The first
world record
A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organization ...
in the
4 x 100 metres relay for men (
athletics
Athletics may refer to:
Sports
* Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking
** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport
* Athletics (physical culture), competi ...
) was recognized by the International Amateur Athletics Federation, now known as
World Athletics
World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body fo ...
, in 1912.
To June 21, 2009, the IAAF has ratified 35 world records in the event.
[
]
The following table shows the world record progression in the men's 4 x 100 metre relay, as ratified by the IAAF. "y" denotes time for 4 x 110 yards (402.34 m), ratified as a record for this event.
Records 1912-1976
Records since 1977
Key to tables:
From 1975 onwards, the IAAF (now World Athletics) accepted separate automatically electronically timed records for events up to 400 metres. Starting January 1, 1977, the IAAF required
fully automatic timing
Fully automatic time (abbreviated FAT) is a form of race timing in which the clock is automatically activated by the starting device, and the finish time is either automatically recorded, or timed by analysis of a photo finish. The system is c ...
to the hundredth of a second for these events.
[
The United States relay team's 1972 Olympic gold medal victory time of 38.19 was the fastest recorded result to that time.
]
T42-T46 Class
The T42-T46 4 × 100 m relay is run by athletes with a disability.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Men's 4 x 100 metres relay world record progression
4x100, men
4 × 100 metres relay