From the beginnings to the first official world record If on the European continent the metric system is the one almost exclusively used (4 × 100 metres, or a lap of 400 m), where the imperial system is still used (UK, USA and Australia, mainly) this relay was rather ran over the distance of 4 × 110 yards, a total of 402.34 m, and that, until the late 1960s. The runway at
Hayward Field was shortened to 400 m only in 1987. Paradoxically, the first race recognized as certain, without however being an official world record, dates back to 1897, shortly after the creation, on 8 May, of the
Česká amatérská atletická unie (ČAAU). On June 26 of that year, during Sparta's 5th match in Prague, the organizing team, AC Sparta Praha, defeated MAC Budapest, in 48 1/5 seconds. Unlike the "long" 4 × 400 m relay, whose origins are clearly American, because it derives from the 4 × 440 yards, the 4 × 100 m relay is therefore of European origin. The Scandinavians, in particular, have introduced this new specialty into their programmes, in the hope of being able to play a decisive role in it. Before World War I, this foundation period of the relay was gradually enhanced by various German or Swedish teams (such as
AIK Stockholm), until the semi-finals of the
Stockholm Olympic Games (1912) where this event made its Olympic appearance: • in the 1st semi-final, the Great Britain team (consisting of
David Jacobs,
Henry Macintosh,
Victor d'Arcy, and
William Applegarth) reached 43 seconds 0 tenths (43 s) for the first time, behind the Americans who had finished in 42 seconds 5 , but who were disqualified for passing the baton out of the area; • in the second semifinal, the Swedish team (
Ivan Möller,
Charles Luther,
Ture Person and
Knut Lindberg) took this record to 42 s 5, ahead of Hungary in 42 s 9. These two runs have not been recognized by the IAAF as the first world records, despite their official nature. The first officially recognized world record for the fast relay is that of the German team, which on 8 July 1912, during the 3rd semifinal, runs in 42 seconds 3 tenths. The team consisted of Otto Röhr, Max Herrmann, Erwin Kern, and Richard Rau. In the final Great Britain, despite having finished second again, behind the favorites and the new world record holders, still won the gold medal, due to the loss of the German baton. Sweden is second in 42 s 6. The bronze medal is not awarded, because the Americans, still clumsy in passing the baton, were also downgraded. The German record in the semifinal (42"3) will remain the best result of the year. In 1913 it will be recognized by the newly formed IAAF as the first official world record of the specialty. After this first Olympic event, in addition to the 4 × 400 m relay, the 4 × 100 m relay established itself as a classic Olympic event and will always remain on the programme, first for men, then extended to women. The two relays undergo little transformation over time. However, since 1926, the baton bearer has to remain in the baton transmission area, which is 20 m long. It wasn't until 1963 that the rules were relaxed: a 10 m run-up zone, before this zone, allowed him to better tackle the run-up. == Continental records ==