17 APR 2015, General News
Greatest 4x400m hits and splits
– IAAF/BTC World Relays, Bahamas 2015Michael Johnson in the 4x400m at the 1993 IAAF World
Championships in Stuttgart (Getty Images) © CopyrightIs there any athletics follower who doesn’t enjoy a good 4x400m relay final?
The race often comes at the very end of the meeting, when all the hard work has been done and fans are feeling a little sad that everything has come to an end. It won’t be long before everyone packs up to go home, so it is the last chance to see something special on the track.
More often than not, magic is delivered.
The same will hopefully ring true at the
IAAF/BTC World Relays, Bahamas 2015 in two weeks’ time, where both 4x400m finals will be held on the second day with the men’s event being the final one on the programme.
There is the prospect of the star of the meeting making an exciting encore. Alberto Juantorena did it in the 70s, Flo-Jo did it in the 80s, Michael Johnson did it in the 90s, Cathy Freeman did it in 2000 and even Usain Bolt did it as a junior.
Another special feature of the 4x400m are the runners who are able to reach a new level in the context of a relay. Chris Brown has been almost a second quicker in a relay than he has been from blocks, so it was heart-warming to see him claim an Olympic title along with the other Bahamian ‘Golden Knights’ at London 2012.
Then there are those spectacular moments when an athlete digs deeper than ever to help their team. One such example is the women’s 4x400m at the 1969 European Championships, when Lillian Board caught Collette Besson with the last movement of her final stride to take gold for Britain.
Forty-five years later at the same championships, Floria Guei ran a similarly miraculous anchor which this time won gold for France. Both races (1969, 2014) can be found on YouTube and the final result still seems unlikely every time you watch.
Two more relay legends are Herb McKenley at the 1952 Olympics and IAAF Council member Irena Szewinska at the 1974 European Championships. McKenley came from far back to enable a Jamaican defeat of the United States in Helsinki. Szewinska’s effort fell short of a medal for Poland in Rome, but it was clear she’d done something special. She was reliably timed at 48.5 for her leg when the individual world record stood (to her) at 49.9.
To make a crude comparison, that’s the equivalent to a woman clocking a sub-47-second relay leg in 2015. Hers was a performance ahead of its time, as was McKenley’s 44.6 from 63 years ago.
Whenever splits are revealed, it shows how and where races and records were won and lost; a list of four numbers per team which set the statistical seal on a week or so of track and field action.
A great deal of time has been spent requesting, tabulating and taking these times so that we can all see who did what as the race unfolded. Such work can take hours and days as one needs to identify the melee of runners massing at changeover times, then perform the arithmetic necessary to ensure the four numbers add up to an official finish time.
Apart from a handful of major championships, relay split times have only been available unofficially. It is, of course, quite tricky and expensive to time the first leg which starts on a 500m stagger line and finishes at the 800m start line in the same lane. One photo-finish camera can’t cover all eight finish points and there are often runners and officials obscuring the view.
Many is the time when, stopwatch in hand, statisticians have had to move almost as quickly as the runners in order to get a clear view of a particular changeover point. And of course they are timing the baton holder, so the split time rarely belongs to a single runner – unless the exchange is, improbably, made exactly at the mid-point of the changeover zone.
Split-taking cannot be a precise science and is the subject of debate. We still have to turn to estimated times, compare notes and make tweaks to achieve the best possible result.
The implementation of improved transponder and video timing systems – which will be in use at the IAAF World Relays next month – will hopefully mean that splits of the future are disclosed more quickly, perhaps even for the 4x100m and other relays including the new distance medley which will include one leg of 400m.
Even without such systems, we already have
a pretty impressive list of history’s fastest one-lappers with baton in hand.
Mark Butler for the IAAF>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
42.9 400m Michael Johnson! 1993 World Championship Relays (Both Men & Women)https://www.youtube.com/v/uDycCUeZ0BA42.9 400 SPLIT FOR MICHAEL JOHNSON, THE FASTEST 400 EVER RECORDED! The 4 x 400m Relays at the 1993 Athletics World Championships hosted in Stuttgart Germany were both won by Team USA in two of the fastest times ever.
On the women's side Gwen Torrence led off the American team with a sub 50 second clocking. Up next was Maicel Malone-Wallace and her sub 50 second split. She handed off to silver medalist Natasha Kaiser-Brown (not Kaiser Sose as Chris Berman would call her!), who promptly ran a low 49 point leg. On anchor was 1993 400m world champion Jearl Miles (pre Miles-Clark days). Miles blasted a 48.8 split to bring the team home in 3:16.71.
