The 4 × 400 metres relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams consist of four runners who each complete 400 metres or one lap. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events, the first leg and the first bend of the second leg are run in lanes. Start lines are thus staggered over a greater distance than in an individual 400 metres race; the runners then typically move to the inside of the track. The slightly longer 4 × 440 yards relay, on an Imperial distance, was a formerly run British Commonwealth and American event, until metrication was completed in the 1970s.
Relay race runners typically carry a relay baton which they must transfer between teammates. Runners have a 20 m box (usually marked with blue lines) in which to transfer the baton. The first transfer is made within the staggered lane lines; for the second and third transfers, runners typically line up across the track despite the fact that runners are usually running in line on the inside of the track. This prevents confusion and collisions during transfer. Unlike the 4 × 100 m relay, runners in the 4 × 400 typically look back and grasp the baton from the incoming runner, due to the fatigue of the incoming runner, and the wider margins allowed by the longer distance of the race. Consequently, disqualification is rare.
As runners have a running start, split times cannot be compared to individual 400 m performances. Internationally, the U.S. men's team has dominated the event, but have been challenged by Jamaica in the 1950s and Britain in the 1990s. The current men's Olympic champions are from the United States.
According to the IAAF rules, world records in relays can only be set if all team members have the same nationality.
Mixed-gendered 4 × 400 metres relays were introduced at the 2017 IAAF World Relays, with the IAAF first recognizing a world record in that event at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. In March 2022 World Athletics Council decided a set order – man, woman, man, woman – at future championships. [1]
Men's Outdoor World Record [2] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country | Members | Place | Date | Time |
United States | Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson | Stuttgart, Germany | 22 August 1993 | 2:54.29 |
Note: The IAAF rescinded a time of 2:54.20 set at Uniondale on 22 July 1998 by the United States ( Jerome Young, Antonio Pettigrew, Tyree Washington, Michael Johnson) on 12 August 2008 after Pettigrew admitted to using human growth hormone and EPO between 1997 and 2003. [3]
Men's Indoor World Record [4] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country | Members | Place | Date | Time |
United States | Amere Lattin, Obi Igbokwe, Jermaine Holt, Kahmari Montgomery | Clemson, United States | 9 February 2019 | 3:01.51 |
Note: The above world record was bettered by three teams at the 2018 NCAA Division I Championship on 10 March 2018 in College Station, United States:
Women's Outdoor World Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country | Members | Place | Date | Time |
Soviet Union | Tatyana Ledovskaya (BLR), Olga Nazarova (RUS), Mariya Pinigina (UKR), Olga Bryzgina (UKR) | Seoul, Korea | 1 October 1988 | 3:15.17 |
Women's Indoor World Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country | Members | Place | Date | Time |
Russia | Yuliya Gushchina, Olga Kotlyarova, Olga Zaytseva, Olesya Krasnomovets | Glasgow, Scotland | 27 January 2006 | 3:23.37 |
Note: The above world record was bettered in a time of 3:21.75 by the University of Arkansas team of Amber Anning, Joanne Reid, Rosey Effiong, and Britton Wilson at the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Championship on 11 March 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. This time was not record-eligible because Anning was a citizen of Great Britain, Reid was a citizen of Jamaica, and Effiong and Wilson were United States citizens. [6]
