The distance medley relay (DMR) is an athletic event in which four athletes compete as part of a relay. With its inclusion in the IAAF World Relays program, the IAAF announced on May 1, 2015 that the event would be an official world record event.[1]
Unlike most track relays, each member of the team runs a different distance. A distance medley relay is made up of a 1200-meter leg (three laps on a standard 400 meter track), a 400-meter leg (one lap), an 800-meter leg (two laps), and a 1600-meter leg (four laps) in that order. The total distance run is 4000 meters, or nearly 2.5 miles. Aside from the 400 meter segment, which is a sprint, all legs are a middle distance run. Prior to going metric, the distance medley relay consisted of a 440-yard leg, an 880-yard leg, a 1320-yard leg and a one-mile leg. The total distance for the old distance medley relay was 4400 yards and the total distance for the current metric distance medley relay is 4374.45 yards - slightly over 25 yards shorter than the old race.
World best
Men
The United States currently holds world record in the men's DMR with a time of 9:15.50, set on May 3, 2015. This was set during the 2015 IAAF World Relays at Thomas Robinson Stadium, located in Nassau, Bahamas. The team consisted of Kyle Merber 2:53.56 (1200m), Brycen Spratling 45.95 (400m), Brandon Johnson 1:44.75 (800m), and Ben Blankenship 3:51.24 (1600m). They shaved off 0.06s from Kenya's previous world record time set in 2006.
The Kenyan team of 2006 ran the DMR in 9:15.56, currently the second fastest time ever run. At the time of the IAAF announcement of world record status, this mark became the ratified world record.[1] Elkanah Angwenyi in 2:50.8 (1,200 meters), Thomas Musembi in 45.8 (400), Alfred Yego in 1:46.2 (800) and Alex Kipchirchir in 3:52.8 (1,600). This mark was set on April 29, 2006, at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Oregon Track and Field team of Cole Hocker in 2:49.89 (1,200 meters), Luis Peralta in 47.29 (400), Charlie Hunter in 1:47.65 (800), and Cooper Teare in 3:54.61 (1,600) currently hold the indoor world best in a time of 9:19.42. The mark was set on January 29, 2021 at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. [2]
Women
At the same 2015 IAAF World Relays, the women's world record was set by the American team of Treniere Moser 3:18.38 (1200m), Sanya Richards-Ross (50.12) (400m), Ajee' Wilson 2:00.08 (800m), and Shannon Rowbury 4:27.92 (1600m) running 10:36.50. They beat the outdoor record of 10:48.38 set by a team from Villanova University of Kathy Franey (1200m), Michelle Bennett (400m), Celeste Halliday (800m), and Vicki Huber (1600m) at the Penn Relays in April 1988 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 27 years earlier.
The United States women's team of Sarah Brown, Mahagony Jones, Megan Krumpoch, and Brenda Martinez set the first indoor world record for the event with a time of 10:42.57 at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in 2015.[3] At the time of the IAAF announcement, this time, superior to the best time outdoors, became the ratified world record[1] even though it was set on an indoor banked track.
