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3000 metres
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| Athletics 3000 metres | |
|---|---|
 | |
| World records | |
| Men |  Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 7:17.55 (2024) |
| Women |  Wang Junxia (CHN) 8:06.11 (1993) |
| Short track world records | |
| Men |  Grant Fisher (USA) 7:22.91 (2025) |
| Women |  Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 8:16.60 (2014) |
| World junior (U20) records | |
| Men | Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 7:28.19 (2016) |
| Women |  Zola Budd (GBR) 8:28.83 (1985) |
The 3000 metres or 3000-metre run is a track running event, also commonly known as the "3K" or "3K run", where 7.5 laps are run around an outdoor 400 m track, or 15 laps around a 200 m indoor track.
It is debated whether the 3000 m should be classified as a middle-distance or long-distance event.[1] In elite-level competition, 3000 m pace is more comparable to the pace found in the longer 5000 metres event, rather than mile pace. The men's world record performance for 3000 m equates to a pace of 58.34 seconds per 400 m, which is closer to the 60.43 seconds for 5000 m than the 55.46 seconds for the mile. However, the 3000 m does require some anaerobic conditioning, and an elite athlete needs to develop a high tolerance to lactic acid, as does the mile runner. Thus, the 3000 m demands a balance of aerobic endurance needed for the 5000 m and lactic acid tolerance needed for the mile.
In men's athletics, 3000 metres has been an Olympic discipline only as a team race at the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics. It has not been contested at any of the IAAF outdoor championships, but it is occasionally hosted at annual elite track and field meetings. It is often featured in indoor track and field programmes and is the longest-distance event present at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.
In women's athletics, 3000 metres was a standard event in the Olympic Games (1984 to 1992)[2] and World Championships (1980 to 1993).[3] The event was discontinued at World Championship and Olympic level after the 1993 World Championships in Athletics, with Qu Yunxia being the final gold medal winner at the event. Starting with the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 1996 Olympic Games, it was replaced by 5000 metres, with other IAAF-organized championships following suit.
Skilled runners in this event reach speeds near vVO2max, for which the oxygen requirements of the body cannot continuously be satisfied,[4] requiring some anaerobic effort.[further explanation needed]
Records
[edit]World records
[edit]- Updated 25 August 2024. Source: World Athletics[5]
| Division | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 7:17.55 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway
|
25 August 2024 | Chorzów |
| Women | 8:06.11 | Wang Junxia | China
|
13 September 1993 | Beijing |
Short track world records
[edit]- Updated 8 February 2025. Source: World Athletics[5]
| Division | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 7:22.91 | Grant Fisher |  United States
|
8 February 2025 | New York City |
| Women | 8:16.60 | Genzene Dibaba | Ethiopia
|
6 February 2014 | Stockholm |
Continental records
[edit]- Updated 25 May 2025. Source: World Athletics[6]
- Sh = Short Track
| Area | Men | Women | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Athlete | Nationality | |
| African | 7:20.67 | Daniel Komen |  Kenya
|
8:11.56 | Beatrice Chebet | Kenya
|
| Asian | 7:30.76 | Jamal Bilal Salem |  Qatar
|
8:06.11 WR | Wang Junxia | China
|
| European | 7:17.55 WR | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway
|
8:18.49 | Sifan Hassan |  Netherlands
|
| North, Central American and Caribbean | 7:22.91 | Grant Fisher | United States
|
8:20.87 Sh | Elle St. Pierre | United States
|
| Oceanian | 7:28.02 | Stewart McSweyn |  Australia
|
8:24.20 | Georgia Griffith | Australia
|
| South American | 7:37.15 | Santiago Catrofe |  Uruguay
|
8:43.26 | Joselyn Daniely Brea |  Venezuela
|
All-time top 25
[edit]| Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 3000m times and the top 25 athletes: |
| - denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 3000m times |
| - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 3000m times, by repeat athletes |
| - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 3000m times |
Outdoor men
[edit]| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 7:17.55 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway |
25 August 2024 | Chorzów | [9] |
| 2 | 2 | 7:20.67 | Daniel Komen | Kenya
|
1 September 1996 | Rieti | |
| 3 | 3 | 7:21.28 | Berihu Aregawi | Ethiopia |
25 August 2024 | Chorzów | [9] |
| 4 | 4 | 7:23.09 | Hicham El Guerrouj |  Morocco |
3 September 1999 | Brussels | |
| 5 | 7:23.63 | Ingebrigtsen #2 | 17 September 2023 | Eugene | [10] | ||
| 5 | 6 | 7:23.64 | Yomif Kejelcha | Ethiopia
|
17 September 2023 | Eugene | [10] |
| 7 | 7:24.00+[a] | Ingebrigtsen #3 | 9 June 2023 | Paris | [11][12] | ||
| 6 | 8 | 7:25.02 | Ali Saïdi-Sief |  Algeria |
18 August 2000 | Monaco | |
| 7 | 9 | 7:25.09 | Haile Gebrselassie |  Ethiopia |
28 August 1998 | Brussels | |
| 8 | 10 | 7:25.11 | Noureddine Morceli | Algeria |
2 August 1994 | Monaco | |
| 11 | 7:25.16 | Komen #2 | 10 August 1996 | Monaco | |||
| 9 | 12 | 7:25.47 | Grant Fisher | United States
|
17 September 2023 | Eugene | [10] |
| 10 | 13 | 7:25.48 | Telahun Haile Bekele | Ethiopia
