• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

4×100 Meter and 4×110 Yard Relay Trivia

You are here: Home / Track & Field / Olympic History / 4×100 Meter and 4×110 Yard Relay Trivia
1
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

November 20, 2009 by Jimson Lee Leave a Comment

Here is some history of the 4 x 100 meter world record progression.

The first time the 40 second barrier was broken was in 1936 Berlin Olympics with Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe, Foy Draper, and Frank Wykoff setting a WR in 39.8 seconds.

At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the 4x100m WR was 39.5 set by the American team anchored by Bobby Morrow.  39.5 was the standard until the American team lowered it to 39.1 in 1961.  That team consisted of Hayes Jones, Francis Budd, Charles Frazier, and Paul Drayton.

Fast forward to 1964, where the USA’s team of Paul Drayton, Gerald Ashworth, Richard Stebbins, and Robert Hayes lowered that time to 39.0 at the Tokyo Olympics

You can see that video here, as Bob Hayes’ anchor leg was the talk of the day Olympics decade.

4×100 meters vs. 4×110 yards

A little known fact back then was the 4×110 yard relay results were considered for WR ratification because the 4×110 yard is LONGER than the 4×100 meters.

110 yards = 100.584 meters, or 440 yard dash = 402.336 meters.  The 400 meters is exactly 1312.34 feet or 437.2 yards.

In 1967, the University of Southern California broke the 39 second barrier on the relay distance greater than 4×100 meters.  The 38.7 performance was set in altitude at Provo, Utah.  That team consisted of Earl McCulloch, Fred Kuller, O. J. Simpson, and Lennox Miller.

Not only was the race in yards (over 2 meters further), but it had a Jamaican as the anchor, making it the last mixed non-National team to hold a WR in the relay.

See also  Win a Fundamentals of Linear Sprint Technique DVD

Of special note is the infamous OJ Simpson, who needs no introduction.  (**cough cough see http: slash slash escape cough cough**)

Another interesting piece of trivia is Bill Bowerman’s University of Oregon 4×110 yard relay team with Harry Jerome also tied the existing WR for the relay.

Today, the WR stands at 37.10 set by Jamaica at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Category iconOlympic History,  Track & Field Tag icon100 meters,  4x100,  Nike,  Olympics,  relay,  speed

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Recommended

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xbs-aWxyLk

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman-Developing-Distance-Runnersv2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • Oregon22 Coaches Club now Online
  • IFAC 2022: The Return of In-Person Conferences (with Virtual option)
  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021
  • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 23]

Copyright © 2023. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}