The 4 × 200 metres relay is an athletics track event in which teams comprise four runners who each complete 200 metres or half a lap on a standard 400 metre track. The event is a world record eligible event, but is not a standard event at most professional or collegiate track meets, mainly being found at the high school level, though certain leagues regularly conduct this event as part of their program.

Description

edit

There are multiple formats under which the race can be conducted.

  • If the track is marked for a four-turn stagger format, the runners can stay in their lanes throughout the race. In this case the outer lanes could appear to start 2/3 of the way through the first turn. The markings for such a special zone should be colored red, though many tracks deviate from the standard marking colors.
  • On a conventionally marked track, the race can be run starting at the normal 400 metre (and 4 × 100m relay) start line. As a two-turn stagger, the first exchange would take place in the standard second passing zone of the 4 × 100m relay, the second pass taking place in the normal (lane one, extended) 4 × 400m relay zone. After that exchange, the runner would break into lane one and make a third exchange in lane one of the second standard 4 × 100m relay zone.
  • Indoors, the event is popular because each leg is one lap of a standard 200m indoor track.

World record

edit

The men's world record was set in 2014 at the inaugural IAAF World Relay Championships in Nassau, Bahamas. The record was set by a Jamaican team consisting of Nickel Ashmeade, Warren Weir, Jermaine Brown and Yohan Blake in a time of 1:18.63.[1] The women's world record is 1:27.46, set by a squad called Team USA "Blue" LaTasha Jenkins, LaTasha Colander-Richardson, Nanceen Perry, and Marion Jones on April 29, 2000, at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2]

European record

edit

All-time top 25

edit
  • Updated March 2020.[4]
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref
1 1:18.63 Nickel Ashmeade, Warren Weir, Jermaine Brown, Yohan Blake   Jamaica 24 May 2014 Nassau [5]
2 1:18.68 Santa Monica Track Club
Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard, Carl Lewis
  United States 17 April 1994 Walnut [6]
3 1:19.10 World All Stars
Jon Drummond
Dennis Mitchell
Bryan Bridgewater
John Regis

  United States
  United States
  United States
  Great Britain
17 April 1994 Walnut [7]
4 1:19.11 Santa Monica Track Club
Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard, Carl Lewis
  United States 25 April 1992 Philadelphia [8]
5 1:19.20 Gavin Smellie, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown   Canada 2 April 2016 Gainesville [9]
6 1:19.38 Santa Monica Track Club
Danny Everett, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard, Carl Lewis
  United States 23 August 1989 Koblenz [10]
7 1:19.39 Jon Drummond, Shawn Crawford, Bernard Williams, Maurice Greene   United States 28 April 2001 Philadelphia [11]
8 1:19.42 Gavin Smellie, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown   Canada 23 April 2017 Nassau [12]
9 1:19.45 Santa Monica Track Club
Joe DeLoach, Leroy Burrell, Carl Lewis, Floyd Heard
  United States 27 April 1991 Philadelphia [13]
10 1:19.47 Kenny Brokenburr, Alvin Harrison, Maurice Greene, Michael Johnson   United States 24 April 1999 Philadelphia [14]
11 1:19.62 Shawn Crawford, Mickey Grimes, Darvis Patton, Justin Gatlin   United States 24 April 2004 Philadelphia [15]
12 1:19.67 Texas Christian University
Lindel Frater
Ricardo Williams
Darvis Patton
Kim Collins

  Jamaica
  Jamaica
  United States
  Saint Kitts and Nevis
29 April 2000 Philadelphia [16]
13 1:19.71 Texas Christian University
Lindel Frater
Steve Slowly
Darvis Patton
Kim Collins

  Jamaica
  Jamaica
  United States
  Saint Kitts and Nevis
27 April 2001 Philadelphia [17]
14 1:19.73 Christopher Belcher, Bryce Robinson, Vernon Norwood, Remontay McClain   United States 12 May 2019 Yokohama [18]
15 1:19.85 Nike International
Maurice Greene, Allen Johnson, Alvin Harrison, Michael Johnson

