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Athletics
3000 metres
Ejigu, Dibaba Birmingham meeting 2010.jpg
A women's indoor 3000 m race in Birmingham featuring Sentayehu Ejigu and Tirunesh Dibaba.
World records
Men  Daniel Komen (KEN) 7:20.67 (1996)
Women  Wang Junxia (CHN) 8:06.11 (1993)
Short track world records
Men  Lamecha Girma (ETH) 7:23.81 (2023)
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 3000m 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 world record performance for 3000 m equates to a pace of 58.76 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 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) and World Championships (1980 to 1993). The event was discontinued at World Championship and Olympic level after the 1993 World Championships in Athletics – 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.

All-time top 25

The men's world record is 7:20.67 set by Daniel Komen of Kenya in 1996. Komen also used to hold the world indoor mark with 7:24.90 minutes set in 1998, later being taken by Lamecha Girma who recently hit a time of 7:23.81 in 2023. The women's world record is 8:06.11 set by Wang Junxia of China in 1993. The world indoor women's record is 8:16.60 minutes, set by Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba in 2014.

Outdoor men

  • Correct as of September 2023.
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place
1 1 7:20.67 Daniel Komen  Kenya 1 September 1996 Rieti
2 2 7:23.09 Hicham El Guerrouj  Morocco 3 September 1999 Brussels
3 3 7:23.63 Jakob Ingebrigtsen  Norway 17 September 2023 Eugene
4 4 7:23.64 Yomif Kejelcha  Ethiopia 17 September 2023 Eugene
5 7:24.00+ Ingebrigtsen #2 9 June 2023 Paris
5 6 7:25.02 Ali Saïdi-Sief  Algeria 18 August 2000 Monaco
6 7 7:25.09 Haile Gebrselassie  Ethiopia 28 August 1998 Brussels
7 8 7:25.11 Noureddine Morceli  Algeria 2 August 1994 Monaco
9 7:25.16 Komen #2 10 August 1996 Monaco
8 10 7:25.47 Grant Fisher  United States 17 September 2023 Eugene
9 11 7:25.48 Telahun Haile Bekele  Ethiopia 17 September 2023 Eugene
12 7:25.54 Gebrselassie #2 8 August 1998 Monaco
10 13 7:25.79 Kenenisa Bekele  Ethiopia 7 August 2007 Stockholm
14 7:25.87 Komen #3 23 August 1996 Brussels
11 15 7:25.93 Thierry Ndikumwenayo  Burundi 10 August 2022 Monaco
16 7:26.02 Gebrselassie #3 22 August 1997 Brussels
17 7:26.03 Gebrselassie #4 10 June 1999 Helsinki
12 18 7:26.18 Lamecha Girma  Ethiopia 5 May 2023 Doha
19 7:26.25 Kejelcha #2 1 July 2021 Oslo
13 20 7:26.28 Selemon Barega  Ethiopia 17 September 2023 Eugene
14 21 7:26.62 Mohammed Mourhit  Belgium 18 August 2000 Monaco
15 22 7:26.64 Jacob Kiplimo  Uganda 17 September 2020 Rome
23 7:26.69 Bekele #2 15 July 2007 Sheffield
16 24 7:26.81 Berihu Aregawi  Ethiopia 10 August 2022 Monaco
25 7:27.05 Ingebrigtsen #3 17 September 2020 Rome
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
22 7:27.66 Eliud Kipchoge  Kenya 6 May 2011 Doha
23 7:27.75 Tom Nyariki  Kenya 10 August 1996 Monaco
24 7:28.02 Stewart McSweyn  Australia 17 September 2020 Rome
25 7:28.28 James Kwalia  Kenya 3 September 2004 Brussels