On the men's side Andrew Vallmon ran sub 45 from the blocks before handing off to 1992 Olympic gold medalist Quincy Watts. Watts ran low 44 before passing to world record holder Butch Reynolds. Reynolds ran a very impressive 43.2, but would not even run the fastest split of the day as he exchanged the baton to Michael Johnson. Johnson proceeded to light up the track with an amazing 42.9 solo split. The Americans demolished the field to set the still standing world record of 2:54.29. This is still the most amazing team ever put together with all four men running sub 45 for the first time in history.
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The fastest-ever 4x400m splits – men
The best legitimate marks, official, unofficial and estimated
¶ – Team disqualified for violation by another athlete; # – distance medley race (1200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m); ≠ – sprint medley race (200m, 200m, 400m, 800m);
! – derived from photo-cell; A – at high altitude; e – estimated time; y – time for 440 yards (or 4x440 yards), worth 0.3 (or 1.1) quicker than 400m/4x400m.42.94* Michael Johnson USA 4 Stuttgart 22 Aug 93 (1, 2:54.29)43.10 Jeremy Wariner USA 4 Osaka 2 Sep 07 (1, 2:55.56)
43.1 Quincy Watts USA 2 Barcelona 8 Aug 92 (1, 2:55.74)
43.18 Wariner 4 Beijing 23 Aug 08 (1, 2:55.39)
43.2A Ron Freeman USA 2 Mexico City 20 Oct 68 (1, 2:56.16)
43.2 Wariner 2 Austin 8 Apr 06 (2, 3:00.04)
43.3 Demetrius Pinder BAH 2 London 10 Aug 12 (1, 2:56.72)
43.23 Butch Reynolds USA 3 Stuttgart 22 Aug 93 (1, 2:54.29)
43.4y Maurice Peoples USA 4 Baton Rouge 9 Jun 73 (3, 3:05.0y)
43.4A Freeman 2 Mexico City 19.10.68 (1h1, 3:00.71)
43.4 Watts 2 Tokyo 1 Sep 91 (2, 2:57.57)
(12/8)
43.4 Steve Lewis USA 4 Barcelona 8 Aug 92 (1, 2:55.74)
43.41 Tony McQuay USA 3 London 10 Aug 12 (2, 2:57.05)
43.42 Chris Brown BAH 4 Helsinki 14 Aug 05 (2, 2:57.32)
(10)
43.49 Darold Williamson USA 4 Sacramento 11 Jun 05 (6, 3:01.83)
43.5 Roddie Haley USA 2 Philadelphia 25 Apr 86 (1, 9:22.6#)
43.5¶ Tyree Washington USA 3 Uniodale 22 Jul 98 (DQ, 2:54.20)
43.51 Davian Clarke JAM 4 Athens 10 Aug 97 (2, 2:56.75)
43.53¶ Calvin Harrison USA 3 Sydney 30 Sep 00 (DQ, 2:56.35)
43.56 Denis Alekseyev RUS 4 Beijing 23 Aug 08 (3, 2:58.06)
43.57 Mark Richardson GBR 4 Athens 10 Aug 97 (1, 2:56.65)
43.6 Julius Sang KEN 4 Munich 10 Sep 72 (1, 2:59.83)
43.6 Raymond Pierre USA 3 Kingston 6 May 89 (1, 3:00.66)
43.6 Angelo Taylor USA 4 Amherst 6 Jun 98 (1, 3:01.89)
(20)
43.6 Jerome Young USA 2 Philadelphia 26 Apr 03 (1, 2:58.40)
43.6 Derrick Brew USA 2 Athínai 28 Aug 04 (1, 2:55.91)
43.6e Kevin Borlée BEL 2 Zurich 17 Aug 14 (7, 3:02.60)
43.63! Fred Newhouse USA 3 Montréal 30 Jul 76 (1h1, 2:59.52)