|
17 September 2023 | Eugene | [10] |
| 14 | 7:25.54 | Gebrselassie #2 | 8 August 1998 | Monaco | |||
| 11 | 15 | 7:25.79 | Kenenisa Bekele | Ethiopia
|
7 August 2007 | Stockholm | |
| 16 | 7:25.87 | Komen #3 | 23 August 1996 | Brussels | |||
| 12 | 17 | 7:25.93 | Thierry Ndikumwenayo |  Burundi
|
10 August 2022 | Monaco | [13] |
| 18 | 7:26.02 | Gebrselassie #3 | 22 August 1997 | Brussels | |||
| 19 | 7:26.03 | Gebrselassie #4 | 10 June 1999 | Helsinki | |||
| 13 | 20 | 7:26.18 | Lamecha Girma | Ethiopia
|
5 May 2023 | Doha | [14] |
| 21 | 7:26.25 | Kejelcha #2 | 1 July 2021 | Oslo | [15] | ||
| 14 | 22 | 7:26.28 | Selemon Barega | Ethiopia
|
17 September 2023 | Eugene | [10] |
| 15 | 23 | 7:26.62 | Mohammed Mourhit |  Belgium |
18 August 2000 | Monaco | |
| 16 | 24 | 7:26.64 | Jacob Kiplimo |  Uganda
|
17 September 2020 | Rome | [16] |
| 25 | 7:26.69 | Bekele #2 | 15 July 2007 | Sheffield | |||
| 17 | 7:27.18 | Moses Kiptanui | Kenya |
25 July 1995 | Monaco | ||
| 18 | 7:27.26 | Yenew Alamirew | Ethiopia |
6 May 2011 | Doha | ||
| 19 | 7:27.55 | Edwin Soi | Kenya |
6 May 2011 | Doha | ||
| 20 | 7:27.59 | Luke Kipkosgei | Kenya
|
8 August 1998 | Monaco | ||
| 21 | 7:27.64 | Mohamed Katir |  Spain
|
13 July 2021 | London | [17] | |
| 22 | 7:27.66 | Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya
|
6 May 2011 | Doha | ||
| 23 | 7:27.68 | Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu |  Switzerland
|
20 July 2024 | London | [18] | |
| 24 | 7:27.75 | Tom Nyariki | Kenya
|
10 August 1996 | Monaco | ||
| 25 | 7:28.02 | Stewart McSweyn | Australia
|
17 September 2020 | Rome | [16] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ by World Athletics source; 7:23.8 by official Race Analysis
Outdoor women
[edit]- Correct as of August 2025.[19]
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 8:06.11 | Wang Junxia | China
|
13 September 1993 | Beijing | |
| 2 | 2 | 8:07.04 | Faith Kipyegon | Kenya
|
16 August 2025 | Chorzów | [20] |
| 3 | 3 | 8:11.56 | Beatrice Chebet | Kenya
|
25 May 2025 | Rabat | [21] |
| 4 | 4 | 8:12.18 | Qu Yunxia | China
|
13 September 1993 | Beijing | |
| 5 | 8:12.19 | Wang #2 | 12 September 1993 | Beijing | |||
| 6 | 8:12.27 | Qu #2 | 12 September 1993 | Beijing | |||
| 5 | 7 | 8:16.50 | Zhang Linli | China
|
13 September 1993 | Beijing | |
| 6 | 8 | 8:18.49 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands
|
30 June 2019 | Stanford | [22] |
| 7 | 9 | 8:19.08 | Francine Niyonsaba | Burundi
|
28 August 2021 | Paris | [23] |
| 8 | 10 | 8:19.52 | Ejgayehu Taye | Ethiopia
|
28 August 2021 | Paris | [24] |
| 9 | 11 | 8:19.78 | Ma Liyan | China
|
12 September 1993 | Beijing | |
| 10 | 12 | 8:20.07 | Konstanze Klosterhalfen |  Germany
|
30 June 2019 | Stanford | [22] |
| 11 | 13 | 8:20.27 | Letesenbet Gidey | Ethiopia
|
30 June 2019 | Stanford | [22] |
| 12 | 14 | 8:20.68 | Hellen Obiri | Kenya
|
9 May 2014 | Doha | |
| 13 | 15 | 8:21.14 | Mercy Cherono | Kenya
|
9 May 2014 | Doha | |
| 16 | 8:21.26 | Ma #2 | 13 September 1993 | Beijing | |||
| 14 | 17 | 8:21.29 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia
|
30 June 2019 | Stanford | [22] |
| 15 | 18 | 8:21.42 | Gabriela Szabo |  Romania
|
19 July 2002 | Monaco | |
| 16 | 19 | 8:21.50 | Diribe Welteji | Ethiopia
|
22 August 2024 | Lausanne | [25] |
| 17 | 20 | 8:21.53 | Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi | Kenya
|
28 August 2021 | Paris | [26] |
| 18 | 21 | 8:21.64 | Sonia O'Sullivan |  Ireland
|
15 July 1994 | London | |
| 19 | 22 | 8:21.84 | Zhang Lirong | China
|
13 September 1993 | Beijing | |
| 23 | 8:22.06 | Zhang Linli #2 | 12 September 1993 | Beijing | |||
| 20 | 24 | 8:22.20 | Paula Radcliffe | Great Britain
|
19 July 2002 | Monaco | |
| 21 | 25 | 8:22.22 | Almaz Ayana | Ethiopia
|
14 June 2015 | Rabat | [27] |
| 22 | 8:22.62 | Tatyana Kazankina |  Soviet Union
|
26 August 1984 | Leningrad | ||
| 23 | 8:22.92 | Agnes Tirop | Kenya
|
25 September 2020 | Doha | [28] | |
| 8:22.92 | Beatrice Chepkoech | Kenya
|
25 September 2020 | Doha | [28] | ||
| 25 | 8:23.23 | Edith Masai | Kenya
|
19 July 2002 | Monaco |
Indoor men
[edit]- Correct as of March 2025.[29]
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 7:22.91 | Grant Fisher | United States
|
8 February 2025 | New York City | [30] |
| 2 | 2 | 7:23.14 | Cole Hocker | United States
|
8 February 2025 | New York City | [30] |
| 3 | 3 | 7:23.81 | Lamecha Girma | Ethiopia
|
15 February 2023 | Liévin | [31] |
| 4 | 4 | 7:24.68 | Mohamed Katir | Spain
|
15 February 2023 | Liévin | [31] |
| 5 | 5 | 7:24.90 | Daniel Komen | Kenya
|
6 February 1998 | Budapest | [29] |
| 6 | 6 | 7:24.98 | Getnet Wale | Ethiopia
|
9 February 2021 | Liévin | [32] |
| 7 | 7 | 7:25.82 | Salemon Barega | Ethiopia
|
6 February 2024 | Toruń | [33] |
| 8 | 7:26.10 | Barega #2 | 9 February 2021 | Liévin | [29] | ||
| 8 | 9 | 7:26.15 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia
|
25 January 1998 | Karlsruhe | [29] |
| 9 | 10 | 7:26.20 | Berihu Aregawi | Ethiopia
|
28 January 2022 | Karlsruhe | [34] |
| 11 | 7:26.73 | Wale #2 | 6 February 2024 | Toruń | [29] | ||
| 12 | 7:26.80 | Gebrselassie #2 | 24 January 1999 | Karlsruhe | [29] | ||
| 10 | 13 | 7:27.80 | Yenew Alamirew | Ethiopia
|
5 February 2011 | Stuttgart | [29] |
| 11 | 14 | 7:27.92 | George Mills | United Kingdom
|
2 February 2025 | Val-de-Reuil | [35] |
| 15 | 7:27.93 | Komen #2 | 1 February 1998 | Stuttgart | [29] | ||
| 16 | 7:27.98 | Girma #2 | 9 February 2021 | Liévin | [29] | ||
