The Olympics are winding down with only a few days left. For Track and Field that means it is relay time.

I really like the relays since they bring back some wonderful memories of running in High School.

I was on the track team during high school and lettered all four years. I was a distance runner and would run the half, mile and two mile. Of course these were really the 800, 1600 and 3200 but in the US we like to hold on to our old designations. I also ran in the 2 mile relay.

My best memories come from the relays. We were always competitive and would gain valuable points toward capturing the team championship.

In my Freshman year we won the Iroquois League Championship and our relay team took the Gold to contribute to the win. Two years ago the school had new banners made and auctioned off the old banners. I now have the banner for the championship that I helped win. See my post Running Down Memory Lane for more about this banner.

In my Senior year our 4×800 relay team qualified for the Kansas State Track Meet. We did not finish in the medals at State, but I have some great memories of running in the meet.

I still have the baton from the race. I don’t remember how I ended up with it, but it has been tucked safely away for years. Just holding it brings back some great running memories.

Tonight was the finals at the Olympics for the 4×100 meter relays. For the USA the women ran very well to win the Gold, but the men were disqualified due to passing the baton outside the zone.

Hopefully tomorrow the men and women will both run great 4×400 meter relay races and bring home the Gold.

I really wish that they would run the 4×800 at the Olympics. Also, why not add the 4×200, the sprint medley and the distance medley. This would give more track athletes a chance to win medals.

Just imagine a sprint medley of a 200, 200, 400 and 800 with the best runners in the world.

I am also looking forward to the Men’s Marathon on Sunday. It is traditionally one of the last events of the Olympics.

What do you think? Does the Olympics need more relays?

Steven