On April 15, 2022 an American team consisting of Heather MacLean, Kendall Ellis, Roisin Willis and Elle Purrier St. Pierre set the current best indoor time of 10:33.85 at The TRACK in Boston.[4] Nevertheless the distance medley relay is only a world record discipline outdoors it is a subject to usual ratification procedure to become an outright world record because their time bettered the outdoor mark of 10:36.50.[5]
All-time top 25
Men
Rank
|
Time
|
Team
|
Athletes
|
Date
|
Place
|
Ref
|
1
|
9:15.50
|
USA
|
Kyle Merber, Brycen Spratling, Brandon Johnson, Ben Blankenship
|
3 May 2015
|
Nassau
|
|
2
|
9:15.56
|
Kenya
|
Elkanah Angwenyi (2:50.8), Thomas Musembi (45.8), Alfred Yego (1:46.2), Alex Kipchirchir (3:52.8)
|
29 April 2006
|
Philadelphia
|
|
3
|
9:15.63
|
USA
|
Chris Lukezic (2:51.7), James Carter (45.6), Khadevis Robinson (1:44.5), Bernard Lagat (3:53.8)
|
29 April 2006
|
Philadelphia
|
|
4
|
9:16.34
|
Ethiopia
|
Abiyote Abinet (2:53.5), Bereket Desta (46.0), Mohammed Aman (1:44.0), Aman Wote (3:52.8)
|
27 April 2013
|
Philadelphia
|
|
5
|
9:17.01
|
Kenya
|
Anthony Chemut (2:51.6), Kennedy Chepsiror (47.1), Timothy Kitum (1:45.4), Caleb Ndiku (3:52.9)
|
27 April 2013
|
Philadelphia
|
|
6
|
9:17.20
|
Kenya
|
Abednego Chesebe Miti, Alphas Leken Kishoyian, Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich, Timothy Cheruiyot
|
3 May 2015
|
Nassau
|
|
7
|
9:17.48
|
Morocco
|
Mohammed Moustaoui (2:48.54), Marouan Maadadi (46.36), Mohammed Laalou (1:49.50), Amine Laalou (3:53.08)
|
30 April 2011
|
Philadelphia
|
|
8
|
9:17.56
|
Australia
|
Ryan Gregson (2:48.66), Sean Wroe (45.95), Lachlan Renshaw (1:46.29), Jeff Riseley (3:56.66)
|
30 April 2011
|
Philadelphia
|
|
9
|
9:18.09
|
USA
|
Bernard Lagat (2:48.29), Michael Tinsley (46.13), Duane Solomon (1:46.31), Russell Brown (3:57.36)
|
30 April 2011
|
Philadelphia
|
|
10
|
9:18.21
|
USA Red
|
Andrew Wheating (2:52.2), Quentin Summers (44.8), Duane Solomon (1:45.0), David Torrence (3:56.2)
|
27 April 2013
|
Philadelphia
|
11
|
9:19.31
|
USA Blue
|
Tyler Mulder (2:52.8), David Neville (46.7), Khadevis Robinson (1:44.9), Leo Manzano (3:54.9)
|
28 April 2012
|
Philadelphia
|
12
|
9:19.33
|
USA Blue
|
Matthew Centrowitz (2:53.4), Kind Butler (45.5), Charles Jock (1:45.7), Bernard Lagat (3:54.8);
|
27 April 2013
|
Philadelphia
|
13
|
9:19.42i
|
University of Oregon
|
Cole Hocker (2:49.89), Luis Peralta (47.29), Charlie Hunter (1:47.65), Cooper Teare (3:54.61)
|
29 January 2021
|
Fayetteville, Arkansas
|
[6]
|
14
|
9:19.88
|
USA Red
|
Russell Brown (2:52.9), Michael Tinsley (45.8), Nick Symmonds (1:44.0), Bernard Lagat (3:57.2)
|
28 April 2012
|
Philadelphia
|
15
|
9:19.93i
|
USA
|
Matthew Centrowitz (2:49.47), Mike Berry (46.39), Erik Sowinski (1:47.60), Pat Casey (3:56.47)
|
31 January 2015
|
New York
|
|
16
|
9:19.98i
|
University of Oregon
|
