3000 metres


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. 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 Athletics at the [1912 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metres team race|1912], Athletics at the [1920 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metres team race|1920] and Athletics at the [1924 Summer Olympics – Men's 3000 metres team race|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 and World Championships. 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, requiring some anaerobic effort.

Records

World records

  • Updated 25 August 2024. Source: World Athletics
DivisionTimeAthleteNationDatePlace
Men7:17.55Jakob Ingebrigtsen25 August 2024Chorzów
Women8:06.11Wang JunxiaChina

Short track world records

  • Updated 8 February 2025. Source: World Athletics
DivisionTimeAthleteNationDatePlace
Men7:22.91Grant Fisher8 February 2025New York City
Women8:16.60Genzene Dibaba6 February 2014Stockholm

Continental records

  • Updated 25 May 2025. Source: World Athletics
  • ''Sh = Short Track''

    All-time top 25

Outdoor men

  • Correct as of August 2024.
TimeAthleteNationDatePlace
117:17.55Jakob Ingebrigtsen25 August 2024Chorzów
227:20.67Daniel Komen1 September 1996Rieti
337:21.28Berihu Aregawi25 August 2024Chorzów
447:23.09Hicham El Guerrouj3 September 1999Brussels
57:23.63Ingebrigtsen #217 September 2023Eugene
567:23.64Yomif Kejelcha17 September 2023Eugene
77:24.00Ingebrigtsen #39 June 2023Paris
687:25.02Ali Saïdi-Sief18 August 2000Monaco
797:25.09Haile Gebrselassie28 August 1998Brussels
8107:25.11Noureddine Morceli2 August 1994Monaco
117:25.16Komen #210 August 1996Monaco
9127:25.47Grant Fisher17 September 2023Eugene
10137:25.48Telahun Haile Bekele17 September 2023Eugene
147:25.54Gebrselassie #28 August 1998Monaco
11157:25.79Kenenisa Bekele7 August 2007Stockholm
167:25.87Komen #323 August 1996Brussels
12177:25.93Thierry Ndikumwenayo10 August 2022Monaco
187:26.02Gebrselassie #322 August 1997Brussels
197:26.03Gebrselassie #410 June 1999Helsinki
13207:26.18Lamecha Girma5 May 2023Doha
217:26.25Kejelcha #21 July 2021Oslo
14227:26.28Selemon Barega17 September 2023Eugene
15237:26.62Mohammed Mourhit18 August 2000Monaco
16247:26.64Jacob Kiplimo17 September 2020Rome
257:26.69Bekele #215 July 2007Sheffield
177:27.18Moses Kiptanui25 July 1995Monaco
187:27.26Yenew Alamirew6 May 2011Doha
197:27.55Edwin Soi6 May 2011Doha
207:27.59Luke Kipkosgei8 August 1998Monaco
217:27.64Mohamed Katir13 July 2021London
227:27.66Eliud Kipchoge6 May 2011Doha
237:27.68Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu20 July 2024London
247:27.75Tom Nyariki10 August 1996Monaco
257:28.02Stewart McSweyn17 September 2020Rome

Outdoor women

  • Correct as of August 2025.
TimeAthleteNationDatePlace
118:06.11Wang Junxia13 September 1993Beijing
228:07.04Faith Kipyegon16 August 2025Chorzów
338:11.56Beatrice Chebet25 May 2025Rabat
448:12.18Qu Yunxia13 September 1993Beijing
58:12.19Wang #212 September 1993Beijing
68:12.27Qu #212 September 1993Beijing
578:16.50Zhang Linli13 September 1993Beijing
688:18.49Sifan Hassan30 June 2019Stanford
798:19.08Francine Niyonsaba28 August 2021Paris
8108:19.52Ejgayehu Taye28 August 2021Paris
9118:19.78Ma Liyan12 September 1993Beijing
10128:20.07Konstanze Klosterhalfen30 June 2019Stanford
11138:20.27Letesenbet Gidey30 June 2019Stanford
12148:20.68Hellen Obiri9 May 2014Doha
13158:21.14Mercy Cherono9 May 2014Doha
168:21.26Ma #213 September 1993Beijing
14178:21.29Genzebe Dibaba30 June 2019Stanford
15188:21.42Gabriela Szabo19 July 2002Monaco
16198:21.50Diribe Welteji22 August 2024Lausanne
17208:21.53Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi28 August 2021Paris
18218:21.64Sonia O'Sullivan15 July 1994London
19228:21.84Zhang Lirong13 September 1993Beijing
238:22.06Zhang Linli #212 September 1993Beijing
20248:22.20Paula Radcliffe19 July 2002Monaco
21258:22.22Almaz Ayana14 June 2015Rabat
228:22.62Tatyana Kazankina26 August 1984Leningrad
238:22.92Agnes Tirop25 September 2020Doha
238:22.92Beatrice Chepkoech25 September 2020Doha
258:23.23Edith Masai19 July 2002Monaco
-------