| 12 | 17 | 7:28.00 | Augustine Kiprono Choge | Kenya
|
5 February 2011 | Stuttgart | [29] |
| 13 | 18 | 7:28.23 | Yared Nuguse | United States
|
27 January 2023 | Boston | [36] |
| 19 | 7:28.29 | Gebrselassie #3 | 28 February 2003 | Karlsruhe | [29] | ||
| 20 | 7:29.09 | Girma #3 | 4 February 2024 | Boston | [29] | ||
| 21 | 7:29.24 | Aregawi #2 | 9 February 2021 | Liévin | [29] | ||
| 22 | 7:29.34 | Gebrselassie #4 | 15 February 2004 | Karlsruhe | [29] | ||
| 14 | 23 | 7:29.37 | Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya
|
5 February 2011 | Stuttgart | [29] |
| 15 | 24 | 7:29.49 | Niels Laros | Netherlands
|
13 February 2025 | Liévin | [37] |
| 16 | 25 | 7:29.72 | Graham Blanks | United States
|
2 March 2025 | Boston | [38] |
| 17 | 7:29.94 | Edwin Cheruiyot Soi | Kenya
|
12 February 2012 | Karlsruhe | [29] | |
| 18 | 7:29.99 | Biniam Mehary | Ethiopia
|
13 February 2025 | Liévin | [37] | |
| 19 | 7:30.14+ | Josh Kerr | United Kingdom
|
11 February 2024 | New York City | [29] | |
| 20 | 7:30.15 | Ethan Strand | United States
|
7 December 2024 | Boston | [29] | |
| 21 | 7:30.16 | Galen Rupp | United States
|
21 February 2013 | Stockholm | [29] | |
| 22 | 7:30.18 | Jimmy Gressier |  France
|
8 February 2025 | New York City | [29] | |
| 23 | 7:30.23 | Parker Wolfe | United States
|
7 December 2024 | Boston | [29] | |
| 24 | 7:30.38 | Ky Robinson | Australia
|
8 February 2025 | New York City | [29] | |
| 25 | 7:30.45 | Dylan Jacobs | United States
|
8 February 2025 | New York City | [29] |
Indoor women
[edit]- Correct as of February 2025.[39]
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 8:16.60 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia
|
6 February 2014 | Stockholm | [39] |
| 2 | 2 | 8:16.69 | Gudaf Tsegay | Ethiopia
|
25 February 2023 | Birmingham | [40] |
| 3 | 8:17.11 | Tsegay #2 | 10 February 2024 | Liévin | [39] | ||
| 3 | 4 | 8:19.98 | Freweyni Hailu | Ethiopia
|
13 February 2025 | Liévin | [37] |
| 4 | 5 | 8:20.87 | Elle St. Pierre | United States
|
2 March 2024 | Glasgow | [41] |
| 6 | 8:21.23 | Tsegay #3 | 2 March 2024 | Glasgow | [39] | ||
| 7 | 8:22.50 | Dibaba #2 | 19 February 2016 | Sabadell | [39] | ||
| 8 | 8:22.65 | Tsegay #4 | 24 February 2021 | Madrid | [39] | ||
| 5 | 9 | 8:22.68 | Beatrice Chepkoech | Kenya
|
2 March 2024 | Glasgow | [42] |
| 6 | 10 | 8:23.24 | Dawit Seyaum | Ethiopia
|
17 February 2022 | Liévin | [43] |
| 7 | 11 | 8:23.72 | Meseret Defar | Ethiopia
|
3 February 2007 | Stuttgart | [39] |
| 8 | 12 | 8:23.74 | Meselech Melkamu | Ethiopia
|
3 February 2007 | Stuttgart | [39] |
| 13 | 8:24.17 | Hailu #2 | 4 February 2025 | Ostrava | [39] | ||
| 9 | 14 | 8:24.39 | Jessica Hull | Australia
|
2 March 2024 | Glasgow | [44] |
| 15 | 8:24.46 | Defar #2 | 6 February 2010 | Stuttgart | [39] | ||
| 16 | 8:24.85 | Dibaba #3 | 15 February 2014 | Birmingham | [39] | ||
| 17 | 8:24.93 | Hull #2 | 4 February 2024 | Boston | [39] | ||
| 10 | 18 | 8:25.05 | Alicia Monson | United States
|
11 February 2023 | New York City | [45] |
| 19 | 8:25.12 | Tsegay #5 | 13 February 2025 | Liévin | [39] | ||
| 20 | 8:25.25 | St. Pierre #2 | 4 February 2024 | Boston | [39] | ||
| 11 | 21 | 8:25.27 | Sentayehu Ejigu | Ethiopia
|
6 February 2010 | Stuttgart | [39] |
| 12 | 22 | 8:25.37 | Birke Haylom | Ethiopia
|
13 February 2025 | Liévin | [37] |
| 13 | 23 | 8:25.70 | Karissa Schweizer | United States
|
27 February 2020 | Boston | [46] |
| 14 | 24 | 8:26.41 | Laura Muir | United Kingdom
|
4 February 2017 | Karlsruhe | [47] |
| 15 | 25 | 8:26.66 | Shelby Houlihan | United States
|
27 February 2020 | Boston | [46] |
| 16 | 8:26.77 | Ejhayehu Taye | Ethiopia
|
17 February 2022 | Liévin | [43] | |
| 17 | 8:27.86 | Liliya Shobukhova |  Russia
|
17 February 2006 | Moscow | [39] | |
| 18 | 8:28.03 | Whittni Morgan | United States
|
8 February 2025 | New York City | [30] | |
| 19 | 8:28.46 | Hirut Meshesha | Ethiopia
|
3 February 2024 | Metz | [48] | |
| 20 | 8:28.49 | Anna Alminova | Russia
|
7 February 2009 | Stuttgart | [39] | |
| 21 | 8:28.69 | Melissa Courtney-Bryant | United Kingdom
|
2 February 2025 | Boston | [49] | |
| 22 | 8:28.71 | Colleen Quigley | United States
|
27 February 2020 | Boston | [46] | |
| 23 | 8:29.00 | Olesya Syreva | Russia
|
17 February 2006 | Moscow | [39] | |
| 24 | 8:29.15 | Berhane Adere | Ethiopia
|
3 February 2002 | Stuttgart | [39] | |
| 25 | 8:29.28 | Lemlem Hailu | Ethiopia
|
24 February 2021 | Madrid | [50] |
Medalists
[edit]Women's Olympic medalists
[edit]
Women's World Championships medalists
[edit]| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 Sittard |
Birgit Friedmann (FRG)
|
 Karoline Nemetz (SWE)
|
Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)
|
| 1983 Helsinki |
Mary Decker (USA)
|
Brigitte Kraus (FRG)
|
Tatyana Kovalenko-Kazankina (URS)
|
| 1987 Rome |
Tetyana Samolenko (URS)
|
 Maricica Puică (ROU)
|
 Ulrike Bruns (GDR)
|
| 1991 Tokyo |
Tetyana Dorovskikh (URS)
|
Yelena Romanova (URS)
|
Susan Sirma (KEN)
|
| 1993 Stuttgart |
Qu Yunxia (CHN)
|
Zhang Linli (CHN)
|
Zhang Lirong (CHN)
|
Men's World Indoor Championships medalists
[edit]
Women's World Indoor Championships medalists
[edit]
- A Known as the World Indoor Games
Season's bests
[edit]
Women (outdoor)[edit]
|
Women (indoor)[edit]
|
External links
[edit]- IAAF list of 3000-metres records in XML Archived 31 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
See also
[edit]Notes and references
[edit]- ^ Middle-distance running. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on 2014-06-02.
