Oh, boy. I'm sorry that you and your team and your coach have been placed in this situation at States! But obviously s/he has some confidence in you, so let's see about making this as good an experience as possible for all concerned.
1. Foremost: you MUST talk with your coach and see how s/he wants to handle this! I realize that with the stress of being at the State meet and coping with the "defections," s/he may not seem particularly approachable; but try to speak with your coach if you possibly can, preferably away from other people (especially the other girls on the team). Everything that follows can change completely in your particular situation, so you MUST communicate with your coach!
2. The third runner on the 4x100 *usually* takes the baton in her right hand, keeps it in her right hand, and puts it in the anchor runner's left hand--but check to see whether this is how your coach wants you to do it.
3. When the third runner starts running her leg--as signaled by the second runner's crossing a pre-set mark, or by her just saying "go"--the third leg *usually* takes off at full speed; and she doesn't put her arm back for the baton until after a pre-set number of strides (or when the incoming runner makes some kind of verbal signal).
But the key in your situation is to make two safe passes, so--again--check with your coach: does s/he want you to take off at full speed, or to run at half speed until you've safely received the baton? Does s/he want you to do a "blind" pass, or look at the stick while you take it?
4. Here are a few things that are probably going to be the same, no matter how your coach wants you to handle the passes:
a. Don't start running too early! You'll have a system worked out with your coach and incoming teammate for when you're going to start--FOLLOW THAT and do not let yourself be distracted by the other teams. Focus *only on your teammate* and don't let the other teams' runners pull you into an early start!
b. When you're running with the baton you'll want to hug the lane line on the left, to save distance around the curve; but make sure you run *next to* that lane line and NOT ON IT.
c. When you're coming up to the anchor runner, run *through* (not "to") the pass, just the same as you would run through the finish line in an individual 800. On a relay leg, your handoff is the "finish line"--keep your speed *all the way THROUGH the handoff*. Do not slow down in anticipation of passing, because your outgoing runner is picking up speed--if you're decelerating while she's accelerating, making connections will be tough!
d. Get a good, thorough warmup for sprinting. This may be somewhat different from what you're used to for your 800/1600 races. Tip: avoid practicing handoffs until you're fully warmed up and ready to sprint
--unless, of course, your coach says different!
Good luck to you and the team. Please let us know how things work out. All best--
lease