Favorite position in a relay

[Sully 800]

What leg do you guys prefer to run on relays, or what do you run most commonly?

For 4x4, I usually run 1st or 3rd, but I think I prefer the 3rd leg because I do not start or accelerate as well as other people on my team.

For 4x8 however, I LOVE running the lead off, much more so than any other leg. I find that I do much better in this position because I know where I'm sitting within the race, and I hit much better splits. As leadoff I find that I can pace behind the leader(s) for the first lap and run quickly without wasting too much energy, but if I start behind on a middle leg I will often waste energy trying to catch up right away.

[gesser]

What leg do you guys prefer to run on relays, or what do you run most commonly?

For 4x4, I usually run 1st or 3rd, but I think I prefer the 3rd leg because I do not start or accelerate as well as other people on my team.

For 4x8 however, I LOVE running the lead off, much more so than any other leg. I find that I do much better in this position because I know where I'm sitting within the race, and I hit much better splits. As leadoff I find that I can pace behind the leader(s) for the first lap and run quickly without wasting too much energy, but if I start behind on a middle leg I will often waste energy trying to catch up right away.

I agree with you 100% on both. However, I got to run anchor for the 4x400 in a dual meet once and it was fun. Our best 400 guy had already run the max events that day, and our second best always ran leadoff so I got to run anchor. It was fun being able to cross the line and win it. So I guess I wouldn't mind running any leg for the 4x4 and for the 4x8 I like leadoff too.

[Coach E]

Most teams run a relay in this order.

1st (2nd Fastest)
2nd (3rd Fastest)
3rd (Slowest)
4th (Fastest)

However I have seen some schools switch it up, particulary the Marine League Schools

1st (2nd Fastest)
2nd (fastest)
and the 3rd & 4th would have the 3rd fastest and the slowest...


regardless of the fact, the first leg is usually one of the faster legs.

Knowing all this...my favorite leg, and most important leg I feel, as a coach is the first leg.

[Mr. Powers]

definetly anchor in anything

[Greek God]

I agree with coach E. In the 4x100 many times the fastest person runs second because if the exchanges are timed right that can be the longest leg of the race distance wise. And the anchor leg can be the shortest if the exchanges are timed right like only 90 meters so the slowest runner runs that leg. I personally prefer running the second leg cuz of being on the backstretch and away from the distractions on the homestretch. I had to run the anchor leg last year but i must admit it was a lot of fun.

[Brumund-Smith]

If I'm in shape: anchor leg

I'm in not in shape: anything but lead-off

In every situation possible: anything but lead-off


I HATE LEADING OFF!!!

[mvrunner]

i like either 1st or 4th leg

[redundant]

Lead-off or anchor. In both legs I am responsible for putting my team in the position to win. I compete. This is what I do. I am a relay specialist.

[JSC.Rnr]

I prefer either anchor or third. Anchor because I'm the fastest, third because I get the baton in my right hand.

[AsthenicAthlete]

I like leading off because, as said before, you can run a normal race and not get caught up with catching up. Also, you don't have to receive a baton, which always gets me worried (that I'm gonna drop it).

[PushUps]

i like anything but lead off
yesterday i had to lead off twice with relays that had so many teams on the field at once :(

[Brumund-Smith]

I prefer either anchor or third. Anchor because I'm the fastest, third because I get the baton in my right hand.

I'm assuming you're talking about the 4x1. What about the 4x4 or 4x8?

The only position I would really be able to run on a 4x1 is anchor. I'm too tall and lanky to run the corners and I wouldn't be able to run second because I just CAN'T keep the baton in my left hand. I have only run maybe four or five 4x1 relays in my whole life, and run anchor on every one. Needless to say, my relays didn't do very well because I don't have much top speed.

[WithStamina]

Third leg in the 4x4. You don't have to cut, lead off, or finish. It's the slacker leg.

[Sully 800]

With Stamina reminded me of a good point about the 4x4 since it can be run as a two turn or 3 turn stagger. I actually like being the guy who breaks to the inside, because that lets me feel out my position pretty well. Also, I have a fairly large frame so I don't get jostled very easily, and my coaches would put me on lead off of our indoor 4x4 so we wouldn't get messed up at the break point.

[JSC.Rnr]

I'm assuming you're talking about the 4x1. What about the 4x4 or 4x8?

