The exchange zone on a 400 meter track is 20 meters long. For races involving 200 meter legs or less, a 10 meter acceleration zone may be marked on the track and used by the runner receiving the baton to accelerate to match speed with the incoming runner. With or without an acceleration zone, the baton must still be exchanged within the official 20 meter zone.
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It's the first part of the race, when runners dig out of the blocks to maintain as much speed for top-end speed.
The acceleration zone is a 10 meter segment—designated through a small triangle behind the exchange zone—where an outgoing runner may accelerate before receiving the baton from the incoming runner