3000 metres steeplechase


The 3000 metres steeplechase or 3000-meter steeplechase is the most common distance for the steeplechase in track and field. It is an obstacle race over the distance of the 3000 metres, which derives its name from the horse racing steeplechase.

Rules

It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and it is also an event recognized by World Athletics. The obstacles for men are high, and for women, they are high.
The water jump consists of a barrier followed by a pit of water with a landing area defined as follows: The pit is 3.66 m square. The pit's forward-direction measurement starts from the approach edge of the barrier and ends at the point where the water jump slope reaches the flat surface of the steeple pathway. The rulebook simply but clearly states, "The water jump, including the hurdle, shall be 3.66 m in length." Pits have an upward slope; the water is deeper near the barrier and is within 2 cm of ground level at the departure end. That slope begins approximately forward of the barrier, at which point the water is deep.
The length of the race is usually ; junior and some masters events are, as women's events used to be. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. During the race, each runner must clear a total of 28 ordinary barriers and seven water jumps. This entails seven complete laps after starting with a fraction of a lap run without barriers. The water jump is located on the back turn, either inside the inner lane or outside the outer lane. If it is on the outside, then each of the seven laps is longer than the standard 400 m, and the starting point is on the home straight. If the water jump is on the inside, each lap is shorter than 400 m, and the starting point is on the back straight, so the water jump and barrier in the home straight are bypassed in the first half lap at the start.
Unlike those used in hurdling, steeplechase barriers do not fall over if hit, and the rules allow an athlete to negotiate the barrier by any means, so many runners step on top of them. Four barriers are spaced around the track on level ground, and a fifth barrier at the top of the second turn is the water jump. The slope of the water jump rewards runners with more jumping ability, because a longer jump results in a shallower landing in the water.

All-time top 25

Men

  • Correct as of July 2025.
TimeAthleteNationDatePlace
117:52.11Lamecha Girma9 June 2023Paris
227:53.63Saif Saaeed Shaheen13 September 2004Brussels
337:53.64Brimin Kipruto22 July 2011Monaco
447:54.31Paul Kipsiele Koech31 May 2012Rome
557:55.28Brahim Boulami24 August 2001Brussels
67:55.51Shaheen #226 August 2005Brussels
677:55.72Bernard Barmasai24 August 1997Cologne
787:55.76Ezekiel Kemboi22 July 2011Monaco
897:56.16Moses Kiptanui24 August 1997Cologne
107:56.32Shaheen #33 July 2006Athens
117:56.34Shaheen #48 July 2005Rome
127:56.37Koech #28 July 2005Rome
137:56.54Shaheen #518 August 2006Zürich
147:56.58Koech #311 May 2012Doha
9157:56.68Soufiane El Bakkali28 May 2023Rabat
10167:56.81Richard Mateelong11 May 2012Doha
177:56.94Shaheen #619 September 2004Monaco
187:57.28Shaheen #714 June 2005Athens
11197:57.29Reuben Kosgei24 August 2001Brussels
207:57.32Koech #422 July 2011Monaco
217:57.38Shaheen #814 September 2003Monaco
227:57.42Koech #514 September 2003Monaco
237:58.09Boulami #219 July 2002Monaco
247:58.10Shaheen #919 July 2002Monaco
257:58.15El Bakkali #220 July 2018Monaco
127:58.41Jairus Birech5 September 2014Brussels
137:59.08Wilson Boit Kipketer13 August 1997Zürich
148:00.09Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad6 July 2013Saint-Denis
158:00.12Conseslus Kipruto5 June 2016Birmingham
168:00.45Evan Jager4 July 2015Saint-Denis
178:01.18Bouabdellah Tahri18 August 2009Berlin
188:01.49Frederik Ruppert25 May 2025Rabat
198:01.67Abel Mutai31 May 2012Rome
208:01.69Kipkirui Misoi24 August 2001Brussels
218:02.36Abrham Sime7 July 2024Paris
218:02.36Amos Serem7 July 2024Paris
238:03.41Patrick Sang24 August 1997Cologne
248:03.43Ryuji Miura11 July 2025Monaco
258:03.57Ali Ezzine23 June 2000Saint-Denis
258:03.57Hillary Yego18 May 2013Shanghai