Note
Note
Rank | Time | Team | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3:01.39 | Illolo Izu, Robert Grant, Devin Dixon, Mylik Kerley | United States | 10 March 2018 | College Station | |
2 | 3:01.77 | Karol Zalewski, Rafał Omelko, Łukasz Krawczuk, Jakub Krzewina | Poland | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | [39] |
3 | 3:02.51 | Dylan Borlée, Jonathan Borlée, Jonathan Sacoor, Kevin Borlée | Belgium | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | [40] |
4 | 3:02.52 | Deon Lendore, Jereem Richards, Asa Guevara, Lalonde Gordon | Trinidad and Tobago | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | [41] |
5 | 3:03.05 | Rico Lieder, Jens Carlowitz, Karsten Just, Thomas Schönlebe | Germany | 10 March 1991 | Sevilla | |
6 | 3:03.20 | Allyn Condon, Solomon Wariso, Adrian Patrick, Jamie Baulch | Great Britain | 7 March 1999 | Maebashi | |
7 | 3:03.69 | Errol Nolan, Allodin Fothergill, Akheem Gauntlett, Edino Steele | Jamaica | 9 March 2014 | Sopot | |
8 | 3:04.09 | Daniel Němeček, Patrik Šorm, Jan Tesař, Pavel Maslák | Czech Republic | 8 March 2015 | Prague | |
9 | 3:04.25 | Liemarvin Bonevacia, Ramsey Angela, Terrence Agard, Tony van Diepen | Netherlands | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [42] |
10 | 3:04.75 | Michael Mathieu, Alonzo Russell, Shavez Hart, Chris Brown | Bahamas | 20 March 2016 | Portland | [43] |
Rank | Time | Team | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3:21.75 A |
Arkansas Razorbacks Amber Anning 51.47 Joanne Reid 50.52 Rosey Effiong 50.57 Britton Wilson 49.20 |
England Jamaica United States United States |
11 March 2023 | Albuquerque | [57] |
2 | 3:23.37 |
Olesya Krasnomovets-Forsheva Olga Zaytseva Olga Kotlyarova Yuliya Gushchina |
Russia | 28 January 2006 | Glasgow | |
3 | 3:23.85 |
Quanera Hayes Georganne Moline Shakima Wimbley Courtney Okolo |
United States | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | |
4 | 3:23.88 |
Olesya Krasnomovets-Forsheva Olga Kotlyarova Tatyana Levina Natalya Nazarova |
Russia | 7 March 2004 | Budapest | |
5 | 3:24.09 |
Arkansas Razorbacks Rosey Effiong Jayla Hollis Shafiqua Maloney Britton Wilson |
United States United States Saint Vincent and the Grenadines United States |
26 February 2022 | College Station | |
6 | 3:24.25 |
Tatyana Chebykina Svetlana Goncharenko Olga Kotlyarova Natalya Nazarova |
Russia | 7 March 1999 | Maebashi | |
7 | 3:24.83 |
Natasha Hastings Joanna Atkins Francena McCorory Cassandra Tate |
United States | 9 March 2014 | Sopot | [58] |
8 | 3:24.91 |
Tatyana Levina Natalya Nazarova Olesya Krasnomovets-Forsheva Natayla Antyukh |
Russia | 12 March 2006 | Moscow | |
9 | 3:25.07 |
Lieke Klaver (50.26) Cathelijn Peeters (51.99) Lisanne de Witte (52.28) Femke Bol (50.54) |
Netherlands | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [59] |
10 | 3:25.34 |
Quanera Hayes (52.33) Talitha Diggs (50.50) Bailey Lear (52.02) Alexis Holmes (50.49) |
United States | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [60] |
11 | 3:25.43 |
Texas A&M Aggies Laila Owens Tierra Robinson-Jones Syaira Richardson Charokee Young |
United States United States United States Jamaica |
26 February 2022 | College Station | |
12 | 3:25.59 |
Arkansas Razorbacks Rosey Effiong Amber Anning Nickisha Pryce Sanu Jallow |
United States Great Britain Jamaica United States |
27 January 2024 | Fayetteville | |
13 | 3:25.66 |
Lieke Klaver Eveline Saalberg Cathelijn Peeters Femke Bol |
Netherlands | 5 March 2023 | Istanbul | |
14 | 3:25.67 A |
Texas Longhorns Rachel Helbling Kennedy Simon Julien Alfred Rhasidat Adeleke |
United States United States Saint Lucia Ireland |
11 March 2023 | Albuquerque | [61] |
15 | 3:25.89 |
Kentucky Wildcats Megan Moss Abby Steiner Karimah Davis Alexis Holmes |