The only position I would really be able to run on a 4x1 is anchor. I'm too tall and lanky to run the corners and I wouldn't be able to run second because I just CAN'T keep the baton in my left hand. I have only run maybe four or five 4x1 relays in my whole life, and run anchor on every one. Needless to say, my relays didn't do very well because I don't have much top speed.

I actually run the 4x2 and 4x4. I like the open exchange in the 4x4, and it's the only relay I don't mind leading off. Lanes all the way, and it doesn't cause me to go out in 23.9 trying to catch up.

[HurdlinDuck110]

my favorite leg in the 4x4 is ironically third followed closely by fourth.

3rd- i love getting the baton with the lead or with one/two people ahead of me. running so hard to maintain/gain on the other runners is awesome. then i head down the last 100m and see my anchor there, i hand it off with the lead and almost collapse in exhaustion, then i watch my man bring it home for the win. totally sweet.

4th- getting the baton and knowing i can't blow the lead or knowing i'm the last hope at gaining a position in a good race. plus all the people screaming as you come down the last stretch in a tight race. ahhh... i want to do a relay right now.

[Cocca]

Most definetley anchor in any relay. The reason for this is because I want to finish, I don't want to be watching the end of the race that I was involved in, I want to that person at the end that everyone is relying on. I trust myself. Also, it is just more fun to start on that last turn in the 4x1 and get the baton at the last part of the turn and just flying.

[watchout]

Our team usually runs it like this:

1: slowest leg
2: second fastest leg
3: second slowest leg
4: fastest leg

That said, I'm most comfortable running 3rd leg, although I have to run 2nd sometimes.

(PS, all info from me is on the 4x400, but could be applied to 4x800 as well, although we never run that. I don't know much about the 4x1, and we don't run a 4x2 here.)

[Weezy]

in the 4x4 our leadoff guy always comes in with the lead, so i have nobody around me. I usually get with a large buffer zone and its just me and the first lane

[icefire.KiCK!]

I love running second leg 4x800. There always seem to be just the right amount of people to reel in and pick off. And for 4x400, I like anchoring, just because it's so short. I hate leading off anything.

[laxcrunner]

for 4x4 i run the second leg, i like that leg cause i feel like the other guys have time to make up anything i lose, in 4x8 i like running lead off or anchor.

[Ecliptica]

Lead-off, always. I want to be the one responsible for getting the team in the lead and it gives me a ton of satisfaction if I'm in the inside lane and I get to catch someone on the outside.

redundant can vouch for me, I have yet to give the baton to our second leg in anything but first in the 4x100 and I wasn't too shabby running the lead leg of the 4x4 even though I can barely make it that far around the track ;).

[Humarrogance]

Lead leg. I like putting my team out in the lead... unless the other teams are faster than me.

[t-phi-philly]

What leg do you guys prefer to run on relays, or what do you run most commonly?

For 4x4, I usually run 1st or 3rd, but I think I prefer the 3rd leg because I do not start or accelerate as well as other people on my team.

For 4x8 however, I LOVE running the lead off, much more so than any other leg. I find that I do much better in this position because I know where I'm sitting within the race, and I hit much better splits. As leadoff I find that I can pace behind the leader(s) for the first lap and run quickly without wasting too much energy, but if I start behind on a middle leg I will often waste energy trying to catch up right away.

i'll run any leg on 4x4, 4x8, but for by one has to be 3rd leg for me its where i'll be at my best...

[TonyHurdler]

2nd in the 4x400; I love the cut, passing during it is so exciting. Hopefully a fast 2nd sets up good quick inside handoffs for 2nd and third exchanges. Plus, running against slightly slower guys makes one look better. And the nerves for me- I like being behind the 1st leg runner, staying warm, then when they take off taking deep breaths- no time to get too nervous.

[apocalypse]

I love running anchor leg on the 4x4 and 4x8. There is no better feeling than catching people and winning a relay for ur team. When i'm anchor i run faster but really relaxed, i just get in the zone. I hate lead off cuz of a bad past experience at a big meet.

[emceelaszlo]

If I'm in shape: anchor leg

I'm in not in shape: anything but lead-off

In every situation possible: anything but lead-off


I HATE LEADING OFF!!!



me to

[nikestar4]

anchor is the best, i use who ever is in front of my as a rabbit and try to catch them, do at sometimes....helps me pr

[Dr Gee Bunz]

In high school we woudl go..
1-third fastest
2-slowest
3-second fastest
4-fastest

[Sprinter485]

I agree with Apocalypse...there is honestly no better feeling than running people down and winning the race for your team...

