4x200m Relay

The 4 x 200m relay track race is an uncommon track and relay event, compared to its more popular sisters, the 4 x100m and the 4 x 400 meters. Nevertheless, it is still held in a number of official events, especially in middle school and high school, where only a couple of runners have the competitive edge in such events.

Basically, the relay race takes 2 laps around a standard oval size court to complete, with each of the four competitors covering 200 meters each, and passing the baton to the subsequent team player as the incoming runner finishes his leg. Legs are what we call the segments of the race-- length an individual racer has to run (in this case, 200 meters) before he/she can pass on the baton to the next player.

The rules for the event are the same as the other relay races. In the subsequent lines marking the start of each leg, there is such thing called a changeover box, stretching ten meters to and from the 200 meter leg marker. Within this box, the baton exchange takes place, and there are several techniques that may be performed in order to achieve a flawless, successful baton passing (because the baton adds a whole new dimension to the race, and seconds may be saved with a perfect baton pass timing). As such, it is not only speed, cadence and endurance that is the problem, there is also the problem of baton handling-- taking care not to drop the baton or pass it outside the prescripted parameters. Teamwork is also a necessary trait, for its not enough to send the best of the best runners, but to have them work together well.

The world record for fastest 4x200 meter track race is held by the Santa Monica Track Club of the United states, who finished the race in 1 minute and 58.20 seconds.