavie
High Jump:
Morgan Lake (Eldon Lake) - Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow
Isobel Pooley (Fuzz Ahmed) - Aldershot Farnham & District
Long Jump:
Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Mike Holmes) – Liverpool Harriers
Shara Proctor (Rana Reider) – Birchfield
Lorraine Ugen (Shawn Jackson) – Blackheath & Bromley
Pole Vault:
Holly Bradshaw (Scott Simpson) - Blackburn
Hammer Throw:
Sophie Hitchon (Tore Gustafsson) - Blackburn
Javelin:
Goldie Sayers (Mark Roberson) – Belgrave
Heptathlon:
Jessica Ennis-Hill (Toni Minichiello) – Sheffield
Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Mike Holmes) – Liverpool Harriers
4 x 100m:
Louise Bloor (Toni Minichiello) - Trafford
Desiree Henry (Rana Reider) – Enfield & Haringey,
Jodie Williams (Christine Bowmaker) - Herts Phoenix
Darryll Neita – (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) - Shaftesbury
Plus from individual events:
Asha Philip (Steve Fudge) – Newham & Essex
Dina Asher-Smith (John Blackie) – Blackheath & Bromley
Bianca Williams (Lloyd Cowan) – Enfield & Haringey
4 x 400m:
Kirsten McAslan (Trevor Painter) – Sale
Seren Bundy-Davies (Stephen Ball) - Trafford
Laviai Nielsen (Frank Adams) – Enfield & Haringey
Plus from individual events:
Margaret Adeoye (Linford Christie) – Enfield & Haringey
Eilidh Child (Malcolm Arnold) - Pitreavie
Christine Ohuruogu (Christine Bowmaker) – Newham & Essex
Anyika Onuora (Rana Reider) – Liverpool Harriers -
I've heard they hired someone from the mid-west; but it hasn't been announced.
@Dirk Walsh, you called it.
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Well well, i recommend another shot putter
Name of the Thrower: Konrad Bukowiecki
Discipline: Shot Put
Month's best performance: 22.62m
Rationale for the suggestions:3rd in U20 all time shot put, behind David Storl and Jacko Gill... best part is, he has one more year to go for the world record of 23m.....
what a strong kid... -
Jared Schurmanns also threw a new pb with 66m, quite impressive.
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Long term, does Crouser stay with two events or move to one? If it's one, which one?
He has success with the shot put now but his looks more suited to the discus. He does not have the bulk of Hoffa, Whiting, Storl.
Yes, that is the question that goes along with the 'who will coach him' question. Crouser threw the 1.6kg discus 72m five seasons ago, and that was a season riddled with injury. That 72m throw had to be worth 64m with a 2kg discus, a mark he has not reached with his 63.90m PR.
But I wonder if he will retire? He may be a serious student and pursue academics.
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Yes, same question here.
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from the BBC
"It shows one of two things: either Justin Gatlin's still taking performance-enhancing drugs to get the best out of him at his advanced age, or the ones he did take are still doing a fantastic job," says Dai Greene, Britain's 2011 400m hurdles world champion. "Because there is no way he can still be running that well at this late point in his career."After having years on the sidelines, being unable to train or compete, it doesn't really add up. 9.77 is an incredibly fast time. You only have to look at his performances. I don't believe in them."
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I hope this starts a chain reaction and the IAAF will bring harsher sanctions against dopers.
Looks like the Germans may beat the IAAF to that punch.Doping is no problem of germany anymore. We are already close to set a law which makes you banned from society and you will get a nice spot in jail!
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September 5, 2014
It's the time of year that I took more time working on technique . I always found myself lighter and weaker by the end of summer. I always had something I wanted to improve on for the next season. This is the time of year to take a pragmatic look at your training program . You reestablish your base in weightlifting, find that extra time to examine your mechanics/technique in throwing. I trusted a system of throwing weighted shots; the heavy ones taught me position(s) and pointed out weaknesses along the pathway , the lighter shots tested my concept and gave me a peak into the future. I use a 22#, 20#, 19#. 18#, 17#, as heavy shots(I only threw the 16# in meets) I used a 15#, 14#, 13#, 12#, 11#, 10#, 9#, 8# as light shots. I received a an average improvement 2' to 2.5' with the heavy shots and 2.5' to 3' with the lights. I think for example : I threw 69' with a 16' and 91' with an 8.8' in a clinic for elite athletes in November. We were being tested for several days educationally for the 1984 season coming up. The speed across the circle was the same with either weight and angle & height of release were the same. The only difference was the distance was 3' a pound improvement . This was similar to what I experienced in training and allowed me to take many extra throws in a secession . I even used a 4# shot to see the difference between the potential of the glide and the spin. The glide seemed to hit a wall at three feet per pound while the rotation/spin technique delivered 5' a pound . I read a report on the energy generated in the different throwing events place the hammer as first, the discus was next and the glide was third ahead of the javelin ...
