4 x 400 metres relay

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The 4 x 400 metres relay is an athletics track event in which teams comprise four runners who each complete 400 metres or 1 lap. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events the first 500 metres is run in lanes, so start lines are staggered by more than in a 400 metres race. Runners have a 20 m box (usually marked with blue lines) to hand over the baton, which is the responsibility of the outgoing runner due to the fatigue of the incoming runner. Disqualification is rare.

The event is often exciting because a psychological advantage for a chasing runner means that the race lead can change hands frequently. As runners have a rolling start, split times cannot be compared to individual 400 m performances. Internationally, the U.S. men's team has dominated the event, challenged by Jamaica in the 1950s and Great Britain in the 1990s.

Men's Outdoor World Record was set by the USA in Uniondale, NY on 22 July 1998 in a time of 2:54.20:

• Jerome Young (44.3) (14 August 1976)
• Antonio Pettigrew (43.2) (3 November 1967)
• Tyree Washington (43.4) (28 August 1976)
• Michael Johnson (43.3) (13 September 1967)

Men's Indoor World Record was set by the USA in Maebashi, Japan on 7 March 1999 in a time of 3:02.83:

• Andre Morris
• Dameon Johnson
• Deon Minor
• Milton Campbell

(Recently a better performance of 3:01.96 (USA) was annulled because no EPO analysis was performed.)

Women's Outdoor World Record was set by the USSR in Seoul, Korea on 1 October 1988 in a time of 3:15.17:

• Tatyana Ledovskaya (50.12) (21 May 1966) BLR
• Olga Nazarova II (47.82) (1 June 1965) RUS
• Mariya Pinigina (49.43) (9 February 1958) UKR
• Olga Bryzgina (47.80) (30 June 1963) UKR

Women's Indoor World Record was set by Russia in Glasgow, Scotland on 27 January 2006 in a time of 3:23.37:

• Yuliya Gushchina (51.76) (4 March 1983)
• Olga Kotlyarova (50.40) (12 April 1976)
• Olga Zaytseva (51.03) (10 November 1984)
• Olesya Krasnomovets (50.18) (8 July 1979)

[edit] Notable performances

• Herb McKenley (Jamaica) ran a 44.6 split in the Helsinki Olympic final.
• Ron Freeman (USA) ran a 43.2 s split in the Mexico Olympic final.
• Julius Sang (Kenya) ran a 43.6 s split in the Munich Olympic final.
• Michael Johnson (USA) ran a 42.9 s split in the Stuttgart World Championship final.
• Jarmila Kratochvilova ran a 47.8 split in the 1983 Helsinki World Championship final.
• Olga Nazarova and Olga Bryzgina (USSR) both ran a 47.8 split in the Seoul Olympic final.

Athletics events

Sprints: 60 m | 100 m | 200 m | 400 m; ".." Hurdles: 60 m hurdles | 100 m hurdles | 110 m hurdles | 400 m hurdles Middle distance: 800 m | 1500 m | 3000 m | steeplechase Long distance: 5,000 m | 10,000 m | half marathon | marathon | ultramarathon | multiday races | Cross country running Relays: 4 x 100 m, 4 x 400 m; ".." Race walking Throws: Discus | Hammer | Javelin | Shot put; ".." Jumps: High jump | Long jump | Pole vault | Triple jump Combination: Pentathlon | Heptathlon | Decathlon