Relays

The relay race boasts the competitveness of a sprint race and the drama of the baton changeovers. Each of the 4 athletes races one section, or leg, of the race, handing over a baton to the next member of the team within marked handover zone.

The most common relays for men and women are:

• 4 X 100 meters
• 4 X 400 meters

Profile

4 X 100 meter relay runners need to have explosive pace, just as sprinters do. Runners in all distances must be able to time runs efficiently in order to achieve successful changeovers, while 4 X 400 meter runners must have the stamina to run the extra distance.

Lane Discipline

Athletes in the 4 X 100 meter remain in their lanes from start to finish, so the handover takes places in the relevant lane. In the 4 X 400 meter, runners start in separate lanes but may join the inside lane after the first 100 meter of the secon leg. In the final 2 handovers, race organisers place the receivers across the finish line accoring to their teams placing at the time, with the leading team in the inside lane.