Ok, I really thought this was going to be the year. After all, we won the men’s 4×1 in ’19 and ’23, which was the closest thing to a winning streak that we’ve had since the ’90’s. This year we’d dominated at the World Relays running 37.40 without our best team. We showed up to Paris with the group that won in the Bahamas with Fred Kerley and Noah Lyles also ready to go. With Noah and Kenny Bednarek getting ready for the 200m final, our subs ran yet another 37.4 to lead the semis. Then we found yet another way to lose yet another Olympic final! With Noah out due to having contracted Covid, we shuffled the entire group! Passed like middle schoolers. Then finished off the podium completely before being DQ’d for a zone violation! Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory one more time! Sadly you can’t make this stuff up. So comical that I would laugh if it were a comedy skit. Unfortunately it’s not.
After watching this debacle, and the sloppy passing of the women, it’s time for USATF to make a change in the way the 4×1 is selected and coached. With the exception of the time period from 2008 thru 2016 (the Bolt era), the US has consistently been the number one sprint power on the planet. Even against Bolt led Jamaica, we had enough foot speed to win. Instead, with the Paris Games now over, it’s been two decades since we’ve medaled in an Olympics. A quarter century since we’ve won. Yes, I’m aware that we have medaled in the last four World Championships; winning two of them. I’m also aware that we’ve missed the podium completely in four of the last ten! Combined with the Olympics, we’ve been on the podium only 44% of the time since the year 2000! While the women have been significantly better at reaching the podium, there have been several times when we’ve had squads that simply under performed given the available personnel. The bottom line being that this event should be two automatic medals before any championship begins. We have enough speed that three squads should never beat us across the finish line! So the problem is definitely not a lack of talent. Then, what is the problem?
I’ll begin with a simple statement. This event does not require a PhD! It’s not rocket science. So when I read interviews with our relay coaches, that reference studies, gathering data, and conducting tests. Then watch podcasts with former Olympic winners saying that the drills used by our team are foreign to them. My first response is, that our current coaching staff has no idea what it’s doing! In truth it seems like they’re over thinking it to be honest. It’s not that difficult people. Give me four athletes, a baton, and some tape, and I’ll have them passing flawlessly in a day. I guarantee it! So, you will ask why our Olympic and World Championships coaches don’t do this?
Well, I will admit that these individuals have some issues that your average high school or college relay coach doesn’t have to contend with. Those would be personal coaches, agents, shoe company reps, and others with a vested interest in their athletes performance and success! Pushing for their athletes to be on the squad and trying to affect relay order. That has nothing to do however, with getting the baton around the track once the squad has been identified!
So the first issue that needs to be overcome is team selection. I would propose a completely separate practice venue with no one allowed except the relay coach and team members. That’s right, I said relay coach, because one coach can coach four squads.
Next, I would impose penalties on any of the afore named “bystanders” that attempt to interfere with the process! I need a, one team, one coach, one message, approach regarding team USA relays. My way or the highway for the selected relay coach. He, or she, must have complete autonomy with respect to the relays. Period. That’s the only way to create a winning atmosphere. The coach and his/her squads are successful or not based on how well the coach does his/her job, period. If unsuccessful, that individual is replaced. Therefore they sink or swim based on their coaching, and their coaching alone.
Who to select as relay coach? I would do it for a fraction of the cost, and win. However we all know that at this level we’re looking for someone with a name – though clearly that hasn’t proven to be faultless. Therefore I suggest looking at the NCAA, and coaches with a winning pedigree with relays. LSU, Florida, Auburn, Houston, Florida St, and Texas Tech have all had very good recent success. I would start there. A chance to earn some summer money and a free trip to that year’s championship location. There are several coaches at programs that meet the description, hire one and give that individual carte blanche.
Given the current rules that determine relay pool construction, that should be fairly straight forward. Though personally I don’t like being tied to the 100m or 200m, because there are often prime athletes in other events. The 200m, both hurdle races, and the horizontal jumps having a wealth of top level “speed” athletes. Personally I find the best relayers in the hurdles and 200m. And the schools I named above all have had success utilizing various team members. Let them do what they do.
After that, as I began, all you need is the athletes, their gear, some tape, and a good eye. Actually, I tend to use cones, as opposed to tape, at practice because they’re easily moved to make adjustments.
At this point it’s a matter of selecting the right people for each leg, because it’s a relay not the open 100m. Each leg is unique and requires different skill sets. Which is one reason why we perform so poorly. We act like we just need to put four fast men on the track! You need a starter. Two finishers. At least one turn runner. And more important than speed, the athletes chosen need focus, discipline and patience! The latter being more important than all of the science that apparently we’ve been attempting.
We should never lose a relay. It is rare that any other country can match us for four legs. One or two, yes it’s possible. Let’s not be arrogant. Maybe even three. It is the rare squad however, that can match us for four legs. Which is why our performances on the big stage since the 90’s have been simply embarrassing. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. It’s time for change in how we coach our relays. It’s time to get back to winning with regularity. We have three years to get this right. Three years until LA ’28. To lose that would be the greatest embarrassment of all. So, don’t!