The 4x100 qualifying format needs a serious revamp

Why do smaller sprint nations that consistently train the relays always get the baton across, but nations with big ego individual athletes struggle half the time?

Instead of arguing that it's egos vs hard work, forget all that. It doesn't make the fan experience any better to have Seville and Thompson on the sidelines.

That's the issue here. So what if they suck at handoffs. Let them continue to suck. The end product would still be better/more exciting if they're on the track on Sunday.

I'd rather see 8 teams get the baton through in the final than 2-3 teams that don't. Because if they fail in a heat where they can play it relatively safe, they will 100% fail in the final.

I'm assuming your question was rhetoric. Canada and Japan are good examples of this.

The aim is to exchange in the zone - that is the point. Canada manage to do it most of the time.

Sounds like the long/triple where the board is the problem with longer jumps, again that is part of the skill.

These star teams simply dont practice enough, teams Like Japan obviously do, even with few high profile runners. There is no way the US lose on paper (Jamaica just did), but there is a history of doing just that. Instead of changing the game, get better at it.

I would also argue that countries like Japan and a lot of those smaller European nations have high speed rail systems which makes it much easier for athletes to get around and meet up with each other.

You can be anywhere in Japan and meet your teammate who lives halfway across the country in 2 hrs for forty bucks.

You think, here in the US, guys who already make a shyte living as a track and field athlete should have to go broke trying to fly across the country to meet each other to practice handoffs? Even then they still might have a freak accident at worlds. They get like 2 weeks together a year at best.

The US is incompetent. Face facts