Standing long jump

The standing long jump, also known as the standing broad jump, is an athletics event. It was an Olympic event until 1912. It is one of three standing variants of track and field jumping events, which also include the standing high jump and standing triple jump. In performing the standing long jump, the jumper stands at a line marked on the ground with the feet slightly apart. The athlete takes off and lands using both feet, swinging the arms and bending the knees to provide forward drive. The jump must be repeated if the athlete falls back or takes a step at take-off. In the early part of the nineteenth century the standing long jump was a popular event at highland games and military sports, but very few of these performances were measured. On Friday 8 July 1853 the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders held their annual Highland Games on Chobham Common at which Private J. Forbes cleared 9ft 3in (2.82m) in the standing long jump. John Scriven of Cambridge University also cleared 9ft 3in (2.82m) at the St John's College Sports at Fenner's cricket ground on Thursday 15 March 1859. Less than a week later, on the first day of the Cambridge University Sports on Monday 21 March, William Howard, of Trinity College, Cambridge, cleared 10ft 2in (3.10m). At the annual regimental sports of the 24th Regiment, at Shorncliff Camp, near Cheriton in Kent, on Thursday 16 September 1864, three men cleared ten feet. Private Lynch cleared 10ft 6in (3.20m), Private Mullis 10ft 3in (3.12m), and Private Crosey 10ft 1in (3.07m). Huddersfield Athletic Club held their first Annual Athletics Festival at the Rifle Ground, Trinity Street, Huddersfield, on Saturday 24 June 1865, at which two men, W. N. Haigh and J. W. Rhodes, tied at 10ft 8in (3.25m). Two months later,...