Outdoor women

  • Correct as of August 2023.
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place
1 1 8:06.11 Wang Junxia  China 13 September 1993 Beijing
2 2 8:12.18 Qu Yunxia  China 13 September 1993 Beijing
3 8:12.19 Wang #2 12 September 1993 Beijing
4 8:12.27 Qu #2 12 September 1993 Beijing
3 5 8:16.50 Zhang Linli  China 13 September 1993 Beijing
4 6 8:18.49 Sifan Hassan  Netherlands 30 June 2019 Stanford
5 7 8:19.08 Francine Niyonsaba  Burundi 28 August 2021 Paris
6 8 8:19.52 Ejgayehu Taye  Ethiopia 28 August 2021 Paris
7 9 8:19.78 Ma Liyan  China 12 September 1993 Beijing
8 10 8:20.07 Konstanze Klosterhalfen  Germany 30 June 2019 Stanford
9 11 8:20.27 Letesenbet Gidey  Ethiopia 30 June 2019 Stanford
10 12 8:20.68 Hellen Obiri  Kenya 9 May 2014 Doha
11 13 8:21.14 Mercy Cherono  Kenya 9 May 2014 Doha
14 8:21.26 Ma #2 13 September 1993 Beijing
12 15 8:21.29 Genzebe Dibaba  Ethiopia 30 June 2019 Stanford
13 16 8:21.42 Gabriela Szabo  Romania 19 July 2002 Monaco
14 17 8:21.53 Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi  Kenya 28 August 2021 Paris
15 18 8:21.64 Sonia O'Sullivan  Ireland 15 July 1994 London
16 19 8:21.84 Zhang Lirong  China 13 September 1993 Beijing
20 8:22.06 Zhang Linli #2 12 September 1993 Beijing
17 21 8:22.20 Paula Radcliffe  Great Britain 19 July 2002 Monaco
18 22 8:22.22 Almaz Ayana  Ethiopia 14 June 2015 Rabat
23 8:22.34 Ayana #2 3 September 2015 Zürich
24 8:22.44 Zhang Lirong #2 12 September 1993 Beijing
25 8:22.54 Obiri #2 25 September 2020 Doha
19 8:22.62 Tatyana Kazankina  Soviet Union 26 August 1984 Leningrad
20 8:22.92 Agnes Tirop  Kenya 25 September 2020 Doha
8:22.92 Beatrice Chepkoech  Kenya 25 September 2020 Doha
22 8:23.23 Edith Masai  Kenya 19 July 2002 Monaco
23 8:23.26 Olga Yegorova  Russia 17 August 2001 Zürich
24 8:23.55 Faith Kipyegon  Kenya 9 May 2014 Doha
25 8:24.05 Beatrice Chebet  Kenya 2 September 2023 Xiamen

Indoor men

  • Correct as of February 2024.
Rank Time Athlete Date Place Ref
1 7:23.81  Lamecha Girma (ETH) 15 February 2023 Liévin
2 7:24.68  Mohamed Katir (ESP) 15 February 2023 Liévin
3 7:24.90  Daniel Komen (KEN) 6 February 1998 Liévin
4 7:24.98  Getnet Wale (ETH) 9 February 2021 Liévin
5 7:25.82  Selemon Barega (ETH) 6 February 2024 Toruń
6 7:26.15  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 25 January 1998 Karlsruhe
7 7:26.20  Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 28 January 2022 Karlsruhe
8 7:27.80  Yenew Alamirew (ETH) 5 February 2011 Stuttgart
9 7:28.00  Augustine Choge (KEN) 5 February 2011 Stuttgart
10 7:28.24  Yared Nuguse (USA) 27 January 2023 Boston
11 7:29.37  Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 5 February 2011 Stuttgart
12 7:29.94  Edwin Soi (KEN) 12 February 2012 Karlsruhe
13 7:30.14+  Josh Kerr (GBR) 11 February 2024 New York City
14 7:30.16  Galen Rupp (USA) 21 February 2013 Stockholm
15 7:30.51  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 20 February 2007 Stockholm
16 7:30.82  Adel Mechaal (ESP) 6 February 2022 New York City
17 7:30.88+  Grant Fisher (USA) 11 February 2024 New York City
18 7:31.09  Tariku Bekele (ETH) 2 February 2008 Stuttgart
19 7:31.35  Jacob Krop (KEN) 15 February 2023 Liévin
20 7:31.66  Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (KEN) 21 February 2013 Stockholm
21 7:31.77  Birhanu Balew (BHR) 17 February 2022 Liévin
22 7:31.97  Sam Atkin (GBR) 27 January 2023 Boston
23 7:32.02  Sammy Alex Mutahi (KEN) 10 February 2010 Stockholm
24 7:32.41  Sergio Sánchez (ESP) 13 February 2010 Valencia
25 7:32.43  Bernard Lagat (USA) 17 February 2007 Birmingham

