What is the best way to accurately time 4x4 splits?

stopwatch?

Oh crap that would be way easier than my sundial. Thanks for the help!

I always use the middle of the zone, regardless of where the handoff occurs. Each runner is responsible for moving the baton ~400m and if they hand to a standstill runner early, it's reflected on the split. Always moving.

For the 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 handoffs, this is the Start/Finish line.

If you want to get super accurate or technical. The middle of the zone for the 1 to 2 handoff would be the 800m (1turn stagger) line for a 3turn stagger race.

You time it to when the baton crosses the start/finish line. On a three turn, go to the center of the zone. It usually has a mark or line.

Center of the zone = 400m for each leg. On a 200m indoor track, all splits are at the start/finish line. On a 400m outdoor track, the 2nd and 3rd exchanges are split at the start/finish line. The split for the first exchange may require some guesswork and a careful eye to make sure you are watching in the correct lane. If you're lucky, the track will have a separate 800m starting line in each lane, which is the correct place to take the split.

To get ACCURATE 3 Turn Stagger 4x400 SPLITS:

1) Remember every runners runs 400m

2) splits are to be recorded to the tenth of a second(not hundredth)

3) take splits by following the BATON(not the runner)

4) before the race starts look for middle of the exchange zone(usually corresponds with 800m start). This is where you get the split for the 1st and 2nd runner hand off.

Leg 1- start the watch when you see smoke from the starting gun.

Leg 2- split is middle of exchange zone. This is Usually around the 800m start. Split when the baton goes 1/2 way through the exchange zone, not the hand-off.

Leg 3- split is at the finish

Leg 4- stop when toro breaks finish line.

4) make adjustments so you favorite runner has the fastest split.