- ^ Women's 3000 metres at the Olympic Games. Sport Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
- ^ World Championships in Athletics. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
- ^ Billat, Véronique L.; J. Pierre Koralsztein (August 1996). "Significance of the Velocity at VO2max and Time to Exhaustion at this Velocity" (PDF). Sports Med. 22 (2): 90–108. doi:10.2165/00007256-199622020-00004. PMID 8857705. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Stats | World Athletics | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Stats | World Athletics | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "All-time men's best 3000m". World Athletics. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "All-time men's best 3000m". alltime-athletics.com. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Ingebrigtsen and Duplantis break world records in Silesia | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Tsegay smashes world 5000m record and Duplantis breaks world pole vault record in Eugene | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ Jon Mulkeen (9 June 2023). "Kipyegon, Girma and Ingebrigtsen make history in Paris". World Athletics. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "Two Miles Run – Race Analysis" (PDF). sportresult.com. 9 June 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
- ^ "3000m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ "Ceh, Girma and Richardson break meeting records in Doha | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Jess Whittington (1 July 2021). "Warholm breaks world 400m hurdles record with 46.70 in Oslo". World Athletics. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ a b Nicole Jeffery (17 September 2020). "Duplantis scales 6.15m in Rome, world's highest ever outdoor vault". World Athletics. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ "3000m Result" (PDF). sportresult.com. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "3000m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "All-time women's best 3000m". iaaf.org. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ "3000m Results" (PDF). swisstiming.com. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ "Chebet storms to second on world 3000m all-time list with 8:11.56 in Rabat". World Athletics. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d Brian Russell (1 July 2019). "Hassan takes historic 3000m victory in Stanford – IAAF Diamond League". IAAF. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- ^ "2021 Meeting de Paris – 3000 m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 28 August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "2021 Meeting de Paris – 3000 m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 28 August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "Results 3000m Women" (PDF). Diamond League. 22 August 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "2021 Meeting de Paris – 3000 m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 28 August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "3000m Results". IAAF. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
- ^ a b Jon Mulkeen (25 September 2020). "Obiri and McSweyn victorious in Doha as Wanda Diamond League draws to a close". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "All-time men's best 3000m indoor". IAAF. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Nuguse and Fisher break world indoor records in New York". World Athletics. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Girma breaks world indoor 3000m record with 7:23.81 in Lievin | REPORTS | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ Jon Mulkeen (9 February 2021). "Tsegay breaks world indoor 1500m record in Lievin with 3:53.09". World Athletics. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "3000m Result" (PDF). copernicus.domtel-sport.pl. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ Jess Whittington (28 January 2021). "Aregawi and Duplantis put on a show in Karlsruhe". World Athletics. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ Henderson, Jason (2 February 2025). "George Mills breaks Josh Kerr's UK 3000m record with 7:27.92". AW. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ^ Marley Dickinson (27 January 2023). "Yared Nuguse smashes American indoor 3,000m record". Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Ingebrigtsen smashes world indoor 1500m and mile records in Lievin". World Athletics. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ "Track Scoreboard". live.lancertiming.com. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "All-time women's best 3000m indoor". World Athletics. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Tsegay threatens world indoor 3000m record, as tour titles are won in Birmingham | REPORT | World Athletics". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "3000m Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "3000m Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ a b Jon Mulkeen (17 February 2022). "Ingebrigtsen breaks world indoor 1500m record in Lievin". World Athletics. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "3000m Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ Karen Rosen (12 February 2023). "Nuguse breaks North American indoor mile record at Millrose Games". World Athletics. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ a b c Taylor Dutch (28 February 2020). "Karissa Schweizer Shatters the 3,000-Meter American Record in Boston". Runner's World. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ "Laura Muir smashes European 3000m record in Karlsruhe". athleticsweekly.com. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
- ^ "Bol beats 50 seconds for 400m and breaks national 200m record in Metz". World Athletics. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "Hoey, Courtney-Bryant and Coscoran win distance duels in Boston". World Athletics. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
- ^ Phil Minshull (24 February 2021). "Holloway enters the record books in Madrid". World Athletics. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
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3000 metres
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The 3000 metres is a middle-distance track and field running event in which athletes complete 3000 metres, equivalent to 7.5 laps around a standard 400-metre outdoor track.[1] Also known as the 3K or 3K run, it demands a combination of tactical speed from middle-distance racing and the aerobic endurance required for longer distances, making it a key preparatory or standalone event for athletes targeting the 1500 metres or 5000 metres.[1]
While the 3000 metres is not currently an Olympic event for either gender, it holds historical significance in the Games; a men's team version was included in 1912, 1920, and 1924, and the individual women's race featured from 1984 to 1996 before being replaced by the 5000 metres.[2] Today, the distance is a staple of indoor athletics, contested at major meets like the World Athletics Indoor Championships, where it serves as a prominent middle-distance highlight.[3] It is also a standard distance in cross-country running, particularly for junior and amateur competitions, emphasizing its versatility across track and off-road formats.
The outdoor world record for men stands at 7:17.55, achieved by Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway at the 2024 Silesia Diamond League meeting in Chorzów, Poland.[4] For women, the record is 8:06.11, set by Wang Junxia of China during the 1993 Chinese National Games in Beijing.[5] These marks underscore the event's evolution, with recent advances in training and technology pushing performances closer to the physiological limits of human endurance at this distance.
