4x100m and 100m sprints?

H

Huges

New member
I have something that I don't understand. The world record for 4x100m is 37.04seconds and the 100m world record is 9.572seconds. Let's take it that all the runners for the world record runs 9.572seconds in 100m. 9.572x4=38.288seconds. Why do they actually run faster than 4 times of the 100m record?
 
Only the first runner is starting out of the blocks the others get a flying start, which is good for at least 7/10 of a second, plus the runners do not run 100 meters, it is the baton that travels the total distance.
There is free space between the runners at the exchange, which is the distance between the runners when they extend their arms.
This is why a good relay team can run much faster than the total times of the 4 runners added together.
 
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