I like running any position where I get the baton behind (not too far behind, obviously) and have to make up ground...which is why I hate running lead-off.

[FIRE CHIEF]

I loved running the second leg of the 4x4 in a three turn stagger, I also didn't mind first just to get it done with. I don't like receiving the baton in a California exchange situation, just too much traffic and too many things going on, especially in the 4x4 when everything is going so fast.

Our 4x4 team used to go like this

1. 3rd Fastest
2. 2nd Fastest
3. Slowest
4. Fastest

Our coach liked one of the faster runners to go second in a 3 turn stagger just to get the team in a better position after the break line.

In the 4x1 your fastest should go second and I am not sure why more teams don't take advantage of a potential 120m leg. I think the slowest should go third because you can make that leg 80m and the 4th can be 110m and should probably be your second fastest.

[Joe]

I like this approach for both the 4 x 800:

1st: 3rd Fastest
2nd: 4th Fastest
3rd: Fastest
4th: Second Fastest

And this for the 4 x 400

1st: 3rd Fastest
2nd: 4th Fastest
3rd: Second Fastest
4th: Fastest

It all depends on your personnel, but I like it because if your first and second guys can hang near the leaders, then the 3rd leg and anchor blow the race wide open.

[Sully 800]

ran lead off for 4x4 today with a 3 turn stagger, and I decided thats my least favorite position of all. You run the entire race in lanes but never make up the stagger so its really hard to tell where you are sitting amongst the other teams. Once again though I led off our 4x8, and loved it. PR'ed by a few tenths as well.

[4evaMD]

These are my leg preferences on the sprint relays.

4x100: lead-off or 3rd (I run my best on the curves)

4x200: any leg

4x400: 3rd (I hate that stagger on the 2nd leg)

[TonyHurdler]

In the final leg of the 4x200 I hate that akward cut in- does every state run it like that? it makes the final exchange chaotic.

[z00m]

my preference

4 x 1 - 1st

4 x 2 - 1st

[Fraek]

i always go anchor (because im the fastest), however, sometimes it is embarrassing to bring up the rear, but i still like it.

[danelons]

Most teams run a relay in this order.

1st (2nd Fastest)
2nd (3rd Fastest)
3rd (Slowest)
4th (Fastest)


I disagree. Most schools run the following order:

1st (2nd fastest)
2nd (4th fastest)
3rd (3rd fastest)
4th (fastest)

[Ecliptica]

We run it our 4x100:

Lead-off: 2nd fastest (11.1)
Second: Fastest (10.9)
Third: Slowest (11.7)
Anchor: Third Fastest (11.4)

It's worked out pretty well for us, I can fly on that first corner and by the time I get it to the second guy the stagger is made up. Then if he gives our third guy enough of a lead our anchor will always hold on.

[Mansfield]

4x1-no
4x2-last or third
4x4-last

[caveman017]

for our frosh soph 4x8 we have

fastest (tied)
2nd fastest
slowest
fastest (tied)

[mowgli07]

i have to run the 800 varsity for my team..but i dont run the 4x400. but at the invites i run f/s so i can medal but then when it comes to the 4x400 im the fastest one and i used to want to run anchor and this other cocky guy that can only run like a 59 always wanted to anchor it and i never let him cuz he was slow and so was the rest of the team. but getting the baton and anchoring from last or close to it isnt fun especially if second to last has got a 70m lead on you. so now i stick to running first so i can take the lead without being in last so i can have a clear mind and have the lead for us for a little bit . then they screw it up. even tho im am 800 runner at an invite ive ran the 4x200 which i got us the lead(opening leg) and the team got 4th..blew the medal shot...and for the 4x400 i opened it and had us tied for 2nd and they ended up 6th...so if ur the fastest and ur team sucks...open the relay cuz you can get a little mad after and not before because i dont think being mad helps very much when you start a race

[The Architect]

I think I've run 2nd maybe once, with all my other positions being 3 or 4. I like being 3 because there's little pressure as you're neither starting nor closing the race. People may say the slowest guy should run 3 (or 2), but in the 4x800 everyone is going to run 800 meters (give or take 10ish) so you need solid guys all around. Also, running 3 lets me take a little more recovery from my previous event (or events) than running 1 or 2. We often do our order based on who raced most recently, with the freshest guy running earlier and people who ran the event or two before the 4x800 running later. That's how I usually get stuck 3rd, but sometimes I manage to anchor. :D

[Ive got the runs]

In the 4x100 many times the fastest person runs second because if the exchanges are timed right that can be the longest leg of the race distance wise.

