The mixed 4 × 400 metres relay is a mixed-sex 4 × 400 metres relay in which teams field two men and two women. Initially, teams were free to arrange participants in any order. This created scenarios where mixed genders run on the same leg. This was changed in March 2022, where team members run in the order: man-woman-man-woman. It was introduced at the 2017 IAAF World Relays and was then held at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Qatar.

Background

Part of the rationale for the event was that should teams put their men and women in different orders, there will be excitement in seeing large leads being reversed when men and women are running against each other.[1] All the teams in the finals at the 2017 IAAF World Relays ran man-woman-woman-man.[1] In the final of the event's World Athletics Championship debut in 2019, all but one team chose a man-woman-woman-man order, with the exception of Poland, who chose man-man-woman-woman.[2] In March 2022, the rule was changed so that every team must use the order man-woman-man-woman.[3]

Michael Johnson commentating at the 2019 World Athletics Championships expressed a concern that, while entertaining, the mixed 4 × 400 metres event contributes to an overly busy schedule.[2]

Poland won the inaugural Olympic 4 × 400 metres mixed relay at the 2020 Summer Olympics, held in 2021.[4]

Records

Global records

Global records in the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay
Record Time Country Members Place Date Ref.
World record 3:07.41  United States Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown Saint-Denis, France 2 August 2024 [5]
Olympic record
Short track world record 3:12.44 Vacant [6]
Short track world best 3:15.63 i  Netherlands Nick Smidt, Eveline Saalberg, Tony van Diepen, Femke Bol Apeldoorn, Netherlands 6 March 2025 [7][8][9]

Progression

The first world record recognised by the IAAF was set by the US team at 3:12.42 in the first heat at the 2019 World Athletics Championships on 28 September 2019,[10] beating a prior world best by the US set in 2016. The US team then set a new record of 3:09.34 in the final the next day.[11] During the 2023 World Athletics Championships, team USA bested the previous record with a time of 3:08:80. Team USA further improved the record in the first heat at the 2024 Olympics with a time of 3:07:41.[12]

Area records

  • Updated 22 May 2026.[13]
Area Time Competition / Venue Athletes Nation
Africa (records) 3:09.872026 World RelaysGeorge Mutinda, Mercy Oketch, Kelvin Tonui, Mercy Chebet Kenya
Asia (records) 3:11.822019 World Athletics ChampionshipsMusa Isah, Aminat Yusuf Jamal, Salwa Eid Naser, Abbas Abubakar Abbas Bahrain
Europe (records) 3:07.432024 Summer OlympicsEugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink, Femke Bol Netherlands
North, Central America
and Caribbean (records)		 3:07.41 WR2024 Summer OlympicsVernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown United States
Oceania (records) 3:10.572026 World RelaysCooper Sherman, Ellie Beer, Thomas Reynolds, Mia Gross Australia
South America (records) 3:14.422025 Campeonato Nacional De Velocidad y SaltosNicolás Salinas [de], Lina Esther Licona Torres, Daniel Balanta, Evelis Aguilar Colombia

All-Time Top 10 by Country

  • Correct as of May 2026.
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref
1 3:07.41 Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown  United States 2 August 2024 Paris [12]
2 3:07.43 Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink, Femke Bol  Netherlands 3 August 2024 Paris [14]
3 3:08.01 Samuel Reardon, Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydock-Wilson, Amber Anning  Great Britain 3 August 2024 Paris [14]
4 3:08.24 Deandre Watkin, Shana Kaye Anderson, Antonio Watson, Rushell Clayton  Jamaica 3 May 2026 Gaborone [15]
5 3:09.36 Jonathan Sacoor, Helena Ponette, Alexander Doom, Naomi Van Den Broeck  Belgium 3 August 2024 Paris [14]
6 3:09.43 Maksymilian Szwed, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, Daniel Soltysiak, Natalia Bukowiecka  Poland 29 June 2025 Madrid [16]
7 3:09.66 Eduardo Scotti, Virginia Troiani, Vladimir Aceti, Alice Mangione  Italy 29 June 2025 Madrid [16]
8 3:09.82 Lidio Andrés Feliz, Marileidy Paulino, Alexander Ogando, Fiordaliza Cofil  Dominican Republic 15 July 2022 Eugene [17]
9 3:09.87 George Mutinda, Mercy Oketch, Kelvin Tonui, Mercy Chebet  Kenya 2 May 2026 Gaborone [18]
10 3:09.89 David García, Paula Sevilla, Julio Arenas, Blanca Hervás  Spain 2 May 2026 Gaborone [19]

