1600 meters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Athletics1600 meters |
|
|---|---|
| World records | |
| Men |  Hicham El Guerrouj 3:41.84c (1999) |
| Women |  Faith Kipyegon 4:06.20c (2023) |
The 1600 meters is a running race in track and field events. It's a "middle distance" race, meaning it's not a short sprint but also not a super long run. It's a little shorter than the famous mile run and a bit longer than the 1500-meter run.
In American high school sports, the 1600 meters is a standard race. It's often called "the mile" or "the metric mile" because it's very close to one mile in length.
Years ago, high schools used to run the mile, which was four laps around a 440-yard track. When they switched to metric measurements around 1980, they replaced the mile with the 1600 meters. This is four laps around a 400-meter track. It's about 9 meters shorter than a full mile. Some people thought the 1500 meters would have been a better choice, as it's used more often in international competitions.
The main world athletics organization, World Athletics, doesn't officially recognize a world record specifically for the 1600 meters. Instead, they use the mile run record as the closest comparison.
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American High School Records
In high school track and field, runners try to set the fastest times. These are called high school records.
Boys' High School Records
The fastest time ever run by a high school boy in the 1600 meters is 3 minutes, 57.08 seconds. This record was set by Drew Griffith on May 24, 2024, at the PIAA Class 3A Championships. He ran this time against other high school athletes.
Before Drew Griffith, Alan Webb held the record. He ran 3:59.51 on April 14, 2001, at the Arcadia Invitational. Six weeks later, Alan Webb ran an even faster 1600 meters (3:51.83) during a mile race against professional runners. However, the official high school record only counts races where high schoolers compete against other high schoolers.
Other high school boys have also run very fast times, including Gary Martin (3:56.60 in 2022) and Jim Ryun (3:56.92 in 1965).
Top Boys' 1600m Times (Under 4:05)
Here are some of the fastest 1600-meter times run by high school boys:
| Time | Athlete | State | High School | Date | Meet | Location | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:57.08 | Drew Griffith |  Pennsylvania |
Butler | 24 May 2024 | PIAA Championships | Shippensburg | |
| 3:59.51 | Alan Webb |  Virginia |
Reston South Lakes | 2001 | Arcadia Invitational | Arcadia | |
| 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 | |||
| 4:03.68 | Owen Powell | Washington |
Mercer Island | 29 May 2025 | WA State Championships | Tacoma | |
| 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 | |||
| 4.04.49 | Luke Pash |  New Jersey |
Ridgewood | 12 June 2024 | Meet of Champions | Pennsauken | |
| 4:04.70 | Gabe Fendel | Indiana |
Hamilton Southeastern | 2017 | |||
| 4:04.91 | Tyler Sainsbury | Idaho |
Rocky Mountain | 2023 | Pasco Invitational | Pasco | |
| 4:04.95 | A.J. Acosta | California |
Oceanside El Camino | 2006 | |||
| 4:04.97 | Gabe Jennings |  Wisconsin |
Madison East | 1997 |
Girls' High School Records
The official high school record for girls in the 1600 meters is 4 minutes, 33.29 seconds. This time was set by Alexa Efraimson in 2014 and later tied by Sadie Engelhardt in 2022. Both times were run in races against other high school girls.
However, some high school girls have run even faster times, but these are not yet officially recognized by the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) as high school records. This is because the NFHS only counts times from races where high schoolers compete against other high schoolers.
For example, on April 6, 2024, Sadie Engelhardt ran 4:32.48, which is faster than the current record, but it's still waiting for official approval.
Also, Katelyn Tuohy ran 4:32.28 in 2018. More recently, in 2024, Sadie Engelhardt ran 4:30.14 (converted from a mile race), and Allie Zealand ran 4:28.81 (also converted from a mile race). Sadie Engelhardt also ran an amazing 4:26.70 (converted from a mile race) against professional runners on May 30, 2024.
Mary Cain ran 4:26.69 (converted from an indoor mile) in 2013, and Addy Wiley ran 4:26.16 in 2022. These are incredibly fast times, but they are not yet the official high school 1600m record for the reasons mentioned above.
Top Girls' 1600m Times
Here are some of the fastest 1600-meter times run by high school girls:
| Time | Athlete | State | Date & Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:32.48 | Sadie Engelhardt | California |
(Ventura) at Arcadia, CA, 4-6, 2024 |
| 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 |
World's Best Equivalent Times
Since the 1600 meters isn't an official world record event, we look at the fastest mile times and convert them to what they would be for 1600 meters. These are called "equivalent world bests."
Outdoor Equivalent Times
The fastest mile ever run by a man was by Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999. His time of 3:43.13 for the mile is equal to about 3:41.84 for 1600 meters.
For women, Faith Kipyegon set the world record for the mile in 2023 with a time of 4:07.64. This converts to an amazing 4:06.20 for 1600 meters.
Indoor Equivalent Times
Indoors, where tracks are usually shorter, Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran a world record mile in 2025. His time of 3:45.14 is like running 3:43.83 for 1600 meters.
For women indoors, Genzebe Dibaba set the mile world record in 2016 with 4:13.31. This is equal to about 4:11.84 for 1600 meters.
Relays
The 1600 meters is also an important distance in some relay races. For example, it's the final part of a distance medley relay. This is because 1600 meters is exactly four laps on a standard 400-meter track, which makes it easy to manage.
When people talk about a "1600 meter relay," they are usually talking about the 4 × 400 meter relay. There's also a version of the sprint medley relay that adds up to 1600 meters.
See also
