Sprint medley relay

The sprint medley relay (SMR) is a track and field event in which teams of four athletes compete over sprinting distances as part of a relay race. Unlike most track relays, each member of the team runs a different distance. The sprint medley is rather uncommon, run most frequently at non-championship track meets which are focused on relays. Since these are not championship events, specific criteria for the event are not in common rulebooks. This leads to localized variations.

Sprint medley usually consists of two shorter sprints, followed by two single longer events. Usual conduct for safety is to run the shorter events first, in lanes to allow faster moving sprinters to exchange without interference. And faster moving athletes will have a more consistent tempo to prepare a handoff than with longer sprinters who are more prone to decelerate inconsistently as they finish their leg. By running two shorter sprints, mathematically the events can be conducted over an even number of laps.

The 2-2-4-8 sprint medley relay was held at the 1908 Summer Olympics, with a winning time of 3:29.4.[1]

Variations

[edit]

Common lengths of the race could be 800 meters or 1600 meters. The 800 meters variation usually would be two 100 meters legs, a 200 meters leg and a 400 meters leg. The 800 meter version is sometimes referred to as the Super Sprint Medley Relay to distinguish it from the longer version. More commonly, the 800 meters version is distinguished by abbreviated leg numbers (1-1-2-4). The events are usually not referred to by their cumulative distance as that would tend to indicate 4 legs of the same distance. The 1600 meters variation usually would be two 200 meters legs, a 400 meters leg and an 800 meters leg. It would be named numerically (2-2-4-8).[2] Some have done a 1000 meters variation, which does not fit into an even number of laps, running a 100 meters leg, a 200 meters leg, a 300 meters leg and a 400 meters leg. The (1-2-3-4) format is referred to as the Swedish relay. At some youth level meets, where the handoff is not as refined, the 400 meters leg has been conducted first. This is consistent with a related event, the Distance medley relay which starts with a longer race. At a higher level of athlete, this would put handoffs for short sprinting legs into theoretical common passing zones unless the track is specifically marked with the 4 turn stagger required to run a 4 × 200 meters relay entirely in lanes. Short sprinters moving around in a common passing zone at the last moment is a potentially chaotic situation.

Conduct

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The descriptions below describe how to conduct the variations of the event using commonly available markings. It is assumed 4 turn staggers are not common, and even if they are marked, appropriate passing zones are not marked for the (1-1-2-4) version using either a 4 turn or 3 turn stagger. So these descriptions use a standard 2 turn stagger, causing the athletes to break to the inside following the exchange at the end of the first lap. Colors mentioned are specific only if the track is marked following rulebook recommendations. Since they are only recommendations in the rulebook, some tracks choose to paint their lines using localized color schemes.

1-1-2-4

[edit]

The start and first two legs are conducted identical to a 4 × 100 meters relay, using the same passing zones, these would be colored yellow. The third leg of 200 meters would skip the third 4x100 zone and handoff at the blue 4 × 400 meters relay passing zone. Because the incoming leg is running 200 meters, the outgoing 400 meters leg is allowed to use the acceleration zone before the pass.[3] After receiving the baton, the final leg would break to the inside as in a 4x400 race on a 2 turn stagger.

2-1-1-4

[edit]

Some might choose to run the 200 meter leg first, inverting the skipped zone on the first lap from the third zone to the first zone.

2-2-4-8

[edit]

The race would start the same as a 4x400 on the white/blue/white lines, but since the first two athletes are doing 200 meters, would skip the first and third exchange zones used in the 4x100, only using the yellow second zone halfway around the track. On an indoor 200 meter track, this would be conducted in exactly the same fashion as an outdoor 4x400, with the runners breaking to the inside following the first lap, except the athletes would be allowed to use the acceleration zone. On an outdoor track, the third runner would exchange in the standard blue 4x400 zone and would then break to run in lane one at the green break line at the beginning of the back straight (500m into the race). The final exchange would also be like a 4x400 exchange, but the final runner would do an 800 meters (This race is sometimes run in reverse order, beginning with the 800 meter leg, followed by the 400 leg, and then finishing with the two 200 meter legs).