September 5, 2014
A younger athlete in your opinion should or should not use a heavier shot in practice? How about if they are strong upper and lower body but still young in age and experience?
September 5, 2014
Dennis, I improved in throwing as I reached the same bracket of strength that other greats in the sport had accomplished. I always was tall & weak for the longest time . I could throw a baseball , snowball , rock as good as others but it was a slow crawl to the top of the heap in shot putting. I had to find my speed , my strength both lower & upper body , while maintaining the feel for what came natural. There are throwers who lift and lifters who throw. I was afraid of squats until I finally sat completely down and learned it was safe. I first started getting low as a thrower then as a lifter always considering throws and the best position for throwing. I found that the front squat was very unpopular and heard many excuses on why athletes didn't like them. I then needed to know and started at the bottom . I used a rack for posture and soon was able to front squat with out it . This latter became my dominate squat and it carried over into my throwing technique.
September 5, 2014
question...you were able to throw all the weighted shots the appropriate distance...for example the 20 went 65 , 16 went 75, the 12 went 85...or there about..anyway my question is some of the big throwers did not have the pick up needed, they would say get the 12 to go where it should, follow with the 14 going where it should then pick up the 16 and have a huge drop off...why is that? these guys were strong enough, big enough and have great technique, but could throw all the weights BUT the one most important one
September 5, 2014
Rob, every athlete has a glitch in their training or in their training compared to the meet technique. I did and took many throws in warm ups to get some practice at the same level of energy as a competition. The day I threw 75' I warmed up to 74' and for the first time saved it for the meet. Demons exist In your technique, in a distance, or a weightlifting break through asking a pretty girl to dance...
September 5, 2014
A great commentary on training methods. I am curious about your take on practicing and fouling in an apparent casual way. My experience is that if you don't practice "foul" conscious, when it comes to big meets, the fear of the foul alters technique. Your thoughts?September 5, 2014
I didn't practice fouling I just stepped over ,(one step out rule) whatever I stepped out on in practice I could stay in on during a meet. It was my system and save the banging of my toes into the toeboard.
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September 1, 2014
I just remembered a job I had in junior high as a bus boy at the Elks Club . My sister got me the job where she worked on weekends as a waitress . It was there that I learned to carry the try over my shoulder and pivot with my spine as the axis not disturbing any of the dishes and glassware back & forth , in and out of the kitchen through the swinging door. I remember using this awareness when I held the shot during the early days of spinning. I was able to keep the shot isolated in the pocket behind my ear keeping it from pulling out to the right or sliding down in front. I didn't want to foul by letting the shot separate centrifugally from the neck. I didn't want to injure my bicep tendon or drop any dishes...
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August 31, 2014
Brian, if you could do it all again what would you do differently?
August 31, 2014
Stayed in the circle on 78'11".
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August 24, 2014
THE OLDFIELD SPIN 1980
In this study, I will explain my concept of the rotational style of shot putting.These technical aspirations were developed from my total experience as a shot putter.My technique can be broken down into five phases:
1) Starting Position
2) Linear "Sprint" Phase
3) Nirvanna Phase
4) Vertical "Lift" Phase
5) Reverse/ Re-entry Phase
The method of throwing described here is a result of many years of practice and throws taken beyond 80'. It is from this comparison, when all factors were utilized that that my longest competitive throws resulted....STARTING POSITION
The starting position for rotational shot putting is accomplished by sitting low at the back of the circle, facing one hundred-eighty degrees from the landing area. The feet are shoulder width apart, the knees are bent at about ninety degrees and your weight is distributed up on the balls of your feet. The back is straight and your center of gravity should be slightly turned out (similar to the front squat). The arms are held back with both elbows at ninety degrees (perpendicular to the spine and back), adding to a big chest to the position. The shot is held high behind the ear at the base of the skull. The center of gravity of the shot put rests just below the apex of the fingers of the throwing hand with the thumb pointing up. The shot will have a natural tendency to roll to the fingers when thrown. The left arm is also held up and back with the elbow bent and the thumb pointing upwards. The head is back and the eyes are kept level throughout the throw (at no point should you look down). Balance and direction are key factors to throwing far and will greatly reduce dizziness and inefficient or extraneous movement that inhibit distance. A quick test of one's starting position and balance is to turn and look over the shoulder of the throwing arm into the landing area. At this point the athlete can gain the perspective needed to line up their spine toward the direction or focal point of the throw. Remember this:, in the rotational style, the starting position is basically the power position , and you must be under and in front of the shot, at the back of, in the center of, and at the front of the circle....THE LINEAR ''SPRINT'' PHASE