Annulled marks

The following athletes had their performance annulled due to doping offences:
TimeAthleteNationDatePlace
118:44.32Beatrice Chepkoech20 July 2018Monaco
228:44.39Winfred Yavi30 August 2024Rome
38:45.25Yavi #25 July 2025Eugene
348:48.03Peruth Chemutai30 August 2024Rome
458:48.71Faith Cherotich5 July 2025Eugene
68:49.59Yavi #319 July 2025Heusden-Zolder
78:50.66Yavi #416 September 2023Eugene
88:51.59Cherotich #217 September 2025Tokyo
98:51.67B. Chepkoech #216 September 2023Eugene
108:51.77Chemutai #25 July 2025Eugene
118:52.76Yavi #56 August 2024Saint-Denis
5128:52.78Ruth Jebet27 August 2016Saint-Denis
6138:53.02Norah Jeruto20 July 2022Eugene
148:53.34Chemutai #26 August 2024Saint-Denis
158:53.65Jeruto #221 August 2021Eugene
168:54.29Yavi #627 August 2023Budapest
7178:54.61Werkuha Getachew20 July 2022Eugene
188:55.09Chemutai #325 May 2024Eugene
198:55.10B. Chepkoech #331 August 2018Brussels
208:55.15Cherotich #36 August 2024Saint-Denis
218:55.29Jebet #224 August 2017Zürich
228:55.40B. Chepkoech #420 April 2024Xiamen
238:55.58B. Chepkoech #530 June 2019Stanford
8248:56.08Mekides Abebe20 July 2022Eugene
258:56.46Yavi #717 September 2025Tokyo
98:57.35Jackline Chepkoech23 July 2023London
108:57.77Courtney Frerichs21 August 2021Eugene
118:58.15Doris Lemngole14 June 2025Eugene
128:58.67Alice Finot6 August 2024Saint-Denis
138:58.78Celliphine Chespol26 May 2017Eugene
148:58.81Gulnara Galkina17 August 2008Beijing
158:58.86Sembo Almayew17 September 2025Tokyo
169:00.01Hyvin Kiyeng28 May 2016Eugene
179:01.46Marwa Bouzayani17 September 2025Tokyo
189:02.35Emma Coburn30 September 2019Doha
199:03.22Valerie Constien27 June 2024Eugene
209:03.30Gesa-Felicitas Krause30 September 2019Doha
219:04.35Elizabeth Bird6 August 2024Saint-Denis
229:04.61Zerfe Wondemagegn2 June 2023Florence
239:04.93Marwa Bouzayani30 August 2024Rome
249:05.36Habiba Ghribi11 September 2015Brussels
259:06.07Lomi Muleta6 August 2024Saint-Denis

Annulled marks

The following athletes had their performances annulled due to doping offences:

Men

Women

World Championships medalists

Men

Women

Season's bests

Men

Women

National records

  • Updated October 2025.

    Men

Equal or superior to 8:30.00 min:
NationTimeAthleteDatePlace
7:52.11Lamecha Girma9 June 2023Paris
7:53.63Saif Saaeed Shaheen3 September 2004Brussels
7:53.64Brimin Kipruto22 July 2011Monaco
7:55.28Brahim Boulami24 August 2001Brussels
8:00.09Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad6 July 2013Saint-Denis
8:00.45Evan Jager4 July 2015Saint-Denis
8:01.49Frederik Ruppert25 May 2025Rabat
8:03.43Ryuji Miura11 July 2025Fontvieille
8:03.81Benjamin Kiplagat8 July 2010Lausanne
8:04.95Simon Vroemen26 August 2005Brussels
8:05.69Fernando Carro12 July 2019Monaco
8:05.75Mustafa Mohamed28 July 2007Heusden
8:06.13Tareq Mubarak Taher13 July 2009Athens
8:07.73Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui7 August 2024Saint-Denis
8:07.96Mark Rowland30 September 1988Seoul
8:08.14Saad Shaddad Al-Asmari16 July 2002Stockholm
8:08.57Francesco Panetta5 September 1989Rome
8:09.11Bronisław Malinowski28 July 1976Montreal
8:09.47Ruben Querinjean22 August 2025Brussels
8:09.47Ruben Querinjean22 August 2025Brussels
8:09.64Geordie Beamish7 July 2024Paris
8:09.91Avinash Sable7 July 2024Paris
8:10.23Laid Bessou18 August 2000Monaco
8:10.46Sun Ripeng19 October 1997Shanghai
8:10.67Jukka Keskisalo28 August 2009Zürich
8:10.83Günther Weidlinger21 August 1999Seville
8:11.22Yemane Haileselassie8 June 2017Rome
8:11.50Ruben Ramolefi29 August 2011Deagu
8:11.64Matthew Hughes15 August 2013Moscow
8:12.05Jim Svenøy22 August 1997Brussels
8:12.48Filbert Bayi31 July 1980Moscow
8:13.26Florin Ionescu21 August 1999Seville
8:14.41Wander Moura22 March 1995Mar del Plata
8:15.54Pavel Potapovich4 July 2003Saint-Denis
8:16.22Shaun Creighton2 July 1993Villeneuve d'Ascq
8:16.96Boštjan Buč12 June 2003Ostrava
8:17.85Tarık Langat Akdağ3 August 2012London
8:17.97Gábor Markó21 July 1984Potsdam
8:18.97Ion Luchianov16 August 2008Beijing
8:19.82Manuel Silva27 July 2004Stockholm
8:20.42Ole Hesselbjerg8 June 2021Turku
8:20.87José Peña1 September 2013Berlin
8:20.87Mitko Tsenov12 June 2014Huelva
8:21.55Salem Mohamed Attiaallah28 June 2024Luxembourg
8:21.7519 July 1984Moscow
8:21.76Nahuel Carabaña10 September 2023Zagreb
8:21.8310 June 2024Rome
8:22.17Mohamed Ismail Ibrahim12 June 2021Nice
8:22.219 August 1969Kyiv
8:22.24Christian Belz4 June 2001Hengelo
8:22.79Hosein Keyhani27 August 2018Jakarta
8:23.02Ricardo Vera28 June 1992Hengelo
8:24.01Filippos Filippou15 September 1983Casablanca
8:24.01Filippos Filippou15 September 1983Casablanca
8:24.09Brendan Quinn30 August 1985Brussels
8:24.13Artyom Kosinov11 June 2012Moscow
8:24.14Itai Maggidi4 July 2008Longeville-lès-Metz
8:25.2Aleksandr Vorobey6 July 1980Moscow
8:25.49Godfrey Siamusiye16 July 1995Birmingham
8:25.63Marcelo Cascabelo4 June 1989Belgrade
8:25.66Carlos San Martín29 June 2021Castellón
8:25.69Salvador Miranda8 July 2000Barakaldo
8:26.16José Sanchez19 June 2009Havana
Anatoliy Dimov19 June 1983
31 July 1980		Moscow
Moscow
8:27.88Artashes Mikoyan29 May 1976Munich
8:27.91Alexander Greaux10 July 2004Barakaldo
8:28.0Sergey Skripka11 June 1977Moscow
8:28.55Kaur Kivistik3 September 2019Zagreb
8:28.67Mario Bazán16 August 2009Berlin
8:28.80Vule Maksimović4 September 1989Budapest
8:28.99Emilio Ulloa8 August 1984Los Angeles

