Firststep.Firsthurdle.
A stride-by-stride breakdown of the 8‑step and 9‑step approaches for High School Boys 110m and Girls 100m Hurdles. Dial in block setup and drive-phase rhythm to flow cleanly into a 3‑step pattern between barriers.
Start line tofirst barrier.
Two disciplines, two distances. The attack point — roughly 2 meters shy of H1 — is where the last drive step lands and the takeoff begins.
Boys 110m Hurdles
Girls 100m Hurdles
Eight ornine.
The count chosen out of the blocks dictates lead-leg placement. An 8‑step demands power and patience; a 9‑step trades length for turnover frequency.
Power & Patience
Standard for taller athletes and explosive drivers. The trap is reaching on steps 6–8; trust the progression.
Frequency & Rhythm
Ideal for shorter athletes or those stepping up to high school heights. Quick turnover over build.
Boys approach, mapped.
Cumulative ground covered from the start line, step by step. The 8‑step has to eat more distance per stride beginning at step 3.
◆ Data Check — Understanding Step 1
Measurements map from the start line to the toe of the shoe at touchdown. Landing Step 1 at ~28 in (0.70 m) past the line can feel far — but it's correct and necessary for an explosive 8‑step drive. Cover 45 ft in one fewer step, or you pay for it later: reaching on steps 6–8 causes a braking effect that wrecks attack momentum.
Girls approach, mapped.
H1 sits closer at 13.00 m. The 8‑step has to aggressively push out — hitting ≈ 17′8″ (5.4 m) by step 5 — to stay balanced into the attack.
Eight strides, one attack.
Each bar is the length of one step. Strides lengthen progressively through the drive phase until the cut step at Step 7 — hip drop, project forward, attack.
Nine strides, higher turnover.
Same acceleration curve, one extra step. The cut step moves to Step 8 — the hip drop that buys a balanced, projecting attack rather than a jump.
Cheat sheets, at a glance.
Two clean tables for the clipboard — cumulative distance from the start line at each step, split by 8‑step and 9‑step approaches, boys and girls.
| Athlete | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 |
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| Athlete | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 |
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