This phase, sometimes called the horizontal pathway, is where the momentum is added to the starting position by sprinting low down through the center of the circle to the toe board. First, the weight is shifted to ball of the left foot ( for right handed person) which pivots 180 degrees. The right leg circumvents the pivoting left and becomes the lead lead leg sprinting down into the center of the circle. the right foot is pre turned to get a head start on the 360 degree pivot which takes place in the center of the circle. The sprint step should resemble a lunge to regain contact with the ground as soon as possible, while keeping low and parallel to the ground. The first step to the center is accomplished best if the knees almost touch as the right leg passes the left. If the right leg gets to wide out of the back of the circle more time and power will be lost to rotational motion and can cause over rotation at the front of the circle.The key to the linear approach is the backward seven with a tight turning axis. The footwork, center of gravity, and the pathway of the shot all line up on this reverse seven. The left foot slide to the double leg support at the toeboard is achieved by staying low. It is important that the center of gravity stays at a constant depth without vertical variation and the foot work is done close to the ground. Try to decrease heel kicking, single leg support time and air time. These are signs that you need to be lower, maintain contact with the ground longer and enhance acceleration. The momentum will then start at the feet and spiral up through the power position (separation/torque is asserted at this point). Remember not to duck your head as this will eliminate your pulling power and change momentum into a pushing force which is not as powerful and greatly increases the possibility of fouling....THE NIRVANA PHASE
I named phase after the Hindu concept that says when Nirvana is reached, there is an extinction from the individual existence. The seldom mentioned , often misunderstood position is most significant to the outcome of the throw and the recovery after throw because It combines all energies going into the pivot, gains power and directs momentum up through the release. These energies are described as planes of power and all line up the musculoskeletal performance as the impulse step ignites. These power phases are:1) ROTATIONAL - this phase consist of two turns, the first of which is 180 degrees and centrifugal. The second second is centripetal and 360 degrees which results in 540 degrees. Each turn is rotational in nature, directing force to the axis of the turn or keeping the arms and legs in close to the spine to speed up the turn. This allows the body to come out of the turn faster than it enters.
2) Horizontal Force - takes place after the first turn and consists of a lunging sprint step into the second pivot and sliding the left to the bucket. Acceleration should be added to each step without any lateral variation.
3) THE "J" PHASE - the "J" phase is also along the the horizontal plane. It is the process of working your way down to the middle of the circle to set up a plyometric base and double leg support a the bottom of the second pivot.
4) NIRVANA is the name of the matrix where the first three power planes are combined together the torqued upper body to keep the shoulder from drifting ahead of the hips. The body weight is under and in front of the shot as you start to helix up through the vertical plane. The power position unwinds as you develop vertically. The feet, knees and then the hip are next to come into action leaving the shoulder back and torqued.
This process develops a store of energy much like an archer's bow that is strung and ready for release. This position is referred to as the backward "C". It is important to remember to come out of each pivot faster that you entered it, because you need to get to and throw off the top of your vertical phase. Anything less cut off distance....
THE VERTICAL "JUMP/LIFT" PHASE
Positioning, balance, and alignment are key factors that add distance to a throw. Proper utilization of these factors will create a more efficient throw. Acceleration and depth of position add time & power development to the velocity, angle, and height of release. The horizontal speed combined with an efficient pivot at the power position must equal the vertical jump phase for maximum distance.Problem areas such as being off balance, having either over or under rotated, moving too slow or too fast ,too short or too long a step can be corrected if your center of gravity is low enough through Nirvana. The hips act as a gyroscope and can sort out flaws before vertical acceleration begins.Body weight is distributed between the pivoting right quadriceps and spinning the right hip ahead of the shoulder. The biceps femoris of left leg is responsible for pulling the body weight forward and aiding in the vertical development. As the center of gravity ascends, the left arm pulls down and locks the the left side of the body, accelerating or catapulting the right shoulder from its torqued position and comes into play as the final accelerator. The torque / separation of the is utilized by delivering the throw over the top of the left side of the body as it stands up and locks down into position. If the pathway of the shot circumvents the right hip and does not come over the left leg a flat throw with unchecked inertia can result in a foul or a less than optimal distance. There's a test phase as well. Picture an imaginary strap from the shot to the right heel. I you dropped the shot it should land behind the heel...
