Shuttle hurdle relay (SHR) is a type of a relay race in track and field in which participants jump (sprint) over hurdles. The shuttle hurdle relay is contested at the Drake Relays, Desert Conference Relays,^[1] Kansas Relays, Mt. SAC Relays, Penn Relays, Texas Relays, Akron Relays, Alabama Relay, Appalachian Conference Relay, Florida Relays (Gainesville), Knoxville Relay, Long Beach Relay, Santa Barbara Relay, So Cal Relays (at College of the Desert),^[2] Tennessee Relays (formerly: Dogwood Relays, Sea Ray Relays), Towson Relays, and Tri-State Relays. The SHR was also included at the 2019 IAAF World Relays and 2021 competition.^[3]

High Hurdle Relay

Currently the SHR is referred to as the 4 x 60 hurdles, 4 x 80 hurdles, 4 x 100 hurdles, and 4 x 110 hurdles. In the past the term shuttle hurdle relay was more commonly used.

This events allow four hurdlers to run on the same relay team and has been held both outdoor and indoor. In a shuttle hurdle relay, each of four hurdlers on a team runs the opposite direction from the preceding runner.

The shuttle hurdle relay typically consists of: (a) four hurdlers per relay team – each runs one leg, (b) same sex, (c) each hurdler runs the same hurdle spacing and hurdle heights, (d) two lanes – one up, and one back (e) the first leg starts at the automatic timing line, hence this allows the anchor leg to finish at the "finish line", (f) hurdlers must stay in their own lane, (g) hurdlers are not allowed to touch the hurdles with their hands, (h) depending on the age-group there may be an "exchange zone" (Masters Track and Field does not use an exchange zone), (i) No batons are used for this particular relay, and (j) For Masters Track and Field the youngest person on the relay team dictates the age-bracket (for that particular relay team).

USATF Competition Rules list description for the Open and Masters shuttle hurdle relay competition.^[4]

History

1910–1911: Official Handbook of the Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League states for the girls hurdle relay "the maximum distance for each runner not to exceed fifty yards; the maximum height for hurdles to be two feet".^[5]

June 11, 1910 a girls hurdle relay was held at the Armory in Rochester, New York.^[6]

1912 American Physical Review magazine reports a boys SHR at a Dual Athletic Meet between Cambridge High and Latin School vs Rindge Technical School.^[7]

1924 and 1928 British Empire versus the US in the SHR was held at Stamford Bridge, London. July 1924 USA beat British Empire in 61.6 seconds for the 480 yards hurdle relay.^[8] 1928: USA beating British Empire in 62 seconds.^[9] and.^[10]

1926 the SHR was added to the Penn Relays events at the suggestion Lord Burghley (UK's Olympic hurdler).^[11]

In April 1938, Oklahoma State set a (then) Kansas Relays meet record in 1:01.6.^[12]

March 1953 in California, the SHR was included at the Orange Show Relay and the four-way spike meet (four colleges).^[13][14]

1973 a West German team placed 3rd at the Mt Sac Relays in 59.1.^[15]

Masters Track and Field have included the SHR as a standard event at the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships.^[16] The competition is eligible for Masters American Records and medals. The oldest athlete that has competed in a SHR is George Roudebush (age 93) when he competed in a 2018 M80 plus SHR race.^[17]

The oldest female athletes that have competed in a SHR are Tami Graf (age 85) at the 2021 and Flo Meiler (age 88) at the 2022 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships.^[18][19]

The "high hurdles" are also referred to "sprint hurdles" to separate them from the "long hurdles."

The Shuttle hurdle relay was also included at former relays such as the California Relays, Compton Relays, West Coast Relays,^[20] the 1996 Alabama Relays,^[21] and the Golden Valley Conference Relays ^[22] Additional relays include the 1993 European Relays in Portsmouth, England,^[23] and July 5, 1981, TAC Relay Championship in Greenvale, New York.^[24]

Including a SHR outside of the US and the United Kingdom has been infrequent. August 2007 BAUHAUS-galan (formerly GN Galan) meet in Stockholm, Sweden included the 480 Yard Shuttle Hurdle Relay. USA 53.36 in 1st, Sweden 57.03 in 2nd, and Finland 57.26 in 3rd. The event was well received.^[25]

The 1990 Penn Relay included a 880 shuttle hurdle relay.^[26]

Oxford versus Cambridge

Oxford–Cambridge rivalry: Oxford versus Cambridge Inter-University competitions included 480 yards hurdles relay (1920 to 1930) and 880 yards low hurdles relay (1926 to 1930).^[27]

1920: Inter-varsity: Cambridge versus Oxford: Dec 1920: Oxford beat Cambridge in the SHR. Winning time of 67 2/5 seconds.^[28] December 1921 Oxford beat Cambridge in 69 4/5 seconds.^[29] December 1922 Oxford beat Cambridge in 67 2/5 seconds.^[30]

