Triple Jump

Triple jump is a track and field sport in which the competitor runs down the track and performs a hop, bound and jump into a sand pit. The goal of this event is to jump the furthest into the sand pit. The current world record is held by Olympian Jonathan Edwards of Great Britain with a jump of 18.29 meters (60 feet).

Approach Phase:

The approach run is a full sprint down the track towards the pit that can be maintained throughout the hop, step, and jump phases. This phase is crucial because all the strength and balance of the ensuing phases depends on this approach.

First Phase (Hop): In this first phase, when you jump off the board, throw up your jumping knee (either left or right depending on which one feels more comfortable) and cycle it forward while keeping your thigh parallel to the ground. Your opposite foot should be pulled up behind you while doing this. Make sure to land with your foot even to maintain your speed and to keep your momentum going forward.

Second Phase (Step): Many triple jumpers tend to struggle in this second phase which causes their overall distance to be way off then what it could potentially be. The form of this second phase is somewhat similar to the first phase. In this second phase however, after coming off your first phase, throw up the jumping knee (opposite of the first leg you used in the first phase) and your opposite knee back. You should keep your knee up almost like your skipping but it's actually more like a bound. Remember to land with your foot flat to maintain your momentum and speed.

Third Phase (Jump):

This final phase is almost like a long jump where you use everything you have left in yourself to jump as far as possible. Make sure to bring your feet forward and to lean forward to maximize your distance.

Overall, triple jump is a very technical and difficult track and field event. However, one of the things most enjoyable about this event is that you can always improve on something. Wether it may be your your speed in your approach phase or your last phase, you can always get better. This is my favorite event to compete in because it requires lots of time and training and I know I can always improve no matter how bad or how well I do.

Should Oscar Pistorius be placed in a South African Prison?

On February 14, 2013, Judge Masipa convicted Oscar Pistorius, an olympic and paralympic track star, of culpable homicide in the killing of Reeva Steenkamp. Ms. Steenkamp was a 29 year old law graduate and model who had been dating Mr Pistorius. However, there is a debate on wether Mr Pistorius should serve his sentence under home arrest, or at the South African prisons. The South African Prisons have been called overcrowded, harsh, and are dominated by gangs.

Oscar Pistorius will most likely stay in a hospital wing if sentenced to a prison. The hospital section contains five wards, 22 rooms, and one bath and one shower per ward. Zach Modise, the acting head of South Africa’s correctional services, also testified that the country's prisons contained single-cell accommodation, vocational training, health care, sports facilities and gyms and that they were well equipped for disabled people. However, Mr. Modise declined to guarantee that Oscar Pistorius would be placed in a hospital wing if sentenced to prison.

However, if Oscar Pistorius is sentenced to a prison sentence and is not placed in a hospital wing, he would have to face the overpopulated, harsh and unhealthy environments of South African prisons that are also dominated by gangs. The environment would also be unsuitable for him in his disabled state that requires special health care. It has also been reported that one of the most notorious prison gang leaders threatened to "take him out" even if Oscar Pistorius was a very wealthy individual.

Although the harsh prison environments may not be ideal to the disabled Oscar Pistorius, it is only fair that he is punished just as fairly as others for committing such a heinous crime. Even if he is not placed in a hospital wing, it is only fair that he is sentenced to prison just as if any other "ordinary" individual would be punished despite the potential dangers of the prison gangs residing there. This is something Oscar Pistorius must deal with as a consequence for committing this inhuman, foul crime.

Websites:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/17/world/africa/oscar-pistorius-sentencing-hearing.html?ref=world&_r=0
http://online.wsj.com/articles/oscar-pistorius-to-remain-in-hospital-wing-if-sentenced-to-jail-time-1413457391
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/jail-threats-revealed-oscar-pistorius-sentencing-hearing-article-1.1976215