In both the 1968 and 1988 Olympics, USA ran the exact same time of 2:56.16 in the 4x400m relay 20 years apart. (1968 was set in altitude in Mexico City).
The roll call for 1968 was Vincent Matthews, Ron Freeman, Larry James, and Lee Evans.
In 1988, it was Danny Everett, Steve Lewis, Kevin Robinzine, and Butch Reynolds.
Any time under 3 minutes is a World Class time for the 4 x 400 meter relay. In the past, only USA would (or could) break that barrier, but now we are seeing other countries catch up on the American dominance. But don’t hold your breath: USA produces new quality Quarter-Milers every year.
How fast is 2:56? You need a lead-off time of 44.8 and 3 guys running 43.8 on the “fly”.
Here are both races on YouTube. In both videos, watch how other countries are racing for the silver medal.
UPDATE: Sorry, the video is no longer on YouTube.
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It doesn’t even look real how fast the American’s are running…I’m fast but this is just amazing. Track and field helps showcase these amazing athletes
@Dan – The amazing thing is how they pull away from the 2nd leg, which is why you want your strongest leg #2, and not anchor. That’s my opinion. Thoughts?
Hi,
Great job. Just wanted to point out that the 1968 relay team used the 4x100m blind past which has never been done pryor to 68′ and since.
It is a difficult pass as the runners have to race through the zone.
@Ron – Another thing to point out, as seen in this book cover by Stan Wright, is the 1968 4×400 team practicing hand-offs in Lake Tahoe! This picture is Larry James handing off to Lee Evans. They didn’t have track tights back then!
This site is a treasure! Your work requires more appreciation.
With respect to those 4×4’s, each had at that time a top performance that stood out. Freeman’s 43.2 on 2nd leg of the ’68 ensemble and Everett’s reported sub 44 or thereabouts on the ’88 opener.
These were giants. How close are we today from replicating that depth?
Thanks for the kind words!
A few years ago, I listed my Dream team:
1. Steve Lewis
2. Quincy Watts
3. Butch Reynolds
4. Michael Johnson
This is much different than the current 1998 Outdoor World Record of the USA (Jerome Young, Antonio Pettigrew, Tyree Washington, Michael Johnson) 2:54.20 set at the Goodwill Games. And only 1 man was sub 44 in the Open 400.
That record might go down in Beijing with 2/4 (Lashawn & Jeremy) running sub 44. Plus, the dark horses that will emerge from the USATF Olympic Trials.
Speaking of the Seoul 1988 4x400m:
Lucas Sang, a member of the Kenyan 4x400m relay quartet at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, was attacked and hacked to death
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article3121539.ece