analyse this

[PhilG]

@kitkat1

Yes, John, correct. Maybe hip mobility (rather than flexibility) would be a better term, implying range of movement.

But also strong muscles of the pubic area (beneath the waistline) and obliques/laterals of the back/sacrum area. Essentially the lower core. Awareness and understanding of the role played by keeping hips in neutral would also be helpful so as when the athletes goes through her/his mental checklist in training the positioning can be consciously implemented. Hopefully it will eventually happen without thinking during the major races in due course.

Spot on kk, good control of the glutes assists this as well. Allows the knee lift to occur with ease, without thought and no excessive rotation. Note I said excessive guys, you need a degree of rotation for it all to work correctly.