Mile intermediate hurdle relay

In the past, a rarely run 4 x 440 yard shuttle hurdle relay was included at some competitions. A height of 36" tall hurdles is used. April 29, 1972 Olivett College (John McGlashen, Charles VanderRoest, Bruce Ritter, and Ron Hobday) beat Cedarville in 3:58.4 for the mile intermediate hurdle at the Tri-State Relays, held at Defiance College.^[31] Cedarville College (Cole, Alexander, Perkins, and Gruber) placing second took six seconds off their own school record.^[32]

April 1973, Edinboro State at the Akron Invitational Relays, Akron, Ohio broke the record for this event.^[33] On April 6, 1974, Occidental College broke the 1973 record in the 4 x 440 yard shuttle hurdle relay in a meet against Whittier College and Pomona-Pitzer.^[34] April 17, 1974 Stanford broke Occidental College's record while defeating Skyline College.^[35] March 15, 1975 Occidental College gained the record back.^[36] April 24, 1976 Mt Sac College broke the record at the Mt. SAC Relays,^[37] and on April 23, 1977, Pasadena broke the record at the Mt. SAC Relays.^[38] By 1984, Long Beach City College (Jose Davis, Tyrone McCullough, Nelson Rodríguez, and Oswaldo Zea) held the community college 1600 meter intermediate hurdle relay in 3:31.06.^[39]

All-time top 20

Men – 4 × 110m

Updated November 2020

Rank	Time	Team	Nationality	Date	Place	Ref
1	52.94	Jason Richardson Aleec Harris Aries Merritt David Oliver	USA	25 April 2015	Des Moines	[40]
2	53.08	Andrew Riley Ryan Braithwaite Hansle Parchment Greggmar Swift	JAM  BAR  JAM  BAR	25 April 2015	Des Moines
3	53.36	USA Ron Bramlett Anwar Moore David Payne Aries Merritt	USA	7 August 2007	Stockholm
4	53.44y	USA Red David Oliver Joel Brown Aubrey Herring Aries Merritt	USA	25 April 2008	Philadelphia
5	53.62	ACC All Stars Allen Johnson Steve Brown Terry Reese Duane Ross	USA  TTO  USA  USA	16 May 1998	Clemson
6	53.62	Ronnie Ash Ryan Wilson Spencer Adams Jeff Porter	USA	25 April 2015	Des Moines
7	53.65	World Express Eddie Lovett Spencer Adams Jarret Eaton Mikel Thomas	ISV  USA  USA  TTO	4 April 2015	Gainesville
8	53.77	Jeff Porter Dominic Berger Aries Merritt Ty Akins	USA  USA  USA  NGR	26 April 2014	Des Moines
9	53.83	Jamaica Andrew Riley Deuce Carter Hansle Parchment Stefan Fennell	JAM	26 April 2014	Des Moines
10	53.88	Karamu Flyers Jack Pierce Tony Dees Eric Reid Keith Talley	USA	1 April 1989	Tempe
11	53.93	Karamu Flyers Jack Pierce Eric Reid Tony Dees Keith Talley	USA	7 May 1989	Modesto
12	54.07y	South Carolina Corey Taylor Fred Townsend Charles Ryan Kenneth Ferguson	USA	25 April 2003	Philadelphia
13	54.10	Elite 2008 David Oliver Aubrey Herring Joel Brown John McDowell	USA	5 April 2008	Gainesville
14	54.20	USC Alumni Sam Turner Philip Johnson Milan Stewart Tonie Campbell	USA	25 April 1982	Walnut
15	54.23	Star Athletics Ryan Braithwaite Selim Nurudeen Roudy Monrose Kemar Hyman	BAR  NGR  HAI  CAY	6 April 2013	Gainesville
16	54.30	Star Athletics		7 April 2012	Gainesville
17	54.35y	East Coast All-Stars Courtney Hawkins Glenn Terry Allen Johnson Jack Pierce	USA	28 April 1995	Philadelphia
18	54.36	Brooks Beast David Oliver ? Thomas Ryan Wilson Jeff Porter	USA  USA  USA	6 April 2013	Gainesville
19	54.40	Tennessee Jerome Wilson Anthony Hancock Reggie Towns Willie Gault	USA	22 May 1981	Knoxville	.[41]
20	54.41	Philadelphia Pioneers Wayne Mason Dan Oliver Kerry Bethel Charles Foster	USA	22 May 1981	Knoxville	.[42]

y = adjusted from the slightly shorter distance of 4 x 120 yards by adding 0.13 seconds