Totally agree. Our strongest sprinter ran the 2d for the 4x1 for that reason.
I preferred the lead on the 4x4. Call it ego or whatever, but there's something pretty cool about blazing down the straightaway to hand off to your mate in first place. It's all in your hands at that point to put your team in a good position.

[Ecliptica]

Well, we've screwed up our order for the 4x1, it was

Lead-off: 2nd fastest (11.1)
Second: Fastest (10.9)
Third: Slowest (11.7)
Anchor: Third Fastest (11.4)

But tomorrow we're running:

Lead-off: Fastest (11.1)
Second: 2nd Fastest (11.4)
Third: 3rd Fastest (11.7)
Fourth: Slowest (12.0)

We'll see how this goes, our 10.9 and 11.4 anchor are running 4x4 and we pulled another 11.4 guy and a 12 flat guy (he was, sadly, our next fastest). I should be anchoring, but I love that lead-off position so much. If it works, it works, if not, we're using an even faster team than the original (11.7 guy gets replaced by the original 11.4) for our State meet.

[Mansfield]

whos anchor??

[dellyJ800]

I hate running anchor. At state last year, I got the baton with about a 10-meter lead, and I let my nerves get to me and went out way too slow. For some reason we changed the order for state. I'd always run leadoff before that, so I'd just relied on the other guys to pace myself. I posted a 2:00 split and cost us a place on the podium. Grrrrrr.

[sprinter06]

We've had the same order in our 4x1 relay for three years. The first and anchor legs are about the same speed and same for the second and third legs. I don't think our coach really went by times when he put it together ... the lead-off leg is fast out of the blocks, second leg gets so nervous that she gets sick and there's usually not people on the backstretch, and our third leg has tiny feet to get around that corner. And I had the most experience, so I'm anchor. I don't think I've ever ran anything else. I hate lead-off because I'm horrible out of the blocks. 4x2 is pretty much the same..I don't think I've ever ran anything other than anchor.

And then the 4x4. This is how we run it:
1st -- 3rd fastest, but best out of the blocks
2nd -- fastest (sometimes a little slower than anchor)
3rd -- slowest
4th -- fastest (same as 2nd)

I run 2nd leg, and I love it. I'm not leading off and I don't have to wait and be nervous. And I love cutting in after the corner.

And 4x8, I've only ran that three times. I like lead-off in that because I normally do not run 800's, so I really don't know how to run it and I have people to run with when I run that leg.

[MeadeSprinter07]

For me it depends on what race I am running to determine what leg I want to run. For the 4x100 I like running third leg because I like running the curve, but I don't get good enough starts to run first leg, for the 4x200 and 4x400 I like running anchor (the 200 and the 400 are my main races), and for the 4x800 (when I'm forced to run that) I like running first leg because it pushes me more, the other first legs help to pace me, and my times end up being a little faster.

[FOURREfromBUFFALO]

i really like running anchor leg on my 4x8's. nothing is better than a come from behind victory :cool:

[400MRunner]

Preferably 3rd or 1st. Don't like 2nd because if the lead off guy does a crappy job your the one who needs to catch up. I hate anchor leg because if you lose a place its your fault. I remember in the 4x800 I had to anchor and we were in 1st but lost the lead to a sub 1:57 runner. Yea I knew I had no chance but I still felt like utter crap for losing the lead (this was champs btw).

[ABerto28]

For the 4x100 I like 3rd, mainly because I prefer turns to straight aways, and I always had pretty good handoffs with our anchor, so it put us in a position to win a lot.

[xorunner287ox]

i run 4x800 and i've prob run it over 30 times in 2nd leg...i ran 3rd and 1st only a few times but it doesn't feel rite...1st does feel faster tho b/c you have people to go out with

[lollazyboiy]

i like running second cuz of the cali handoff thingy wont be hella crowded for me and when i pass people on the first curve i get more hyped up but then i usally run 3rd in the 4by4 cuz we lost one of our fastest guys due to grades
BTW THIS IS A JV TEAM..

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