Overall trends indicate that while the 1990s Kenyan duo of Komen and Paul Bitok (with 15 combined entries influencing the top 25 outdoor historically) set the benchmark, contemporary athletes like Ingebrigtsen have narrowed the gap through data-driven training, with 10 of the current top 25 outdoor from post-2010, including gains by non-East Africans.[4][33]
The full top 25 extends to Tatyana Kazankina's 8:22.62 from 1984 in Leningrad, with notable inclusions from multi-event specialists like Sonia O'Sullivan (8:21.64, 1994, London), whose versatility in distances from 1500m to 5000m contributed to her ranking. Performances beyond the top 10 increasingly feature East African athletes, with times dipping below 8:25 for several recent entries, illustrating the event's shift toward deeper fields and faster overall standards.[5]
Indoor all-time lists for the women's 3000 metres emphasize controlled environments that favor tactical pacing, led by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia with 8:16.60 on February 6, 2014, in Stockholm, a mark that shattered previous benchmarks and highlighted her dominance in middle-distance events. Subsequent performances, such as Genzebe Dibaba's 8:18.80 on February 27, 2015, in Stockholm, reflect ongoing refinements in indoor track strategy and shoe technology. The top 25 includes fewer historical outliers compared to outdoor, with the 25th-place time around 8:35, and features a strong Ethiopian presence post-2010, aligning with broader trends in the discipline. Some outdoor equivalents from high-performers like Dibaba are occasionally referenced for context, but the list strictly adheres to indoor validations.[32]
Lower rankings in the indoor list incorporate athletes like Elle St. Pierre (USA, 8:20.87 in 2024, Glasgow), demonstrating growing depth from North American and European competitors, though East Africans hold 15 of the top 25 slots as of 2025. Disqualifications from the 1990s era are minimal in indoor contexts, preserving the list's integrity focused on verified meets.[39]
Event Overview
Definition and Characteristics
The 3000 metres is a middle-distance track running event in which competitors run exactly 3000 metres, equivalent to 7.5 laps on a standard 400-metre outdoor track.[6] It is classified as a middle-distance discipline, spanning the gap between the more anaerobic 1500 metres and the endurance-focused 5000 metres, thereby requiring athletes to balance high-speed efforts with sustained aerobic output.[7] In amateur and youth competitions, the event is often referred to as the "3K" or "3K run".[8] Elite races typically last 7 to 9 minutes for men and 8 to 10 minutes for women, influenced by world-class performances such as men's times around 7:20 and women's around 8:10.[9][5] The tactical nature of the event often involves strategic pacing, including early surges to disrupt competitors and a powerful final kick in the closing laps, as athletes navigate the psychological and physical pressures of multi-lap racing.[10] Physiologically, success in the 3000 metres demands a high lactate threshold to manage accumulating fatigue and the ability to sustain efforts at approximately 90-95% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max), highlighting the event's reliance on both aerobic efficiency and anaerobic capacity.[11][12]Formats and Variations
The 3000 metres event is primarily contested in an outdoor format on a standard 400-metre oval track, where athletes complete exactly 7.5 laps to cover the distance.[13] The race begins with a standing start from a straight line or staggered positions in lanes, with runners required to remain in their assigned lanes until the end of the first curve, after which the field opens to allow athletes to take the inside path.[14] Outdoor conditions expose runners to variable weather elements, including wind, which can significantly influence performance; a tailwind of 2 m/s may provide a small advantage of 0.5-0.8% in speed for endurance efforts, while headwinds or crosswinds increase energy expenditure and slow times.[15] Temperature and humidity further compound these effects, potentially reducing peak performance by up to 3-5% in adverse conditions during longer track races.[16] In contrast, the indoor format of the 3000 metres is typically held on a 200-metre banked oval track, requiring athletes to complete 15 laps for the exact distance.[17] While some facilities use 150-metre or 300-metre tracks, elite-level competitions standardize on the 200-metre configuration to ensure consistency and optimal banking for curves.[18] Indoor races benefit from controlled environmental conditions, eliminating wind and extreme weather variability, which allows for more predictable pacing; however, the shorter track results in more frequent and tighter turns—nearly double those of an outdoor 400-metre track—which can disrupt rhythm and lead to times approximately 5-10 seconds slower than comparable outdoor performances due to increased centrifugal forces and lane adjustments.[19] This format is particularly prevalent in elite indoor championships, such as the World Athletics Indoor Championships, where it serves as a key middle-distance event. The flat 3000 metres should not be confused with the 3000 metres steeplechase, which incorporates 28 fixed barriers (36 inches high for men and 30 inches for women) and seven water jumps integrated into the same 7.5-lap outdoor course, adding technical demands that extend times by about 30-60 seconds compared to the flat event.[20] Similarly, road-based 3K races differ fundamentally from the track version, as they occur on public roads or paths with variable surfaces, elevation changes, and no lane enforcement, often resulting in times 3-5% slower due to inconsistent terrain and lack of the track's uniform synthetic surface.[21] In youth and masters athletics, the 3000 metres maintains a standardized distance of exactly 3000 metres for elite and senior categories, but adaptations occur on non-standard tracks to ensure precision; for younger athletes on smaller local facilities (e.g., 200-metre or shorter ovals), lap counts are adjusted accordingly while adhering to World Athletics measurement guidelines, though international youth competitions use full-sized tracks.[22] Masters events follow the same outdoor and indoor formats as open competitions, with age-group divisions starting from 35 years, emphasizing the event's accessibility across lifespans without altering core setup.[23]Historical Development
Origins in Early Athletics
The 3000 metres event emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries alongside the increasing standardization of metric distances in international track and field competitions, particularly following the revival of the modern Olympics in 1896, which prioritized metric events like the 1500 metres. While early university and club races in Britain and America were dominated by imperial measurements such as the mile (approximately 1609 metres) and two-mile (3218 metres) events, the 3000 metres—positioned between these distances—began to fill a niche for middle-distance endurance testing in global contexts. Although national amateur meets retained imperial distances until the mid-20th century, the event gained early traction in select indoor meets and international exhibitions, reflecting the sport's gradual evolution toward precise, measurable performances.[24] The 3000 metres played a notable role in the early Olympic program through the men's team race format, introduced at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics as a scoring event to encourage national team participation. In this competition, teams of three to five runners competed individually over the distance, with points assigned based on finishing positions (one point for first, two for second, etc.), and the lowest team score determining the winner; the United States secured gold with 9 points, followed by Sweden (13 points) and Great Britain (23 points). The event was retained for the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, where the USA again won gold (10 points), and the 1924 Paris Olympics, claimed by Finland (8 points), before its discontinuation after 1924.[25][26] A key early milestone for the distance occurred with its omission from the inaugural 1896 Athens Olympics, which prioritized shorter metric events like the 1500 metres, but its inclusion in the unofficial 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, where the 3000 metres was contested in the steeplechase format, highlighting growing interest in endurance obstacles over this distance. While full metric adoption in national championships like the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) in the USA and the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) in the UK came later in the 1960s-1970s, the event supported amateur growth internationally, often serving as a track analogue to cross-country racing to build competitive depth among middle-distance specialists.[27][24]Evolution in Major Competitions
