4 × 200 metres relay explained

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

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

See also: Men's 4 x 200 metres relay world record progression. 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

See also: List of European records in athletics.

• Men Italy: 1:21.10 (Stefano Tilli, Carlo Simionato, Giovanni Bongiorni, Pietro Mennea), Cagliari 29 September 1983^[3]
• Women East Germany: 1:28.15 (Marlies Göhr, Romy Schneider-Müller, Bärbel Eckert-Wöckel, Marita Koch, Jena 9 August 1980

All-time top 25

Men

• Updated March 2020.^[4]

Rank	Time	Team	Nation	Date	Place	Ref
1	1:18.63	Nickel Ashmeade, Warren Weir, Jermaine Brown, Yohan Blake		24 May 2014	Nassau	^[5]
2	1:18.68	Santa Monica Track Club Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard, Carl Lewis		17 April 1994	Walnut	^[6]
3	1:19.10	World All Stars Jon Drummond Dennis Mitchell Bryan Bridgewater John Regis		17 April 1994	Walnut	^[7]
4	1:19.11	Santa Monica Track Club Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard, Carl Lewis		25 April 1992	Philadelphia	^[8]
5	1:19.20	Gavin Smellie, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown		2 April 2016	Gainesville	^[9]
6	1:19.38	Santa Monica Track Club Danny Everett, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard, Carl Lewis		23 August 1989	Koblenz	^[10]
7	1:19.39	Jon Drummond, Shawn Crawford, Bernard Williams, Maurice Greene		28 April 2001	Philadelphia	^[11]
8	1:19.42	Gavin Smellie, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown		23 April 2017	Nassau	^[12]
9	1:19.45	Santa Monica Track Club Joe DeLoach, Leroy Burrell, Carl Lewis, Floyd Heard		27 April 1991	Philadelphia	^[13]
10	1:19.47	Kenny Brokenburr, Alvin Harrison, Maurice Greene, Michael Johnson		24 April 1999	Philadelphia	^[14]
11	1:19.62	Shawn Crawford, Mickey Grimes, Darvis Patton, Justin Gatlin		24 April 2004	Philadelphia	^[15]
12	1:19.67	Texas Christian University Lindel Frater Ricardo Williams Darvis Patton Kim Collins		29 April 2000	Philadelphia	^[16]
13	1:19.71	Texas Christian University Lindel Frater Steve Slowly Darvis Patton Kim Collins		27 April 2001	Philadelphia	^[17]
14	1:19.73	Christopher Belcher, Bryce Robinson, Vernon Norwood, Remontay McClain		12 May 2019	Yokohama	^[18]
15	1:19.85	Nike International Maurice Greene, Allen Johnson, Alvin Harrison, Michael Johnson		25 April 1998	Philadelphia	^[19]
16	1:19.88	Austin All-Stars Obadele Thompson Rodrigue Nordin Vincent Henderson Rohsaan Griffin		3 April 1999	Austin	^[20]
		Noah Lyles, Jarrion Lawson, Isiah Young, Ameer Webb		23 April 2017	Nassau	^[21]
18	1:19.91	Hudson Smith International Curtis Perry Jon Drummond Ato Boldon Maurice Greene		3 April 1999	Austin	^[22]
		Bolade Ajomale, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown		1 April 2017	Gainesville	^[23]
20	1:19.92	Nike International Kenny Brokenburr, Bryan Howard, Rohsaan Griffin, Maurice Greene		29 April 2000	Philadelphia	^[24]
21	1:19.99	Texas Christian University Lindel Frater Steve Slowly Darvis Patton Kim Collins		28 April 2001	Philadelphia	^[25]
22	1:20.07	University of Technology Jamaica Dantago Gurirab Julian Forte Andrew Fisher Ronald Levy		26 April 2014	Philadelphia	^[26]
23	1:20.12	Christopher Belcher, Bryce Robinson, Vernon Norwood, Remontay McClain		12 May 2019	Yokohama	^[27]
24	1:20.15	Rasheed Dwyer, Jermaine Brown, Jason Livermore, Warren Weir		24 May 2014	Nassau	^[28]
25	1:20.17	Gavin Smellie, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, Andre De Grasse		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

