Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 400 metres relay


The men's 4 × 400 metres relay was a track and field athletics event held as part of the Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the debut of the event, which along with the 4 × 100 metre relay marked the first relays of equal legs in the athletics programme. The competition was held on Sunday, July 14, 1912, and on Monday, July 15, 1912. Twenty-eight runners from seven nations competed. NOCs could enter 1 team of 4 athletes, with up to 2 reserves.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1912 Summer Olympics.
World Record3:18.2 Harry Schaaf
Harry Gissing
James Rosenberger
Mel Sheppard
New York September 4, 1911
Olympic Recordnone

The British squad, running in the first semifinal, set the best time of the semifinal round with 3:19.0 minutes. It was bettered by the Americans in the final, as they took the gold medal and set a new world record in 3:16.6 minutes.

Results

Semifinals

All semifinals were held on Sunday, July 14, 1912.
Semifinal 1
PlaceAthletesTimeQual.
13:19.0 ORQF
23:22.2

Semifinal 2
PlaceAthletesTimeQual.
13:23.3QF
23:28.5

Semifinal 3
PlaceAthletesTimeQual.
13:22.5QF
23:25.0
3.3:29.4

Final

The final was held on Monday, July 15, 1912.
PlaceAthletesTime
13:16.6 WR
23:20.7
33:23.2