Indoor women

  • Correct as of March 2024.
Rank Time Athlete Date Place Ref
1 8:16.60  Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 6 February 2014 Stockholm
2 8:16.69  Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) 25 February 2023 Birmingham
3 8:20.87  Elle St. Pierre (USA) 2 March 2024 Glasgow
4 8:22.68  Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN) 2 March 2024 Glasgow
5 8:23.24  Dawit Seyaum (ETH) 17 February 2022 Liévin
6 8:23.72  Meseret Defar (ETH) 3 February 2007 Stuttgart
7 8:23.74  Meselech Melkamu (ETH) 3 February 2007 Stuttgart
8 8:24.39  Jessica Hull (AUS) 2 March 2024 Glasgow
9 8:25.05  Alicia Monson (USA) 11 February 2023 New York City
10 8:25.27  Sentayehu Ejigu (ETH) 6 February 2010 Stuttgart
11 8:25.70  Karissa Schweizer (USA) 27 February 2020 Boston
12 8:26.41  Laura Muir (GBR) 4 February 2017 Karlsruhe
13 8:26.66  Shelby Houlihan (USA) 27 February 2020 Boston
14 8:26.77  Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) 17 February 2022 Liévin
15 8:27.86  Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) 17 February 2006 Moscow
16 8:28.46  Hirut Meshesha (ETH) 3 February 2024 Metz
17 8:28.49  Anna Alminova (RUS) 7 February 2009 Stuttgart
18 8:28.71  Colleen Quigley (USA) 27 February 2020 Boston
19 8:29.00  Olesya Syreva (RUS) 17 February 2006 Moscow
20 8:29.15  Berhane Adere (ETH) 3 February 2002 Stuttgart
21 8:29.28  Lemlem Hailu (ETH) 24 February 2021 Madrid
22 8:29.41  Hellen Obiri (KEN) 18 February 2017 Birmingham
23 8:30.13  Whittni Morgan (USA) 11 February 2023 New York City
24 8:30.53  Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 21 February 2009 Birmingham
25 8:30.76  Sifan Hassan (NED) 18 February 2017 Birmingham

Medalists

Women's Olympic medalists

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1984 Los Angeles
details
Maricica Puică
 Romania
Wendy Smith-Sly
 Great Britain
Lynn Williams
 Canada
1988 Seoul
details
Tetyana Samolenko
 Soviet Union
Paula Ivan
 Romania
Yvonne Murray
 Great Britain
1992 Barcelona
details
Yelena Romanova
 Unified Team
Tetyana Dorovskikh
 Unified Team
Angela Chalmers
 Canada

Women's World Championships medalists

Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1980 Sittard
details
 Birgit Friedmann (FRG)  Karoline Nemetz (SWE)  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)
1983 Helsinki
details
 Mary Decker (USA)  Brigitte Kraus (FRG)  Tatyana Kovalenko-Kazankina (URS)
1987 Rome
details
 Tetyana Samolenko (URS)  Maricica Puică (ROU)  Ulrike Bruns (GDR)
1991 Tokyo
details
 Tetyana Dorovskikh (URS)  Yelena Romanova (URS)  Susan Sirma (KEN)
1993 Stuttgart
details
 Qu Yunxia (CHN)  Zhang Linli (CHN)  Zhang Lirong (CHN)