All-time top 25

[edit]

Men (1-1-2-4)

[edit]
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref
1

Women (1-1-2-4)

[edit]
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref
1 1:35.20 Destinee Brown
Aaliyah Brown
Kimberlyn Duncan
Raevyn Rogers
 United States 28 April 2018 Philadelphia [4]
2 1:35.59 Morolake Akinosun
English Gardner
Dezerea Bryant
Miki Barber
 United States 29 April 2017 Philadelphia [5]
3 1:36.05 University of Nebraska
Rhonda Blanford
Angie Thacker
Janet Burke
Merlene Ottey

 United States
 United States
 Jamaica
 Jamaica
9 April 1983 Austin [6]
4 1:36.64 Atoms TC
Jennifer Inniss
Helena Nelson
Grace Jackson
Diane Dixon

 Guyana
 United States
 Jamaica
 United States
5 April 1986 Tempe [7]
5 1:36.67 Audra Segree
Natasha Morrison
Anastasia Le-Roy
Verone Chambers
 Jamaica 29 April 2017 Philadelphia [5]
6 1:36.70 University of Tennessee
Sharrieffa Barksdale
Cathy Rattray
Benita Fitzgerald
Delisa Walton

 United States
 Jamaica
 United States
 United States
29 May 1981 Austin [8]
7 1:36.79 Wilt's AC
Brenda Morehead
Jeanette Bolden
Alice Brown
Arlise Emerson
 United States 20 June 1982 Knoxville [9]
8 1:36.80 Los Angeles TC
Pam Page
Rhonda Blanford
Merlene Ottey
Latanya Sheffield

 United States
 United States
 Jamaica
 United States
16 June 1985 Indianapolis [10]
9 1:36.81 Louisiana State University
Tananjalyn Stanley
Cinnamon Sheffield
Esther Jones
Dawn Sowell
 United States 8 April 1989 Austin
10 1:37.06 University of Texas
Carlette Guidry
Tamela Saldana
Leslie Hardison
Barbara Flowers
 United States 8 April 1989 Austin
11 1:37.11 University of Texas
Charletta Gaines
Carlette Guidry
Mary Bolden
Barbara Flowers
 United States 8 April 1988 Austin
12 1:37.22 Lekeisha Lawson
Tawanna Meadows
Kim Duncan
Autumne Franklin
 United States 29 April 2017 Philadelphia [5]
13 1:37.29 California State-Los Angeles
Valerie Milan
Yolanda Rich
Cynthia Mills
Rosalyn Bryant
 United States 26 May 1978 Knoxville [11]
14 1:37.32 Arizona State University
Tesra Bester
LaShawn Simmons
Shanequa Campbell
Maicel Malone
 United States 6 April 1991 Tempe
15 1:37.40 Ali TC
Adrienne Lair
Rosalyn Bryant
Jackie Pusey
Denean Howard

 United States
 United States
 Jamaica
 United States
15 June 1980 Walnut
16 1:37.41 UCLA
Missy Jerald
Jeanette Bolden
Florence Griffith
Sherri Howard
 United States 29 May 1981 Austin
17 1:37.42 Khalifa St. Fort
Reyare Thomas
Kai Selvon
Sparkle McKnight
 Trinidad and Tobago 28 April 2018 Philadelphia [4]
18 1:37.46 Puma Energizer
Pam Page
Sandra Howard
Lisa Hopkins
Rosalyn Bryant
 United States 19 June 1983 Indianapolis
19 1:37.57 LA Naturite
T Howard
Denean Howard
Ada Hay
Dunlap
 United States 20 June 1982 Knoxville
20 1:37.64 Puma TC
Janet Burke
Wendy Vereen
Randy Givens
Juliet Cuthbert

 Jamaica
 United States
 United States
 Jamaica
16 June 1985 Indianapolis [12]
21 1:37.86 LA Naturite
Ada Hay
Jennifer Inniss
Yolanda Rich
Jackie Pusey

 United States
 Guyana
 United States
 Jamaica
21 June 1981 Sacramento
22 1:37.87 Dezerea Bryant
Aaliyah Brown
Destiny Carter
Raevyn Rogers
 United States 27 April 2019 Philadelphia [13]
23 1:37.88 Atoms TC
Serina Henry
Helena Nelson
Grace Jackson
Diane Dixon

 United States
 United States
 Jamaica
 United States
7 April 1984 Tempe
24 1:37.95 Louisiana State University
Kim Carson
Cheryl Taplin
Heather Van Norman
Youlanda Warren
 United States 3 April 1993 Austin
25 1:37.96 Ms International



Alice Jackson

 
 
 
 
19 June 1983 Indianapolis

Men (2-2-4-8)

[edit]
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref
1 3:10.76 Santa Monica Track Club
Carl Lewis
Ferran Tyler
Benny Hollis
Johnny Gray
 United States 6 April 1985 Tempe
2 3:11.08 Athletic Attic
Mel Lattany
Larry Myricks
Walter McCoy
James Mays
 United States 2 April 1983 Tempe
3 3:11.45 Beejay Lee
Wallace Spearmon
Bryshon Nellum
Donavan Brazier
 United States 29 April 2017 Philadelphia [14]
4 3:11.72 Santa Monica Track Club
Mark McNeil
Carl Lewis
Anthony Ketchum
Johnny Gray
 United States 7 April 1984 Tempe
5 3:11.88 Bud Light
Mel Lattany
Larry Myricks
Walter McCoy
James Mays
 United States 7 April 1984 Tempe
6 3:11.94 Texas A&M
Fred Kerley
Elijah Morrow
Mylik Kerley
Devin Dixon
 United States 28 April 2017 Baton Rouge
7 3:12.00 Nike Atlantic Coast
Tod Long
Neil DeSilva
Calvin Davis
Sean Maye