• 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		30 March 2024	Austin	^[30]
2	1:27.46	LaTasha Jenkins LaTasha Colander-Richardson Nanceen Perry Marion Jones		29 April 2000	Philadelphia	^[31]
3	1:28.05	University of Texas Rhasidat Adeleke Julien Alfred Kevona Davis Lanae Thomas		1 April 2023	Austin	^[32]
4	1:28.15	Marlies Göhr Romy Schneider-Müller Bärbel Eckert-Wöckel Marita Koch		9 August 1980	Jena
5	1:28.77			1 April 2017	Gainesville	^[33]
		Pure Athletics Kelly Ann Baptiste Shakima Wimbley Tori Bowie Samantha Henry-Robinson		31 March 2018	Gainesville	^[34]
7	1:28.78	University of Oregon Makenzie Dunmore, Hannah Cunliffe, Deajah Stevens, Ariana Washington		1 April 2017	Gainesville	^[35]
8	1:29.03	University of Texas Rhasidat Adeleke Kynnedy Flannel Julien Alfred Kevona Davis		26 March 2022	Austin	^[36]
9	1:29.04	Jura Levy, Shericka Jackson, Shashalee Forbes, Elaine Thompson		22 April 2017	Nassau	^[37]
10	1:29.25	Pure Athletics Kelly Ann Baptiste Shakima Wimbley Desirèe Henry Shaunae Miller-Uibo		30 March 2019	Gainesville	^[38]
11	1:29.42	Texas A&M University Jeneba Tarmoh, Gabby Mayo, Jessica Beard, Porscha Lucas		24 April 2010	Philadelphia	^[39]
12	1:29.45	Shalonda Solomon, Tawanna Meadows, Bianca Knight, Kimberlyn Duncan		25 May 2014	Nassau	^[40]
13	1:29.61	Desiree Henry, Anyika Onuora, Bianca Williams, Asha Philip		25 May 2014	Nassau	^[41]
14	1:29.64	Nike International Tameka Roberts, Inger Miller, Nicole Green, Marion Jones		25 April 1998	Philadelphia	^[42]
15	1:29.71	Pure Athletics Hanna-Maari Latvala Shaunae Miller Kelly Ann Baptiste Tori Bowie		1 April 2017	Gainesville	^[43]
16	1:29.78	Louisiana State University Nadia Davy Monique Hall Stephanie Durst Muna Lee		26 April 2003	Philadelphia	^[44]
17	1:29.86	Empire Athletics Shalonda Solomon, Francena McCorory, Charonda Williams, Felicia Brown		1 April 2017	Gainesville	^[45]
18	1:29.89	Texas A&M University Diamond Spaulding Brenessa Thompson Jaevin Reed Danyel White		1 April 2017	Austin	^[46]
19	1:29.96	Texas A&M University LaKeidra Stewart, Ashley Collier, Jessica Beard, Dominique Duncan		30 April 2011	Philadelphia	^[47]
20	1:29.98	Texas A&M University Ashton Purvis, Ashley Collier, Olivia Ekpone, Kamaria Brown		27 April 2013	Philadelphia	^[48]
21	1:30.01	Angela Daigle, Debbie Dunn, Julian Clay, Shaunta Pelham		24 April 2004	Philadelphia	^[49]
		Louisiana State University Cassandra Tate Semoy Hackett Rebecca Alexander Kimberlyn Duncan		31 March 2012	Austin	^[50]
23	1:30.04	Simone Facey, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Anneisha McLaughlin, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce		25 May 2014	Nassau	^[51]
24	1:30.07	Louisiana State University Nadia Davy Monique Hall Stephanie Durst Muna Lee		5 April 2003	Austin	^[52]
25	1:30.20	Nike International Celena Mondie-Milner, Nicole Green, Chryste Gaines, Inger Miller		26 April 1997	Philadelphia	^[53]

