Can a team still win if they drop the baton?

Answer 1

At the 2012 California state meet, St Mary's dropped the baton in the 4x4 relay. The announcer kept saying they were disqualified. How unknowledgeable for an announcer to make such a statement. The team is only disqualified if the baton falls to the inside of the track and it gives them an advantage by running less distance or if they run into an inside lane to gain a shorter distance or if they impede another runner then that would be a judge's call.

Answer 2

No, you cannot. Once a relay team drops the baton either between hand-offs, or while the person is running, the relay team is dis-qualified from the race.