The 4 × 400 metres relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams consist of four runners who each complete 400 metres or one lap, totaling 1600 meters. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. The first leg and the first bend of the second leg are run in lanes. Start lines are thus staggered over a greater distance than in an individual 400 metres race; the runners then typically move to the inside of the track. The slightly longer 4 × 440 yards relay, on an Imperial distance, was a formerly run British Commonwealth and American event, until metrication was completed in the 1970s.
Format Relay race runners typically carry a relay baton which they must transfer between teammates. Runners have a 20 m box (usually marked with blue lines) in which to transfer the baton. The first transfer is made within the staggered lane lines; for the second and third transfers, runners typically line up across the track despite the fact that runners are usually running in line on the inside of the track. This prevents confusion and collisions during transfer. Unlike the 4 × 100 m relay, runners in the 4 × 400 typically look back and grasp the baton from the incoming runner, due to the fatigue of the incoming runner, and the wider margins allowed by the longer distance of the race. Consequently, disqualification is rare.
As runners have a running start, split times cannot be compared to individual 400 m performances. Internationally, the U.S. men's team has dominated the event, but have been challenged by Jamaica in the 1950s and Britain in the 1990s. The current men's Olympic champions are from the United States.
According to the IAAF rules, world records in relays can only be set if all team members have the same nationality.
Mixed
Mixed-sex 4 × 400 metres relays were introduced at the 2017 IAAF World Relays, with the IAAF first recognizing a world record in that event at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. In March 2022 World Athletics Council decided a set order – man, woman, man, woman – at future championships. Eventually, the format was added to the Olympics, starting with the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Records
World records Men's Outdoor World Record Country Members Place Date Time Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson Stuttgart, Germany 22 August 1993 2:54.29 Note: The IAAF rescinded a time of 2:54.20 set at Uniondale on 22 July 1998 by the United States (Jerome Young, Antonio Pettigrew, Tyree Washington, Michael Johnson) on 12 August 2008 after Pettigrew admitted to using human growth hormone and EPO between 1997 and 2003.
Men's Indoor World Record Country Members Place Date Time Amere Lattin, Obi Igbokwe, Jermaine Holt, Kahmari Montgomery Clemson, United States 9 February 2019 3:01.51
Note: The above world record was bettered by three teams at the 2018 NCAA Division I Championship on 10 March 2018 at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium in College Station, United States: 3:00.77 by the USC team of Zach Shinnick, Rai Benjamin, Ricky Morgan Jr., Michael Norman). This time was not record-eligible because Benjamin was a citizen of Antigua & Barbuda, and the others are United States citizens. Benjamin has since switched to represent the United States. 3:01.39 by the Texas A&M team of Ilolo Izu, Robert Grant, Devin Dixon and Mylik Kerley. All four runners represent the United States, and World Athletics currently lists this as the NACAC area record, but it has not been ratified as the world record. 3:01.43 by the Florida team of Kunle Fasasi, Grant Holloway, Chantz Sawyers, and Benjamin Lobo Vedel. This time was not record-eligible because Fasasi represents Nigeria, Holloway represents the United States, Sawyers represents Jamaica, and Vedel represents Denmark.
Women's Outdoor World Record Country Members Place Date Time Tatyana Ledovskaya (BLR), Olga Nazarova (RUS), Mariya Pinigina (UKR), Olga Bryzgina (UKR) Seoul, South Korea 1 October 1988 3:15.17 Women's Indoor World Record Country Members Place Date Time Yuliya Gushchina, Olga Kotlyarova, Olga Zaytseva, Olesya Krasnomovets Glasgow, Scotland 27 January 2006 3:23.37 Note: The above world record was bettered in a time of 3:21.75 by the University of Arkansas team of Amber Anning, Joanne Reid, Rosey Effiong, and Britton Wilson at the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Championship on 11 March 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. This time was not record-eligible because Anning was a citizen of Great Britain, Reid was a citizen of Jamaica, and Effiong and Wilson were United States citizens.
