4 × 100 metres relay

The finish at the Osaka 2007 world championship

The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race. A relay baton is carried by each runner and must be passed within a 20 m changeover box (usually marked by yellow lines) which extends 10 m on either side of each 100 m mark of the race. Another line is marked 10 m further back, marking the earliest point at which the outgoing runner may begin (giving up to 10 m of acceleration before entering the passing zone).

Transferring of the baton in this race is typically blind. The outgoing runner reaches a straight arm backwards when they enter the changeover box, or when the incoming runner makes a verbal signal. The outgoing runner does not look backwards, and it is the responsibility of the incoming runner to thrust the baton into the outstretched hand, and not let go until the outgoing runner takes hold of it. Runners on the first and third legs typically run on the inside of the lane with the baton in their right hand, while runners on the second and fourth legs take the baton in their left. Polished handovers can compensate for a lack of basic speed to some extent, and disqualification for dropping the baton or failing to transfer it within the box is common, even at the highest level.

The United States has historically dominated this event in the men's, being the first to run it under 38 seconds. Carl Lewis ran the anchor leg on five U.S relay teams that broke the World Record from 1983–92.

The current men's world record stands at 36.84 as set by the Jamaican team at the 2012 London Olympic games on 11 August 2012. The previous record was 37.04 seconds as set by the Jamaican team at the 2011 World Championships. The fastest electronically timed anchor leg run is 8.70 seconds by Asafa Powell in the 2008 Beijing Olympic final, though Bob Hayes was hand-timed as running between 8.5 and 8.9 seconds on a cinder track at the 1964 Tokyo Games.

In the women's event, the United States was considered by many to be a pretty strong team after years of East German domination, but failed to make it to the finals in the 2008 Olympic Summer Games. They dropped the baton during the transfer from Torri Edwards to Lauryn Williams during the semifinals. Evelyn Ashford ran on three consecutive Olympic gold medal winning teams 1984–92, and in 1984 final ran an anchor leg of 9.77 seconds, the fastest ever.

The women's world record stands at 40.82 seconds, set by the United States of America in 2012 at the London Olympics.