External links

• IAAF list of 4x200-metres-relay records in XML

Notes and References

1. News: New relay world record for Jamaica . BBC Sport .
2. News: Relay Team Comes Together In Record Time. Washington Post. 30 April 2000. 27 February 2020.
3. Web site: Area Outdoor Records - Men - EUROPE. iaaf.org. 4 July 2012.
4. Web site: All-time men's best 4 × 200m Relay. IAAF. 8 March 2020. 8 March 2020.
5. News: Jamaica men break 4x200 metre relay record at IAAF World Relays in Nassau - and without Usain Bolt. The Daily Telegraph. Simon Hart. 25 May 2014. 14 April 2017.
6. News: World Record Relay: Santa Monica 1:18.68. Track and Field News. June 1994. 28 February 2020. 28 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200228131557/http://www.mtsacrelays.com/archives/TFN/1994.htm. dead.
7. News: World Record Relay: Santa Monica 1:18.68. Track and Field News. June 1994. 28 February 2020. 28 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200228131557/http://www.mtsacrelays.com/archives/TFN/1994.htm. dead.
8. News: Carl & Co. are like a Broken Record. Sports Illustrated. 4 May 1992. 28 February 2020.
9. Web site: De Grasse goes sub-10 in Florida. IAAF. 3 April 2016. 28 February 2020.
10. Web site: Lewis Leads 800 Relay Team to World Record. Los Angeles Times. 24 August 1989. 28 February 2020.
11. Web site: With lead on anchor leg, Farmer pulls hamstring. Baltimore Sun. 29 April 2001. 28 February 2020.
12. Web site: Men's 4x200m final. IAAF. 23 April 2017. 28 February 2020. 28 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200228131553/https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/iaafbtc-world-relays-bahamas-2017-5978/news/report/men/4x200-metres-relay/final. dead.
13. Web site: Men's 4x200m final. UPI. 27 April 1991. 28 February 2020.
14. Web site: IAAF World Outdoor Lists 1999. IAAF. 28 August 2009. 28 February 2020. 15 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200915075017/https://www.worldathletics.org/download/download?filename=0b6c96d3-aa10-4715-860d-3b641f039441.pdf&urlSlug=1999-top-list-senior-pdf-format. dead.
15. Web site: 112,701 three-day record spectator attendance at Penn Relays. IAAF. 25 April 2004. 28 February 2020.
16. Web site: U.S. men also strong at Penn Relays. ESPN. 29 April 2000. 28 February 2020.
17. Web site: Horned Frogs Off To Fast Start At Penn Relays. TCU. 27 April 2001. 28 February 2020.
18. News: 4×200m Relay Round 1 Heats Results. IAAF. 12 May 2019. 17 May 2019.
19. News: Nike team sets relay record. Tampa Bay Times. 26 April 1998. 28 February 2020.
20. News: Texas Relays - Longhorns Dominate. New York Times. 4 April 1999. 28 February 2020.
21. Web site: Men's 4x200m final. IAAF. 23 April 2017. 28 February 2020. 28 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200228131553/https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-relays/iaafbtc-world-relays-bahamas-2017-5978/news/report/men/4x200-metres-relay/final. dead.
22. News: Texas Relays - Longhorns Dominate. New York Times. 4 April 1999. 28 February 2020.
23. News: 2017 Pepsi Florida Relays. Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. 28 February 2020.
24. News: U.S. Teams Look Sharp at Penn Relays. Los Angeles Times. 30 April 2000. 28 February 2020.
25. Web site: Johnson says farewell in style at Penn Relays. 28 April 2001. IAAF. 28 February 2020.
26. Web site: 2014 College Men's 4x200 Championship of America. 26 April 2014. Penn Relays. 28 February 2020.
27. News: 4×200m Relay Results. IAAF. 12 May 2019. 21 May 2019.
28. News: 4×200m Metres Relay Result. IAAF. 24 May 2014. 28 February 2020.
29. Web site: All-time women's best 4 × 200m Relay. World Athletics. 9 April 2024.
30. Web site: Women's 4×200m Relay Results. World Athletics. 9 April 2024.
31. News: Relay Team Comes Together In Record Time. Washington Post. 30 April 2000. 27 February 2020.
32. News: Texas Relays notebook: Longhorns set meet record in 400-meter relay. statesman.com. Rick Cantu. Danny Davis. 1 April 2023. 3 April 2023.
33. Web site: 2017 Pepsi Florida Relays. Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. 27 February 2020.
34. Web site: 2018 Pepsi Florida Relays. Delta Timing. 31 March 2018. 27 February 2020.
35. Web site: 2017 Pepsi Florida Relays. Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. 27 February 2020.
36. Web site: 2022 Texas Relays Results. texassports.com. 26 March 2022. 20 April 2022.
37. Web site: 4×200m Relay Results. IAAF. 22 April 2017. 23 April 2017.
38. News: Florida Relays — Comebacking De Grasse Powers Canada. deltatiming.com. 30 March 2019. 19 April 2019.
39. News: Women's 4 x 200 Relay Championship. Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 24 April 2010. 27 February 2020.
40. News: 4x200 Metres Relay Result. worldathletics. 25 May 2014. 27 February 2020.
41. News: 4x200 Metres Relay Result. worldathletics. 25 May 2014. 27 February 2020.
42. News: Nike team sets relay record. Tampa Bay Times. 26 April 1998. 28 February 2020.
43. Web site: 2017 Pepsi Florida Relays. Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. 27 February 2020.
44. Web site: montgomery-off-to-quick-start-at-penn-relays. IAAF. 27 April 2003. 27 February 2020.
45. Web site: 2017 Pepsi Florida Relays. Delta Timing. 1 April 2017. 27 February 2020.
46. Web site: 90th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 1 April 2017. 27 February 2020.
47. Web site: A&M wins women's 4x2. Texas A&M. 30 April 2011. 27 February 2020.
48. Web site: Aggies dominate final day of Penn Relay Carnival. Texas A&M. 27 April 2013. 28 February 2020.
49. Web site: Penn Relays Summaries. New York Times. 25 April 2004. 28 February 2020.
50. Web site: 2012 Texas Relays. Flotrack. 31 March 2012. 28 February 2020.
51. Web site: Women's 4×200m Relay Results. IAAF. 25 May 2014. 26 May 2014.
52. Web site: Early season sprinting highlights Texas Relays. 6 April 2003. IAAF. 28 February 2020.
53. Web site: Penn Relay Results. 27 April 1997. Courier-Post from Camden, NJ. 28 February 2020.