Each team raced three laps of the track, comprising 1980 yards (1810.5 m).

The competition consisted of three rounds (heats, semifinals, and a final); in each round, 2 teams would compete in each heat.

[2] The bronze medal was awarded based on the time of the two semifinal losers rather than a direct competition.

In the only contested heat in the first round, the German team eliminated the French.

The Canadians received third place overall as the faster of the two semifinal losers, while the British team moved on to the final.