Men's World Indoor Championships medalists

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1985 Paris  João Campos (POR)  Don Clary (USA)  Ivan Uvizl (TCH)
1987 Indianapolis
details
 Frank O'Mara (IRL)  Paul Donovan (IRL)  Terry Brahm (USA)
1989 Budapest
details
 Saïd Aouita (MAR)  José Luis González (ESP)  Dieter Baumann (FRG)
1991 Seville
details
 Frank O'Mara (IRL)  Hammou Boutayeb (MAR)  Robert Denmark (GBR)
1993 Toronto
details
 Gennaro Di Napoli (ITA)  Éric Dubus (FRA)  Enrique Molina (ESP)
1995 Barcelona
details
 Gennaro Di Napoli (ITA)  Anacleto Jiménez (ESP)  Brahim Jabbour (MAR)
1997 Paris
details
 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Paul Bitok (KEN)  Ismaïl Sghyr (MAR)
1999 Maebashi
details
 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Paul Bitok (KEN)  Million Wolde (ETH)
2001 Lisbon
details
 Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR)  Mohammed Mourhit (BEL)  Alberto García (ESP)
2003 Birmingham
details
 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Alberto García (ESP)  Luke Kipkosgei (KEN)
2004 Budapest
details
 Bernard Lagat (KEN)  Rui Silva (POR)  Markos Geneti (ETH)
2006 Moscow
details
 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)  Saif Saaeed Shaheen (QAT)  Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)
2008 Valencia
details
 Tariku Bekele (ETH)  Paul Kipsiele Koech (KEN)  Abreham Cherkos (ETH)
2010 Doha
details
 Bernard Lagat (USA)  Sergio Sánchez (ESP)  Sammy Alex Mutahi (KEN)
2012 Istanbul
details
 Bernard Lagat (USA)  Augustine Kiprono Choge (KEN)  Edwin Soi (KEN)
2014 Sopot
details
 Caleb Ndiku (KEN)  Bernard Lagat (USA)  Dejen Gebremeskel (ETH)
2016 Portland
details
 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH)  Ryan Hill (USA)  Augustine Kiprono Choge (KEN)
2018 Birmingham
details
 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH)  Selemon Barega (ETH)  Bethwell Birgen (KEN)
2022 Belgrade
details
 Selemon Barega (ETH)  Lamecha Girma (ETH)  Marc Scott (GB)
2024 Glasgow
details
 Josh Kerr (GBR)  Yared Nuguse (USA)  Selemon Barega (ETH)

Women's World Indoor Championships medalists

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1985 Paris  Debbie Scott (CAN)  Agnese Possamai (ITA)  PattiSue Plumer (USA)
1987 Indianapolis
details
 Tatyana Samolenko (URS)  Olga Bondarenko (URS)  Maricica Puică (ROU)
1989 Budapest
details
 Elly van Hulst (NED)  Liz McColgan (GBR)  Margareta Keszeg (ROU)
1991 Seville
details
 Marie-Pierre Duros (FRA)  Margareta Keszeg (ROU)  Lyubov Kremlyova (URS)
1993 Toronto
details
 Yvonne Murray (GBR)  Margareta Keszeg (ROU)  Lynn Jennings (USA)
1995 Barcelona
details
 Gabriela Szabo (ROU)  Lynn Jennings (USA)  Joan Nesbit (USA)
1997 Paris
details
 Gabriela Szabo (ROU)  Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL)  Fernanda Ribeiro (POR)
1999 Maebashi
details
 Gabriela Szabo (ROU)  Zahra Ouaziz (MAR)  Regina Jacobs (USA)
2001 Lisbon
details
 Olga Yegorova (RUS)  Gabriela Szabo (ROU)  Yelena Zadorozhnaya (RUS)
2003 Birmingham
details
 Berhane Adere (ETH)  Marta Domínguez (ESP)  Meseret Defar (ETH)
2004 Budapest
details
 Meseret Defar (ETH)  Berhane Adere (ETH)  Shayne Culpepper (USA)
2006 Moscow
details
 Meseret Defar (ETH)  Liliya Shobukhova (RUS)  Lidia Chojecka (POL)
2008 Valencia
details
 Meseret Defar (ETH)  Meselech Melkamu (ETH)  Mariem Alaoui Selsouli (MAR)
2010 Doha
details
 Meseret Defar (ETH)  Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)  Sentayehu Ejigu (ETH)
2012 Istanbul
details
 Hellen Obiri (KEN)  Meseret Defar (ETH)  Gelete Burka (ETH)
2014 Sopot
details
 Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)  Hellen Obiri (KEN)  Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR)
2016 Portland
details
 Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)  Meseret Defar (ETH)  Shannon Rowbury (USA)
2018 Birmingham
details
 Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)  Sifan Hassan (NED)  Laura Muir (GBR)
2022 Belgrade
details
 Lemlem Hailu (ETH)  Elle Purrier St. Pierre (USA)  Ejgayehu Taye (ETH)
2024 Glasgow
details
 Elle Purrier St. Pierre (USA)  Gudaf Tsegay (ETH)  Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN)
  • Known as the World Indoor Games

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