Women – 4 × 100m

Rank	Time	Team	Nationality	Date	Place	Ref
1	50.50	USA Blue Brianna Rollins Dawn Harper-Nelson Queen Harrison Kristi Castlin	USA	24 April 2015	Des Moines	.[43]
2	50.50	All Stars White Tiffany Porter Jasmin Stowers Jacquelyn Coward Sharika Nelvis	GBR  USA  USA  USA	24 April 2015	Des Moines
3	50.66	BJPTC Kristi Castlin Brianna Rollins Queen Harrison Tiffany Porter	USA  USA  USA  GBR	5 April 2014	Gainesville
4	50.78	BoogieFast Nia Ali Kristi Castlin Yvette Lewis Queen Harrison	USA  USA  PAN  USA	6 April 2013	Gainesville
5	50.93	USA Red Brianna Rollins Lolo Jones Vashti Thomas Queen Harrison	USA	25 April 2014	Des Moines
6	52.00	Russia Marina Azyabina Yelena Sinyutina Eva Sokolova Yelizaveta Chernyshova	Russia	5 June 1993	Portsmouth	.[44]
7	52.01	Jamaica Shermaine Williams Andrea Bliss Monique Morgan LaToya Greaves	Jamaica	25 April 2014	Des Moines
8	52.07	Star Athletics Kellie Wells Tenaya Jones LaVonne Idlette Jacquelyn Coward	USA  USA  DOM  USA	5 April 2014	Gainesville
9	52.29	Great Britain / Austria Danielle Carruthers Beate Schrott Tiffany Porter Isabelle Pederson	USA  Austria  GBR  NOR	6 April 2013	Gainesville
10	52.30	Ukraine Olena Politika Olena Alystrasenko Nadezhda Bodrova Natalya Kolovanova	Ukraine	5 June 1993	Portsmouth	.[45]
11	52.32	Drake Red Janay DeLoach Tenaya Jones Raven Clay Vashti Thomas	USA  USA  USA  PAN	24 April 2015	Des Moines
12	52.38	Star Athletics Damu Mitchell Loreal Smith Tiki James Kellie Wells	USA	7 April 2012	Gainesville
13	52.38	Star Athletics Jacquelyn Coward Kellie Wells Tenaya Jones LaVonne Idlette	USA  USA  USA  DOM	6 April 2013	Gainesville
14	52.50	Texas A&M Vashti Thomas Gabby Mayo Donique Flemings Natasha Ruddock	PAN  USA  USA  JAM	23 April 2010	Philadelphia
15	52.50	Academy Art Jesseka Raymond Briana Stewart Dinesha Bean Julian Purvis	USA	27 April 2013	Des Moines
16	52.59	BoogieFest Queen Harrison Kristi Castlin Michaylin Golladay Beate Schrott	USA  USA  USA  AUT	7 April 2012	Gainesville
17	52.62	Elite Athletes Christina Manning Sharika Nelvis Raven Clay Cambrya Jones	USA	4 April 2015	Gainesville
18	52.77	Louisiana State University Tenaya Jones Angel Boyd Jessica Ohanaja Nickiesha Wilson	USA  USA  NGR  JAM	25 April 2008	Philadelphia
19	52.85	Illinois Jenny Kallur Camee Williams Susanna Kallur Perdita Felicien	SWE  USA  SWE  CAN	28 April 2001	Des Moines
20	52.87	Clemson Brianna Rollins Bridgette Owens Kendra Harrison Monique Gracia	USA	7 April 2012	Gainesville

Mixed - 4 x 110 m

Updated August 2021

Rank	Time	Team	Nationality	Date	Place	Ref
1	54.42	Team Blue Kristi Castlin, Spencer Adams, Nia Ali, Eddie Lovett	United States,  United States,  United States,  United States Virgin Islands	30 April 2016	Des Moines	[46]
2	54.77	Team Red Jasmin Stowers, Hansel Parchment, Jaqueline Coward, Aries Merritt	United States	30 April 2016	Des Moines	[47]
3	54.89	Team Green Kendra Harrison, Aleec Harris, Brianna Rollins, Omar McLeod	United States,  United States,  United States,  Jamaica	30 April 2016	Des Moines	[48]
4	54.96	Christina Clemons, Freddie Crittenden, Sharika Nelvis, Devon Allen	United States	11 May 2019	Yokohama	[49]
5	55.09	Sharika Nelvis, Freddie Crittenden, Queen Harrison, Ryan Fontenot	United States	11 May 2019	Yokohama	[50]
6	55.47	Amoi Brown, Andrew Riley, Megan Tapper, Ronald Levy	Jamaica	11 May 2019	Yokohama	[51]
7	55.59	Ayako Kimura, Shunya Takayama, Masumi Aoki, Taio Kanai	Japan	11 May 2019	Yokohama	[52]
8	56.13	Ayako Kimura, Shunya Takayama, Masumi Aoki, Taio Kanai	Japan	11 May 2019	Yokohama	[53]
9	56.40	Brianna Beahan, Nicholas Hough, Celeste Mucci, Nick Andrews	Australia	11 May 2019	Yokohama	[54]
10	56.53	Monika Zapalska, Erik Balnuweit, Anne Weigold, Gregor Traber	Germany	1 May 2021	Chorzów	[55]