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relay race
noun
- a race between two or more teams of contestants, each contestant being relieved by a teammate after running part of the distance.
relay race
noun
- a race between two or more teams of contestants in which each contestant covers a specified portion of the distance
Word History and Origins
Origin of relay race1
Example Sentences
And a commander was demoted to captain for turning a blind eye to a cheating scandal in a popular law enforcement relay race.
Great Britain won a third triathlon medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Monday after a dramatic finish to an exhilarating mixed relay race.
China took gold in a thrilling men's 4x100m medley relay race, beating the United States into second and France third, with the British quartet finishing fourth.
The mixed relay race is due to take place on Monday morning.
“At its best, the presidency is a relay race. You take the baton and you run the race” and then hand it your successor, Obama said.
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More About Relay Race
What is a relay race?
A relay race is a race between two or more teams in which each member of a team completes a portion of the race. A relay race is often simply called a relay.
Relay races are held in both track and swimming. Each portion of a relay race is called a leg, and each leg is completed by a different member of the team. The time it takes to complete a leg is called a split. The final leg is usually completed by the fastest team member, often called the anchor.
In track, as one member finishes, they must pass a baton to the next team member in a designated area.
Some relay races, called medley relays, include a combination of different lengths, such as in a sprint medley or a distance medley. In swimming, medley relays involve each teammate using a different swim stroke.
Two different track relay races are events in the Summer Olympic Games: the 4×100 meter race (in which each of the four team members runs 100 meters), and the 4×400 meter race (in which each of the four team members runs 400 meters).
Swimming relays in the Summer Olympics include the 4×100 meter freestyle relay, the 4×200 meter freestyle relay, and the 4×100 meter medley relay.
Example: I can’t believe how slow I’ve become—I used to be my track team’s anchor in relay races.
Where does relay race come from?
The first records of the term relay race come from the late 1800s, which is when track relay races began to gain popularity in the U.S.
In early relay races, a flag or torch was passed between teammates instead of a baton. The 4×100 relay was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1912. The women’s 4×100 relay was added to the Olympics in 1928.
Did you know … ?
What are some synonyms for relay race?
What are some words that share a root or word element with relay race?
What are some words that often get used in discussing relay race?
How is relay race used in real life?
Relay races are often simply called relays. They are often held as events in track and swimming. Children sometimes participate in relay races that involve things like carrying eggs.
Congrats to St. Katharine Drexel who broke a 36 year record in Class 2A with a 3:59:53 in the 4×400 meter relay race! pic.twitter.com/AbHT2wALVN
— LHSAA (@LHSAA) May 4, 2019
Big weekend for @CullenJones! Congrats to the SwimMAC team for their record-breaking 200 medley relay race. Final time: 1:23.02. @swimmacc
— Speedo USA (@SpeedoUSA) December 10, 2013
Best relay race in olympic history! Did you see the US come from behind to win? Amazing, and inspiring!!!
— Lewis Howes (@LewisHowes) August 11, 2008
Try using relay race!
True or False?
In track, every runner in a relay race always runs the same distance.
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