Short track

  • Updated May 2026
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref.
1 3:15.60 Jonathan Sacoor, Ilana Hanssens, Julien Watrin, Helena Ponette  Belgium 21 March 2026 Toruń [20]
2 3:15.63 Nick Smidt, Eveline Saalberg, Tony van Diepen, Femke Bol  Netherlands 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [7][8][9]
3 3:16.49 Alastair Chalmers, Emily Newnham, Joshua Faulds, Lina Nielsen  Great Britain 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [21][9]
4 3:16.96 Markel Fernandez, Paula Sevilla, David García, Blanca Hervas  Spain 21 March 2026 Toruń [22]
5 3:17.44 Kajetan Duszyński, Anna Gryc, Marcin Karolewski, Justyna Święty-Ersetic  Poland 21 March 2026 Toruń [23]
6 3:17.63 Conor Kelly, Phil Healy, Marcus Lawler, Sharlene Mawdsley  Ireland 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [21][9]
7 3:19.17 Michal Desenský, Marcela Pírková, Milan Ščibráni, Tereza Petržilková  Czechia 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [24][9]
8 3:21.35 Jevon O'Bryant, Sara Reifenrath, Steven McElroy, Taiya Shelby  United States 21 March 2026 Toruń [25]
9 3:22.36 João Coelho, Carina Vanessa, Vera Barbosa, Ericsson Tavares  Portugal 5 February 2022 Glasgow
10 3:25.74 Natalija Švenda, Veronika Drljačić, Marino Bloudek, Karlo Videka  Croatia 18 January 2025 Zagreb

All-Time Top 25

  • Correct as of May 2026.
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref
1 3:07.41 Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown  United States 2 August 2024 Paris [12]
2 3:07.43 Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink, Femke Bol  Netherlands 3 August 2024 Paris [14]
3 3:07.47 Bryce Deadmon, Paris Peoples, Jenoah McKiver, Bailey Lear  United States 3 May 2026 Gaborone [26]
4 3:07.74 Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, Kaylyn Brown  United States 3 August 2024 Paris [14]
5 3:08.01 Samuel Reardon, Laviai Nielsen, Alex Haydock-Wilson, Amber Anning  Great Britain 3 August 2024 Paris [14]
6 3:08.24 Deandre Watkin, Shana Kaye Anderson, Antonio Watson, Rushell Clayton  Jamaica 3 May 2026 Gaborone [26]
7 3:08.80 Justin Robinson, Rosey Effiong, Matthew Boling, Alexis Holmes  United States 19 August 2023 Budapest [27]
3:08.80 Bryce Deadmon, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Jenoah McKiver, Alexis Holmes  United States 13 September 2025 Tokyo [28]
9 3:09.34 Wilbert London, Allyson Felix, Courtney Okolo, Michael Cherry  United States 29 September 2019 Doha [11]
10 3:09.36 Jonathan Sacoor, Helena Ponette, Alexander Doom, Naomi Van Den Broeck  Belgium 3 August 2024 Paris [14]
11 3:09.43 Maksymilian Szwed, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, Daniel Soltysiak, Natalia Bukowiecka  Poland 29 June 2025 Madrid [16]
12 3:09.54 Chris Robinson, Courtney Okolo, Johnnie Blockburger, Lynna Irby-Jackson  United States 11 May 2025 Guangzhou [29]
13 3:09.66 Eduardo Scotti, Virginia Troiani, Vladimir Aceti, Alice Mangione  Italy 29 June 2025 Madrid [16]
Samuel Reardon, Lina Nielsen, Toby Harries, Emily Newnham  Great Britain 29 June 2025 Madrid [16]
15 3:09.69 Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull, Yemi Mary John  Great Britain 2 May 2026 Gaborone [30]
16 3:09.82 Lidio Andrés Feliz, Marileidy Paulino, Alexander Ogando, Fiordaliza Cofil  Dominican Republic 15 July 2022 Eugene [17]
Bryce Deadmon, Paris Peoples, Brian Faust, Bailey Lear  United States 2 May 2026 Gaborone [30]
18 3:09.84 Alex Haydock-Wilson, Lina Nielsen, Jake Minshull, Yemi Mary John  Great Britain 3 May 2026 Gaborone [26]
19 3:09.87 Karol Zalewski, Natalia Kaczmarek, Justyna Święty-Ersetic, Kajetan Duszyński  Poland 31 July 2021 Tokyo [31]
George Mutinda, Mercy Oketch, Kelvin Tonui, Mercy Chebet  Kenya 2 May 2026 Gaborone [30]
21 3:09.89 David García, Paula Sevilla, Julio Arenas, Blanca Hervás  Spain 2 May 2026 Gaborone [30]
22 3:09.90 Liemarvin Bonevacia, Lieke Klaver, Tony van Diepen, Femke Bol  Netherlands 15 July 2022 Eugene [17]
23 3:09.92 Christopher O'Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr, Sharlene Mawdsley  Ireland 7 June 2024 Rome [32]
24 3:09.96 Eugene Omalla, Lieke Klaver, Jonas Phijffers, Femke Bol  Netherlands 13 September 2025 Tokyo [33]
25 3:10.16 Elija Godwin, Allyson Felix, Vernon Norwood, Kennedy Simon  United States 15 July 2022 Eugene [17]

