The head should be steady, held in a level position. Drive the elbows back, keep hands loose, and drive knees up and forward, then pull the foot back and down sharply.

Try not to lean too far forward. A very slight lean is all that is needed. It is also important to keep your hips tall and continue to have a rising feeling (like that of a plane taking off). Do not try "dig down" for more speed. Acceleration comes from the rising of the body from the hips. Continue to keep the stride open and resist the temptation to go to short choppy steps.

Finish (30-40): Do not anticipate the finish line by leaning towards it. Run straight through upright. Leaning forces the knees to drop, resulting in a shorter stride and costing more time. The most common mistake made by athletes is leaning for the line; this should be reserved for the trained elite sprinter only.