Watch as Coach Dave Pavlansky explains that after a runner receives the baton in a 4x400 relay, they are racing to the tangent of the curve. The runner must "make a gap" bigger if in the lead, "take a gap" by passing a runner, or "close the gap" if you are behind. Coach uses this practice drill with 8 runners lined up on the triangle and 8 runners lined up 30 meters away with batons. The runners with batons will arrive for the baton handoff at the same time. This forces the outgoing runners to focus on the incoming runner when there are many distractions.
4×400 Relay: Racing to the Tangent of the Curve with Dave Pavlansky – USATF