 United States
 Trinidad
 United States
 United States
5 April 1996 Austin
8 3:12.02 Tiger International
Bill Collins
Fred Taylor
Mark Rowe
Mike Solomon

 United States
 United States
 United States
 Trinidad
2 April 1983 Tempe
9 3:12.10 USA Red
Leo Bookman
Karron Conwright
Mitch Potter
Khadevis Robinson
 United States 30 April 2005 Philadelphia
10 3:12.13 Arkansas
Chandun O'Neal
Melvin Lister
Sam Glover
James Karanu

 United States
 United States
 United States
 Kenya
7 April 2000 Austin
11 3:12.17 Auburn University
Sanjay Ayre
Coby Miller
Avard Moncur
Aaron Richberg

 Jamaica
 United States
 Bahamas
 United States
7 April 2000 Austin
12 3:12.19 University of Alabama
LeMar Smith
Calvin Smith
Terry Menefee
William Wuyke

 United States
 United States
 United States
 Venezuela
30 April 1983 Des Moines
13 3:12.25 Louisiana State University
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake
Jaron Flournoy
Michael Cherry
Blair Henderson

 Great Britain
 United States
 United States
 United States
28 April 2017 Baton Rouge
14 3:12.30 Abilene Christian University
Joseph Styles
Kevin Dilworth
Robert Guy
Savieri Ngidhi

 Bahamas
 United States
 Trinidad
 Zimbabwe
7 April 1995 Austin
15 3:12.75 Santa Monica Track Club
Floyd Heard
Carl Lewis
LaMont Smith
Johnny Gray
 United States 20 April 1997 Walnut
16 3:12.77 Rice University
Terry Jones
Vince Courville
John Bell
Gawain Guy

 United States
 United States
 United States
 Jamaica
30 April 1983 Des Moines
17 3:12.88 Abilene Christian University
Joe Styles
Kevin Dilworth
Robert Guy
Savieri Ngidhi

 United States
 United States
 Trinidad
 Zimbabwe
28 April 1995 Philadelphia
18 3:13.00 Baylor University
Kermit Ward
Michael Johnson
Raymond Pierre
Terril Davis
 United States 8 April 1989 Austin
19 3:13.06 Texas Tech
Michael Mathieu
Tyree Gailes
Andrae Williams
Jonathan Johnson

 Bahamas
 United States
 Bahamas
 United States
8 April 2005 Austin
20 3:13.12 Remontay McLain
Markesh Woodson
Reggie Wyatt
Casimir Loxsom
 United States 29 April 2017 Philadelphia [14]
Mississippi State
Rodrigo Rocha
Philip Smith
Alfred Larry
Brandon McBride

 Brazil
 Jamaica
 United States
 Canada
2 April 2016 Gainesville
22 3:13.21 University of Florida
Rickey Harris
Aaron Armstrong
Geno White
Moise Joseph

 United States
 Trinidad
 United States
 Haiti
27 April 2001 Philadelphia
23 3:13.22 Auburn University
Sanjay Ayre
Coby Miller
Avard Moncur
Aaron Richberg

 Jamaica
 United States
 Bahamas
 United States
28 April 2000 Philadelphia
24 3:13.28 University of Tennessee
Donelle Dunning
Shane Lacy
Marwin Kline
Jose Parrilla
 United States April 1994 Philadelphia
25 3:13.31 University of Texas
Jason Leach
Earle Laing
John Patterson
Pablo Squella

 United States
 Jamaica
 United States
 Chile
4 April 1986 Austin

Women (2-2-4-8)

[edit]
  • Updated April 2023.
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref
1 3:34.56 Sherri-Ann Brooks
Rosemarie Whyte
Moya Thompson
Kenia Sinclair
 Jamaica 25 April 2009 Philadelphia
2 3:34.64 Simone Facey
Kerron Stewart
Melaine Walker
Kenia Sinclair
 Jamaica 30 April 2011 Philadelphia
3 3:35.37 Schillonie Calvert
Kerron Stewart
Melaine Walker
Kenia Sinclair
 Jamaica 24 April 2010 Philadelphia
4 3:36.10 University of Texas
Julien Alfred
Rhasidat Adeleke
Kennedy Simon
Valery Tobias