Short track

  • Updated May 2026
Rank Time Team Nation Date Place Ref.
1 3:15.60 Jonathan Sacoor, Ilana Hanssens, Julien Watrin, Helena Ponette  Belgium 21 March 2026 Toruń [34]
2 3:15.63 Nick Smidt, Eveline Saalberg, Tony van Diepen, Femke Bol  Netherlands 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [7][8][9]
3 3:16.19 Julien Watrin, Imke Vervaet, Christian Iguacel, Helena Ponette  Belgium 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [21][9]
4 3:16.49 Alastair Chalmers, Emily Newnham, Joshua Faulds, Lina Nielsen  Great Britain 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [21][9]
5 3:16.96 Markel Fernandez, Paula Sevilla, David García, Blanca Hervas  Spain 21 March 2026 Toruń [35]
6 3:17.12 Manuel Guijarro, Carmen Avilés, Bernat Erta, Daniela Fra  Spain 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [21][9]
7 3:17.44 Kajetan Duszyński, Anna Gryc, Marcin Karolewski, Justyna Święty-Ersetic  Poland 21 March 2026 Toruń [36]
8 3:17.63 Conor Kelly, Phil Healy, Marcus Lawler, Sharlene Mawdsley  Ireland 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [21][9]
9 3:18.90 Iñaki Cañal, Aauri Bokesa, Sara Gallego, Bernat Erta  Spain 5 February 2022 Glasgow [24][9]
10 3:19.17 Michal Desenský, Marcela Pírková, Milan Ščibráni, Tereza Petržilková  Czechia 6 March 2025 Apeldoorn [24][9]
11 3:19.78  Ireland 15 January 2025 Dublin [24]
12 3:20.14 Keenan Blake, Myrte van der Schoot, Tony Van Diepen, Eveline Saalberg  Netherlands 21 March 2026 Toruń [37]
13 3:21.35 Jevon O'Bryant, Sara Reifenrath, Steven McElroy, Taiya Shelby  United States 21 March 2026 Toruń [38]
14 3:22.23 James Williams, Susanna Banjo, Hannah Kelly, Ben Higgins  England 5 February 2022 Glasgow
15 3:22.36 João Coelho, Carina Vanessa, Vera Barbosa, Ericsson Tavares  Portugal 5 February 2022 Glasgow
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

Olympic medalists

Year Gold Silver Bronze
2021  Poland3:09.87 OR, AR  Dominican Republic3:10.21 NR  United States3:10.22 SB
2024  Netherlands3:07.43 AR  United States3:07.74  Great Britain3:08.01 NR