Following the standardization of middle- and long-distance events in the mid-20th century, the 3000 metres experienced a decline in prominence at outdoor elite competitions, as organizers prioritized the 1500 metres and 5000 metres for their alignment with Olympic and World Championships programs.[28] For men, the event had already been absent from individual Olympic competition after the discontinuation of team formats in 1924, limiting its role to regional meets such as the Commonwealth Games and European Athletics Championships, where it maintained a presence through the 1990s before fading from those schedules as well.[28] This shift reflected broader trends in athletics toward established distances that better fit race scheduling and athlete specialization. The 3000 metres saw renewed attention for women in the Olympic program, debuting as an individual event at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and remaining through the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona editions before being replaced by the 5000 metres starting in 1996 to streamline the distance lineup.[28] Similarly, it was featured in the outdoor World Championships from 1983 to 1993, after which the IAAF (now World Athletics) discontinued it in favor of the longer distance.[28] In contrast, the event thrived indoors, becoming a staple at the World Athletics Indoor Championships from their inception in 1985, where it has been contested at every edition since. These races often adopt a tactical style, with packs controlled by leading nations like Kenya and Ethiopia, emphasizing strategic pacing over pure speed due to the shorter track and bunched fields. In recent decades, the 3000 metres has persisted in high-profile series like the Diamond League, appearing periodically in meets such as the 2025 Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, while also supporting youth development and experimental formats in national and regional competitions.[29]Rules and Conducting the Race
Starting and Race Procedure
The 3000 metres race employs a standing start, as required for all track events longer than 400 metres, where athletes position themselves behind the start line without using starting blocks. The starter issues the command "On your marks" followed by the firing of a gun, cannon, or electronically operated device to signal the beginning of the race. For races exceeding 800 metres such as the 3000 metres, a group start is utilized with an arced starting line positioned on the curve, featuring staggered positions to account for the track's curvature and ensure fairness; these positions are determined by lot in major competitions.[30] Athletes in the 3000 metres do not run in assigned lanes throughout the event, as it is classified among races over 800 metres that employ a group start without lane restrictions after the initial positioning. In cases of large fields exceeding 12 participants, the start may involve two staggered groups—one using the standard arced line and the other an outer half-lap line—allowing convergence onto the inner portion of the track immediately after the first bend. No lane assignments apply beyond the starting positions, enabling runners to position themselves freely on the track's inside lane during the race. A bell is rung to signal the start of the final lap.[30] False starts are governed by World Athletics Rule 16, under which any false start results in the immediate disqualification of the athlete responsible; the race may be recalled if necessary. This zero false start rule applies to all individual track events. A false start is determined by the starter's judgment or, when available, a certified Start Information System measuring reaction times less than 0.100 seconds from the gun. For standing starts in events like the 3000 metres, a false start is defined as any motion causing an athlete's feet to lose contact with the ground before the starting signal, with electronic systems used for precise detection in major competitions.[30] In major competitions such as World Athletics Championships, the 3000 metres typically features 2 to 3 heats to manage larger fields, with the top performers—often the first 5 to 8 placers per heat plus the next fastest times—advancing to a single final. Qualification is arranged by technical delegates based on entry standards and seeded by performance to balance heats, ensuring a minimum of 3 athletes per heat and preferably 5 or more for competitive integrity. In some elite non-championship races, such as those in the Diamond League series, pacemakers may participate as registered entrants to set an initial fast pace, though World Athletics rules prohibit pacing by non-participants or lapped athletes to maintain fairness.[30] The race concludes at a finish line marked by a 50 mm wide white line perpendicular to the track, with placings determined by the position of the athlete's torso crossing the vertical plane over the line. Photo-finish technology is mandatory in international competitions, capturing images at a minimum of 1000 frames per second for World Championships to record times to the hundredth of a second (0.01 s), with ties resolved by examining the photo evidence to 0.001 s precision if necessary.[30]Track Specifications and Measurement
The 3000 metres is contested on a standard outdoor athletics track, which consists of a 400-metre oval with two parallel straightaways measuring 84.39 metres each and semicircular curves with a radius of 36.50 metres, designed to accommodate up to eight lanes for fair competition. Indoor tracks for the event typically feature a 200-metre oval with banked turns to maintain comparable racing dynamics in enclosed venues.[30] Distance markings on the track include permanent lines painted every 100 metres, with the finish line for the 3000 metres precisely aligned at the 3000-metre mark from the starting line to ensure accurate lap counting over the 7.5-lap distance. Initial track calibration is performed using a steel tape measure or a certified measuring wheel, while modern verification often employs GPS technology for precision; the allowable tolerance is ±0.10 metres per 400-metre lap to uphold measurement integrity. Track surfaces must meet stringent requirements for performance and safety, utilizing synthetic materials such as tartan or Mondo track for optimal energy return and traction outdoors, complete with effective drainage systems to handle weather conditions. Indoors, surfaces incorporate banked turns with a typical 10-18 degree incline to facilitate smoother navigation and prevent athlete slippage during high-speed cornering. As a flat middle-distance event, the 3000 metres features no obstacles, distinguishing it from the steeplechase variant by excluding hurdles and water jumps to emphasize pure speed and endurance on an unobstructed course.Performance Records
World and Area Records
The 3000 metres world records are ratified by World Athletics for performances achieved under strict criteria, including wind assistance not exceeding +2.0 m/s for outdoor events, mandatory doping controls with no violations, and races conducted on certified tracks measuring exactly 3000 m. Indoor records, held in facilities without wind influence, require similar anti-doping verification and track certification.World Records
