Relay baton exchange

Age 16 · Sports

In a 4×100 m relay, the baton must be passed inside a marked 30-metre zone. The incoming and outgoing runners should be moving at nearly the same speed so the handover is smooth.

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In the picture

The baton: the object that each runner passes to the next.
Incoming runner’s hand: grips the baton as the runner arrives.
Outgoing runner’s open palm: reaches back to receive the baton.
Yellow line: marks the edge of the zone where the exchange must happen.
Waiting runner: stands ready for a later leg of the relay.

Examples

Passing a water bottle to a friend while both of you are jogging.
Handing a ticket to a driver as you walk alongside a moving bus.

Key takeaways

The baton must be passed within the marked zone; passing outside it leads to disqualification.
Runners should match speed at the moment of exchange to avoid slowing down.