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The history of the men’s 4 × 100 metres relay developed from team relay races contested over 4 × 110 yards (402.34 metres) during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Before metric distances became the international standard, the imperial relay was the dominant format at national and international competitions, particularly in Europe and North America.

Before the establishment of the IAAF and the introduction of official World Record ratification in 1912, the fastest relay performances were recognised as world bests by national athletics federations and contemporary athletics publications. Although the total distance of 4 × 110 yards was slightly longer than the modern 4 × 100 metres, these performances represent the foundations of relay racing and the development of baton-passing techniques that would later define the event.

With the adoption of the metric system for international athletics, the 4 × 100 metres relay became the official championship event. Standardised exchange zones and internationally unified rules allowed performances to be compared on equal terms, and World Records have since reflected continuous improvements in sprinting speed, baton exchanges and team coordination.

Today, the 4 × 100 metres relay remains one of athletics’ most technically demanding events, where precise baton exchanges are often as decisive as the individual speed of the four sprinters.

4x100m Relay Men World Record Progression – Data Table

Performance	Athletes	Country	Date	Location	Competition	Notes
36.84	Nesta Carter Michael Frater Yohan Blake Usain Bolt	JAM	11/8/2012	London	The XXX Olympic Games
37.04	Nesta Carter Michael Frater Yohan Blake Usain Bolt	JAM	4/9/2011	Daegu	World Championships
37.40	Jon Drummond Andre Cason Dennis Mirchell Leroy Burrell	USA	21/8/1993	Stuttgart	World Championships
37.40	Michael Marsh Leroy Burrell Dennis Mitchell Carl Lewis	USA	8/8/1992	Barcelona	The XXV Olympic Games
37.50	Andre Cason Leroy Burrell Dennis Mitchell Carl Lewis	USA	1/9/1991	Tokyo	World Championships
37.67	Michael Marsh Leroy Burrell Dennis Mitchell Carl Lewis	USA	7/8/1991	Zürich	Welklasse Z?rich
37.79	Michael Marsh Leroy Burrell Floyd Herd Carl Lewis	USA	3/8/1991	Monaco	IAAF Grand Prix	Santa Monica Track Club USA
37.79	Max Moriniere Daniel Sangouma Jean-Charles Trouabal Bruno Marie-Rose	FRA	1/10/1990	Split	International Meeting
37.83	Sam Graddy Ronald Brown Calvin Smith Carl Lewis	USA	11/8/1984	Los Angeles	The XXXIV Olympic Games
37.86	Emmit King Willie Gault Calvin Smith Carl Lewis	USA	10/8/1983	Helsinki	World Championships
38.03	illiam Collins Steve Riddick Cliff Wiley Steve Williams	USA	3/9/1977	Düsseldorf	International Meeting
38.2	Larry Black Robert Taylor Gerald Tinker Eddie Hart	USA	10/9/1972	München	The XX Olympic Games
38.19	Larry Black Robert Taylor Gerald Tinker Eddie Hart	USA	10/9/1972	München	The XX Olympic Games
38.2	Charles Greene Melvin Pender Ronnie Ray Smith James Hines	USA	20/10/1968	Ciudad de México	The XIX Olympic Games
38.6	Erroll Stewart Michael Fray Clifton Forbes Lennox Miller	JAM	19/10/1968	Ciudad de México	The XIX Olympic Games
38.3	Erroll Stewart Michael Fray Clifton Forbes Lennox Miller	JAM	19/10/1968	Ciudad de México	The XIX Olympic Games
38.6	Earl McCullouch Fred Kuller O.J. Simpson Lennox Miller (JAM)	USA	17/6/1967	Provo	International Meeting	University of Southern California USA
39.0	Paul Drayton Gerald Asheworth Richard Stebbins Robert Hayes	USA	21/10/1964	Tokyo	The XVIII Olympic Games
39.1	Hayes Jones Francis Budd Charles Frazier Paul Drayton	USA	15/7/1961	Moskva	URS-USA Int. Match
39.7	Bernd Cullmann Armin Hary Walter Mahlendorf Martin Lauer	FRG	8/9/1960	Roma	The XVII Olympic Games
39.6	Bernd Cullmann Armin Hary Walter Mahlendorf Martin Lauer	FRG	7/9/1960	Roma	The XVII Olympic Games
39.5	Manfred Steinbach Martin Lauer Heinz Fütterer Manfred Germar	FRG	29/8/1958	Köln	International Meeting
39.5	Ira Murchison Leamon King Thane Baker Bobby Morrow	USA	1/12/1956	Melbourne	The XVI Olympic Games
39.8	Jesse Owens Ralph Metcalfe Foy Draper Frank Wykoff	USA	9/8/1936	Berlin	The XI Olympic Games
40.0	Robert Kiesel Emmett Toppino Hector Dyer Frank Wykoff	USA	7/8/1932	Los Angeles	The X Olympic Games
40.6	Helmut K?rning Georg Lammers Erich Borchmeyer Arthur Jonath	GER	14/6/1932	Kassel	Meeting
40.8y	Roy Delby Milton Maurer Maurice Guyer Frank Wykoff	USA	9/5/1931	Fresno	Meeting	University of Southern California
40.8	Helmut Körnig Wilhelm Grosser Heinz-Alexander Nathan Hermann Schlöske	GER	22/7/1929	Breslau	Meeting	SC Charlottenburg GER
40.8	Arthur Jonath Richard Corts Hubert Huben Helmut Körnig	GER	2/9/1928	Berlin	Meeting
41.0	Frank Wykoff James Quinn Charles Borah Henry Russel	USA	5/8/1928	Amsterdam	The IX Olympic Games
41.0	Ernst Geerling Friedrich Wichmann Adolf Metzner Hans Salz	GER	10/6/1928	Halle/Saale	Meeting	Eintracht Frankfurt team
41.0	Chester Bowman John Currie James Pappas Henry Cummings	USA	4/7/1927	Lincoln	Meeting	Newark AC team
41.0	Frank Hussey Louis Clarke Loren Murchison Alfred LeConey	USA	13/7/1924	Paris	The VIII Olympic Games	(semifiinal 1)
41.0y	Frank Hussey Louis Clarke Loren Murchison Alfred LeConey	USA	13/7/1924	Paris	The VIII Olympic Games	(final)
42.0	Harold Abrahmans Walter Rangeley Lancelot Royle William Nichol	GBR	12/7/1924	Paris	The VIII Olympic Games
42.0	Jan Boot Henrikus Brooos Jan De Vries Marinus Van Den Berge	NED	12/7/1924	Paris	The VIII Olympic Games	(heat 3)
42.2	Charles Paddock Jackson Scholz Loren Murchison Morris Kirksey	USA	22/8/1920	Antwerp	The VII Olympic Games
42.3	Otto Röhr Max Herrman Erwin Kern Richard Rau	GER	8/7/1912	Stockholm	The V Olympic Games

References

• World Athletics – Progression of World Athletics Record (2024 edition)
• World Athletics – World Records Progression
• World Athletics – Athletes Data Base
• Müller Stefan, Progression of world records (2025-10-07)

See also: [Men’s 100m WR Progression]