REVERSE/ RE-ENTRY PHASE
This phase is the best understood as the result of the jump phase adequately absorbing all the proceeding energies that came out of Nirvana. When the jump is vertical and without variation it will use gravity to return to the center of the earth via the same pathway. When both sides of the body are used to accelerate the throw, there's no division of labor. Energy needed or reserved to make the reverse can instead be added to the throw , making it unnecessary for you to supply the breaking action. Let the reverse happen naturally by using gravity to supply re-entry . After all, what goes up must come down. The results of the vertical acceleration when matched equally from the horizontal acceleration will create a forty- five degree angle of release and a far throw that one day will measure over eighty five feet !!!!!!! -
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[quote='Brian Oldfield','http://social.throwholics.com/index.php/Thread/4457-Brian-Oldfield-USA-The-Big-O-and-all-that-involves/?postID=28397#post28397']August 22, 2014
The I.T.A. is back in El Paso
I just spent a week in Dallas throwing and eating big. I got my shot put standing throw up to 66', full spin was 76' , The discus hit a tree 18' high off the ground & coming straight down at 206' , I thew the javelin 253' off seven quick steps. After lunch we hit golf balls; the kind with the red stripe around them. The club was a aluminum head standard driving range one. I was on fire after the morning secession and was driving them so far on a low rising straight line way past the 350 yd. markers and actually got lost in the hazey thermals . Their were a couple of S.M.U. football coaches watching with their jaws hanging open. We guessed the distance to be way past 400 yards....Now El Paso.
This was a magical place for me and I've been training to make a statement. I took a couple standing throws reaching 66' then had to argue with the staff to move back the telephone poles at the 72' barrier engulfing the landing area. They move them back and I started to throw farther than I ever threw before. The shot was coming from behind my ear and out into the grass there were people standing on the poles leaving indentations in the grass. I was slicing through the circle and pulling the shot up over my blocking left leg and finally told Debo who was standing on left end of the log that I was going to put it between his legs. I sliced through the circle lower than whale shit and plyo'd up and over the left leg like a catapult. The shot was high in the air and everyone on the telephone pole scattered as the shot hit the top of it right where Fred was standing. They measured the indentation in the grass at 84'. The pole bounced end to end three times rolling several yards and stopping. I watched the shot actually get smaller as it flew to it's destination. Let's compete !!!!
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August 22, 2014
I was working to improve the factors I needed to throw that 80' throw and stay in the circle. I needed speed, strength, technique and a little luck. The training for the Super Stars was the motivation and provided the discipline for success.
I started by adding sprinting over 100 yards instead of the 40 yards that I ran in the I.T.A. against the ladies. It would begin with running down the crown of the football field from one goal line to the other. I used my 40 yard sprint speed to get my 280 lbs. moving, then two stepped the 5 yd. lines.
At first I could only hold that stride from 60 thru 100 yards. Then stretching out my legs and walking back letting my pulse return under 100 beats a minute I'd go again. Each run was for form and I was able to stride the entire field in 40 steps.
I still look at football players to see if they can two step the 5 yd. lines . My speed was reduced about a second from 10.5 to 9.6 in flats. Bruce Jenner and I raced to a 9.8 in the grass. My approach was similar in swimming always working on form and counting strokes. I concentrated on overhead presses as they were a weakness compared to the elite athletes I admired. I was throwing shots weighing between 8 and 20 pounds developing a 2.5 foot per pound ratio.
Now, all of this was done with the host of world class friends that were exchanged at each venue. The whole South Bay was loaded with training partners for any sport . My main concentration was throwing and lifting. I was holding the shot higher on my neck and found success at first with the light shots.
There was this tree outside the throwing area at 84'. I could throw out of the 72' pit with a scattered landing pattern. I chose to line up my bones and threw from the backward 7' that continued first of all as the sector line and lined up with that skinny maple tree. The shots hitting that tree were getting heavier until I could reach it with 15 pounder. For technical
support I was throwing the discus farther than ever. (faster, stronger, farther).... -
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August 18, 2014
Living out my dream in Utopia for throwing. I was thriving and the 1975 season was getting started. I had a system by where I would enter a couple of All-Comers Meets to prepare for the meet scenario of staying in the circle and stretching out my distance. I always trained like a diamond in the rough and these meets honed my technique.
