The 4x100m relays were among the fastest ever. Though no world records were broken, record times were set for the second to sixth places in the women’s finals and the second to fifth in the men’s event.
Jamaica recorded the best ever time for silver with 41.36 to replace the 41.41 they ran to finish runner-up in London four years ago. Great Britain & N.I. (41.77), Germany (42.10), Trinidad and Tobago (42.12) and Ukraine (42.36) recorded times which were the quickest ever for third, fourth, fifth and sixth places.
Great Britain & N.I. also ran ran the fastest non-winning preliminary round time of 41.93 in finishing second to Jamaica (41.79) in heat one. A record three times run under 42 seconds (USA-41.77, JAM, GBR) in the heats.
In the men’s race Japan’s silver medal run of 37.60 was the fastest ever second place finish lowering the previous best of 37.90 by Brazil for silver in 2000. Canada (39.64), China (37.90) and Great Britain & N.I. (37.98) were the quickest for third, fourth and sixth places. A record six teams (USA-37.65, JAP-37.68, CHN-37.82, CAN-37.89, JAM-37.94, TTO-37.96) run under 38 seconds in the heats.
In the women’s 4x400m heats, three teams (GER-3:26.02, FRA-3:26.18 and BAH-3:26.36) ran times which would have been quick enough to qualify for the finals in all previous Olympics.
In the men’s 4x400m heats for the first time a sub 3:01(FRA-3:00.82) clocking was not fast enough to get into the top eight. In the finals, teams finishing in fourth (BEL-2:58.52), fifth (BOT-2:59.06) and sixth (CUB-5:59.53) ran the fastest times ever for those positions.
Men’s 4x100m
Best Times for Places in the Olympics
| POSITION | BEST TIME | PREVIOUS BEST TIME |
| 1st | 36.84-Jamaica
2012, London, England |
|
| 2nd | 37.60-Japan, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 37.90-Brazil, 2000, Sydney, Australia |
| 3rd | 37.64-Canada, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 38.00-Cuba, 1992, Barcelona, Spain |
| 4th | 37.90-China, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 38.08-Great Britain,1992, Barcelona, Spain
|
| 5th | 37.98-Great Britain, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 38.17- EUN, 1992, Barcelona, Spain |
Fastest ever non-qualifier for the finals
| FASTEST TIME | PREVIOUS FASTEST TIME |
| 38.26 (Germany)-6h2, 38.30 (Turkey)-4h1
2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
38.31(Poland)-6h2
2012, London, England |
Best Mark for Places-All Competitions
| POSITION | BEST TIME | PREVIOUS BEST TIME |
| 1st | 36.84-Jamaica
2012, London, England |
|
| 2nd | 37.60-Japan, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 37.62-Trinidad and Tobago, 2009 World Championships, Berlin, Germany |
| 3rd | 37.64-Canada, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 37.83-Canada, 1993 World Championships, Stuggart, Germany |
| 4th | 37.90-China, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 37.99, Brazil, 2007, World Championships Osaka, Japan |
| 5th | 37.98-Great Britain, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 38.03, Japan, 2007, World Championships Osaka, Japan |
Women’s 4x100m
Best Times for Places in the Olympics
| POSITION | BEST TIME | PREVIOUS BEST TIME |
| 1st | 40.82-United States
2012, London, England |
|
| 2nd | 41.36- Jamaica, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 41.41-Jamaica, 2012, London, England |
| 3rd | 41.77-Great Britain & NI, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 42.04-Ukraine, 2012, London, England |
| 4th | 42.10-Germany, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 42.27-Russia, Atlanta, 1996, Atlanta, USA |
| 5th | 42.12—Trinidad and Tobago,2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 42.56 Nigeria, 1996, Atlanta, USA |
| 6th | 42.36-Ukraine, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 42.70, Netherlands, 2012, London, England |
Fastest ever non-qualifier for the finals
| FASTEST TIME | PREVIOUS FASTEST TIME |
| 42.70-China (4h1), 42.88-Netherlands (4h2), 43.07-France
2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
43.07-Bahamas (6h1) & Poland (4h2) 2012, London, England |
Best Mark for Places-All Competitions
| POSITION | BEST TIME | PREVIOUS BEST TIME |
| 1st | 40.82-United States
2012, London, England |
|
| 2nd | 41.36- Jamaica, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 41.41-Jamaica, 2012, London, England |
| 3rd | 41.77-Great Britain & NI, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 41.94-Jamaica, 1993 World Championships, Stuggart, Germany |
| 4th | 42.10-Germany, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazi | 42.10-Great Britain & N.I., World Championships Osaka, Japan |
| 5th | 42.12—Trinidad and Tobago,2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 42.50-Russia 1997, World Championships Athens, Greece |
| 6th | 42.36-Ukraine, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 42.70, Netherlands, 2012, London, England |
Men’s 4x400m
Best Times for Places in the Olympics
| POSITION | BEST TIME | PREVIOUS BEST TIME |
| 4th | 2:58.52-Belgium, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 2:58.81-Great Britain & N.I., 2008, Beijing, China |
| 5th | 2:59.06-Botswana, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 2:59.37-Belgium, 2008, Beijing, China |
| 6th | 2:59.53-Cuba, 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 3:00.02, Australia, 2008, Beijing, China |
Fastest ever non-qualifier for the Olympics finals
| FASTEST TIME | PREVIOUS FASTEST TIME |
| 3:00.82 -France (5h1), 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 3:01.25-South Africa (6h1), 2004, Athens, Greece |
Women’s 4x400m
Fastest ever non-qualifier for the Olympics finals
| FASTEST TIME | PREVIOUS FASTEST TIME |
| 3:26.02 -Germany (5h2), 3:26.18-France (5h1), 3:26.36-Bahamas (6h2)
2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
3:26.52-Belarus (5h2), 2012, London, England |