The current men's outdoor world record is 7:17.55, set by Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway on 25 August 2024 in Chorzów, Poland.[4] The men's indoor world record stands at 7:22.91, achieved by Grant Fisher of the United States on 8 February 2025 at the Millrose Games in New York, United States.[31] For women, the outdoor world record remains 8:06.11, established by Wang Junxia of China on 13 September 1993 in Beijing, China.[5] The women's indoor world record is 8:16.60, set by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia on 6 February 2014 in Stockholm, Sweden.[32]| Category | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men Outdoor | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 7:17.55 | 25 Aug 2024 | Chorzów, POL |
| Men Indoor | Grant Fisher | USA | 7:22.91 | 8 Feb 2025 | New York, USA |
| Women Outdoor | Wang Junxia | CHN | 8:06.11 | 13 Sep 1993 | Beijing, CHN |
| Women Indoor | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 8:16.60 | 6 Feb 2014 | Stockholm, SWE |
Area Records
Continental (area) records are similarly ratified by World Athletics, reflecting the fastest verified performances within each geographic region. As of November 2025, notable examples include the European men's outdoor record of 7:17.55 by Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway, 25 August 2024, Chorzów, Poland), which also holds as the global mark.[4] The African men's outdoor record is 7:20.67 by Daniel Komen (Kenya, 1 September 1996, Rieti, Italy).[4] For the men's indoor event, the African record is 7:23.81 by Lamecha Girma (Ethiopia, 15 February 2023, Liévin, France), while North America's is 7:22.91 by Grant Fisher (United States, 8 February 2025, New York, United States).[33] In the women's events, the African indoor record is the global standard of 8:16.60 by Genzebe Dibaba (Ethiopia, 6 February 2014, Stockholm, Sweden).[32] The European women's outdoor record stands at 8:21.64 by Sonia O'Sullivan (Ireland, 15 July 1994, Oslo, Norway).[5] North America's women's indoor record is 8:20.87 by Elle St. Pierre (United States, 2 March 2024, Glasgow, United Kingdom).[32] The African women's outdoor record is 8:07.04 by Faith Kipyegon (Kenya, 16 August 2025, Silesia, Poland), the second-fastest time ever.[29] Asian and Oceanian records, such as China's women's outdoor mark of 8:06.11 by Wang Junxia (13 September 1993, Beijing, China), highlight regional strengths but lag behind African and European benchmarks.[5] South American records remain less competitive, with the men's outdoor record at 7:58.07 by Hudson de Souza (Brazil, 2006).[4]Progression of World Records
The progression of world records in the 3000 metres event reflects advancements in training, technology, and athletic talent, particularly from East African nations since the late 20th century. For men outdoors, the first ratified record was set by Hannes Kolehmainen of Finland at 8:36.8 in Stockholm on July 6, 1912, during the Olympic Games, marking the event's early recognition in competitive athletics.[34] Finnish runners dominated the initial decades, with Paavo Nurmi lowering it to 8:20.4 on July 12, 1926, in Stockholm, Sweden, showcasing the tactical pacing that became a hallmark of distance running.[34] By the mid-20th century, European athletes like Sweden's Gunder Hägg pushed the barrier under 8:00 with 8:01.2 in Stockholm on August 28, 1942, amid wartime limitations on international competition.[34] The 1960s and 1970s saw sub-7:50 times emerge, led by France's Michel Jazy at 7:49.0 in Melun on June 23, 1965, followed by Kenyan Kipchoge Keino's 7:39.6 in Helsingborg on August 27, 1965, signaling Africa's rising influence.[34] The 1980s and 1990s brought a surge in records, driven by North African and East African runners; Morocco's Saïd Aouita set 7:29.45 in Cologne on August 20, 1989, before Kenya's Moses Kiptanui improved it to 7:28.96 there the following year.[34] This era culminated in Daniel Komen's longstanding 7:20.67 in Rieti, Italy, on September 1, 1996, which stood until Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke it with 7:17.55 in Chorzów, Poland, on August 25, 2024, highlighting a return to European breakthroughs amid Kenyan and Ethiopian dominance that produced seven of the last ten outdoor records post-1990.[34] Women's outdoor records began later, with the first ratified mark at 8:52.8 by Soviet Union's Lyudmila Bragina in Durham, North Carolina, on July 6, 1974, during times when the distance was gaining acceptance in women's athletics.[35] Norway's Grete Waitz advanced it to 8:45.4 in Oslo on June 21, 1976, but Soviet athletes like Tatyana Kazankina lowered it to 8:22.62 in Leningrad on August 26, 1984.[35] The 1990s saw dramatic drops, with China's Wang Junxia setting 8:06.11 in Beijing on September 13, 1993—a record that remains current despite ongoing scrutiny from 2016 allegations of state-sponsored doping in Chinese athletics during that era, though no formal annulment has occurred and it stands as official.[35][36] This period exemplified East Asian and East African surges, with seven women's outdoor records ratified between 1974 and 1993.[35] Indoor records, ratified starting in 1973 for men and later for women, parallel outdoor trends but with fewer updates due to the event's niche status. For men indoors, Belgium's Emiel Puttemans established the initial 7:39.2 in Berlin on February 18, 1973; Spanish and East African runners improved it through the 1980s and 1990s, with Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie and Kenyan Daniel Komen driving it under 7:25 by 1998 (Komen's 7:24.90 stood until 2023).[37] The record remained at 7:24.90 until Lamecha Girma set 7:23.81 in Liévin, France, on February 15, 2023, followed by Grant Fisher's 7:22.91 in New York on February 8, 2025—part of several men's indoor records ratified from 1973 to 2025, underscoring East African control.[37][38] Women's indoor progression began in the early 1980s, with Mary Slaney (USA) setting an initial mark of 8:47.3 on 6 February 1982 in San Diego, USA, followed by improvements through the 1990s and 2000s, including Meseret Defar's 8:23.72 in 2004. The 2010s featured Genzebe Dibaba's influence, with her 8:16.60 on 6 February 2014 in Stockholm, Sweden, remaining the record as of November 2025. East African athletes, particularly Ethiopians, have dominated recent senior indoor records.[32] Overall, post-1990 Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes have set most indoor world records, transforming the event through altitude training and high-volume mileage.[37]Top Historical Performances
All-Time Lists for Men
The all-time top performances in the men's 3000 metres showcase the evolution of middle-distance running, with East African athletes dominating much of the historical list, particularly from the 1990s and early 2000s, while recent advancements in training and track technology have enabled breakthroughs by European and North American runners. As of November 2025, the World Athletics database records the fastest outdoor time at 7:17.55 by Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, set at the Athletissima meeting in Chorzów, Poland, surpassing the long-standing mark held by Daniel Komen of Kenya since 1996.[4] Indoor performances have similarly progressed, with controlled environments allowing for tactical pacing and fast closing laps, led by Grant Fisher of the United States with 7:22.91 in New York in February 2025.[33] No performances in the top ranks are wind-assisted, as 3000m races are typically run in multi-lap formats where wind effects are minimal and not recorded; however, venues like Rieti, Italy (Komen's mark), and Chorzów, Poland (Ingebrigtsen's and Aregawi's), are at near sea level, optimizing conditions without altitude advantages common in high-elevation training sites. Duplicates from the same athlete are limited to their best three performances in the full lists to reflect diversity, though single standout runs like Ingebrigtsen's world record are fully represented.[4][33]Outdoor Top Performances
