The4 × 400 metres relay or long relay is an athleticstrack event in which teams consist of four runners who each complete 400 metres or one lap, totaling 1600 meters. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. 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 individual400 metres race; the runners then typically move to the inside of the track. The slightly longer4 × 440 yards relay, on anImperial distance, was a formerly run British Commonwealth and American event, untilmetrication 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 the4 × 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 byJamaica 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.
Note: The above world record was bettered by three teams at the 2018 NCAA Division I Championship on 10 March 2018 at theGilliam Indoor Track Stadium inCollege Station, United States:
3:00.77 by theUSC team ofZach Shinnick,Rai Benjamin,Ricky Morgan Jr.,Michael Norman). This time was not record-eligible because Benjamin was a citizen of Antigua & Barbuda, and the others are United States citizens. Benjamin has since switched to represent the United States.
3:01.39 by theTexas A&M team ofIlolo Izu,Robert Grant,Devin Dixon andMylik Kerley. All four runners represent the United States, and World Athletics currently lists this as the NACAC area record, but it has not been ratified as the world record.[5]
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]
nb2Crystal Cox was stripped of her Olympic medal in 2004.
nb3Dominique Blake was accidentally given her Olympic medal and she returned it in 2017.[60]
a Original silver medalists, Russia, and 4th place finishers, Belarus, were stripped of their results for doping offenses. Following reallocation, Jamaica were promoted to the silver medal, and Great Britain to the bronze.[61]
b Original silver medalists, Russia, were stripped of their medal for doping offenses. Following reallocation, Jamaica will be promoted to the silver medal, and Ukraine to the bronze.[62]
Note: * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
dq1 The United States team (Jerome Young,Antonio Pettigrew,Chris Jones andTyree Washington) originally won the 1997 World Championships in a time of 2:56.47 minutes, but was disqualified in 2009 after Pettigrew admitted to doping during the period.
dq3 The United States team (Leonard Byrd,Antonio Pettigrew,Derrick Brew andAngelo Taylor) originally won the 2001 World Championships, but was disqualified in 2009 after Pettigrew admitted to doping during the period.
dq4 The United States team (Calvin Harrison,Tyree Washington,Derrick Brew andJerome Young) originally won the 2003 World Championships, but was disqualified in 2004 after Harrison and Young were found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.
dq5 The Russian team (Maksim Dyldin,Lev Mosin,Sergey Petukhov andVladimir Krasnov) originally finished third in the 2013 World Championships, but was disqualified after Dyldin was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.
Note: * Indicates athletes who ran only in the preliminary round and also received medals.
A USA team ofMilton Campbell,Leonard Byrd,Trinity Gray andJerome Young originally finished second in the 2001 World Indoor Championships, but was disqualified after Young was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.[63]
Marita Koch (GDR) ran a 47.70 split in Erfurt 1984, a 47.9 split in the 1982 European Championship final, and a 47.9 split at the1985 Canberra World Cup.
^"Track and Field Olympians to be Recognized". University Park, Pennsylvania. 4 October 2012. Retrieved14 August 2016.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.
United States
Soviet Union
Russia
Netherlands
Great Britain
Czech Republic
Spain
France
Poland
Jamaica
Australia
Bahamas (BAH)
Trinidad and Tobago (TRI)
Botswana (BOT)
South Africa (RSA)
Germany (GER)
Belgium (BEL)
Australia (AUS)
East Germany (GDR)
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