For the 4 x 400 I always go by the line regardless of who has the baton. In other words someone might carry the baton further for a split than someone else.
Some say that the way I do it is not accurate.
How do you take your relay splits? I'm also looking for your rational for why you do it the way you do.
Assuming you start in lane 1:
When the chest of the baton holder crosses the start/finish line. Note: that could potentially be the same person for two consecutive splits.
You are doing it right, assuming that you are looking at the chest of the baton holder and not the baton itself (not that it really matters to the naked eye).
theJeff wrote:
Assuming you start in lane 1:
When the chest of the baton holder crosses the start/finish line. Note: that could potentially be the same person for two consecutive splits.
You are doing it right, assuming that you are looking at the chest of the baton holder and not the baton itself (not that it really matters to the naked eye).
But what about if you are running another lane?
Here is something I found online. I find it confusing.
This post will also remind us how to take proper splits in an indoor 4×200 and 4x400m relay:
1.Start your stopwatch at the smoke, not the sound of the gun
2.The first split (or 2nd runner) is taken at the staggered 400m start line, not the exchange!
3.Splits are taken when the BATON crosses the line, not when the handoff is taking place
4.3rd and 4th runners splits are taken at the finish line.
Anonymous by choice again wrote:
theJeff wrote:
Assuming you start in lane 1:
When the chest of the baton holder crosses the start/finish line. Note: that could potentially be the same person for two consecutive splits.
You are doing it right, assuming that you are looking at the chest of the baton holder and not the baton itself (not that it really matters to the naked eye).
But what about if you are running another lane?
There is a line in the midpoint of the 4x400 exchange zone that would serve the purpose of the start-finish line. In my experience, you need to pretty much be standing there to get an accurate split. I usually place half a tennis ball on it when I am getting my splits.
waltertompatton wrote:
Here is something I found online. I find it confusing.
This post will also remind us how to take proper splits in an indoor 4×200 and 4x400m relay:
1.Start your stopwatch at the smoke, not the sound of the gun
2.The first split (or 2nd runner) is taken at the staggered 400m start line, not the exchange!
3.Splits are taken when the BATON crosses the line, not when the handoff is taking place
4.3rd and 4th runners splits are taken at the finish line.
This is mostly right, except that it is the chest of the baton holder, not the baton itself, that matters.
I guess I am not the only person who is confused about how to take relay splits. There are many opinions. Here is one that drives me batty because I believe it's way too picky (I'd like to use a different word but LRC will not allow it!)
Read this:
Other than the 4X100mr,which is basically impossible, the 4X400MR when a 3 turn stagger is used can be difficult. Time when the baton crosses the middle line of the zone which is not always the start finish line depending on the length of the relay. Many incorrectly time when the baton is exchanged or at the start finish line when it is inappropriate.
Would anyone assume the above is even not crazy?
Anonymous by choice again wrote:
For the 4 x 400 I always go by the line regardless of who has the baton. In other words someone might carry the baton further for a split than someone else.
Some say that the way I do it is not accurate.
How do you take your relay splits? I'm also looking for your rational for why you do it the way you do.
I still think my way is best!
But here is another one:
"You are actually timing the baton as it crosses the middle of the zone.
Sometime it is unfair if a runner coming in slows down dramatically or if you are
running leadoff without the benefit of a running start. It gets even trickier especially outdoors
when attempting to get 4 x 200, smr or (heaven forbid 4 x 100 splits)
Those involve spotters or incredible eyesight."
Doesn't the "middle of the zone," vary from race to race and even track to track?
Fulton J. Sheen wrote:
I guess I am not the only person who is confused about how to take relay splits. There are many opinions. Here is one that drives me batty because I believe it's way too picky (I'd like to use a different word but LRC will not allow it!)
Read this:
Other than the 4X100mr,which is basically impossible, the 4X400MR when a 3 turn stagger is used can be difficult. Time when the baton crosses the middle line of the zone which is not always the start finish line depending on the length of the relay. Many incorrectly time when the baton is exchanged or at the start finish line when it is inappropriate.
Would anyone assume the above is even not crazy?
It is horribly phrased, but it is accurate (except for timing the baton itself instead of correctly timing the torso of the baton holder).
theJeff wrote:
Fulton J. Sheen wrote:
I guess I am not the only person who is confused about how to take relay splits. There are many opinions. Here is one that drives me batty because I believe it's way too picky (I'd like to use a different word but LRC will not allow it!)