  United States
25 April 1998 Philadelphia [19]
16 1:19.88 Austin All-Stars
Obadele Thompson
Rodrigue Nordin
Vincent Henderson
Rohsaan Griffin

  Barbados
  France
  United States
  United States
3 April 1999 Austin [20]
Noah Lyles, Jarrion Lawson, Isiah Young, Ameer Webb   United States 23 April 2017 Nassau [21]
18 1:19.91 Hudson Smith International
Curtis Perry
Jon Drummond
Ato Boldon
Maurice Greene

  United States
  United States
  Trinidad and Tobago
  United States
3 April 1999 Austin [22]
Bolade Ajomale, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown   Canada 1 April 2017 Gainesville [23]
20 1:19.92 Nike International
Kenny Brokenburr, Bryan Howard, Rohsaan Griffin, Maurice Greene
  United States 29 April 2000 Philadelphia [24]
21 1:19.99 Texas Christian University
Lindel Frater
Steve Slowly
Darvis Patton
Kim Collins

  Jamaica
  Jamaica
  United States
  Saint Kitts and Nevis
28 April 2001 Philadelphia [25]
22 1:20.07 University of Technology Jamaica
Dantago Gurirab
Julian Forte
Andrew Fisher
Ronald Levy

  Namibia
  Jamaica
  Jamaica
  Jamaica
26 April 2014 Philadelphia [26]
23 1:20.12 Christopher Belcher, Bryce Robinson, Vernon Norwood, Remontay McClain   United States 12 May 2019 Yokohama [27]
24 1:20.15 Rasheed Dwyer, Jermaine Brown, Jason Livermore, Warren Weir   Jamaica 24 May 2014 Nassau [28]
25 1:20.17 Gavin Smellie, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse   Canada 30 Mar 2019 Gainesville

A USA team of Shawn Crawford, Ramon Clay, Darvis Patton and Justin Gatlin ran 1:19.16 at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia on 26 April 2003 but the performance was annulled due to the use of performance enhancing drugs by Ramon Clay


Women

edit
  • Updated April 2024.[29]
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref
1 1:27.05 Team International
Dina Asher-Smith
Rhasidat Adeleke
Lanae-Tava Thomas
Julien Alfred

  Great Britain
  Ireland
  Jamaica
  Saint Lucia
30 March 2024 Austin [30]
2 1:27.46 LaTasha Jenkins
LaTasha Colander-Richardson
Nanceen Perry
Marion Jones
  United States 29 April 2000 Philadelphia [31]
3 1:28.05 University of Texas
Rhasidat Adeleke
Julien Alfred
Kevona Davis
Lanae Thomas

  Ireland
  Saint Lucia
  Jamaica
  United States
1 April 2023 Austin [32]
4 1:28.15 Marlies Göhr
Romy Schneider-Müller
Bärbel Eckert-Wöckel
Marita Koch
  East Germany 9 August 1980 Jena
5 1:28.77 Tumbleweed Track Club
Desiree Henry
Anyika Onuora
Tianna Bartoletta
Dafne Schippers

  Great Britain
  Great Britain
  United States
  Netherlands
1 April 2017 Gainesville [33]
Pure Athletics
Kelly Ann Baptiste
Shakima Wimbley
Tori Bowie
Samantha Henry-Robinson

  Trinidad and Tobago
  United States
  United States
  Jamaica
31 March 2018 Gainesville [34]
7 1:28.78 University of Oregon
Makenzie Dunmore, Hannah Cunliffe, Deajah Stevens, Ariana Washington
  United States 1 April 2017 Gainesville [35]
8 1:29.03 University of Texas
Rhasidat Adeleke
Kynnedy Flannel
Julien Alfred
Kevona Davis
  Ireland
  United States
  Saint Lucia
  United States
26 March 2022 Austin [36]
9 1:29.04 Jura Levy, Shericka Jackson, Shashalee Forbes, Elaine Thompson   Jamaica 22 April 2017 Nassau [37]
10 1:29.25 Pure Athletics
Kelly Ann Baptiste
Shakima Wimbley
Desirèe Henry
Shaunae Miller-Uibo

