Ato Boldon’s – How to Coach the USA 4x100m Relay Pool

Last Updated on May 2, 2016 by Jimson Lee

How do select and train your 4x100m Relay Pool?

How do you make sure the baton gets around the track?

Jamaica is in for a tough decision with 7 guys to choose from.

Photo Credits: https://47photoblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/full-circle/

First, they will have their hands full trying to choose the 3rd man for their open 100 meter team.  They can choose from Lerone Clarke, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Mario Forsythe, and Yohan Blake.  Along with Bolt and Powell, you have to choose 4 more guys (6 in all) to name the 4×100m team in 2011 World Championships at Daegu.  This will be the team to beat.

Then you have to choose 4 to run the semi finals and, barring a disaster, 4 to run the finals.

Some Coaches will play around with the math in order to get all 6 members a chance for the medals, but you have qualify out of the semi finals, and you have to get the stick across the finish line in the finals!

Endless possibilities…

As long as ego doesn’t get in the way. Jamaica should win as long as everyone stay healthy.

USA!  USA!  USA!

But what about the Americans, who used to dominate this event?

Wallace Spearmon recently tweeted on his Twitter account:

The rules I’d make for the US 4×100 wouldn’t be popular but the team would be in it every year and no more 20 year old PR.

Last week’s tweet from Ato Bolden’s Top 10 Advice from a Retired Track Athlete was interesting, so here he responded with his 6 rules on how the USA should handle the 4×100 meter Relay:

1. Rule 1 running the 4×100 is a privilege not a right. No camp, no run, no likea the rules, sita in the stands.
2. Rule 2 Pat Henry is in charge.
3. Rule 3 is managers/agents stay the $%&* out of practice/discussions. What YOUR client “wants to run” means nothing.
4. Rule 4 for the next 3 years no collegians and no newbies. Look at the drops/miscues since 1988 and the experience level of those involved
5. Rule 5: camp is 3 deep at every leg, and no switching. You train/practice with different runners, but everyone is grouped by the leg you run.
6. Rule 6: see rule #3. Start there and the US may not win the next 3 years but the stick will actually travel 400m around an oval.

I agree with everything he is saying with the exception of Rule #5.  Can you really expect to field 12 men, 3 per leg, and then choose 6, where only 4 can run (hopefully twice)?  Maybe have a camp of 8 then choose 6?  If that is the case, do all 100m finalist from the National Trials get invited to the camp?  How about the 200m specialist, as they make great 3rd legs?  The 110m hurdles? (anyone remember Canada’s Charles Allen 2004 Summer Olympics?)

I also agree with Wallace Spearmon and the USA record  for the 4x100m relay should be easily broken with a healthy 4 sub-10 sprinters and 3 crisp clean passes.

Let the Games Begin!