43.66 Derek Mills USA 3 Atlanta 3 Aug 96 (1, 2:55.99)
43.69 Calvin Smith USA 4 Eugene 12 Jun 10 (3, 3:01.87)
43.7 Alberto Juantorena CUB 4 Dusseldorf 6 Sep 77 (3, 3:02.77)
43.7 Gabriel Tiacoh CI V 4 Los Angeles 24 May 86 (2, 3:05.96)
43.7 Henry Thomas USA 3 Walnut 26 Apr 87 (1, 3:01.09)
43.7 Avard Moncur BAH 2 Edmonton 11 Aug 01 (1h2, 3:00.88)
(30)
43.7e Jonathan Borlée BEL 2 Beijing 23 Aug 08 (5, 2:59.37)
43.7 Josh Mance USA 2 London 10 Aug 12 (2, 2:57.05)
43.73 Martyn Rooney GBR 4 Beijing 23 Aug 08 (4, 2:58.81)
43.75 Alonzo Babers USA 3 Los Angeles 11 Aug 84 (1, 2:57.91)
43.78 Arnaud Malherbe RSA 4 Seville 29 Aug 99 (3, 3:00.20)
43.78 Ingo Schultz GER 4 Edmonton 12 Aug 01 (7, 3:03.52)
43.78 Michael Blackwood JAM 4 Madrid 21 Sep 02 (1, 2:59.19)
43.79 Danny Everett USA 1 Seoul 1 Oct 88 (1, 2:56.16)
43.79 Sunday Bada NGR 4 Gothenburg 12 Aug 95 (1h3, 3:01.09)
43.8 Seymour Newman JAM 4 Montreal 31 Jul 76 (5, 3:02.84)
(40)
43.8 Ian Morris TTO 3 Austin 4 Apr 86 (2, 3:13.93≠)43.8¶ Roy Martin USA 4 Austin 5 Apr 86 (DQ, 3:01.07)
43.8 LaShawn Merritt USA 4 Nassau 25 May 14 (1, 2:57.25)
Further notable 440 yards times:43.8y Larry Black USA 4 Philadelphia 29 Apr 72 (1, 3:03.1y)
43.9y Larry James USA 4 Philadelphia 27 Apr 68 (1, 3:06.1y)
* This time is taken from photo-finish pictures taken at the start and finish of Johnson’s leg supplied by Seiko.
Using different methods, the DLV Biomechanics Report from Stuttgart 1993 variously shows times of 42.91 and 42.92Questionable timing (analysis of the available video of the race indicates an actual time of about 44.4):43.58 Usain Bolt JAM 4 Kingston 27 Feb 10 (2, 3:05.77)
Disqualified by doping control:43.1 Antonio Pettigrew USA 2 Athínai 10 Aug 97 (DQ, 2:56.47)
43.2 Pettigrew 2 Uniodale 22 Jul 98 (DQ, 2:54.20)
Fastest by stage:43.79 Danny Everett USA 1 Seoul 1 Oct 88 (1, 2:56.16)
43.1 Quincy Watts USA 2 Barcelona 8 Aug 92 (1, 2:55.74)
43.23 Butch Reynolds USA 3 Stuttgart 22 Aug 93 (1, 2:54.29)
42.94 Michael Johnson USA 4 Stuttgart 22 Aug 93 (1, 2:54.29
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The fastest-ever 4x400m splits – women
The best legitimate marks, official, unofficial and estimated
¶ – Team disqualified for violation by another athlete; # – distance medley race (1200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m); ≠ – sprint medley race (200m, 200m, 400m, 800m);
! – derived from photo-cell; A – at high altitude; e – estimated time; y – time for 440 yards (or 4x440 yards), worth 0.3 (or 1.1) quicker than 400m/4x400m.47.6 Jarmila Kratochvílová TCH 4 Athínai 11 Sep 82 (2, 3:22.17)
47.70 Marita Koch GDR 4 Erfurt 3 Jun 84 (1, 3:15.92)
47.75 Kratochvílová 4 Helsinki 14 Aug 83 (2, 3:20.32)
