1600 meters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Athletics1600 Meters |
|
|---|---|
| World records | |
| Men |  Hicham El Guerrouj 3:41.83+ (1999) |
| Women |  Faith Kipyegon 4:06.20+ (2023) |
The 1600 meters is a popular running race in track and field. It's a "middle distance" event, meaning it's not a short sprint but also not a super long race. Think of it as a bit shorter than a full mile, but longer than the 1500-meter race.
In American high school sports, the 1600 meters is a standard event. People often call it "the mile" even though it's technically a little shorter. This race involves running four laps around a standard 400-meter track.
Years ago, high schools used to run the actual mile (which is 1609 meters). But when sports organizations switched to using metric measurements, they changed it to the 1600 meters. This made it easier since tracks are usually measured in meters.
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American High School Records
This section talks about the fastest times run by high school students in the 1600-meter race in the United States. These records are officially recognized by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
Fastest High School Boys' Times
The current official high school record for boys in the 1600m belongs to Alan Webb. He ran 3 minutes, 59.51 seconds at a race in California on April 14, 2001. He set this record while competing against other high school athletes.
Interestingly, Alan Webb ran even faster a few weeks later. He ran 3:51.83 for 1600m during a mile race against professional runners. However, the NFHS only counts records set in races specifically against other high schoolers.
Other high school boys have also run very fast times. For example, Gary Martin ran 3:56.60 in 2022. Jim Ryun ran 3:56.92 way back in 1965. These times were part of mile races, so they are not officially recognized as 1600m records by the NFHS.
Top 17 Outdoor High School Boys' Times
These are some of the fastest 1600m times run by high school boys outdoors.
| Time | Athlete | State | Date & Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:59.51 | Alan Webb |  Virginia |
(Reston South Lakes) at Arcadia, CA, 2001 |
| 3:59.54 | Michael Slagowski |  Idaho |
(Meridian), 2016 |
| 4:00.28 | Grant Fisher |  Michigan |
(Grand Blanc), 2015 |
| 4:00.29 | German Fernandez |  California |
(Riverbank), 2008 |
| 4:02.30 | Sam Worley |  Texas |
(Comal Canyon), 2017 |
| 4:02.49 | Reed Brown | Texas |
(Southlake Carroll), 2017 |
| 4:02.62 | Ryan Hall | California |
(Big Bear), 2001 |
| 4:03.00 | Austin Mudd |  Indiana |
(Greenwood Center Grove), 2011 |
| 4:03.22 | Paul Vandergrift |  Pennsylvania |
(Cnshhckn. Archbshp. Kndy.), 1987 |
| 4:03.59 | John Quade |  Washington |
(Woodinville), 1985 |
| 4:03.80 | John Robinson | Texas |
(Pasadena Dobie), 1980 |
| 4:03:27 | Steve Magness | Texas |
(Klein Oak), 2003 |
| 4:04.00 | Michael Stember | California |
(Carmichael Jesuit), 1995 |
| 4:04.09 | Matthew Centrowitz, Jr. |  Maryland |
(Annapolis Broadneck), 2007 |
| 4:04.70 | Gabe Fendel | Indiana |
(Hamilton Southeastern), 2017 |
| 4:04.95 | A.J. Acosta | California |
(Oceanside El Camino), 2006 |
| 4:04.97 | Gabe Jennings |  Wisconsin |
(Madison East), 1997 |
Fastest High School Girls' Times
The official high school record for girls in the 1600m is 4 minutes, 33.29 seconds. This record is shared by two athletes: Alexa Efraimson and Sadie Engelhardt. Alexa Efraimson set her record in 2014, and Sadie Engelhardt tied it in 2022. Both times were achieved in races against other high school girls.
