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.
Variations 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). 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 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 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 4 × 100 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. After receiving the baton, the final leg would break to the inside as in a 4 × 400 race on a 2 turn stagger.
2-1-1-4 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 The race would start the same as a 4 × 400 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 4 × 100, 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 4 × 400, 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 4 × 400 zone and would then break to run in lane one at the green break line at the beginning of the back straight (500 m into the race). The final exchange would also be like a 4 × 400 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).
An 8-2-2-4 sprint medley relay was held as an exhibition event at the 1993 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
All-time top 25 Men (1-1-2-4) RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace11:26.892022
Women (1-1-2-4) RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace11:35.20Destinee BrownAaliyah BrownKimberlyn DuncanRaevyn Rogers28 April 2018Philadelphia21:35.59Morolake AkinosunEnglish GardnerDezerea BryantMiki Barber29 April 2017Philadelphia31:36.05University of NebraskaRhonda BlanfordAngie ThackerJanet BurkeMerlene Ottey9 April 1983Austin41:36.64Atoms TCJennifer InnissHelena NelsonGrace JacksonDiane Dixon5 April 1986Tempe51:36.67Audra SegreeNatasha MorrisonAnastasia Le-RoyVerone Chambers29 April 2017Philadelphia61:36.70University of TennesseeSharrieffa BarksdaleCathy RattrayBenita FitzgeraldDelisa Walton29 May 1981Austin71:36.79Wilt's ACBrenda MoreheadJeanette BoldenAlice BrownArlise Emerson20 June 1982Knoxville81:36.80Los Angeles TCPam PageRhonda BlanfordMerlene OtteyLatanya Sheffield16 June 1985Indianapolis91:36.81Louisiana State UniversityTananjalyn StanleyCinnamon SheffieldEsther JonesDawn Sowell8 April 1989Austin101:37.06University of TexasCarlette GuidryTamela SaldanaLeslie HardisonBarbara Flowers8 April 1989Austin111:37.11University of TexasCharletta GainesCarlette GuidryMary BoldenBarbara Flowers8 April 1988Austin121:37.22Lekeisha LawsonTawanna MeadowsKim DuncanAutumne Franklin29 April 2017Philadelphia131:37.29California State-Los AngelesValerie MilanYolanda RichCynthia MillsRosalyn Bryant26 May 1978Knoxville141:37.32Arizona State UniversityTesra BesterLaShawn SimmonsShanequa CampbellMaicel Malone6 April 1991Tempe151:37.40Ali TCAdrienne LairRosalyn BryantJackie PuseyDenean Howard15 June 1980Walnut161:37.41UCLAMissy JeraldJeanette BoldenFlorence GriffithSherri Howard29 May 1981Austin171:37.42Khalifa St. FortReyare ThomasKai SelvonSparkle McKnight28 April 2018Philadelphia181:37.46Puma EnergizerPam PageSandra HowardLisa HopkinsRosalyn Bryant19 June 1983Indianapolis191:37.57LA NaturiteT HowardDenean HowardAda HayDunlap20 June 1982Knoxville201:37.64Puma TCJanet BurkeWendy VereenRandy GivensJuliet Cuthbert16 June 1985Indianapolis211:37.86LA NaturiteAda HayJennifer InnissYolanda RichJackie Pusey21 June 1981Sacramento221:37.87Dezerea BryantAaliyah BrownDestiny CarterRaevyn Rogers27 April 2019Philadelphia231:37.88Atoms TCSerina HenryHelena NelsonGrace JacksonDiane Dixon7 April 1984Tempe241:37.95Louisiana State UniversityKim CarsonCheryl TaplinHeather Van NormanYoulanda Warren3 April 1993Austin251:37.96Ms InternationalAlice Jackson19 June 1983Indianapolis
Men (2-2-4-8) RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace13:10.76Santa Monica Track ClubCarl LewisFerran TylerBenny HollisJohnny Gray6 April 1985Tempe23:11.08Athletic AtticMel LattanyLarry MyricksWalter McCoyJames Mays2 April 1983Tempe33:11.45Beejay LeeWallace SpearmonBryshon NellumDonavan Brazier29 April 2017Philadelphia43:11.72Santa Monica Track ClubMark McNeilCarl LewisAnthony KetchumJohnny Gray7 April 1984Tempe53:11.88Bud LightMel LattanyLarry MyricksWalter McCoyJames Mays7 April 1984Tempe63:11.94Texas A&MFred KerleyElijah MorrowMylik KerleyDevin Dixon28 April 2017Baton Rouge73:12.00Nike Atlantic CoastTod LongNeil DeSilvaCalvin DavisSean Maye5 April 1996Austin83:12.02Tiger InternationalBill CollinsFred TaylorMark RoweMike Solomon2 April 1983Tempe93:12.10USA RedLeo BookmanKarron ConwrightMitch PotterKhadevis Robinson30 April 2005Philadelphia103:12.13ArkansasChandun O'NealMelvin ListerSam GloverJames Karanu7 April 2000Austin113:12.17Auburn UniversitySanjay AyreCoby MillerAvard MoncurAaron Richberg7 April 2000Austin123:12.19University of AlabamaLeMar SmithCalvin SmithTerry MenefeeWilliam Wuyke30 April 1983Des Moines133:12.25Louisiana State UniversityNethaneel Mitchell-BlakeJaron FlournoyMichael CherryBlair Henderson28 April 2017Baton Rouge143:12.30Abilene Christian UniversityJoseph StylesKevin DilworthRobert GuySavieri Ngidhi7 April 1995Austin153:12.75Santa Monica Track ClubFloyd HeardCarl LewisLaMont SmithJohnny Gray20 April 1997Walnut163:12.77Rice UniversityTerry JonesVince CourvilleJohn BellGawain Guy30 April 1983Des Moines173:12.88Abilene Christian UniversityJoe StylesKevin DilworthRobert GuySavieri Ngidhi28 April 1995Philadelphia183:13.00Baylor UniversityKermit WardMichael JohnsonRaymond PierreTerril Davis8 April 1989Austin193:13.06Texas TechMichael MathieuTyree GailesAndrae WilliamsJonathan Johnson8 April 2005Austin203:13.12Remontay McLainMarkesh WoodsonReggie WyattCasimir Loxsom29 April 2017PhiladelphiaMississippi StateRodrigo RochaPhilip SmithAlfred LarryBrandon McBride2 April 2016Gainesville223:13.21University of FloridaRickey HarrisAaron ArmstrongGeno WhiteMoise Joseph27 April 2001Philadelphia233:13.22Auburn UniversitySanjay AyreCoby MillerAvard MoncurAaron Richberg28 April 2000Philadelphia243:13.28University of TennesseeDonelle DunningShane LacyMarwin KlineJose ParrillaApril 1994Philadelphia253:13.31University of TexasJason LeachEarle LaingJohn PattersonPablo Squella4 April 1986Austin
Women (2-2-4-8) Updated April 2023.