Distance medley relay

The distance medley relay (DMR) is an athletic event in which four athletes compete as part of a relay. With its inclusion in the IAAF World Relays program, the IAAF announced on May 1, 2015 that the event would be an official world record event.

Unlike most track relays, each member of the team runs a different distance. A distance medley relay is made up of a 1200-meter leg (three laps on a standard 400 meter track), a 400-meter leg (one lap), an 800-meter leg (two laps), and a 1600-meter leg (four laps) in that order. The total distance run is 4000 meters, or nearly 2.5 miles. Aside from the 400 meter segment, which is a sprint, all legs are a middle distance run. Prior to going metric, the distance medley relay consisted of a 440-yard leg, an 880-yard leg, a 1320-yard leg and a one-mile leg. The total distance for the old distance medley relay was 4400 yards and the total distance for the current metric distance medley relay is 4374.45 yards - slightly over 25 yards shorter than the old race.

World record Men The United States is expected to hold the world record in the men's DMR, assuming formal ratification of a performance of 9:14.58, set on April 19, 2024 during the Oregon Relays at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon. The team consisted of Brannon Kidder 2:49.60 (1200 m), Brandon Miller 46.60 (400 m), Isaiah Harris 1:45.75 (800 m) and Henry Wynne 3:52.64 (1600 m).

After the IAAF announcement of world record status, the first mark to become the ratified world record was set by a Kenyan team in 9:15.56. Elkanah Angwenyi in 2:50.8 (1,200 meters), Thomas Musembi in 45.8 (400), Alfred Yego in 1:46.2 (800) and Alex Kipchirchir in 3:52.8 (1,600) recorded it on April 29, 2006, at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Oklahoma State Track and Field team of Fouad Messaoudi in 2:49.49 (1,200 meters), DJ McArthur in 46.82 (400), Hafez Mahadi in 1:47.27 (800), and Ryan Schoppe in 3:52.84 (1,600) currently hold the indoor world best in a time of 9:16.40. The mark was set on February 17, 2023 at the Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Women At the 2015 IAAF World Relays, the women's world record was set by the American team of Treniere Moser 3:18.38 (1200 m), Sanya Richards-Ross (50.12) (400 m), Ajee' Wilson 2:00.08 (800 m), and Shannon Rowbury 4:27.92 (1600 m) running 10:36.50. They beat the outdoor record of 10:48.38 set by a team from Villanova University of Kathy Franey (1200 m), Michelle Bennett (400 m), Celeste Halliday (800 m), and Vicki Huber (1600 m) at the Penn Relays in April 1988 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 27 years earlier.

The United States women's team of Sarah Brown, Mahagony Jones, Megan Krumpoch, and Brenda Martinez set the first indoor world record for the event with a time of 10:42.57 at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in 2015. At the time of the IAAF announcement, this time, superior to the best time outdoors, became the ratified world record even though it was set on an indoor banked track.

On April 15, 2022 an American team consisting of Heather MacLean, Kendall Ellis, Roisin Willis and Elle Purrier St. Pierre set the current best indoor time of 10:33.85 at The TRACK in Boston. Nevertheless the distance medley relay is only a world record discipline outdoors it is a subject to usual ratification procedure to become an outright world record because their time bettered the outdoor mark of 10:36.50.

All-time top 25 Men Updated April 2025. RankTimeTeamAthletesDatePlace19:14.10 University of WashingtonRonan McMahon-Staggs, Ambodai Ligons, Kyle Reinheimer, Nathan Green14 February 2025Seattle29:14.58 Brooks BeastsBrannon Kidder (2:49.60), Brandon Miller (46.60), Isaiah Harris (1:45.75), Henry Wynne (3:52.64)19 April 2024Eugene39:15.12 Virginia Cavaliers14 March 2025Virginia Beach49:15.50Kyle Merber, Brycen Spratling, Brandon Johnson, Ben Blankenship3 May 2015Nassau59:15.56Elkanah Angwenyi (2:50.8), Thomas Musembi (45.8), Alfred Yego (1:46.2), Alex Kipchirchir (3:52.8)29 April 2006Philadelphia69:15.63Chris Lukezic (2:51.7), James Carter (45.6), Khadevis Robinson (1:44.5), Bernard Lagat (3:53.8)29 April 2006Philadelphia79:16.34Abiyote Abinet (2:53.5), Bereket Desta (46.0), Mohammed Aman (1:44.0), Aman Wote (3:52.8)27 April 2013Philadelphia89:16.40 Oklahoma State University Fouad Messaoudi (2:49.49), DeJuana McArthur (46.82), Hafez Mahadi (1:47.27), Ryan Schoppe (3:52.84)17 February 2023Fayetteville99:16.65 University of Washington Joe Waskom (2:49.41), Daniel Gaik (46.37), Cass Elliott (1:47.42), Kieran Lumb (3:53.46)17 February 2023Fayetteville109:17.01Anthony Chemut (2:51.6), Kennedy Chepsiror (47.1), Timothy Kitum (1:45.4), Caleb Ndiku (3:52.9)27 April 2013Philadelphia119:17.17 Wake Forest Paul Specht, Foster Shelbert, Rynard Swaepoel, Rocky Hansen21 February 2025BostonNorth Carolina Tar Heels14 March 2025Virginia Beach139:17.19 North Carolina Tar HeelsAiden Neal, Nickolis Anderson, Andrew Regnier, Ethan Strand21 February 2025Boston149:17.20Abednego Chesebe Miti, Alphas Leken Kishoyian, Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich, Timothy Cheruiyot3 May 2015Nassau159:17.30 Princeton TigersConnor McCormick, Xavier Donaldson, Samuel Rodman, Harrison Witt21 February 2025Boston169:17.34 Northern Arizona University Colin Sahlman, Trenton Givens, Theo Quax, Nico Young (3:52.03)2 February 2024South Bend179:17.48Mohammed Moustaoui (2:48.54), Marouan Maadadi (46.36), Mohammed Laalou (1:49.50), Amine Laalou (3:53.08)30 April 2011Philadelphia189:17.56Ryan Gregson (2:48.66), Sean Wroe (45.95), Lachlan Renshaw (1:46.29), Jeff Riseley (3:56.66)30 April 2011Philadelphia199:17.57 Oregon Ducks14 March 2025Virginia Beach209:17.74 Texas A&M Aggies14 March 2025Virginia Beach219:17.92 University of North CarolinaEthan Strand, Andrew Regnier, Kyle Reinheimer, Parker Wolfe (3:52.70)2 February 2024South Bend229:18.09Bernard Lagat (2:48.29), Michael Tinsley (46.13), Duane Solomon (1:46.31), Russell Brown (3:57.36)30 April 2011Philadelphia239:18.21 USA RedAndrew Wheating (2:52.2), Quentin Summers (44.8), Duane Solomon (1:45.0), David Torrence (3:56.2)27 April 2013Philadelphia249:18.31 BYU Cougars14 March 2025Virginia Beach259:18.81 University of WashingtonJoe Waskom (2:51.34), Daniel Gaik (46.37), Nathan Green (1:46.57), Luke Houser (3:54.54)16 February 2024Fayetteville