Olympic Games

Men

Olympics Team Time Silver Bronze 2012 Jamaica Nesta Carter (2) Michael Frater (2) Yohan Blake Usain Bolt (2) Kemar Bailey-Cole 36.84 WR United States Trell Kimmons Justin Gatlin Tyson Gay Ryan Bailey Jeff Demps Darvis Patton Trinidad and Tobago Keston Bledman Marc Burns Emmanuel Callender Richard Thompson 2008 Jamaica Nesta Carter Michael Frater Usain Bolt Asafa Powell Dwight Thomas 37.10 WR Trinidad and Tobago Keston Bledman Marc Burns Emmanuel Callender Richard Thompson Aaron Armstrong Japan Naoki Tsukahara Shingo Suetsugu Shinji Takahira Nobuharu Asahara 2004 Great Britain Jason Gardener Darren Campbell Marlon Devonish Mark Lewis-Francis 38.07 United States Shawn Crawford Justin Gatlin Coby Miller Maurice Greene Darvis Patton Nigeria Olusoji Fasuba Uchenna Emedolu Aaron Egbele Deji Aliu 2000 United States Jon Drummond Bernard Williams Brian Lewis Maurice Greene Kenneth Brokenburr Tim Montgomery 37.61 Brazil André da Silva Claudinei da Silva Vicente de Lima Édson Ribeiro Cláudio Roberto Souza Cuba José Ángel César Iván García Freddy Mayola Luis Alberto Pérez-Rionda 1996 Canada Robert Esmie Glenroy Gilbert Bruny Surin Donovan Bailey Carlton Chambers 37.69 CNR United States Jon Drummond Tim Harden Michael Marsh Dennis Mitchell Tim Montgomery Brazil Arnaldo da Silva Robson da Silva Édson Ribeiro André da Silva 1992 United States Michael Marsh Leroy Burrell Dennis Mitchell Carl Lewis (2) James Jett 37.40 WR Nigeria Oluyemi Kayode Chidi Imoh Olapade Adeniken Davidson Ezinwa Osmond Ezinwa Cuba Andrés Simón Joel Lamela Joel Isasi Jorge Aguilera 1988 Soviet Union Viktor Bryzhin Vladimir Krylov Vladimir Muravyov (2) Vitaliy Savin 38.19 Great Britain Elliot Bunney Linford Christie Mike McFarlane John Regis France Bruno Marie-Rose Max Morinière Gilles Quénéhervé Daniel Sangouma 1984 United States Sam Graddy Ron Brown Calvin Smith Carl Lewis 37.83 WR Jamaica Al Lawrence Greg Meghoo Don Quarrie Ray Stewart Canada Sterling Hinds Ben Johnson Tony Sharpe Desai Williams 1980 Soviet Union Vladimir Muravyov Nikolay Sidorov Andrey Prokofyev Aleksandr Aksinin 38.26 Poland Krzysztof Zwoliński Zenon Licznerski Leszek Dunecki Marian Woronin France Antoine Richard Pascal Barré Patrick Barré Hermann Panzo 1976 United States Harvey Glance Johnny Jones Millard Hampton Steve Riddick 38.33 East Germany Manfred Kokot Jörg Pfeifer Klaus-Dieter Kurrat Alexander Thieme Soviet Union Aleksandr Aksinin Nikolay Kolesnikov Juris Silovs Valeriy Borzov 1972 United States Larry Black Robert Taylor Gerald Tinker Eddie Hart 38.19 WR Soviet Union Aleksandr Kornelyuk Vladimir Lovetsky Juris Silovs Valeriy Borzov West Germany Jobst Hirscht Karlheinz Klotz Gerhard Wucherer Klaus Ehl 1968 United States Charles Greene Mel Pender Ronnie Ray Smith Jim Hines 38.24 WR Cuba Hermes Ramírez Juan Morales Pablo Montes Enrique Figuerola France Gérard Fenouil Jocelyn Delecour Claude Piquemal Roger Bambuck 1964 United States Paul Drayton Gerry Ashworth Richard Stebbins Robert Hayes 39.0 WR Poland Andrzej Zielinski Wieslaw Maniak Marian Foik Marian Dudziak France Paul Genevay Bernard Laidebeur Claude Piquemal Jocelyn Delecour 1960  Germany Bernd Cullmann Armin Hary Walter Mahlendorf Martin Lauer 39.5 EWR Soviet Union Gusman Kosanov Leonid Bartenev Yuriy Konovalov Edvin Ozolin Great Britain Peter Radford David Jones David Segal Nick Whitehead 1956 United States Ira Murchison Leamon King Thane Baker Bobby Morrow 39.5 WR Soviet Union Leonid Bartenev Yuriy Konovalov Vladimir Sukharev Boris Tokarev  Germany Heinz Fütterer Manfred Germar Lothar Knörzer Leonhard Pohl 1952 United States Dean Smith Harrison Dillard (2) Lindy Remigino Andy Stanfield 40.1 Soviet Union Boris Tokarev Levan Kalyayev Levan Sanadze Vladimir Sukharev Hungary László Zarándi Géza Varasdi György Csányi Béla Goldoványi 1948 United States Barney Ewell Lorenzo Wright Harrison Dillard Mel Patton 40.6 Great Britain Alastair McCorquodale John Gregory Ken Jones John Archer Italy Michele Tito Enrico Perucconi Carlo Monti Antonio Siddi 1936 United States Jesse Owens Ralph Metcalfe Foy Draper Frank Wykoff (3) 39.8 WR Italy Orazio Mariani Gianni Caldana Elio Ragni Tullio Gonnelli Germany Wilhelm Leichum Erich Borchmeyer Erwin Gillmeister Gerd Hornberger 1932 United States Bob Kiesel Emmett Toppino Hector Dyer Frank Wykoff (2) 40.0 WR Germany Helmut Körnig Fritx Hendrix Erich Borchmeyer Arthur Jonath Italy Giuseppe Castelli Ruggero Maregatti Gabriele Salviati Edgardo Toetti 1928 United States Frank Wykoff James Quinn Charles Borah Henry Russell 41.0 EWR Germany Georg Lammers Richard Corts Hubert Houben Helmut Körnig Great Britain Cyril Gill Edward Smouha Walter Rangeley Jack London 1924 United States Frank Hussey Louis Clarke Loren Murchison (2) Alfred LeConey 41.0 EWR Great Britain Harold Abrahams William Nichol Walter Rangeley Lancelot Royle Netherlands Jaap Boot Harry Broos Jan de Vries Rinus van den Berge 1920 United States Charles Paddock Jackson Scholz Loren Murchison Morris Kirksey 42.2 WR France Émile Ali-Khan René Lorain René Mourlon René Tirard Sweden Agne Holmström Sven Malm William Petersson Nils Sandström 1912 Great Britain David Jacobs Henry Macintosh Victor d'Arcy Willie Applegarth 42.4 Sweden Ivan Möller Charles Luther Ture Person Knut Lindberg Not awarded

