The hurdle and runner form a right triangle (see attached picture) such that
sin(30°) = <em>h</em> / (5 ft)
and
cos(30°) = <em>x</em> / (5 ft)
where <em>h</em> is the height of the hurdle and <em>x</em> is the horizontal distance from where the runner jumps to the hurdle. So
<em>h</em> = (5 ft) sin(30°) = 5/2 ft = 2.5 ft
<em>x</em> = (5 ft) cos(30°) = (5√3)/2 ft ≈ 4.33 ft