Women Updated April 2026. RankTimeTeamAthletesDatePlace110:33.85Heather MacLean (3:14.92), Kendall Ellis (52.04), Roisin Willis (2:03.30), Elle Purrier St. Pierre (4:23.55)15 April 2022Boston210:36.50Treniere Moser, Sanya Richards-Ross, Ajeé Wilson, Shannon Rowbury2 May 2015Nassau310:36.82University of North CarolinaSydney Masciarelli (3:16.35), Delea Martins (53.91), Makayla Paige (2:00.43), Vera Sjöberg (4:26.15)24 April 2026Philadelphia410:36.90Stanford UniversityJuliette Whittaker8 (3:12.81), Alyssa Jones (52.54), Amelia Everett (2:04.91), Mena Scatchard (4:26.65)24 April 2026Philadelphia510:37.55Harvard UniversitySophia Gorriaran (3:20.36), Chloe Fair (53.20), Victoria Bossong (2:02.54), Maia Ramsden (4:21.47)26 April 2024Philadelphia610:37.58 Brigham Young UniversityCarmen Alder, Meghan Hunter, Tessa Buswell, Riley Chamberlain14 February 2025Seattle710:38.93 Stanford UniversityJuliette Whittaker, Cate Peters, Roisin Willis, Amy Bunnage14 February 2025Seattle810:39.04Providence CollegeShannon Flockhart (3:15.11), Jillian Fenerty (55.05), Alex O'Neill (2:05.21), Kimberley May (4:23.68)26 April 2024Philadelphia910:39.44 Northern Arizona UniversityAgnès McTighe, Kyairra Reigh, Alexandra Carlson, Maggi Congdon14 February 2025Seattle1010:39.91Ella Donaghu, Raevyn Rogers, Sinclaire Johnson, Shannon Osika11 February 2022Spokane1110:40.31Emma Coburn, Sydney McLaughlin, Brenda Martinez, Jenny Simpson28 January 2017Boston1210:40.44 University of WashingtonChloe Foerster, Anna Terrell, Claire Yerby, Amina Maatoug14 February 2025Seattle1310:41.85Brigham Young UniversityRiley Chamberlain, Sami Oblad, Tessa Buswell, Jane Hedengren10 December 2025Provo1410:42.05Oregon Ducks Julia Nielsen, Moriah Oliveira, Mia Barnett, Şilan Ayyildiz21 February 2025Boston1510:42.56 University of UtahBrianna Rinn, Emily Martin, Kyla Martin, Erin Vringer14 February 2025Seattle1610:42.57Sarah Brown, Mahogany Jones, Megan Krumpoch, Brenda Martinez7 February 2015Boston1710:42.79Stephanie Charnigo, Katie Hoaldridge, Latavia Thomas, Nicole Tully7 February 2015Boston1810:43.35Selah Jepleting Busienei, Joy Nakhumicha Sakari, Sylivia Chematui Chesebe, Virginia Nyambura Nganga2 May 2015Nassau1910:43.39University of WashingtonChloe Foerster (3:15.29), Anna Terrell (54.74), Marlena Preigh (2:03.34), Carley Thomas (4:30.02)16 February 2024Boston2010:44.07Providence CollegeShannon Flockhart, Jillian Fenerty, Alex O'Neill, Kimberley May16 February 2024Boston2110:44.67Brigham Young UniversitySadie Sargent, Sami Oblad, Meghan Hunter, Riley Chamberlain16 February 2024Boston2210:44.71 North Carolina Tar HeelsMakayla Paige, Delea Martins, Ella Auderset, Taryn Parks21 February 2025Boston2310:45.32Katarzyna Broniatowska, Monika Szczęsna, Angelika Cichocka, Sofia Ennaoui2 May 2015Nassau2410:45.34BYU Cougars14 March 2025Virginia Beach2510:45.99Oregon Ducks14 March 2025Virginia Beach

See also

Sprint medley relay Swedish relay

References