Rank  Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 United States 15 3 0 18 2 Soviet Union 2 4 1 7 3 Great Britain 2 3 2 7 4 Jamaica 2 1 0 3 5 Canada 1 0 1 2 6  Germany 1 0 1 2 7 Germany 0 2 1 3 8 Poland 0 2 0 2 9 France 0 1 4 5 10 Italy 0 1 2 3 10 Cuba 0 1 2 3 12 Sweden 0 1 1 2 12 Brazil 0 1 1 2 12 Nigeria 0 1 1 2 12 Trinidad and Tobago 0 1 1 2 16 East Germany 0 1 0 1 17 Netherlands 0 0 1 1 17 Hungary 0 0 1 1 17 West Germany 0 0 1 1 17 Japan 0 0 1 1

Women

Olympics Team Final runners Other runners Time 2012 United States Tianna Madison Allyson Felix Bianca Knight Carmelita Jeter Jeneba Tarmoh (SF) Lauryn Williams (SF) 40.82 WR 2008 Russia Evgeniya Polyakova Aleksandra Fedoriva Yulia Gushchina Yuliya Chermoshanskaya 42.31 2004 Jamaica Aleen Bailey Veronica Campbell Tayna Lawrence Sherone Simpson Beverly McDonald 41.73 2000 Bahamas Savatheda Fynes Chandra Sturrup Pauline Davis-Thompson Debbie Ferguson Eldece Clarke-Lewis 41.95 1996 United States Chryste Gaines Gail Devers Inger Miller Gwen Torrence (2) Carlette Guidry 41.95 1992 United States Evelyn Ashford (3) Esther Jones Carlette Guidry Gwen Torrence Michelle Finn 42.11 1988 United States Alice Brown (2) Sheila Echols Florence Griffith-Joyner Evelyn Ashford (2) 41.98 1984 United States Alice Brown Jeanette Bolden Chandra Cheeseborough Evelyn Ashford 41.65 1980 East Germany Romy Müller Bärbel Wöckel (2) Ingrid Auerswald Marlies Göhr 41.60 WR 1976 East Germany Marlies Oelsner Renate Stecher Carla Bodendorf Bärbel Wöckel 42.55 OR 1972 West Germany Christiane Krause Ingrid Mickler-Becker Annegret Richter Heidemarie Rosendahl 42.81 WR 1968 United States Barbara Ferrell Margaret Bailes Mildrette Netter Wyomia Tyus 42.88 WR 1964 Poland Teresa Ciepły Irena Kirszenstein Halina Górecka Ewa Kłobukowska 43.6 WR 1960 United States Martha Hudson Lucinda Williams Barbara Jones Wilma Rudolph 44.5 1956 Australia Shirley Strickland de la Hunty Norma Croker Fleur Mellor Elizabeth Cuthbert 44.5 WR 1952 United States Mae Faggs Barbara Jones Janet Moreau Catherine Hardy 45.9 WR 1948 Netherlands Xenia Stad-de Jong Netty Witziers-Timmer Gerda van der Kade-Koudijs Fanny Blankers-Koen 47.5 1936 United States Harriet Bland Annette Rogers (2) Elizabeth Robinson Helen Stephens 46.9 1932 United States Mary Carew Evelyn Furtsch Annette Rogers Wilhelmina von Bremen 46.9 WR 1928 Canada Fanny Rosenfeld Ethel Smith Jane Bell Myrtle Cook 48.4 WR

Rank  Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 United States 10 2 2 14 2 East Germany 2 2 0 4 3 Germany 1 3 1 5 4 Canada 1 2 2 5 5 Jamaica 1 2 1 4 6 Australia 1 1 0 2 6 Bahamas 1 1 0 2 6 Russia 1 1 0 1 9 Poland 1 0 1 2 10 Netherlands 1 0 0 1 11 Great Britain 0 2 5 7 12 Soviet Union 0 1 3 4 13 Cuba 0 1 1 2 14  Unified Team 0 1 0 1 14 Belgium 0 1 0 1 16 Nigeria 0 0 2 2 17 France 0 0 1 1 17 Ukraine 0 0 1 1

