Going beyond love, good intentions

A TEAM can win or lose a medal in relay events because of the speed and technique of their baton exchange, which is a key factor in ensuring success.

There is raging debate among fans of the 4x100m relay race that runners who are marginally slower than their opponents can win if they have better baton exchange.

I have actually watched this play out at many meets.

Some teams that win the 4x100m relay race would ordinarily not have runners on the podium in the 100-metre race.

This is because of better relay management techniques.

Speed is a gift.

Most athletes, particularly sprinters, have a natural ability to take off and run very fast.

No one can be taught how to run fast — you either have the speed or you do not.

However, athletes can be taught how to manage their races better, breathe more effectively and improve their fitness and endurance.

Speed, on the other hand, is inborn. Baton exchanges are taught and practised. They are then repeated and refined until they are seamless.

A coach I had in high school would freak out if we did what he called a “tuckshop baton exchange”.

This involved the receiving runner looking back and holding out his hands, and, in some cases, even turning back to face the approaching athlete.

This is needlessly time-consuming. In sprints, there is no room for error. A study by Ewa Zarebska, Krzysztof Kusy, Michal Wlodarczyk, Tadeusz Osik and Jacek

Zielinski titled “Effective baton exchange in the 4x100 m relay race” had something to say on the subject.

“Baton exchange effectiveness and speed are essential to performance in sprint relay races, often deciding team victory.

“An effective baton exchange requires athletes to complete it while at full speed, both by the incoming and the outgoing athlete,” it said.

The study made interesting observations that help understand technical implications of baton exchange on a race.

The fastest anchor (last runner split) ever recorded is believed to be one run by Jamaican Asafa Powell in Beijing on August 22, 2008. He was timed at 8,68 seconds, which is fast. The world record for the men’s 4x100m relay is 36,84 seconds set by Jamaica in London in 2012.

The women’s mark is 40,82 seconds, also set in London the same year.

The world record for men in the 100m is Usain Bolt’s 9,58 seconds set in 2009.

If you split the time for the fastest relay, it translates to each runner averaging 9,21 seconds.

The biggest factor is that each runner gets the baton already at pace and, therefore, the speed is sustained over the four legs. This only works if the exchange is good. The point I am trying to make is that, while talent can be identified, it takes more than passion and good intentions to build it into a winning combination.

Baton exchange is a representation of the level of specialisation required to turn talented athletes into winners.

Parents, teachers and community members have a great track record of identifying talent.

However, not everyone has the same passion, capacity and tenacity as Tawanda Muzinda (moto-cross), Dom and Velia Black (tennis), Richard Williams (tennis) or Anthony Hamilton (Formula 1).

These parents worked with their children at the start of their careers, but, at some point, brought in expert coaches who could take their children to the next level.

Sometimes, lack of coaching and guidance will lead to stagnation and failure.

The content and quality of coaching is a key determinant of how far the athlete goes in their chosen field.

Here is a challenge.

The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe already has some programmes running and they could ensure each school has qualified athletics coaches to identify and train young athletes.

Some promising young people became crocked because certain coaches had them doing the frog jump wrongly for long periods, resulting in damaged knees.

Investment in quality training and coaching is of paramount importance.

Budding and developer athletes need expert coaching just as much as high-performing athletes.

There is a point where good intentions and passion stop and technical expertise takes over.

We need both, but each in their space and areas of strength.

Let us pass the baton in each stage and help the athlete reach their goals.

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