The outdoor list highlights the supremacy of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners in the 1990s and 2010s, with Daniel Komen's 7:20.67 from 1996 remaining the second-fastest ever, while 12 of the top 25 hail from Kenya or Ethiopia during that era, including multiple entries from Paul Bitok, Luke Kipkosgei, and Eliud Kipchoge in the Doha meetings of 2011. Recent shifts show European resurgence, exemplified by Ingebrigtsen's 2024 record and Switzerland's Dominic Lobalu at 7:27.68 in London. Performances range from sub-7:23 for the top three to around 7:28 for the 25th position.| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7:17.55 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | NOR | 25 Aug 2024 | Chorzów (POL) |
| 2 | 7:20.67 | Daniel Komen | KEN | 01 Sep 1996 | Rieti (ITA) |
| 3 | 7:21.28 | Berihu Aregawi | ETH | 25 Aug 2024 | Chorzów (POL) |
| 4 | 7:23.09 | Hicham El Guerrouj | MAR | 03 Sep 1999 | Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 5 | 7:23.64 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | 17 Sep 2023 | Eugene (USA) |
| 6 | 7:25.02 | Ali Saidi-Sief | ALG | 18 Aug 2000 | Monaco (MON) |
| 7 | 7:25.09 | Haile Gebrselassie | ETH | 28 Aug 1998 | Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 8 | 7:25.11 | Noureddine Morceli | ALG | 02 Aug 1994 | Monaco (MON) |
| 9 | 7:25.48 | Telahun Haile Bekele | ETH | 17 Sep 2023 | Eugene (USA) |
| 10 | 7:25.79 | Kenenisa Bekele | ETH | 07 Aug 2007 | Stockholm (SWE) |
Indoor Top Performances
Indoor lists feature a blend of tactical races in European arenas and North American facilities, with Ethiopian dominance evident in eight of the top 10, including Lamecha Girma's 7:23.81 from Liévin in 2023. The 2025 Millrose Games in New York produced two of the fastest ever, by Fisher and Cole Hocker, reflecting improved indoor track surfaces and pacer strategies. The top 25 extend to approximately 7:30, with fewer duplicates due to the event's rarity indoors.| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7:22.91 | Grant Fisher | USA | 08 Feb 2025 | New York (USA) |
| 2 | 7:23.14 | Cole Hocker | USA | 08 Feb 2025 | New York (USA) |
| 3 | 7:23.81 | Lamecha Girma | ETH | 15 Feb 2023 | Liévin (FRA) |
| 4 | 7:24.68 | Mohamed Katir | ESP | 15 Feb 2023 | Liévin (FRA) |
| 5 | 7:24.98 | Getnet Wale | ETH | 09 Feb 2021 | Liévin (FRA) |
| 6 | 7:25.82 | Selemon Barega | ETH | 06 Feb 2024 | Toruń (POL) |
| 7 | 7:27.95 | Grant Fisher | USA | 26 Feb 2022 | Boston (USA) |
| 8 | 7:28.06 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | 18 Feb 2017 | Madrid (ESP) |
| 9 | 7:28.18 | Paul Tanui | KEN | 03 Mar 2017 | Belgrade (SRB) |
| 10 | 7:28.36 | Hicham El Guerrouj | MAR | 02 Mar 1997 | Gent (BEL) |
All-Time Lists for Women
The all-time performance list for women's 3000 metres outdoor highlights a remarkable evolution, with the top mark set by Wang Junxia of China at 8:06.11 on September 13, 1993, in Beijing, a performance achieved at sea level during the National Games. This time remains the world record, though it has faced scrutiny amid broader investigations into doping in Chinese athletics during the 1990s, with some related performances from that era later disqualified or not ratified by World Athletics. Recent advancements have seen East African athletes close the gap, exemplified by Sifan Hassan's 8:18.49 on 30 June 2019, in Palo Alto, USA, underscoring the event's progression through improved training and competition conditions. The top 25 list features a cluster of five Chinese athletes from the 1993 Beijing meet occupying early positions, reflecting temporary dominance, while post-2010 entries are dominated by Ethiopian and Kenyan runners, with over 10 athletes from these nations in the top 25, signaling a resurgence driven by high-altitude training and tactical racing innovations.[5]| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8:06.11 | Wang Junxia | CHN | 13 Sep 1993 | Beijing (CHN) |
| 2 | 8:12.18 | Qu Yunxia | CHN | 13 Sep 1993 | Beijing (CHN) |
| 3 | 8:16.50 | Zhang Linli | CHN | 13 Sep 1993 | Beijing (CHN) |
| 4 | 8:18.49 | Sifan Hassan | NED | 30 Jun 2019 | Palo Alto (USA) |
| 5 | 8:19.08 | Francine Niyonsaba | BDI | 28 Aug 2021 | Paris (FRA) |
| 6 | 8:19.52 | Ejgayehu Taye | ETH | 28 Aug 2021 | Paris (FRA) |
| 7 | 8:19.78 | Ma Liyan | CHN | 12 Sep 1993 | Beijing (CHN) |
| 8 | 8:20.07 | Konstanze Klosterhalfen | GER | 30 Jun 2019 | Palo Alto (USA) |
| 9 | 8:21.64 | Sonia O'Sullivan | IRL | 1994 | London (GBR) |
| 10 | 8:22.62 | Tatyana Kazankina | URS | 1984 | Leningrad (URS) |
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8:16.60 | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 06 Feb 2014 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| 2 | 8:18.80 | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 27 Feb 2015 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| 3 | 8:20.68 | Hellen Obiri | KEN | 10 Feb 2017 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| 4 | 8:21.87 | Alemu Megertu | ETH | 27 Feb 2021 | Liévin (FRA) |
| 5 | 8:22.19 | Meseret Alemayehu | ETH | 25 Feb 2023 | Birmingham (GBR) |
| 6 | 8:23.14 | Freweyni Hailu | ETH | 10 Feb 2023 | Liévin (FRA) |
| 7 | 8:24.71 | Meseret Alemayehu | ETH | 18 Feb 2022 | Astana (KAZ) |
Contemporary Achievements
Season's Best Performances
In 2024, the men's 3000 metres season showcased remarkable performances, highlighted by Jakob Ingebrigtsen's world record of 7:17.55 set outdoors at the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Chorzów, Poland, on August 25, surpassing the previous mark by over three seconds.[40] This time anchored the top of the season's list, with Berihu Aregawi's 7:21.28 in the same race securing second place, and the top 10 featuring times as fast as 7:29.09, including several sub-7:30 efforts from athletes like Selemon Barega (7:25.82 indoor in Toruń, Poland, on February 6).[40] Indoor performances were equally competitive, with the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, on March 2 producing Josh Kerr's victory in 7:42.98, ahead of Yared Nuguse's 7:43.59 season's best.[41] The season's fastest indoor mark, however, came earlier from Barega in Toruń, reflecting the depth in middle-distance racing.[40] For women, Gudaf Tsegay led the 2024 season with an indoor time of 8:17.11 at the Indoor Meeting in Liévin, France, on February 10, marking her second consecutive year atop the lists.[42] The top 10 ranged from Tsegay's mark down to 8:25.10 by Elise Cranny outdoors in Lausanne, Switzerland, on August 22, with notable outdoor efforts including Diribe Welteji's 8:21.50 in the same Lausanne meet.[42] At the Glasgow Indoor Championships, Elle St. Pierre claimed gold in a championship record of 8:20.87 on March 2, edging Tsegay (8:21.13) and Beatrice Chepkoech (8:22.68).[43] The 2024 season demonstrated accelerating trends in 3000 metres performances, driven by advancements in altitude training, pacing strategies, and the proliferation of high-stakes Diamond League meets that foster competitive fields.[44] Year-over-year, men's times improved dramatically, with Ingebrigtsen's 7:17.55 eclipsing the 2023 best of 7:23.63 by Ingebrigtsen himself, while women's leading marks remained stable around 8:17, with Tsegay's 2024 effort just 0.42 seconds slower than her 2023 indoor peak of 8:16.69.[45][46] In 2025, the indoor season began with Grant Fisher of the United States setting a new world record of 7:22.91 at the Millrose Games in New York on February 8.[31] At the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, from March 21-23, Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the men's 3000m gold in 7:46.09, ahead of Berihu Aregawi (7:46.25) and Ky Robinson (7:47.09). In the women's race, Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia claimed gold with 8:37.21, followed by Shelby Houlihan (8:38.26) and Jessica Hull (8:38.28).[47][48]| Gender | Surface | Top Performer (Time) | Key Meet/Date | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Outdoor | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (7:17.55 WR) | Chorzów, Aug 25, 2024 | [40] |
| Men | Indoor | Grant Fisher (7:22.91 WR) | New York, Feb 8, 2025 | [31] |
| Women | Outdoor | Diribe Welteji (8:21.50) | Lausanne, Aug 22, 2024 | [42] |
| Women | Indoor | Gudaf Tsegay (8:17.11) | Liévin, Feb 10, 2024 | [42] |