5s-6s is an amazing time. but 6.6s - 7.6s is pretty good
The piece of equipment your handing off is called a Baton. It comes in all sorts of different colors, and you could even make your own!!
The best way you can get down to that time is to run faster and harder in your training. First I would start with increasing your maximal sprinting speed so 49 second pace will feel easier(get your 100M time down to around 11 seconds). Once you have that down, run some intervals at that goal pace. I recommend running 100's, 200's, and 300,s. If your running 49 second pace you should be runing your 100's in 12.25 seconds, your 200's in 24.5 seconds, and your 300's in 36.75 seconds. Running intervals at your goal pace will teach your body to handle lactic acid at 49 second/400M speed which will keep your legs from dying on the home straight. Also, i would work on endurance a little bit by running longer runs once or twice a week (No more than 3 miles).
He has not been stripped of any medals in which he won individually. He has, however, been stripped of his 1999 world and 2000 olympic gold medal because on Antonio Pettigrew taking performance enhancing drugs. Alongside that Jerome Young was also taking performance enhancing drugs. But that 100% messed up. Your whole team suffers (Marion Jones is another example alongside Pettigrew). You could probably put Angelo Taylor in place of Pettigrew and the U.S. would still win.
It depends on what race you are running. For example In the 4x100 the 3rd leg is your closer he/she is the person who makes up for the lost time if the 2nd leg isn't fast enough and your 4th/ last leg take it home he's/she's your fastest.
The 1600M relay also known as the 4 by 400M requires skill of the baton pass, as well as fast 400m times from all 4 athletes especially the anchor leg. I assume you all run fast 400M times, but if you don't run that fast, focus on increasing your maximal sprinting speed as well as running intervals to help run at a faster pace during each 400m leg. Passing the baton may seem to be an easy thing to do, but if it is done incorrectly, then you can loose some precious seconds. In practice you should practice baton handoffs so they will become easy in an actual race. Also, the first leg of the race should have your second to fastest 400M runner so he can get up in front. The second and third leg should have your faster runners, so they can help maintain the leed or even the top placing their at. The anchor leg should have your fastest runner so you all will have a chance to regain the leed and hopefully win if you were falling behind because of the second and third legs.
Good Luck!!!!!