A race between two or more teams, in which each team member participates in only a set part of the race and is then relieved by another member of the team. a running or swimming race between two or more teams in which each member of the team takes part one after another. Race between teams in which each team member successively covers a specified portion of the course. In track events, such as the 4 100-m and 4 400-m relays, the runner finishing one leg passes a baton to the next runner while both are running within a marked exchange zone. In swimming competitions, such as the 4 100-m and 4 200-m freestyle races and the 4 100-m medley, the swimmer completing one leg touches the edge of the pool to signal the start of the next teammate's leg