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Both the U.S. men's and women's 4 x 100 relay teams are out of contention after dropping the baton during handoffs in premliminary heats. This has happened to the U.S. many times over the years in Olympic competition.

Both teams would probably have been underdogs to the Jamaicans in the finals, but now we'll never know.

The U.S. Track Federation promises they will spend more time working on relay handoffs in the future.

silverscreenselect wrote:Both the U.S. men's and women's 4 x 100 relay teams are out of contention after dropping the baton during handoffs in premliminary heats. This has happened to the U.S. many times over the years in Olympic competition.

Both teams would probably have been underdogs to the Jamaicans in the finals, but now we'll never know.

The U.S. Track Federation promises they will spend more time working on relay handoffs in the future.

They have four years to work on it.

silverscreenselect wrote: The U.S. Track Federation promises they will spend more time working on relay handoffs in the future.

The single most important part of the relay, and they didn't practice it enough so they wouldn't blow it in the biggest races of their careers? There should be some heads rolling on the ground at USTF as well as batons on the track in Beijing.

gsabc wrote:

silverscreenselect wrote: The U.S. Track Federation promises they will spend more time working on relay handoffs in the future.

The single most important part of the relay, and they didn't practice it enough so they wouldn't blow it in the biggest races of their careers? There should be some heads rolling on the ground at USTF as well as batons on the track in Beijing.

Olympic relays are much like all-star teams, based on the results of the Trials. (No different than the swim relays)

The athletes are focused on their own individual races, not the relays that come later.

It always has been that the USA does not practice for the relays until the individual event (100, 400) is done.

Appa23 wrote:
Olympic relays are much like all-star teams, based on the results of the Trials. (No different than the swim relays)

The athletes are focused on their own individual races, not the relays that come later.

The difference between track and swimming relays is that track involves the handoff of a baton while both people are running. It has to be done within a certain area and in order to run as fast as they can, the second runner has to be getting up to speed at the time of the handoff. It's not easy especially since the runner in fron can't see behind him all that well and has to go on feel (clamp down when it hits your hand). So practicing is important and college teams practice it quite a bit. The Olympians may have had part of one afternoon working on it.

In swimming, all you need to know is not to leave until the swimmer ahead of you touches the wall. There is strategy in swimming relays since each swimmer knows going in just about how far ahead or behind he or she is and what needs to be done from that point on. But the physical elements of the handoff aren't there as they are in track.

silverscreenselect wrote:

Appa23 wrote:
Olympic relays are much like all-star teams, based on the results of the Trials. (No different than the swim relays)

The athletes are focused on their own individual races, not the relays that come later.

The difference between track and swimming relays is that track involves the handoff of a baton while both people are running. It has to be done within a certain area and in order to run as fast as they can, the second runner has to be getting up to speed at the time of the handoff. It's not easy especially since the runner in fron can't see behind him all that well and has to go on feel (clamp down when it hits your hand). So practicing is important and college teams practice it quite a bit. The Olympians may have had part of one afternoon working on it.

In swimming, all you need to know is not to leave until the swimmer ahead of you touches the wall. There is strategy in swimming relays since each swimmer knows going in just about how far ahead or behind he or she is and what needs to be done from that point on. But the physical elements of the handoff aren't there as they are in track.

I sure hope that you did not think that you were telling me anything that I did not already know.

Appa23 wrote:
Olympic relays are much like all-star teams, based on the results of the Trials. (No different than the swim relays)

The athletes are focused on their own individual races, not the relays that come later.

I sure hope that YOU did not think that you were telling us anything that we did not already know.

Don't mess with Jamaica, mon.

plasticene wrote:

Appa23 wrote:
Olympic relays are much like all-star teams, based on the results of the Trials. (No different than the swim relays)

The athletes are focused on their own individual races, not the relays that come later.

I sure hope that YOU did not think that you were telling us anything that we did not already know.

REC!!!

Tocqueville3 wrote:

plasticene wrote:

Appa23 wrote:
Olympic relays are much like all-star teams, based on the results of the Trials. (No different than the swim relays)

The athletes are focused on their own individual races, not the relays that come later.

I sure hope that YOU did not think that you were telling us anything that we did not already know.

REC!!!

I agree!

BobMarleysGh0st wrote:Don't mess with Jamaica, mon.

Cousin Bob!

Nice of you to stop by for a visit!