Bahamas United States United States United States |
26 February 2022 | College Station | |
16 | 3:25.91 |
Yuliya Gushchina Tatyana Veshkurova Tatyana Levina Natalya Antyukh |
Russia | 12 March 2006 | Moscow | |
17 | 3:26.05 |
South Carolina Gamecocks Zaya Akins Jahnile Registre Jayla Jamison JaMeesia Ford |
United States | 24 February 2024 | Fayetteville | |
18 | 3:26.09 |
Justyna Święty-Ersetic Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz Aleksandra Gaworska Małgorzata Hołub-Kowalik |
Poland | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | |
19 | 3:26.27 |
Texas A&M Aggies Jania Martin Charokee Young Syaira Richardson Athing Mu |
United States Jamaica United States United States |
13 February 2021 | Fayetteville | |
20 | 3:26.33 |
Joanne Reid Rachel Glenn Sanu Jallow Kaylyn Brown |
Jamaica United States United States United States |
24 February 2024 | Fayetteville | |
21 | 3:26.36 |
Laviai Nielsen (51.43) Lina Nielsen (51.58) Ama Pipi (51.99) Jessie Knight (51.36) |
Great Britain | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [62] |
22 | 3:26.38 |
Natasha Hastings Quanera Hayes Courtney Okolo Ashley Spencer |
United States | 20 March 2016 | Portland | |
23 | 3:26.40 |
Arkansas Razorbacks Amber Anning Nickisha Pryce Paris Peoples Rosey Effiong |
Great Britain Jamaica United States United States |
28 January 2023 | Fayetteville | |
Lina Nielsen Ama Pipi Hannah Kelly Jessie Knight |
Great Britain | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [63] | ||
25 | 3:26.54 |
Patricia Hall Anneisha McLaughlin Kaliese Spencer Stephenie Ann McPherson |
Jamaica | 9 March 2014 | Sopot | [64] |
Note: * Indicates athletes who ran in preliminary rounds and also received medals.
Note: * Indicates athletes who ran in preliminary rounds and also received medals.
Note * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note* Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note* Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Blake, a member of Penn State's NCAA Champion 4x400 in 2008, also had a successful London experience, earning a bronze medal as a member of Jamaica's 4x400 relay pool.
The 4 × 400 metres relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams consist of four runners who each complete 400 metres or one lap. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events, the first leg and the first bend of the second leg are run in lanes. Start lines are thus staggered over a greater distance than in an individual 400 metres race; the runners then typically move to the inside of the track. The slightly longer 4 × 440 yards relay, on an Imperial distance, was a formerly run British Commonwealth and American event, until metrication was completed in the 1970s.
Relay race runners typically carry a relay baton which they must transfer between teammates. Runners have a 20 m box (usually marked with blue lines) in which to transfer the baton. The first transfer is made within the staggered lane lines; for the second and third transfers, runners typically line up across the track despite the fact that runners are usually running in line on the inside of the track. This prevents confusion and collisions during transfer. Unlike the 4 × 100 m relay, runners in the 4 × 400 typically look back and grasp the baton from the incoming runner, due to the fatigue of the incoming runner, and the wider margins allowed by the longer distance of the race. Consequently, disqualification is rare.
As runners have a running start, split times cannot be compared to individual 400 m performances. Internationally, the U.S. men's team has dominated the event, but have been challenged by Jamaica in the 1950s and Britain in the 1990s. The current men's Olympic champions are from the United States.
According to the IAAF rules, world records in relays can only be set if all team members have the same nationality.