  Trinidad and Tobago
  United States
  Great Britain
  Bahamas
30 March 2019 Gainesville [38]
11 1:29.42 Texas A&M University
Jeneba Tarmoh, Gabby Mayo, Jessica Beard, Porscha Lucas
  United States 24 April 2010 Philadelphia [39]
12 1:29.45 Shalonda Solomon, Tawanna Meadows, Bianca Knight, Kimberlyn Duncan   United States 25 May 2014 Nassau [40]
13 1:29.61 Desiree Henry, Anyika Onuora, Bianca Williams, Asha Philip   Great Britain 25 May 2014 Nassau [41]
14 1:29.64[a] Nike International
Tameka Roberts, Inger Miller, Nicole Green, Marion Jones
  United States 25 April 1998 Philadelphia [42]
15 1:29.71 Pure Athletics
Hanna-Maari Latvala
Shaunae Miller
Kelly Ann Baptiste
Tori Bowie

  Finland
  Bahamas
  Trinidad and Tobago
  United States
1 April 2017 Gainesville [43]
16 1:29.78 Louisiana State University
Nadia Davy
Monique Hall
Stephanie Durst
Muna Lee

  Jamaica
  United States
  United States
  United States
26 April 2003 Philadelphia [44]
17 1:29.86 Empire Athletics
Shalonda Solomon, Francena McCorory, Charonda Williams, Felicia Brown
  United States 1 April 2017 Gainesville [45]
18 1:29.89 Texas A&M University
Diamond Spaulding
Brenessa Thompson
Jaevin Reed
Danyel White

  United States
  Guyana
  United States
  United States
1 April 2017 Austin [46]
19 1:29.96 Texas A&M University
LaKeidra Stewart, Ashley Collier, Jessica Beard, Dominique Duncan[b]
  United States 30 April 2011 Philadelphia [47]
20 1:29.98 Texas A&M University
Ashton Purvis, Ashley Collier, Olivia Ekpone[c], Kamaria Brown
  United States 27 April 2013 Philadelphia [48]
21 1:30.01 Angela Daigle, Debbie Dunn, Julian Clay, Shaunta Pelham   United States 24 April 2004 Philadelphia [49]
Louisiana State University
Cassandra Tate
Semoy Hackett
Rebecca Alexander
Kimberlyn Duncan

  United States
  Trinidad and Tobago
  United States
  United States
31 March 2012 Austin [50]
23 1:30.04 Simone Facey, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Anneisha McLaughlin, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce   Jamaica 25 May 2014 Nassau [51]
24 1:30.07 Louisiana State University
Nadia Davy
Monique Hall
Stephanie Durst
Muna Lee

  United States
  Nigeria
  United States
  United States
5 April 2003 Austin [52]
25 1:30.20 Nike International
Celena Mondie-Milner, Nicole Green, Chryste Gaines, Inger Miller
  United States 26 April 1997 Philadelphia [53]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ World Athletics report this as 1:29.24, however, contemporary newspapers and www.pennrelaysonline.com show 1:29.64
  2. ^ Duncan transferred from USA to NGR in 2014
  3. ^ Ekpone transferred from USA to NGR in 2015

