The mixed 4 × 400 metres relay is a mixed-sex 4 × 400 metres relay in which teams field two men and two women. Initially, teams were free to arrange participants in any order. This created scenarios where mixed genders run on the same leg. This was changed in March 2022, where team members run in the order: man-woman-man-woman. It was introduced at the 2017 IAAF World Relays and was then held at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Qatar.
Background Part of the rationale for the event was that should teams put their men and women in different orders, there will be excitement in seeing large leads being reversed when men and women are running against each other. All the teams in the finals at the 2017 IAAF World Relays ran man-woman-woman-man. In the final of the event's World Athletics Championship debut in 2019, all but one team chose a man-woman-woman-man order, with the exception of Poland, who chose man-man-woman-woman."World Athletics Championships", BBC 2, 29 September 2019 In March 2022, the rule was changed so that every team must use the order man-woman-man-woman.
Michael Johnson commentating at the 2019 World Athletics Championships expressed a concern that, while entertaining, the mixed 4 × 400 metres event contributes to an overly busy schedule.
Poland won the inaugural Olympic 4 × 400 metres mixed relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, held in 2021.
Records
Global records
+ Record Time Country Members Place Date World record 3:07.41 Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown Saint-Denis, France 2 August 2024 Olympic record Short track world record 3:12.44Vacant"Indoor 4x400m mixed relay added to rule book as official discipline", World Athletics, 5 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025. Short track world best 3:15.63 Nick Smidt, Eveline Saalberg, Tony van Diepen, Femke Bol Apeldoorn, Netherlands 6 March 2025
Progression
The first world record recognised by the IAAF was set by the US team at 3:12.42 in the first heat at the 2019 World Athletics Championships on 28 September 2019, beating a prior world best by the US set in 2016. The US team then set a new record of 3:09.34 in the final the next day. During the 2023 World Athletics Championships, team USA bested the previous record with a time of 3:08:80. Team USA further improved the record in the first heat at the 2024 Olympics with a time of 3:07:41.
Area records Updated 22 May 2026. Area Time Competition / Venue Athletes Nation Africa 3:09.87 2026 World Relays George Mutinda, Mercy Oketch, Kelvin Tonui, Mercy Chebet Asia 3:11.82 2019 World Athletics Championships Musa Isah, Aminat Yusuf Jamal, Salwa Eid Naser, Abbas Abubakar Abbas Europe 3:07.43 2024 Summer Olympics Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink, Femke Bol North, Central Americaand Caribbean 3:07.41 2024 Summer Olympics Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown Oceania 3:10.57 2026 World Relays Cooper Sherman, Ellie Beer, Thomas Reynolds, Mia Gross South America 3:14.42 2025 Campeonato Nacional De Velocidad y Saltos , Lina Esther Licona Torres, Daniel Balanta, Evelis Aguilar
All-Time Top 10 by Country
Correct as of August 2026.
RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace13:07.41Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown2 August 2024Paris23:07.43Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink, Femke Bol3 August 2024Paris33:08.01Samuel Reardon, Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydock-Wilson, Amber Anning3 August 2024Paris43:08.24Deandre Watkin, Shana Kaye Anderson, Antonio Watson, Rushell Clayton3 May 2026Gaborone53:09.36Jonathan Sacoor, Helena Ponette, Alexander Doom, Naomi Van Den Broeck3 August 2024Paris63:09.43Maksymilian Szwed, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, Daniel Soltysiak, Natalia Bukowiecka29 June 2025Madrid73:09.62Karsten Warholm, Amalie Iuel, Andreas Ofstad Kulseng, Henriette Jæger10 August 2026Birmingham83:09.66Eduardo Scotti, Virginia Troiani, Vladimir Aceti, Alice Mangione29 June 2025Madrid93:09.82Lidio Andrés Feliz, Marileidy Paulino, Alexander Ogando, Fiordaliza Cofil15 July 2022Eugene103:09.87George Mutinda, Mercy Oketch, Kelvin Tonui, Mercy Chebet2 May 2026Gaborone
Short track Updated May 2026
RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace13:15.60Jonathan Sacoor, Ilana Hanssens, Julien Watrin, Helena Ponette21 March 2026Toruń23:15.63Nick Smidt, Eveline Saalberg, Tony van Diepen, Femke Bol6 March 2025Apeldoorn"All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 1", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025."All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 2", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025."Mixed 4x400 Metres Relay Short Track – Final 1", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.33:16.49Alastair Chalmers, Emily Newnham, Joshua Faulds, Lina Nielsen6 March 2025Apeldoorn43:16.96Markel Fernandez, Paula Sevilla, David García, Blanca Hervas21 March 2026Toruń53:17.44Kajetan Duszyński, Anna Gryc, Marcin Karolewski, Justyna Święty-Ersetic21 March 2026Toruń63:17.63Conor Kelly, Phil Healy, Marcus Lawler, Sharlene Mawdsley6 March 2025Apeldoorn73:19.17Michal Desenský, Marcela Pírková, Milan Ščibráni, Tereza Petržilková6 March 2025Apeldoorn83:21.35Jevon O'Bryant, Sara Reifenrath, Steven McElroy, Taiya Shelby21 March 2026Toruń93:22.36João Coelho, Carina Vanessa, Vera Barbosa, Ericsson Tavares5 February 2022Glasgow103:25.74Natalija Švenda, Veronika Drljačić, Marino Bloudek, Karlo Videka18 January 2025Zagreb
All-Time Top 25 Correct as of September 2026.
RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace13:07.41Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown2 August 2024Paris23:07.43Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink, Femke Bol3 August 2024Paris33:07.47Bryce Deadmon, Paris Peoples, Jenoah McKiver, Bailey Lear3 May 2026Gaborone43:07.74Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown3 August 2024Paris53:08.01Samuel Reardon, Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydock-Wilson, Amber Anning3 August 2024Paris63:08.24Deandre Watkin, Shana Kaye Anderson, Antonio Watson, Rushell Clayton3 May 2026Gaborone73:08.32Chris Bailey, Alexis Holmes, Jacory Patterson, Aaliyah Butler13 September 2026Budapest83:08.80Justin Robinson, Rosey Effiong, Matthew Boling, Alexis Holmes19 August 2023BudapestBryce Deadmon, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Jenoah McKiver, Alexis Holmes13 September 2025Tokyo103:09.34Wilbert London, Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo, Michael Cherry29 September 2019Doha113:09.36Jonathan Sacoor, Helena Ponette, Alexander Doom, Naomi Van Den Broeck3 August 2024Paris123:09.40Ben Jefferies, Yemi Mary John, Toby Harries, Charlotte Henrich13 September 2026Budapest133:09.43Maksymilian Szwed, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, Daniel Soltysiak, Natalia Bukowiecka29 June 2025Madrid143:09.54Chris Robinson, Courtney Okolo, Johnnie Blockburger, Lynna Irby-Jackson11 May 2025Guangzhou153:09.57Jonas Phijffers, Lieke Klaver, Keenan Blake, Myrte van der Schoot13 September 2026Budapest163:09.62Karsten Warholm, Amalie Iuel, Andreas Ofstad Kulseng, Henriette Jæger10 August 2026Birmingham173:09.66Eduardo Scotti, Virginia Troiani, Vladimir Aceti, Alice Mangione29 June 2025MadridSamuel Reardon, Lina Nielsen, Toby Harries, Emily Newnham29 June 2025Madrid193:09.69Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull, Yemi Mary John2 May 2026Gaborone203:09.82Lidio Andrés Feliz, Marileidy Paulino, Alexander Ogando, Fiordaliza Cofil15 July 2022EugeneBryce Deadmon, Paris Peoples, Brian Faust, Bailey Lear2 May 2026Gaborone223:09.84Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull, Yemi Mary John3 May 2026Gaborone233:09.87Karol Zalewski, Natalia Kaczmarek, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, Kajetan Duszyński31 July 2021TokyoGeorge Mutinda, Mercy Oketch, Kelvin Tonui, Mercy Chebet2 May 2026Gaborone253:09.89David García, Paula Sevilla, Julio Arenas, Blanca Hervás2 May 2026Gaborone
Short track Updated May 2026
RankTimeTeamNationDatePlace13:15.60Jonathan Sacoor, Ilana Hanssens, Julien Watrin, Helena Ponette21 March 2026Toruń23:15.63Nick Smidt, Eveline Saalberg, Tony van Diepen, Femke Bol6 March 2025Apeldoorn"All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 1", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025."All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 2", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.33:16.19Julien Watrin, Imke Vervaet, Christian Iguacel, Helena Ponette6 March 2025Apeldoorn"All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 3", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.43:16.49Alastair Chalmers, Emily Newnham, Joshua Faulds, Lina Nielsen6 March 2025Apeldoorn53:16.96Markel Fernandez, Paula Sevilla, David García, Blanca Hervas21 March 2026Toruń63:17.12Manuel Guijarro, Carmen Avilés, Bernat Erta, Daniela Fra6 March 2025Apeldoorn73:17.44Kajetan Duszyński, Anna Gryc, Marcin Karolewski, Justyna Święty-Ersetic21 March 2026Toruń83:17.63Conor Kelly, Phil Healy, Marcus Lawler, Sharlene Mawdsley6 March 2025Apeldoorn93:18.90Iñaki Cañal, Aauri Bokesa, Sara Gallego, Bernat Erta5 February 2022Glasgow"All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 4", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.103:19.17Michal Desenský, Marcela Pírková, Milan Ščibráni, Tereza Petržilková6 March 2025Apeldoorn113:19.7815 January 2025 Dublin123:20.14Keenan Blake, Myrte van der Schoot, Tony Van Diepen, Eveline Saalberg21 March 2026Toruń133:21.35Jevon O'Bryant, Sara Reifenrath, Steven McElroy, Taiya Shelby21 March 2026Toruń143:22.23James Williams, Susanna Banjo, Hannah Kelly, Ben Higgins5 February 2022Glasgow153:22.36João Coelho, Carina Vanessa, Vera Barbosa, Ericsson Tavares5 February 2022Glasgow16171819202122232425
Olympic medalists 2021 3:09.87 , 3:10.21 3:10.22 2024 3:07.43 3:07.74 3:08.01
World Athletics Championships 2019 3:09.34 3:11.78 3:11.82 2022 3:09.82 3:09.90 3:10.16 2023 3:08.80 3:11.06 3:11.98 2025 3:08.80 = 3:09.96 3:10.61
World Athletics Relays 2017 3:14.42 3:17.29 3:20.262019 3:16.43 3:18.15 3:19.432021 3:16.60 3:17.54 3:17.582024 3:10.73 3:11.45 3:11.532025 3:09.54 3:12.20 3:13.102026 3:07.47 3:08.24 3:09.69
References
External links