Indoor men

  • Correct as of January 2026.
TimeAthleteNationDatePlace
117:22.91Grant Fisher8 February 2025New York City
227:23.14Cole Hocker8 February 2025New York City
337:23.81Lamecha Girma15 February 2023Liévin
447:24.68Mohamed Katir15 February 2023Liévin
557:24.90Daniel Komen6 February 1998Budapest
667:24.98Getnet Wale9 February 2021Liévin
777:25.82Salemon Barega6 February 2024Toruń
87:26.10Barega #29 February 2021Liévin
897:26.15Haile Gebrselassie25 January 1998Karlsruhe
9107:26.20Berihu Aregawi28 January 2022Karlsruhe
117:26.73Wale #26 February 2024Toruń
127:26.80Gebrselassie #224 January 1999Karlsruhe
10137:27.57Cameron Myers24 January 2026Boston
11147:27.80Yenew Alamirew5 February 2011Stuttgart
12157:27.92George Mills2 February 2025Val-de-Reuil
167:27.93Komen #21 February 1998Stuttgart
177:27.98Girma #29 February 2021Liévin
13187:28.00Augustine Kiprono Choge5 February 2011Stuttgart
14197:28.23Yared Nuguse27 January 2023Boston
207:28.29Gebrselassie #328 February 2003Karlsruhe
217:29.09Girma #34 February 2024Boston
227:29.24Aregawi #29 February 2021Liévin
237:29.34Gebrselassie #415 February 2004Karlsruhe
15247:29.37Eliud Kipchoge5 February 2011Stuttgart
16257:29.49Niels Laros13 February 2025Liévin
177:29.72Graham Blanks2 March 2025Boston
187:29.94Edwin Cheruiyot Soi12 February 2012Karlsruhe
197:29.99Biniam Mehary13 February 2025Liévin
207:30.14Josh Kerr11 February 2024New York City
217:30.15Ethan Strand7 December 2024Boston
227:30.16Galen Rupp21 February 2013Stockholm
237:30.18Jimmy Gressier8 February 2025New York City
247:30.23Parker Wolfe7 December 2024Boston
257:30.38Ky Robinson8 February 2025New York City

Indoor women

  • Correct as of February 2025.
TimeAthleteNationDatePlace
118:16.60Genzebe Dibaba6 February 2014Stockholm
228:16.69Gudaf Tsegay25 February 2023Birmingham
38:17.11Tsegay #210 February 2024Liévin
348:19.98Freweyni Hailu13 February 2025Liévin
458:20.87Elle St. Pierre2 March 2024Glasgow
68:21.23Tsegay #32 March 2024Glasgow
78:22.50Dibaba #219 February 2016Sabadell
88:22.65Tsegay #424 February 2021Madrid
598:22.68Beatrice Chepkoech2 March 2024Glasgow
6108:23.24Dawit Seyaum17 February 2022Liévin
7118:23.72Meseret Defar3 February 2007Stuttgart
8128:23.74Meselech Melkamu3 February 2007Stuttgart
138:24.17Hailu #24 February 2025Ostrava
9148:24.39Jessica Hull2 March 2024Commonwealth Arena and [Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome|Glasgow]
158:24.46Defar #26 February 2010Stuttgart
168:24.85Dibaba #315 February 2014Birmingham
178:24.93Hull #24 February 2024Boston
10188:25.05Alicia Monson11 February 2023New York City
198:25.12Tsegay #513 February 2025Liévin
208:25.25St. Pierre #24 February 2024Boston
11218:25.27Sentayehu Ejigu6 February 2010Stuttgart
12228:25.37Birke Haylom13 February 2025Liévin
13238:25.70Karissa Schweizer27 February 2020Boston
14248:26.41Laura Muir4 February 2017Karlsruhe
15258:26.66Shelby Houlihan27 February 2020Boston
168:26.77Ejhayehu Taye17 February 2022Liévin
178:27.86Liliya Shobukhova17 February 2006Moscow
188:28.03Whittni Morgan8 February 2025New York City
198:28.46Hirut Meshesha3 February 2024Metz
208:28.49Anna Alminova7 February 2009Stuttgart
218:28.69Melissa Courtney-Bryant2 February 2025Boston
228:28.71Colleen Quigley27 February 2020Boston
238:29.00Olesya Syreva17 February 2006Moscow
248:29.15Berhane Adere3 February 2002Stuttgart
258:29.28Lemlem Hailu24 February 2021Madrid

Medalists

Women's Olympic medalists

Women's World Championships medalists

Men's World Indoor Championships medalists

Women's World Indoor Championships medalists

  • Known as the ''World Indoor Games''

    Season's bests

Men (outdoor)

Men (indoor)

Women (outdoor)

Women (indoor)