4 × 400 metres relay 4 × 400 metres relay 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. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events, the first 500 metres is 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. Relay race runners typically carry a relay baton which they must transfer between teammates. Runners have a
Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres a new Olympic record with 48.0 seconds. In the semi-finals Horatio Fitch improved the Olympic record with 47.8 seconds. In the final, Eric Liddell set a new world record with 47.6 seconds; this time was ratified as a 400 metres world record as Ted Meredith ran his record over 440 yards. All heats were held on Thursday, July 10, 1924 and started at 2 p.m. The best two finishers of every heat qualified for the quarter-finals. Heat 1 Heat 2 Heat 3 Heat 4 Heat 5 Heat 6 Heat 7 Heat 8 Heat 9 Heat 10 Heat 11 Heat 12