Olympic records Men's Olympic Record Country Members Place Date Time Christopher Bailey, Vernon Norwood, Bryce Deadmon, Rai Benjamin Saint-Denis, France 10 August 2024 2:54.43 Women's Olympic Record Country Members Place Date Time Tatyana Ledovskaya, Olga Nazarova, Mariya Pinigina, Olga Bryzgina Seoul, South Korea 1 October 1988 3:15.17
Area records Updated 22 May 2026.
Area Men Women Time Season Athletes Team Time Season Athletes Team Africa 2:54.47 2026 Lee Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, Collen Kebinatshipi 3:21.04 1996 Olabisi Afolabi, Fatima Yusuf, Charity Opara, Falilat Ogunkoya Asia 2:58.33 2024 Yuki Joseph Nakajima, Kaito Kawabata, Fuga Sato, Kentaro Sato 3:24.28 1993 An Xiaohong, Bai Xiaoyun, Cao Chunying, Ma Yuqin Europe 2:55.83 2024 Alex Haydock-Wilson, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Lewis Davey, Charlie Dobson 3:15.17 1988 Tatyana Ledovskaya, Olga Nazarova, Mariya Pinigina, Olha Bryzghina North, Central Americaand Caribbean 2:54.29 1993 Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson 3:15.27 2024 Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabrielle Thomas, Alexis Holmes Oceania 2:55.20 2026 Luke van Ratingen, Reece Holder, Tom Reynolds, Aidan Murphy 3:23.81 2000 Nova Peris, Tamsyn Manou, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, Cathy Freeman South America 2:58.56 1999 Eronilde de Araújo, Anderson Jorge dos Santos, Claudinei da Silva, Sanderlei Parrela 3:26.68 2011 Geisa Coutinho, , Joelma Sousa, Jailma de Lima
All-time top 10 by country (outdoor) Men Correct as of May 2026. RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace12:54.29Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson22 August 1993Stuttgart22:54.47Lee Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, Collen Kebinatshipi3 May 2026Gaborone32:55.07Mthi Mthimkulu, Lythe Pillay, Leendert Koekemoer, Zakithi Nene42:55.20Luke van Ratingen, Reece Holder, Tom Reynolds, Aidan Murphy52:55.83Alex Haydock-Wilson, Matthew Hudson-Smith, Lewis Davey, Charles Dobson10 August 2024Saint-Denis62:56.72Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu, Ramon Miller10 August 2012London72:56.75Michael McDonald, Gregory Haughton, Danny McFarlane, Davian Clarke10 August 1997Athens82.57.18Liemarvin Bonevacia, Terrence Agard, Tony van Diepen, Ramsey Angela7 August 2021Tokyo92:57.75Jonathan Sacoor, Dylan Borlée, Kévin Borlée, Florent Mabille10 August 2024Saint-Denis102:58.00Piotr Rysiukiewicz, Tomasz Czubak, Piotr Haczek, Robert Maćkowiak22 July 1998New York
Women Correct as of August 2024.
RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace13:15.17Tatyana Ledovskaya, Olga Nazarova, Mariya Pinigina, Olga Bryzgina1 October 1988Seoul23:15.27Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Alexis Holmes10 August 2024Saint-Denis33:15.92Gesine Walther, Sabine Busch, Dagmar Rübsam-Neubauer, Marita Koch3 June 1984Erfurt43:18.38Yelena Ruzina, Tatyana Alekseyeva, Margarita Ponomaryova, Irina Privalova22 August 1993Stuttgart53:18.71Rosemarie Whyte, Davita Prendergast, Novlene Williams-Mills, Shericka Williams3 September 2011Deagu63:19.50Lieke Klaver, Cathelijn Peeters, Lisanne de Witte, Femke Bol10 August 2024Saint-Denis73:19.72Victoria Ohuruogu, Laviai Nielsen, Nicole Yeargin, Amber Anning83:19.90Sophie Becker, Rhasidat Adeleke, Phil Healy, Sharlene Mawdsley93:20.32Taťána Kocembová, Milena Matějkovičová, Zuzana Moravčíková, Jarmila Kratochvílová14 August 1983Helsinki103:20.53Natalia Kaczmarek, Iga Baumgart-Witan, Malgorzata Holub-Kowalik, Justyna Swiety-Ersetic7 August 2021Tokyo
All-time top 25 (outdoor) Men Updated May 2026.
RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace12:54.29Andrew Valmon (44.43)Quincy Watts (43.59)Butch Reynolds (43.36)Michael Johnson (42.91)22 August 1993Stuttgart22:54.43Christopher Bailey (44.45)Vernon Norwood (43.26)Bryce Deadmon (43.54)Rai Benjamin (43.18)10 August 2024Saint-Denis32:54.47Lee Eppie (44.26)Letsile Tebogo (43.50)Bayapo Ndori (43.62)Collen Kebinatshipi (43.09)3 May 2026Gaborone42:54.53Bayapo Ndori (44.30)Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (43.39)Anthony Pesela (43.80)Letsile Tebogo (43.04)10 August 2024Saint-Denis52:55.07Mthi Mthimkulu (44.40)Lythe Pillay (42.66)Leendert Koekemoer (44.36) Zakithi Nene (43.65)3 May 2026Gaborone62:55.20Luke van Ratingen (44.86)Reece Holder (43.12)Tom Reynolds (43.43)Aidan Murphy (43.79)72:55.39LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, David Neville, Jeremy Wariner23 August 2008Beijing82:55.56LaShawn Merritt, Angelo Taylor, Darold Williamson, Jeremy Wariner2 September 2007Osaka92:55.70Michael Cherry (43.87) Michael Norman (44.44) Bryce Deadmon (44.03) Rai Benjamin (43.36)7 August 2021Tokyo102:55.74Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Michael Johnson, Steve Lewis8 August 1992Barcelona112:55.83Alex Haydock-Wilson (44.51)Matthew Hudson-Smith (43.09)Lewis Davey (44.90)Charles Dobson (43.33)10 August 2024Saint-Denis2:55.91Otis Harris, Derrick Brew, Jeremy Wariner, Darold Williamson28 August 2004Athens132:55.99LaMont Smith, Alvin Harrison, Derek Mills, Anthuan Maybank3 August 1996Atlanta142:56.16 Vincent Matthews, Ron Freeman, Larry James, Lee Evans20 October 1968Mexico City152:56.16Danny Everett, Steve Lewis, Kevin Robinzine, Harry Reynolds1 October 1988Seoul162:56.17Elija Godwin (44.28)Michael Norman (43.64)Bryce Deadmon (43.82)Champion Allison (44.43)24 July 2022Eugene172:56.60Iwan Thomas, Jamie Baulch, Mark Richardson, Roger Black3 August 1996Atlanta182:56.65Iwan Thomas, Roger Black, Jamie Baulch, Mark Richardson10 August 1997Athens192:56.69Fred Kerley (43.44)Michael Cherry (44.63)Wilbert London (44.43)Rai Benjamin (44.19)6 October 2019Doha202:56.72Chris Brown, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu, Ramon Miller10 August 2012London212:56.75Michael McDonald, Gregory Haughton, Danny McFarlane, Davian Clarke10 August 1997Athens222:56.91Andrew Rock, Derrick Brew, Darold Williamson, Jeremy Wariner14 August 2005Helsinki232:57.05Bryshon Nellum, Joshua Mance, Tony McQuay, Angelo Taylor10 August 2012London242:57.18Liemarvin Bonevacia, Terrence Agard, Tony van Diepen, Ramsey Angela7 August 2021Tokyo252:57.25David Verburg, Tony McQuay, Christian Taylor, LaShawn Merritt25 May 2014Nassau Note A USA team ran 2:54.20 in Uniondale in 1998 but the performance was annulled due to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by Antonio Pettigrew A USA team ran 2:56.35 in Sydney in 2000 but the performance was annulled due to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by Antonio Pettigrew A USA team ran 2:56.45 in Seville in 1999 but the performance was annulled due to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by Antonio Pettigrew A USA team ran 2:56.47 in Athens in 1997 but the performance was annulled due to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by Antonio Pettigrew A USA team ran 2:56.60 in Philadelphia in 2000 but the performance was annulled due to the use of performance-enhancing drugs by Antonio Pettigrew
Women Correct as of June 2026.