47.80 Olga Bryzgina URS 4 Seoul 1 Oct 88 (1, 3:15.17)
47.82 Olga V. Nazarova URS 2 Seoul 1 Oct 88 (1, 3:15.17)
47.84 Tatána Kocembová TCH 4 Praha 18 Aug 84 (2, 3:21.89)
47.9 Koch 4 Athínai 11 Sep 82 (1, 3:19.04)
47.9 Kratochvílová 4 London 21 Aug 83 (1, 3:20.79)
47.9 Koch 4 Canberra 4 Oct 85 (1, 3:19.49)
47.9 Kratochvílová 4 Frankfurt 5 Jul 81 (2, 3:27.13)
(5/10)
48.0 Allyson Felix USA 2 Osaka 2 Sep 07 (1, 3:18.55)
48.08 Florence Griffith Joyner USA 4 Seoul 1 Oct 88 (2, 3:15.51)
48.47 Irina Privalova RUS 4 Stuttgart 22 Aug 93 (2, 3:18.38)
48.43 Sanya Richards-Ross USA 4 Berlin 23 Aug 09 (1, 3:17.83)
48.44 Valerie Brisco USA 3 Seoul 1 Oct 88 (2, 3:15.51)
(10)
48.5 Irena Szewinska POL 4 Rome 8 Sep 74 (4, 3:26.4)
48.63 Grit Breuer GER 4 Atlanta 3 Aug 96 (3, 3:21.14)
48.64 Petra Müller/Schersing GDR 3 Roma 6 Sep 87 (1, 3:18.63)
48.7 Mariya Pinigina URS 3 Canberra 4 Oct 85 (2, 3:20.60)
48.7 Michelle Collins USA 2 Philadelphia 29 Apr 00 (1, 3:25.96)
48.76 Nicola Sanders GBR 4 Osaka 2 Sep 07 (3, 3:20.04)
48.78 Jearl Miles-Clark USA 4 Stuttgart 22 Aug 93 (1, 3:16.71)
48.8 Sabine Busch GDR 2 Stuttgart 31 Aug 86 (1, 3:16.87)
48.83 Sherri Howard USA 2 Los Angeles 11 Aug 84 (1, 3:18.29)
48.9 Bärbel Wöckel GDR 3 Zagreb 16 Aug 81 (1, 3:19.83)
(20)
48.9 Ana Quirot CUB 4 Havana 11 Aug 91 (1, 3:24.91)
48.93 Novlene Williams-Mills JAM 4 Osaka 2 Sep 07 (2, 3:19.73)
48.90 Falilat Ogunkoya NGR 4 Atlanta 3 Aug 96 (2, 3:21.04)
48.95 Irina Nazarova URS 4 Moscow 1 Aug 80 (1, 3:20.12)
49.0 Gwen Torrence USA 1 Stuttgart 22 Aug 93 (1, 3:16.71)
49.0 Monique Hennagan USA 2 Munich 8 Aug 04 (2, 3:20.91)
49.1 Kirsten Emmelmann GDR 2 Rome 6 Sep 87 (1, 3:18.63)
49.13 Jessica Beard USA 4 Des Moines 11 Jun 11 (1, 3:26.31)
49.17 Diane Dixon USA 2 Seoul 1 Oct 88 (2, 3:15.51)
49.2e Lyudmila Litvinova RUS 2 Beijing 23 Aug 08 (2, 3:18.82)
(30)
49.2 Lyudmila Dzhigalova URS 2 Tokyo 1 Sep 91 (1, 3:18.43)
49.20 Tatyana Firova RUS 3 Beijing 23 Aug 08 (2, 3:18.82)
49.22 Shericka Williams JAM 4 Daegu 3 Sep 11 (2, 3:18.71)
49.22 Anastasiya Kapachinskaya RUS 4 Daegu 3 Sep 11 (3, 3:19.36)
49.25 Francena McCorory USA 4 Moscow 17 Aug 13 (2, 3:20.41)
49.26 Ionela Tîrlea ROU 4 Paris 29 Jun 99 (2, 3:25.68)
49.3 Tatyana Alekseyeva RUS 2 Stuttgart 22 Aug 93 (3, 3:18.38)
49.3e Shereefa Lloyd JAM 2 Beijing 23 Aug 08 (3, 3:20.40)
49.34 Deon Hemmings JAM 4 Atlanta 3 Aug 96 (4, 3:21.69)
49.35 Cathy Freeman AUS 4 Sydney 30 Sep 00 (4, 3:23.81)
(40)
Fastest by stage:48.93 Tatána Kocembová TCH 1 Helsinki 14 Aug 83 (2, 3:20.32)
47.82 Olga V. Nazarova URS 2 Seoul 1 Oct 88 (1, 3:15.17)
48.4 Tatána Kocembová TCH 3 London 21 Aug 83 (1, 3:20.79)
47.6 Jarmila Kratochvílová TCH 4 Athínai 11 Sep 82 (2, 3:22.17)