Mixed-gendered 4 × 400 metres relays were introduced at the 2017 IAAF World Relays, with the IAAF first recognizing a world record in that event at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. In March 2022 World Athletics Council decided a set order – man, woman, man, woman – at future championships. [1]
Men's Outdoor World Record [2] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country | Members | Place | Date | Time |
United States | Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson | Stuttgart, Germany | 22 August 1993 | 2:54.29 |
Note: The IAAF rescinded a time of 2:54.20 set at Uniondale on 22 July 1998 by the United States ( Jerome Young, Antonio Pettigrew, Tyree Washington, Michael Johnson) on 12 August 2008 after Pettigrew admitted to using human growth hormone and EPO between 1997 and 2003. [3]
Men's Indoor World Record [4] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country | Members | Place | Date | Time |
United States | Amere Lattin, Obi Igbokwe, Jermaine Holt, Kahmari Montgomery | Clemson, United States | 9 February 2019 | 3:01.51 |
Note: The above world record was bettered by three teams at the 2018 NCAA Division I Championship on 10 March 2018 in College Station, United States:
Women's Outdoor World Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country | Members | Place | Date | Time |
Soviet Union | Tatyana Ledovskaya (BLR), Olga Nazarova (RUS), Mariya Pinigina (UKR), Olga Bryzgina (UKR) | Seoul, Korea | 1 October 1988 | 3:15.17 |
Women's Indoor World Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country | Members | Place | Date | Time |
Russia | Yuliya Gushchina, Olga Kotlyarova, Olga Zaytseva, Olesya Krasnomovets | Glasgow, Scotland | 27 January 2006 | 3:23.37 |
Note: The above world record was bettered in a time of 3:21.75 by the University of Arkansas team of Amber Anning, Joanne Reid, Rosey Effiong, and Britton Wilson at the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Championship on 11 March 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. This time was not record-eligible because Anning was a citizen of Great Britain, Reid was a citizen of Jamaica, and Effiong and Wilson were United States citizens. [6]
Note
Note
Rank | Time | Team | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3:01.39 | Illolo Izu, Robert Grant, Devin Dixon, Mylik Kerley | United States | 10 March 2018 | College Station | |
2 | 3:01.77 | Karol Zalewski, Rafał Omelko, Łukasz Krawczuk, Jakub Krzewina | Poland | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | [39] |
3 | 3:02.51 | Dylan Borlée, Jonathan Borlée, Jonathan Sacoor, Kevin Borlée | Belgium | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | [40] |
4 | 3:02.52 | Deon Lendore, Jereem Richards, Asa Guevara, Lalonde Gordon | Trinidad and Tobago | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | [41] |
5 | 3:03.05 | Rico Lieder, Jens Carlowitz, Karsten Just, Thomas Schönlebe | Germany | 10 March 1991 | Sevilla | |
6 | 3:03.20 | Allyn Condon, Solomon Wariso, Adrian Patrick, Jamie Baulch | Great Britain | 7 March 1999 | Maebashi | |
7 | 3:03.69 | Errol Nolan, Allodin Fothergill, Akheem Gauntlett, Edino Steele | Jamaica | 9 March 2014 | Sopot | |
8 | 3:04.09 | Daniel Němeček, Patrik Šorm, Jan Tesař, Pavel Maslák | Czech Republic | 8 March 2015 | Prague | |
9 | 3:04.25 | Liemarvin Bonevacia, Ramsey Angela, Terrence Agard, Tony van Diepen | Netherlands | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [42] |
10 | 3:04.75 | Michael Mathieu, Alonzo Russell, Shavez Hart, Chris Brown | Bahamas | 20 March 2016 | Portland | [43] |
Rank | Time | Team | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3:21.75 A |
Arkansas Razorbacks Amber Anning 51.47 Joanne Reid 50.52 Rosey Effiong 50.57 Britton Wilson 49.20 |
England Jamaica United States United States |
11 March 2023 | Albuquerque | [57] |
2 | 3:23.37 |
Olesya Krasnomovets-Forsheva Olga Zaytseva Olga Kotlyarova Yuliya Gushchina |
Russia | 28 January 2006 | Glasgow | |
3 | 3:23.85 |