Some high school girls have actually run faster than this record. However, the NFHS only counts times from 1600m races where all competitors are high schoolers. For example, Katelyn Tuohy ran 4:32.28 in 2018. Addy Wiley ran 4:26.16 in 2022. Mary Cain ran an indoor time that converts to 4:26.69 in 2013. These amazing times are not officially recognized as the 1600m high school record because they were either part of a mile race or not yet approved.
Top 19 Outdoor High School Girls' Times
These are some of the fastest 1600m times run by high school girls outdoors.
| Time | Athlete | State | Date & Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:33.29 | Alexa Efraimson | Washington |
(Camas) at Tacoma, WA, 5-29, 2014 |
| 4:33.29 | Sadie Engelhardt | California |
(Ventura) at Arcadia, CA, 4-10, 2022 |
| 4:33.82 | Christine Babcock | California |
(Irvine Woodbridge) at Norwalk, CA, 2008 |
| 4:36.57 | Christine Babcock | California |
(Irvine Woodbridge), 2008 |
| 4:37.07 | Taryn Parks | Pennsylvania |
(Greencastle), 2019 |
| 4:37.45 | Marlee Starliper | Pennsylvania |
(Dillsburg Northern York), 2019 |
| 4:38.15 | Alex Kosinski | California |
(El Dorado Hills Oak Ridge), 2007 |
| 4:38.85 | Christine Babcock | California |
(Irvine Woodbridge), 2007 |
| 4:39.13 | Jordan Hasay | California |
(San Luis Obispo Mission Prep), 2007 |
| 4:39.23 | Hannah Meier | Michigan |
(Grosse Pointe South), 2013 |
| 4:39.33 | Amanda Gehrich | California |
(Tesoro), 2015 |
| 4:39.4 | Laura Matson | Michigan |
(Bloomfield Hills-Andover), 1985 |
| 4:39.88 | Marissa Williams | California |
(Palisades), 2015 |
| 4:39.92 | Polly Anne Plumer | California |
(Irvine University), 1982 |
| 4:40.88 | Cami Chapus | California |
(Harvard-Westlake), 2011 |
| 4:41.08 | Kim Gallagher | Pennsylvania |
(Fort Washington Upper Dublin), 1981 |
| 4:41.29 | Christine Babcock | California |
(Irvine Woodbridge), 2006 |
| 4:41.29 | Brynn Brown | Texas |
(Denton Guyer), 2021 |
| 4:42.10 | Annie St. Geme | California |
(Newport. Beach Corona del Mar), 2006 |
*These times are from 1600m races only, not from mile races. They might not be completely up to date.
World's Best Equivalent Times
Even though the 1600m isn't a common international race, we can figure out what the world's best mile times would be if they were 1600m. This is done by converting the mile time to the shorter 1600m distance.
Outdoor World Bests
- For men, Hicham El Guerrouj ran the world record mile in 1999. His time of 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds for the mile is like running 3 minutes, 41.83 seconds for 1600m.
- For women, Faith Kipyegon set the world record mile in 2023. Her time of 4 minutes, 7.64 seconds for the mile is like running 4 minutes, 6.20 seconds for 1600m.
Indoor World Bests
- Indoors, Yomif Kejelcha ran the world record mile in 2019. His time of 3 minutes, 47.01 seconds for the mile is like running 3 minutes, 45.69 seconds for 1600m.
- For women indoors, Genzebe Dibaba set the world record mile in 2016. Her time of 4 minutes, 13.31 seconds for the mile is like running 4 minutes, 11.84 seconds for 1600m.
Relays
The 1600 meters is also an important distance in relay races.
- It's the final part of a distance medley relay. This is because 1600 meters is exactly four laps around a 400-meter track, which makes it easy to manage.
- When people say "1600 meter relay," they usually mean the 4x400 meter relay. This is where four runners each run 400 meters, adding up to 1600 meters.
- Another relay that adds up to 1600 meters is a special version of the sprint medley relay. In this race, runners run distances like 200m, 200m, 400m, and then 800m, which totals 1600 meters.