 Saint Lucia
 Ireland
 United States
 United States
31 March 2023 Austin [15]
5 3:37.16 Rachelle Smith
Lauryn Williams
Monica Hargrove
Hazel Clark
 United States 29 April 2006 Philadelphia
6 3:37.37 Anna Geflikh
Daria Safonova
Antonia Krivoshapha
Maria Savinova
 Russia 25 April 2009 Philadelphia
7 3:37.42 Allyson Felix
Kia Davis
Debbie Dunn
Hazel Clark
 United States 30 April 2005 Philadelphia
8 3:37.61 Nadine Palmer
Aleen Bailey
Sonita Sutherland
Kenia Sinclair
 Jamaica 26 April 2008 Philadelphia
9 3:37.62 Tom Jones All-Stars
Tiffany Ross
4 April 2009 Gainesville
10 3:37.81 Porscha Lucas
Lashaunte’a Moore
Sheena Tosta
Phoebe Wright
 United States 30 April 2011 Philadelphia
11 3:37.87 Juliet Campbell
Novlene Williams
Ronetta Smith
Kenia Sinclair
 Jamaica 30 April 2005 Philadelphia
12 3:37.94 Alexandria Anderson
Charonda Williams
Moushaumi Robinson
Ajeé Wilson
 United States 26 April 2014 Philadelphia
13 3:38.36 Rachelle Smith
Ebonie Floyd
Debbie Dunn
Hazel Clark
 United States 25 April 2009 Philadelphia
14 3:38.41 Natasha Morrison
Anastasia Le-Roy
Patricia Hall
Natoya Goule
 Jamaica 26 April 2014 Philadelphia
15 3:38.53 Natasha Hastings
Dee Dee Trotter
Sheena Tosta
Alysia Johnson
 United States 24 April 2010 Philadelphia
16 3:38.89 Rachelle Smith
Miki Barber
Monica Hargrove
Hazel Clark
 United States 28 April 2007 Philadelphia
17 3:38.93 Texas A&M University
Laila Owens
Charokee Young
Jaevin Reed
Bailey Goggans
 United States 25 March 2022 Austin [16]
18 3:38.95 University of Texas
Julien Alfred
Rhasidat Adeleke
Kennedy Simon
Brooke Jaworski
 Saint Lucia
 Ireland
 United States
 United States
25 March 2022 Austin [17]
19 3:39.04 Texas A&M
Diamond Spaulding
Brenessa Thompson
Jaevin Reed
Jazmine Fray

 United States
 Guyana
 United States
 Jamaica
27 April 2017 Baton Rouge
20 3:39.05 Oregon
Makenzie Dunmore
Deajah Stevens
Hannah Waller
Raevyn Rogers
 United States 27 April 2017 Philadelphia
21 3:39.07 Juanita Broaddus
Natalie Knight
Miriam Barnes
Alysia Johnson
 United States 25 April 2009 Philadelphia
22 3:39.16 World All-Stars
Lavern Jones
Sherry Fletcher
Cydonie Mothercill
Mirian Barnett

 US Virgin Islands
 Grenada
 Cayman Islands
 Guyana
26 April 2008 Philadelphia
23 3:39.55 Rachelle Boone-Smith
Ebony Collins
Nicole Leach
Anna Willard
 United States 24 April 2010 Philadelphia
24 3:39.82 Vicky Barr
Nicola Sanders
Chistine Ohuruogu
Jemma Simpson
 Great Britain 24 April 2010 Philadelphia
25 3:40.34 Kia Davis
Amandi Rhett
Debbie Dunn
Treniere Clement
 United States 29 April 2006 Philadelphia

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1908 Olympic Games London, Great Britain - Men's 1600 m Medley Relay". www.sport-olympic.gr. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ a b Bob Ramsak (29 April 2018). "Women's sprint medley world best highlight's 124th Penn Relays". IAAF. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Sprint Medley Results". pennrelaysonline.com. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Track Newsletter, 14 April 1983" (PDF).
  7. ^ "Track Newsletter, 10 April 1986" (PDF).
  8. ^ "Track Newsletter, 5 June 1981" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Track Newsletter, 1 July 1982" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Track Newsletter, 27 June 1985" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Track Newsletter, 27 June 1985" (PDF).
  12. ^ "Track Newsletter, 27 June 1985" (PDF).
  13. ^ "Women's Sprint Medley Relay Result". pennrelaysonline.com. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Sprint Medley Results". pennrelaysonline.com. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  15. ^ Rick Cantu; Danny Davis (1 April 2023). "Texas Relays notebook: Longhorns set meet record in 400-meter relay". statesman.com. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  16. ^ "2022 Texas Relays Results" (PDF). texassports.com. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  17. ^ "2022 Texas Relays Results" (PDF). texassports.com. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.