https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t38u-ZuJVMDonDraper wrote:
I've been a Sprint-Relay coach for 12 years. This is easy- incoming runners's fault- AND the coaches fault. Felix did nothing wrong UNLESS she left early. Incoming runner reached for the exchange early instead of chasing Felix into the zone. You really shouldn't see a straight arm UNTIL the baton is being pressed into the hand (or better- not at all). If your arm is straight- you are decelerating even faster- and have nowhere to go. Going blind in the 4x2 is risky- but if so- fly zone should be very short and arm should come back when the outgoing runner hits the zone- having a verbal cue is pointless. Mistake by Tarmoh and Mitchell.
If you look at the video above @ 1:47, you can see that it would have been a very clean pass if Felix grabbed it. Both arms were fully extended and the baton landed in Felixs' palm. Felix did not leave early. If Felix had grabbed the baton, it may have been a near perfect exchange with both arms extended for a blink of an eye.