Cole Hocker (2:52.73), Xavier Nairne (47.58), Charlie Hunter (1:46.70), Cooper Teare (3:52.99)
|
12 March 2021
|
Fayetteville, Arkansas
|
[7]
|
17
|
9:20.10
|
University of Arkansas
|
Reuben Reina (2:53.9), Charles Williams (46.40), Robert Bradley (1:46.00), Joe Falcon (3:53.80)
|
28 April 1989
|
Philadelphia
|
18
|
9:20.24
|
USA
|
David Torrence (2:48.65), Kenneth Ferguson (47.30), Nick Symmonds (1:49.00), Leo Manzano (3:55.29)
|
30 April 2011
|
Philadelphia
|
|
19
|
9:20.75i
|
University of Mississippi
|
Everett Smulders (2:53.32), Elijah Dryer (46.80), John Rivera (1:47.35), Mario García Romo (3:53.28)
|
12 March 2021
|
Fayetteville, Arkansas
|
[8]
|
20
|
9:20.96
|
Georgetown University
|
John Trautmann (2:53.08), Darron Outler (46.90), Miles Irish (1:46.08), Mike Stahr (3:54.90)
|
24 April 1987
|
Philadelphia
|
[9]
|
21
|
9:21.02
|
Villanova University
|
Sean O'Neill (2:52.0), Edwin Modibedi (45.3), Bruce Harris (1:48.5), Gerry O'Reilly (3:55.3)
|
24 April 1987
|
Philadelphia
|
|
22
|
9:21.10i
|
University of Washington
|
Luke Houser (2:52.90), Anthony Smith (46.71), Cass Elliott (1:48.68), Brian Fay (3:52.81)
|
18 February 2022
|
Fayetteville, Arkansas
|
|
23
|
9:21.36
|
World All-Stars
|
Mark Fountain (2:51.2), Damian Barry (45.1), Sherridan Kirk (1:47.1), Julius Achon (3:58.0)
|
29 April 2006
|
Philadelphia
|
|
24
|
9:21.42
|
Ethiopia
|
Tesfaye Cheru (2:56.6), Bereket Desta (46.4), Mohammed Aman (1:45.2), Aman Wote (3:53.3)
|
28 April 2012
|
Philadelphia
|
|
25
|
9:21.44
|
Mount St. Mary's University
|
Peter Rono (2:53.4), Davison Lishebo (45.7), Charles Cheruiyot (1:49.3), Kip Cheruiyot (3:53.0)
|
29 April 1989
|
Philadelphia
|
|
Women
Rank
|
Time
|
Team
|
Athletes
|
Date
|
Place
|
Ref
|
1
|
10:33.85i
|
New Balance
|
Heather MacLean (3:14.92), Kendall Ellis (52.04), Roisin Willis (2:03.30), Elle Purrier St. Pierre (4:23.55)
|
15 April 2022
|
Boston
|
[10]
|
2
|
10:36.50
|
USA
|
Treniere Moser, Sanya Richards-Ross, Ajeé Wilson, Shannon Rowbury
|
2 May 2015
|
Nassau
|
|
3
|
10:39.91i
|
Nike Union Athletic Club
|
Ella Donaghu, Raevyn Rogers, Sinclaire Johnson, Shannon Osika
|
11 February 2022
|
Spokane
|
[11][12]
|
4
|
10:40.31i
|
USA
|
Emma Coburn, Sydney McLaughlin, Brenda Martinez, Jenny Simpson
|
28 January 2017
|
Boston
|
[13]
|
5
|
10:42.57i
|
New Balance
|
Sarah Brown, Mahogany Jones, Megan Krumpoch, Brenda Martinez
|
7 February 2015
|
Boston
|
|
6
|
10:42.79i
|
New York All-Stars
|
Stephanie Charnigo, Katie Hoaldridge, Latavia Thomas, Nicole Tully
|
7 February 2015
|
Boston
|
|
7
|
10:43.35
|
Kenya
|
Selah Jepleting Busienei, Joy Nakhumicha Sakari, Sylivia Chematui Chesebe, Virginia Nyambura Nganga
|
2 May 2015
|
Nassau
|
|
8
|
10:45.32
|
Poland
|
Katarzyna Broniatowska, Monika Szczęsna, Angelika Cichocka, Sofia Ennaoui
|
2 May 2015
|
Nassau
|
|
9
|
10:46.94
|
Australia
|
Melissa Duncan, Samantha Lind, Brittany McGowan, Heidi See
