Relay racing is considered one of the most exciting and spectacular disciplines in the program of athletics competitions. Athletes here represent not only themselves, but also defend the honor of their team, which encourages them to give all their best with a vengeance.
Definition
Relay racing is the only team discipline in athletics. The bottom line is that the athletes of the same team alternately pass the total distance, divided into stages, passing the relay symbol to each other. In biathlon or in swimming, the queue is transmitted in a symbolic way, by physical touching each other or by touching the side, so the process of transition from stage to stage is formal.
On the run, athletes overcome the distance with a relay stick in their hands, the process of transferring which to the next participant is furnished with a number of rules and restrictions, which brings teamwork to the forefront. Relay race rules are quite strict and punish for the slightest violation.
Athletes carefully work out the moment of stick transfer during training, which makes it possible to level the advantage in speed of runners of different teams.
A bit of history
Relay racing began in the nineteenth century. Given the great popularity of this discipline among the public, this discipline was included in the program of the Olympic Games in 1908. True, one of the most exotic for the modern spectator was presented from the types of relay race. Runners competed in the so-called Swedish relay race. It was divided into uneven segments and looked like this: 100-200-400-800 m.
In other words, athletes representing a wide range of running disciplines, from ultra-short to medium, took part in the competition.
Due to the great popularity of sprint distances, the 4x100 m discipline became the most popular type of relay race, which took its place in the program of olympiads. Soon competitions of specialists in long sprint - 4x400 m were added to it. Exotic Swedish relay race was unnecessary and lost the status of Olympic discipline.
Varieties
The program of the largest athletics competitions, which include the Olympic Games, world championships, championships of the continent, includes only two types of relay distances - 4x100 m and 4x400 m. The remaining types no longer fit into the busy schedule of competitions and are tiring for athletes.
In addition, the World Athletic Federation records in the disciplines of 4x200 m, 4x800 m, 4x1500 m. Professionals of hurdles also have their own relay race - 4x110 m with barriers, but this discipline is not very popular and is practically not included in the program of major tournaments.
One of the directions in today's big sport is the promotion of mixed species, where men and women compete in the same team. This mod has also touched on athletics, at various tournaments they are actively trying to conduct mixed relay races 4x100 and 4x400 m, there is talk of including these types in the Olympic Games.
Exotic
There are completely unusual types of relay race. These include disciplines with uneven segments. The Swedish relay race consists of increasing or decreasing segments of 100-200-400-800 m.
In connection with the popularity of cross-country running, team competitions in cross-country running on the highway are being actively introduced. Athletes run 3 or 5 kilometers, which turns the competition into a long tactical fight.
Lovers of extra-long distances have enviously watched the dynamic sprinter competitions for many years and decided to create their own relay race. These competitions are especially popular among the Japanese, one of the trendsetters in the marathon. This relay race is called ekidens, it is held at the classic marathon distance of 42,195 m.
The super-long section is divided into six runners, and the length of the segments alternates with each stage of the relay race. The role of the relay stick is performed by a special tape that is hung over the shoulder.
rules
Smooth running is not a particularly intricate sport, so most of the rules are related to the moment of passing the baton. The sizes of the stick are regulated, the length of which is in the range of 28-30 cm, the diameter is 4-5 cm, the weight does not exceed 150 g. The color scheme is yellow, red, orange, in general, the wand should be visible to the judges from afar.
The transfer of the relay takes place in a special corridor, the length of which is limited to 20 meters. The athlete taking the next stage has the right to start acceleration ten meters before the start of his section in order to gain speed. All athletes start with a low start. They even regulate the order of the alternation of hands, according to which the stick can be transferred only from the right hand to the left and vice versa.
The wand must be passed from hand to hand, it is forbidden to throw, roll it to a partner. Athletes do not have the right to interfere with each other, run into adjacent tracks, otherwise disqualification may follow.
In the event that the athlete drops his wand, he can pick it up and continue running, although the chances of a decent result are close to zero. If another participant took the dropped wand, the team will be disqualified.
It is forbidden to use any means to improve the grip of the palm of the hand with a stick - bandages, gloves, glue. This item was introduced after the incident at the Olympics, where the participants of one of the teams generously treated their hands with sticky substance for a faster transfer of the relay.
Grandees
Relays are very popular with spectators because of their dynamism, therefore they are usually held in the last days of competitions. A special prestige to relay victories is given by the fact that a team of the strongest runners in one or another distance comes to light.
The results of the relay competitions make it possible to fairly objectively judge the development of running in general in the country. At a distance of 4x100 m among men, an epic battle has been waged for a long time between the teams of the USA and Jamaica, British athletes sometimes wedge themselves. However, the presence of Usain Bolt in the Jamaican team for the past ten years has made the islanders an undeniable advantage, they won all major tournaments until his recent departure from big sport.
Relay racing, the distances of which are sharpened for sprinters - one of the most exciting sports, collecting millions of viewers.