A relay team is set apart from individual competitors by their emphasis on teamwork and the passing of a baton among members during a race. Each member of the team specializes in running a specific distance, with the goal of completing the race in the fastest overall time by smoothly transferring the baton. This element of relay races fosters a unique dynamic, requiring synchronization, trust, and precise timing, which is not a factor for individual competitors who rely solely on their own performance.