References

edit
  1. ^ "New relay world record for Jamaica". BBC Sport.
  2. ^ "Relay Team Comes Together In Record Time". Washington Post. 30 April 2000. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Area Outdoor Records - Men - EUROPE". iaaf.org. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  4. ^ "All-time men's best 4 × 200m Relay". IAAF. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  5. ^ Simon Hart (25 May 2014). "Jamaica men break 4x200 metre relay record at IAAF World Relays in Nassau - and without Usain Bolt". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  6. ^ "World Record Relay: Santa Monica 1:18.68". Track and Field News. June 1994. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  7. ^ "World Record Relay: Santa Monica 1:18.68". Track and Field News. June 1994. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Carl & Co. are like a Broken Record". Sports Illustrated. 4 May 1992. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  9. ^ "De Grasse goes sub-10 in Florida". IAAF. 3 April 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Lewis Leads 800 Relay Team to World Record". Los Angeles Times. 24 August 1989. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  11. ^ "With lead on anchor leg, Farmer pulls hamstring". Baltimore Sun. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 28 February 2020.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Men's 4x200m final". IAAF. 23 April 2017. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Men's 4x200m final". UPI. 27 April 1991. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  14. ^ "IAAF World Outdoor Lists 1999". IAAF. 28 August 2009. Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  15. ^ "112,701 three-day record spectator attendance at Penn Relays". IAAF. 25 April 2004. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  16. ^ "U.S. men also strong at Penn Relays". ESPN. 29 April 2000. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Horned Frogs Off To Fast Start At Penn Relays". TCU. 27 April 2001. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  18. ^ "4×200m Relay Round 1 Heats Results". IAAF. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Nike team sets relay record". Tampa Bay Times. 26 April 1998. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Texas Relays - Longhorns Dominate". New York Times. 4 April 1999. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Men's 4x200m final". IAAF. 23 April 2017. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Texas Relays - Longhorns Dominate". New York Times. 4 April 1999. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  23. ^ "2017 Pepsi Florida Relays". Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  24. ^ "U.S. Teams Look Sharp at Penn Relays". Los Angeles Times. 30 April 2000. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Johnson says farewell in style at Penn Relays". IAAF. 28 April 2001. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  26. ^ "2014 College Men's 4x200 Championship of America". Penn Relays. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  27. ^ "4×200m Relay Results". IAAF. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  28. ^ "4×200m Metres Relay Result". IAAF. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  29. ^ "All-time women's best 4 × 200m Relay". World Athletics. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Women's 4×200m Relay Results". World Athletics. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Relay Team Comes Together In Record Time". Washington Post. 30 April 2000. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  32. ^ Rick Cantu; Danny Davis (1 April 2023). "Texas Relays notebook: Longhorns set meet record in 400-meter relay". statesman.com. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  33. ^ "2017 Pepsi Florida Relays". Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  34. ^ "2018 Pepsi Florida Relays". Delta Timing. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  35. ^ "2017 Pepsi Florida Relays". Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  36. ^ "2022 Texas Relays Results" (PDF). texassports.com. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  37. ^ "4×200m Relay Results" (PDF). IAAF. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  38. ^ "Florida Relays — Comebacking De Grasse Powers Canada". deltatiming.com. 30 March 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  39. ^ "Women's 4 x 200 Relay Championship". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 24 April 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  40. ^ "4x200 Metres Relay Result". worldathletics. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  41. ^ "4x200 Metres Relay Result". worldathletics. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  42. ^ "Nike team sets relay record". Tampa Bay Times. 26 April 1998. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  43. ^ "2017 Pepsi Florida Relays". Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  44. ^ "montgomery-off-to-quick-start-at-penn-relays". IAAF. 27 April 2003. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  45. ^ "2017 Pepsi Florida Relays". Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  46. ^ "90th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 1 April 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  47. ^ "A&M wins women's 4x2". Texas A&M. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  48. ^ "Aggies dominate final day of Penn Relay Carnival". Texas A&M. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  49. ^ "Penn Relays Summaries". New York Times. 25 April 2004. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  50. ^ "2012 Texas Relays". Flotrack. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  51. ^ "Women's 4×200m Relay Results". IAAF. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  52. ^ "Early season sprinting highlights Texas Relays". IAAF. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  53. ^ "Penn Relay Results". Courier-Post from Camden, NJ. 27 April 1997. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
edit