The men's 4 x 400 metres relay was a track and field athletics

Track and field

Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...

 event held as part of the Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics

Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics

These are the results of athletics competition at the 1912 Summer Olympics. 30 events were contested, all for men only.The athletics programme grew by 4 events since the 1908 Summer Olympics. The 5000 and 10000 metre races were introduced for the first time, as the 5 mile event was eliminated...

 programme. It was the debut of the event, which along with the 4x100 metre relay marked the first relays of equal legs in the athletics programme (a medley relay had been held in 1908). The competition was held on Sunday, July 14, 1912 and on Monday, July 15, 1912.

Twenty-eight runners from seven nations competed.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in minutes) prior to the 1912 Summer Olympics.

World Record	3:18.2	Harry Schaaf Harry Schaaf Henry "Harry" Schaaf was an American track and field athlete, a member of the Irish American Athletic Club, and a Police Officer in the New York City Police Department...   Harry Gissing Harry Gissing Harry E. Gissing was an American track and field athlete, a member of the New York Athletic Club, Mohawk Athletic Club, and the Irish American Athletic Club. In 1911, he was part of a world's record setting team in the 4x400 meter relay race.In 1908, Gissing won the A.A.U half-mile championship...   James Rosenberger James Rosenberger James Maher Rosenberger was an American track and field athlete and a member of the Irish American Athletic Club. He was born in New York City and died in Brooklyn, New York....   Mel Sheppard Mel Sheppard Melvin Whinfield "Peerless Mel" Sheppard was an American athlete, member of the Irish American Athletic Club and winner of four gold medals at the 1908 Summer Olympics and 1912 Summer Olympics...	New York New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...  (USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... )	September 4, 1911
Olympic Record	-	none	-	-

The British squad, running in the first semifinal, set the best time of the semifinal round with 3:19.0 minutes. It was bettered by the Americans in the final, as they took the gold medal and set a new world record in 3:16.6 minutes.

Results

Semifinals

All semifinals were held on Sunday, July 14, 1912.

Semifinal 1

Place	Athletes	Time	Qual.
1		3:19.0 OR	QF
2		3:22.2

Semifinal 2

Place	Athletes	Time	Qual.
1		3:23.3	QF
2		3:28.5

Semifinal 3

Place	Athletes	Time	Qual.
1		3:22.5	QF
2		3:25.0
3.		3:29.4

Final

The final was held on Monday, July 15, 1912.

Place	Athletes	Time
1		3:16.6 WR
2		3:20.7
3		3:23.2