Women

Equal or superior to 9:30.00 min:
NationTimeAthleteDatePlace
8:44.32Beatrice Chepkoech20 July 2018Monaco
8:44.39Winfred Yavi30 August 2024Rome
8:53.02Norah Jeruto20 July 2022Eugene
8:54.61Werkwuha Getachew20 July 2022Eugene
8:55.09Peruth Chemutai25 May 2024Eugene
8:57.77Courtney Frerichs21 August 2021Eugene
8:58.67Alice Finot6 August 2024Saint-Denis
8:58.81Gulnara Galkina17 August 2008Beijing
9:03.30Gesa-Felicitas Krause28 September 2019Doha
9:05.36Habiba Ghribi11 September 2015Brussels
9:06.37Maruša Mišmaš-Zrimsek27 August 2023Budapest
9:07.87Elizabeth Bird10 August 2022Monaco
9:09.39Marta Domínguez25 July 2009Barcelona
9:09.64Luiza Gega31 August 2023Zürich
9:12.46Parul Chaudhary30 May 2025Gumi
9:13.35Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal26 August 2017Sandnes
9:13.46Anna Emilie Møller30 September 2019Doha
9:13.53Gülcan Mıngır9 June 2012Sofia
9:14.09Aisha Praught-Leer31 August 2018Brussels
9:14.28Genevieve LaCaze27 August 2016Saint-Denis
9:16.51Alesya Turova27 July 2002Gdańsk
9:16.51Alicja Konieczek4 August 2024Saint-Denis
9:16.85Cristina Casandra17 August 2008Beijing
9:18.54Jessica Augusto9 June 2010Huelva
9:19.90Adva Cohen15 September 2025Tokyo
9:20.28Chiara Scherrer18 June 2022Paris
9:20.32Zhang Xinyan8 April 2021Shaoxing
9:20.58Ceili McCabe17 May 2024Los Angeles
9:20.64Salima [El Ouali Alami]17 July 2015Monaco
9:21.02Ilona Mononen15 September 2025Tokyo
9:23.96Charlotta Fougberg12 July 2014Glasgow
9:24.38Tatiane Raquel da Silva11 June 2022Watford
9:24.54Nataliya Strebkova30 June 2022Stockholm
9:24.72Miu Saito15 September 2025Tokyo
9:25.53Veerle Bakker9 August 2025Oordegem
9:25.90Amina Betiche17 May 2017Baku
9:25.99Belén Casetta11 August 2017London
9:26.59Zita Kácser31 August 2019Budapest
9:26.88Greta Karinauskaitė27 May 2023Sacramento
9:27.21Poļina Jeļizarova4 August 2012London
9:27.48Elena Romagnolo15 August 2008Beijing
9:28.29Roisin McGettigan28 July 2007Heusden-Zolder
9:28.47Veerle Dejaeghere2 June 2007Neerpelt