|
2 May 2015
|
Nassau
|
|
10
|
10:48.38
|
Villanova University
|
Kathy Franey, Michelle Bennett, Celeste Halliday, Vicki Huber
|
28 April 1988
|
Philadelphia
|
|
11
|
10:48.77i
|
University of Oregon
|
Lilli Burdon (3:20.56), Ashante Horsley (53.77), Raevyn Rogers (2:03.53), Katie Rainsberger (4:30.93)
|
27 January 2017
|
New York City
|
|
12
|
10:49.39i
|
New Balance Europe
|
Lisanne De Witte, Esther Guerrero , Anna Silvander, Sarah McDonald
|
28 January 2017
|
Boston
|
[14]
|
13
|
10:49.58
|
University of Michigan
|
Danielle Tauro (3:22.2), Serita Williams (53.4), Geena Gall (2:02.1), Nicole Edwards 4:31.9
|
24 April 2008
|
Philadelphia
|
|
14
|
10:49.81
|
Villanova University
|
Sonia O'Sullivan (3:18.7), Michelle Bennett (52.0), Michele Torelli (2:06.3), Kathy Franey (4:32.8)
|
28 April 1990
|
Philadelphia
|
|
15
|
10:50.22
|
Brigham Young University
|
Lauren Ellsworth (3:18.22), Alena Ellsworth (53.63), Claire Seymour (2:05.95), Courtney Wayment (4:32.39)
|
29 April 2022
|
Philadelphia
|
|
16
|
10:50.51
|
University of Tennessee
|
Brittany Sheffey (3:24.4), Latonya Loche 51.5, Phoebe Wright (2:01.7), Sarah Bowman (4:32.9)
|
24 April 2008
|
Philadelphia
|
|
17
|
10:50.98i
|
University of Tennessee
|
Phoebe Wright (3:23.18), Brittany Jones (53.51), Chanelle Price (2:03.18), Sarah Bowman (4:31.11)
|
13 March 2009
|
College Station, Texas
|
|
18
|
10:51.37i
|
University of Arkansas
|
Isabel Van Camp (3:22.76), Paris Peoples (52.65), Krissy Gear (2:03.75), Logan Jolly (4:32.21)
|
11 March 2022
|
Birmingham, Alabama
|
|
19
|
10:51.49
|
Georgetown University
|
Renee Tomlin (3:19.81), Amanda Kimbers (54.54), Chelsea Cox (2:05.58), Emily Infeld (4:31.56);
|
28 April 2011
|
Philadelphia
|
|
20
|
10:51.89i
|
University of Arkansas
|
Jessica Kamilos (3:22.87), Sparkle McKnight (52.84), Therese Haiss (2:07.29), Dominique Scott (4:28.89)
|
13 March 2015
|
Fayetteville, Arkansas
|
|
21
|
10:51.99i
|
University of Oregon
|
Jessica Hull (3:19.97), Venessa D’Arpino (54.17), Susan Ejore (2:04.18), Lilli Burdon (4:33.67)
|
9 March 2018
|
College Station, Texas
|
|
22
|
10:52.02i
|
Stanford University
|
Vanessa Fraser (3:20.44), Missy Mongiovi (53.59), Elise Cranny (2:04.64), Christina Aragon (4:33.35)
|
9 March 2018
|
College Station, Texas
|
|
23
|
10:52.52i
|
Villanova University
|
Emily Lipari (3:21.82), Christie Verdier (53.72), Ariann Neutts (2:07.06), Shiela Reid (4:29.91)
|
11 March 2011
|
College Station, Texas
|
|
24
|
10:52.90i
|
University of Oregon
|
Anne Kesselring (3:20.52), Chizoba Okodogbe (53.87), Becca Friday (2:08.05), Jordan Hasay (3:40.46)
|
11 March 2011
|
College Station, Texas
|
|
25
|
10:52.96i
|
Brigham Young University
|
Olivia Hoj (3:21.92), Alena Ellsworth (52.41), Lauren Ellsworth (2:05.74), Courtney Wayment (4:32.89)
|
12 March 2021
|
Fayetteville, Arkansas
|
[15]
|
See also
References