RUNNING VELOCITIES AND BATON CHANGE-OVERS IN 4 x 100 M RELAY EXCHANGES

Abstract

In 4 x 100 m relays, the baton exchange happens as an interaction between two athletes running at very high speed. The purpose of this paper was to study this interaction in relay exchanges. Three normal training sessions of the international level male 4 x 100 m relay team was videotaped over one competition season. Athletes' velocities in different parts of the exchanges and the positions at which the baton change-overs occurred were analysed. Although the take-over zone is 20 m long, it seems that it is beneficial to have the changeover as late as possible (the overall performance of athletes in the change-over had a correlation of r = .667 (p < .000) with the position of the baton exchange). Further, the outgoing athlete has a task to accelerate fully. However, the results indicated that the athletes perceive each others velocities and adjust their own running accordingly.