We had a few meets and and I was getting close the indoor record that George Woods tossed last season erasing my mark. It was the San Francisco meet at the Cow Palace that I was looking forward to. I had this bright idea of throwing far and having a party after the meet. I called all the honeys I knew and invited them to the meet. They had to go to will call for their tickets and bring a girl friend.
The meet was underway and I was looking around the Palace for the girls who had showed and was in 4th place after four throws. I realised that I needed to pay attention and got a jolt of adrenaline as I entered the circle for my 5th throw. My best mark was 68' 4" after four throws and I was beside myself with a possibility of a 4th place finish in front of party going crowd. I stepped into the circle thinking I was going to go for it on this one and still had another one just in case. I was prepared to foul but only used the rest of the circle that until then didn't.
The shot landed 72' 6½" and a new World Record. I ran to Matson and put my hands on his shoulders and jumped as high as I could pushing off over his head. As I returned to the floor I looked to see if Randy was pissed off (he took it well). I then ran out a kissed the spot where it landed (I was back ). I still had one more throw left but it didn't matter. Oh ,the Party afterwards was a success too.
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August 17, 2014
Hey Al, love to hear your comments on the development of your technique, especially the 90 degree turn of the right foot and the passive left arm. Did you fix your eyes on something to keep your head back and create separation between shoulders and hips? Any flexibility exercises?
August 17, 2014
Jed , my abbreviated answers. My 90 degree foot turn evolved without a thought to it...I'm bow legged..so that worked to create better efficiency for me , but it will not work for everyone. (knock knee'd throwers)....passive left arm....the key is to relax those body parts that are not 'active' at the moment...the left arm 'works wonders' at the 'transfer of power' / 'release' phase. My eyes were fixed on nothing, my feelings were internal, not external, as I prepared to throw. In training it's ok to teach a thrower to fix their eyes on something, just as you will have to think...think...think...your way to better technique through endless repetition...in training....but....you will only experience better technique when you no longer have to...think about it..... in competition....
August 17, 2014
I'm bow legged too and tried to keep my knees together when ever I threw or ran. I got stronger & faster as my training progressed my legs/knees/hips became tighter and later returned to the bowed positions. Ben plucknett was a good example of working hard and slimming his hips and throwing farther because of his trimming down a pant size.
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August 17, 2014
I started to think about some of the throwers who lived and trained in the San Jose, Cupertino area around that time and it reads like a who's who of the worlds best. In addition to Brian, Al, Mac and John; there was Art Burns, Ben Plucknett, Mike Buncic, Greg Tafralis, Jim Doehring, Bruce Kennedy, Ed Burke, Richard Marks, Carol Cady.
I'm sure I missed others. Fill in the blanks.
August 17, 2014
Pete Shmock, Lahsen Akka Samsam, Bruce Jenner, Joe Keshmiri, Fred Samara, Maren Seidler.....not to mention all of the local talent Ron Mckee, Bob Feuerbach, Bob Gummerson, and....so on....Mike Weeks, Ian Pyka, Ron Semkiw.....
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August 17, 2014
I'm living in Cupertino with police protection and my knee has responded well to surgery. Training has become serious and took up most of my time. I was bicycling to each venue where I was constantly adding to my repertoire of skills, likened to a cross training. I was lifting and throwing with some of the world's best athletes.
It was a Mecca for throwers and they came from around the globe to train in this idolic atmosphere. On any given Saturday you would find an assortment of Olympians throwing at San Jose State in the morning and lifting at the Y.M.C.A. that afternoon. Each day in training was like an Olympic final.
My rotational transformation was beginning to sprout wings. I was getting stronger and improving as a discus thrower and a discus-styled shot putter. I still had an imprint of pendulating my right-leg from outside the circle and back into the middle of the circle. I was constantly trying get lower to the toe board by bending my legs to achieve the "J" factor before the lift phase.
At this time I was also introduced to separation of shoulder and hip called in some sports as the X-factor. I knew this motor skill from hitting a baseball or swinging a golf club and it was badly needed by me in the discus. I had never trusted my back with this added stretch reflex because of previous injuries to my lower back. and sixteen pounds was to be considered. The X-factor became part of my technique and I learned to lessen the impact with good footwork.
The shoe that I wore was becoming important to me. I was sprinting more and felt comfortable in the old 9.9 shoe made popular in O.G's . I took out the spikes and had them resoled for throwing; they positioned me up on my toes better than the shoes I used when I tore my cartilage. So armed with new shoes, better technique, a stronger faster body & police protection I was eager for the 1975 smokeless season.