Quanera Hayes Georganne Moline Shakima Wimbley Courtney Okolo |
United States | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | |
4 | 3:23.88 |
Olesya Krasnomovets-Forsheva Olga Kotlyarova Tatyana Levina Natalya Nazarova |
Russia | 7 March 2004 | Budapest | |
5 | 3:24.09 |
Arkansas Razorbacks Rosey Effiong Jayla Hollis Shafiqua Maloney Britton Wilson |
United States United States Saint Vincent and the Grenadines United States |
26 February 2022 | College Station | |
6 | 3:24.25 |
Tatyana Chebykina Svetlana Goncharenko Olga Kotlyarova Natalya Nazarova |
Russia | 7 March 1999 | Maebashi | |
7 | 3:24.83 |
Natasha Hastings Joanna Atkins Francena McCorory Cassandra Tate |
United States | 9 March 2014 | Sopot | [58] |
8 | 3:24.91 |
Tatyana Levina Natalya Nazarova Olesya Krasnomovets-Forsheva Natayla Antyukh |
Russia | 12 March 2006 | Moscow | |
9 | 3:25.07 |
Lieke Klaver (50.26) Cathelijn Peeters (51.99) Lisanne de Witte (52.28) Femke Bol (50.54) |
Netherlands | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [59] |
10 | 3:25.34 |
Quanera Hayes (52.33) Talitha Diggs (50.50) Bailey Lear (52.02) Alexis Holmes (50.49) |
United States | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [60] |
11 | 3:25.43 |
Texas A&M Aggies Laila Owens Tierra Robinson-Jones Syaira Richardson Charokee Young |
United States United States United States Jamaica |
26 February 2022 | College Station | |
12 | 3:25.59 |
Arkansas Razorbacks Rosey Effiong Amber Anning Nickisha Pryce Sanu Jallow |
United States Great Britain Jamaica United States |
27 January 2024 | Fayetteville | |
13 | 3:25.66 |
Lieke Klaver Eveline Saalberg Cathelijn Peeters Femke Bol |
Netherlands | 5 March 2023 | Istanbul | |
14 | 3:25.67 A |
Texas Longhorns Rachel Helbling Kennedy Simon Julien Alfred Rhasidat Adeleke |
United States United States Saint Lucia Ireland |
11 March 2023 | Albuquerque | [61] |
15 | 3:25.89 |
Kentucky Wildcats Megan Moss Abby Steiner Karimah Davis Alexis Holmes |
Bahamas United States United States United States |
26 February 2022 | College Station | |
16 | 3:25.91 |
Yuliya Gushchina Tatyana Veshkurova Tatyana Levina Natalya Antyukh |
Russia | 12 March 2006 | Moscow | |
17 | 3:26.05 |
South Carolina Gamecocks Zaya Akins Jahnile Registre Jayla Jamison JaMeesia Ford |
United States | 24 February 2024 | Fayetteville | |
18 | 3:26.09 |
Justyna Święty-Ersetic Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz Aleksandra Gaworska Małgorzata Hołub-Kowalik |
Poland | 4 March 2018 | Birmingham | |
19 | 3:26.27 |
Texas A&M Aggies Jania Martin Charokee Young Syaira Richardson Athing Mu |
United States Jamaica United States United States |
13 February 2021 | Fayetteville | |
20 | 3:26.33 |
Joanne Reid Rachel Glenn Sanu Jallow Kaylyn Brown |
Jamaica United States United States United States |
24 February 2024 | Fayetteville | |
21 | 3:26.36 |
Laviai Nielsen (51.43) Lina Nielsen (51.58) Ama Pipi (51.99) Jessie Knight (51.36) |
Great Britain | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [62] |
22 | 3:26.38 |
Natasha Hastings Quanera Hayes Courtney Okolo Ashley Spencer |
United States | 20 March 2016 | Portland | |
23 | 3:26.40 |
Arkansas Razorbacks Amber Anning Nickisha Pryce Paris Peoples Rosey Effiong |
Great Britain Jamaica United States United States |
28 January 2023 | Fayetteville | |
Lina Nielsen Ama Pipi Hannah Kelly Jessie Knight |
Great Britain | 3 March 2024 | Glasgow | [63] | ||
25 | 3:26.54 |
Patricia Hall Anneisha McLaughlin Kaliese Spencer Stephenie Ann McPherson |
Jamaica | 9 March 2014 | Sopot | [64] |
Note: * Indicates athletes who ran in preliminary rounds and also received medals.
Note: * Indicates athletes who ran in preliminary rounds and also received medals.
Note * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note* Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Note* Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
Blake, a member of Penn State's NCAA Champion 4x400 in 2008, also had a successful London experience, earning a bronze medal as a member of Jamaica's 4x400 relay pool.