The baton changeover

Age 17 · Sports

In a 4 × 100 m relay the baton must pass between two runners inside a marked zone while both are moving fast. The team wins by trading a little precision for speed so the handoff costs almost no time.

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In the picture

Start of the acceleration mark: the incoming runner’s approach is timed from here
Open hand held steady: the outgoing runner reaches back without looking
Baton pushed forward: a quick, firm pass at full speed
End of the zone: the baton must be exchanged before this line

Examples

A school relay team practises passing the baton at near top speed instead of slowing down to make it safe.
A team marks a spot on the track so the outgoing runner knows exactly when to start running.

Key takeaways

A faster handoff saves more time than a perfectly slow one, but a dropped baton loses the race.
Timing and trust between teammates matter as much as individual speed.