World Athletics Championships

Year Gold Silver Bronze
2019  United States (USA)3:09.34 WR  Jamaica (JAM)3:11.78 NR  Bahrain (BHR)3:11.82 AR
2022  Dominican Republic (DOM)3:09.82 NR  Netherlands (NED)3:09.90 NR  United States (USA)3:10.16
2023  United States (USA)3:08.80 WR  Great Britain (GBR)3:11.06 NR  Czech Republic (CZE)3:11.98 NR
2025  United States (USA)3:08.80 =CR  Netherlands (NED)3:09.96  Belgium (BEL)3:10.61

World Athletics Relays

Year Gold Silver Bronze
2017  Bahamas (BAH)3:14.42 CR  United States (USA)3:17.29  Jamaica (JAM)3:20.26
2019  United States (USA)3:16.43  Canada (CAN)3:18.15  Kenya (KEN)3:19.43
2021  Italy (ITA)3:16.60  Brazil (BRA)3:17.54  Dominican Republic (DOM)3:17.58
2024  United States (USA)3:10.73 CR  Netherlands (NED)3:11.45  Ireland (IRE)3:11.53
2025  United States (USA)3:09.54 CR  Australia (AUS)3:12.20  Kenya (KEN)3:13.10
2026  United States (USA)3:07.47 CR  Jamaica (JAM)3:08.24  Great Britain (GBR)3:09.69

References

  1. 1 2 Bloom, Ben (28 September 2019). "The mixed gender 4x400 metre relay - what you need to know ahead of World Championships debut". The Telegraph.
  2. 1 2 "World Athletics Championships", BBC 2, 29 September 2019
  3. ↑ Vernon, Dan (15 March 2022). "Key competition decisions made at 227th World Athletics Council Meeting". World Athletics.
  4. ↑ "Olympic News - Sports News, Events & Athletes". Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "4 x 400m Relay Mixed – Round 1 – Results – Revised" (PDF). Olympics.com. 2 August 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Indoor 4x400m mixed relay added to rule book as official discipline", World Athletics, 5 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 1", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 2", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Mixed 4x400 Metres Relay Short Track – Final 1", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  10. ↑ "World Athletics Championships Doha2019 - 4X400 Metres Relay Mixed - Heats Summary". Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  11. 1 2 "World Athletics Championships Doha2019 - Results 4 × 400 m Relay Mixed − Final" (PDF). IAAF. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 "Paris Olympics 2024 - 4 x 400m Relay Mixed Round 1 Results". Olympics.com. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  13. ↑ "4x400 Metres Relay Mixed | Stats | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Paris Olympics 2024 - 4 x 400m Relay Mixed Final Results". Olympics.com. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  15. ↑ "RESULTS Mixed 4X400m Relay - WA Ultimate Qualifying Round" (PDF). World Athletics. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Results 4x400m Mixed" (PDF). European Athletics. 29 June 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "World Athletics Championships Oregon22 - Mixed 4 × 400 m Relay Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "RESULTS Mixed 4X400m Relay - Round 1" (PDF). World Athletics. 2 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "RESULTS Mixed 4X400m Relay - Round 1" (PDF). World Athletics. 2 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 3", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  22. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  23. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "All time Top lists – 4x400 Metres Relay mixed – page 4", World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  25. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  26. 1 2 3 "RESULTS Mixed 4X400m Relay - WA Ultimate Qualifying Round" (PDF). World Athletics. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "World Athletics Championships Budapest23 - Results - 4 x 400 Metres Relay Mixed - Final" (PDF). World Athletics. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  28. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  29. ↑ "Mixed 4×400 Metres Relay - Final" (PDF). World Athletics. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "RESULTS Mixed 4X400m Relay - Round 1" (PDF). World Athletics. 2 May 2026. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  31. ↑ "The XXXII Olympic Games Tokyo - Mixed 4x400 Metres Relay". Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  32. ↑ "European Athletics Championships 2024 Rome - Mixed 4X400 Metres Relay - Final". Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  33. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  34. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  35. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  36. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  37. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  38. ↑ "Mixed 4×400m Relay Results" (PDF). World Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_4_×_400_metres_relay