World Championships in Athletics

Men

World Championships	Team	Final runners	Other runners	Time
2011	Jamaica	Nesta Carter Michael Frater (2) Yohan Blake Usain Bolt (2)	Dexter Lee	37.04 WR
2009	Jamaica	Steve Mullings Michael Frater Usain Bolt Asafa Powell	Dwight Thomas Lerone Clarke	37.31 CR
2007	United States	Darvis Patton Wallace Spearmon Tyson Gay LeRoy Dixon	Rodney Martin	37.78
2005	France	Ladji Doucouré Ronald Pognon Eddy De Lépine Lueyi Dovy	Oudere Kankarafou	38.08
2003	United States	John Capel Bernard Williams Darvis Patton Joshua J. Johnson		38.06
2001	South Africa	Morne Nagel Corne Du Plessis Lee-Roy Newton Matthew Quinn		38.471
1999	United States	Jon Drummond Tim Montgomery Brian Lewis Maurice Greene		37.59
1997	Canada	Robert Esmie (2) Glenroy Gilbert (2) Bruny Surin (2) Donovan Bailey (2)	Carlton Chambers	37.86
1995	Canada	Robert Esmie Glenroy Gilbert Bruny Surin Donovan Bailey		38.31
1993	United States	Jon Drummond Andre Cason (2) Dennis Mitchell (3) Leroy Burrell (2)		37.48
1991	United States	Andre Cason Leroy Burrell Dennis Mitchell (2) Carl Lewis (3)	Michael Marsh	37.50 WR
1987	United States	Lee McRae Lee McNeill Harvey Glance Carl Lewis (2)	Dennis Mitchell	37.90
1983	United States	Emmit King Willie Gault Calvin Smith Carl Lewis		37.86 WR

¹ The United States team of Mickey Grimes, Bernard Williams, Dennis Mitchell and Tim Montgomery originally won the 2001 championship in a time of 37.96, but were disqualified after Tim Montgomery admitting to drug use in 2005 as a result of the BALCO scandal.

Women

World Championships	Team	Final runners	Other runners	Time
2011	United States	Bianca Knight Allyson Felix (2) Marshevet Myers Carmelita Jeter (2)	Shalonda Solomon Alexandria Anderson	41.56
2009	Jamaica	Simone Facey Shelly Ann Fraser Aleen Bailey Kerron Stewart		42.06
2007	United States	Lauryn Williams (2) Allyson Felix Mikele Barber Torri Edwards	Carmelita Jeter Mechelle Lewis	41.98
2005	United States	Angela Daigle Muna Lee Me'Lisa Barber Lauryn Williams		41.78
2003	France	Patricia Girard-Léno Muriel Hurtis Sylviane Félix Christine Arron		41.78
2001	Germany	Melanie Paschke Gaby Rockmeier Birgit Rockmeier Marion Wagner		42.321
1999	Bahamas	Savatheda Fynes Chandra Sturrup Pauline Davis-Thompson Debbie Ferguson	Eldece Clarke-Lewis	41.92
1997	United States	Chryste Gaines (2) Marion Jones Inger Miller Gail Devers		41.47 CR
1995	United States	Celena Mondie-Milner Carlette Guidry-White Chryste Gaines Gwen Torrence	D'Andre Hill	42.12
1993	Russia	Olga Bogoslovskaya Galina Malchugina Natalya Pomoshchnikova-Voronova Irina Privalova	Marina Trandenkova	41.49 CR
1991	Jamaica	Dahlia Duhaney Juliet Cuthbert Beverly McDonald Merlene Ottey	Merlene Frazer	41.94
1987	United States	Alice Brown Diane Williams Florence Griffith-Joyner Pam Marshall		41.58 CR
1983	East Germany	Silke Gladisch-Möller Marita Koch Ingrid Auerswald-Lange Marlies Göhr		41.76

¹ The United States team of Kelli White, Chryste Gaines, Inger Miller, and Marion Jones originally won the 2001 championship in a time of 41.71, but were disqualified as a result of Kelli White admitting to steroid use in 2004.

See also

• Men's 4 x 100 metres relay world record progression
• Italy national relays team at the international athletics championships