Read this:
Other than the 4X100mr,which is basically impossible, the 4X400MR when a 3 turn stagger is used can be difficult. Time when the baton crosses the middle line of the zone which is not always the start finish line depending on the length of the relay. Many incorrectly time when the baton is exchanged or at the start finish line when it is inappropriate.
Would anyone assume the above is even not crazy?
It is horribly phrased, but it is accurate (except for timing the baton itself instead of correctly timing the torso of the baton holder).
I do want to argue about this because Track & Field is starting soon in our state. This is important although now I know that there may be many logical opinions about this. Please see my next post!
It's important to time the baton, not the runner! I knew a track & field coach in Ohio who continually timed the runner, not the baton. This caused the athletes to either be very exhilarated or very disappointed with their splits.
Relay timing
Start timing with the flash or smoke. Time the baton as it passes the midpoint of the exchange zone and stop when the the runners torso crosses Finishline. For relays run in lanes the midpoint of the exchange zone in that lane the athletes are in is used.
Total time /4.
Anonymous by choice again wrote:
For the 4 x 400 I always go by the line regardless of who has the baton. In other words someone might carry the baton further for a split than someone else.
Some say that the way I do it is not accurate.
How do you take your relay splits? I'm also looking for your rational for why you do it the way you do.
I do it same as you do.
You are supposed to be taking 400m splits, not looking at how long each athlete held the baton. That means you mark off when the baton crosses each 400m mark. What good does it do to say "Johnny (3rd leg) had the baton for 54.0 seconds (and ran 395 meters), while Jimmy (anchor) had the baton for 54.7 seconds (and ran 405 meters). Way to go, Johnny! but you need to pick it up next time, Jimmy!" when Jimmy almost surely ran faster (full 400m segments were probably reversed).
Anonymous by choice again wrote:
theJeff wrote:
Assuming you start in lane 1:
When the chest of the baton holder crosses the start/finish line. Note: that could potentially be the same person for two consecutive splits.
You are doing it right, assuming that you are looking at the chest of the baton holder and not the baton itself (not that it really matters to the naked eye).
But what about if you are running another lane?
You are always going by the middle of the exchange zone. For every leg aside from the first leg, that is always the finish line. For the first leg, it is the 1-turn stagger line (the 800m start).
waltertompatton wrote:
Here is something I found online. I find it confusing.
This post will also remind us how to take proper splits in an indoor 4×200 and 4x400m relay:
1.Start your stopwatch at the smoke, not the sound of the gun
2.The first split (or 2nd runner) is taken at the staggered 400m start line, not the exchange!
3.Splits are taken when the BATON crosses the line, not when the handoff is taking place
4.3rd and 4th runners splits are taken at the finish line.
#2 was worded funny, but it has it right: they are talking about the first stagger line, which is the 1-turn stagger line. That's where the 800m runners start.
You start the 4x4 on the 3-turn stagger line (because the athletes will take 3 turns before cutting in). The first 400m takes 2 of those staggers, meaning the first 400m ends at the first stagger line. This is also the halfway point of the exchange zone.
Key points here:
1. Start the timer at the flash/smoke, and not the bang. (Light is faster than sound).
2. The first 400m segment ends at the 1-turn stagger (800m start line).
3. is saying the same thing as #2: time the baton crossing the middle of the exchange zone, regardless of where the runner hands off the baton.
4. The middle of the exchange zone after the first exchange is the finish line.
Use chest of runner holding baton as this chest passes mid-point. If hands pass/extend baton at mid-point so no chest at mid-point while baton is held, then use baton itself.
For a three turn stagger relay, The first split is taken at the 800m start/ one turn stagger line.
The last three splits are taken at the finish line.
For handoffs, the split is taken either when the runner with the baton crosses the line or when the baton crosses the line if the exchange happens right at the line.
More simply put, you take splits on the baton as it reaches each 400m interval.
The outgoing runner almost always has the baton before the split line.
The finish is obviously stopped when the final runner’s torso crosses the finish line.
I got ripped off by my coach in high school.
I ran a great anchor leg but started at a dead stop grabbing the baton from a dying teammate at the beginning of the exchange.
My PR was 50.2 and I made up a huge gap to catch a runner. I knew it was a 49. split.
Coach had me at 51.
I know he took the split at the exchange and not the line.