Middle distance track event
Encyclopedia
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres
, 1500 metres
and mile run
, although the 3000 metres
may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the 800 m distance and it has its roots in competitions in the United Kingdom in the 1830s. The 1500 m came about as a result of running three laps of a 500 m track, which was commonplace in continental Europe in the 20th century.
set what was then a world record at 600 m, running it in 1:11.4. The record at this distance is for men:
For women:
, and has always been an Olympic
event. In 1882, American Lon Myers
set what was then a world record at 800 m, running it in 1:44.4. It was included in the first women's track programme in 1928, but suspended until 1960 because of shock and the exhaustion it caused the competitors. Without the benefits of modern training, men of the era were, in contrast, expected to run themselves to complete exhaustion during competitions.
The current record is for men:
For women:
event, or as an indoor high school event. In 1881, Lon Myers
set what was then a world record at 1000 m, running it in 2:13.0. The record at this distance for men is:
For women:
.
of Morocco
in 1998 at Rome (two 1:50 s 800 m performances back to back). Thus, speed is necessary, and it seems that the more aerobic conditioning
, the better. This is a difficult distance to compete at, mentally, in addition to being one of the more tactical middle-distance track events. The distance is often witness to some of the most tactical, physical races in the sport, as many championship races are won in the final few metres. The record at this distance for men is:
For women:
. The 1500 m, however, is the most common distance run at the college and international levels.
An accurate way to run an actual mile on a metric track would be to run the additional 9.34 meters before starting the first marked 400 meter lap. On a metric track, there will be a relay zone 10 meters before the common start/finish line, frequently marked by a triangle pointed toward the finish. In many configurations, that triangle is about half a meter wide, making its point extremely close to the mile start line, which would be slightly less than two feet from the marked relay zone (the widest part of the triangle, or line).
, and is still often referred to as the "Blue Riband
" of the track.
When the International Amateur Athletic Federation
decided in 1976 to recognize only world records for metric distances, it made an exception for the mile and records are kept to this day.
Historically, the mile took the place that the 1500 m has today. It is still raced on the world class level, but usually only at select occasions, like the famous Wanamaker Mile
held annually at the Millrose Games
. Running a mile in less than four minutes is a famously difficult achievement, long thought impossible by the scientific community. The first man to break the four minute barrier
was Englishman
Roger Bannister
at Oxford
in 1954. The record at this distance for men is:
For women:
For women:
For women:
s along with the 1600 m. It is colloquially called the "two-mile", as the distance is only about 19 metres shorter than two miles (3 km). In college, the typical runner of this event would convert to the 3,000 metre run. It should be noted that in most Eastern-American high schools, colleges, and middle schools, this event is often considered a long distance event, depending on the region. For example, in New Hampshire
and Kentucky
, the 3200m run is considered a long distance event.
For women:
, except that high school boys jump to 5000 meters. Both 3000 and 5000 meter distances are sometimes described as long distance but also frequently as middle distance, depending on the context. From the perspective of a longer race like a half marathon, marathon or relays such as the ekiden
relay, the 5000 meter race might be viewed as middle distance.
The tables below do not focus on record times but rather on the performance of many runners in a given year (in this case, 2007 and 2008). These are the top 100 (or even 500) junior high school and high school runners in Japan and the USA.
Japanese high school boys regularly run 5000 meters on the track rather than 3000 meters. USA high school boys rarely run this distance except during cross country.
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
, 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
and mile run
Mile run
The mile run is a middle-distance foot race which is among the more popular events in track running.The history of the mile run event began in England, where it was used as a distance for gambling races...
, although the 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the 800 m distance and it has its roots in competitions in the United Kingdom in the 1830s. The 1500 m came about as a result of running three laps of a 500 m track, which was commonplace in continental Europe in the 20th century.
600 m
This middle distance length is rather uncommon, and is mainly run by sprinters wishing to test their endurances at a longer distance. The 600 m is also used as an early season stepping stone by 800 m runners before they have reached full race fitness. In 1880, American Lon MyersLon Myers
Laurence Eugene "Lon" Myers was an American sprinter and middle distance runner.Myers won 28 national championships. He also set world records at 11 different distances, and held every American record for races 50 yards to one mile. Myers set the world quarter-mile record while running the final...
set what was then a world record at 600 m, running it in 1:11.4. The record at this distance is for men:
-
-
- Johnny GrayJohnny GrayJohn Lee Gray, Jr. was an American 800 m runner of the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1985 he set the US record of 1:42.60 min at a meet in Koblenz. That time puts Gray as the #11 performer of all time...
(United States) 1:12.81 Santa MonicaSanta Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
24 May 1986
- Johnny Gray
-
For women:
-
-
- Ana Fidelia QuirotAna Fidelia QuirotAna Fidelia Quirot is a female athlete from Cuba, who specialised in the 800 m but was also successful over 400 m....
(CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
) 1:22.63 GuadalajaraGuadalajara, SpainGuadalajara is a city and municipality in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain, and in the natural region of La Alcarria. It is the capital of the province of Guadalajara. It is located roughly 60 km northeast of Madrid on the Henares River, and has a population of 83,789...
25 July 1997
- Ana Fidelia Quirot
-
800 m
The 800 m consists of two laps around a standard 400 m trackRace track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
, and has always been an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
event. In 1882, American Lon Myers
Lon Myers
Laurence Eugene "Lon" Myers was an American sprinter and middle distance runner.Myers won 28 national championships. He also set world records at 11 different distances, and held every American record for races 50 yards to one mile. Myers set the world quarter-mile record while running the final...
set what was then a world record at 800 m, running it in 1:44.4. It was included in the first women's track programme in 1928, but suspended until 1960 because of shock and the exhaustion it caused the competitors. Without the benefits of modern training, men of the era were, in contrast, expected to run themselves to complete exhaustion during competitions.
The current record is for men:
-
-
- David Lekuta Rudisha 1:41.01 Rieti 30 August 2010
-
For women:
-
-
- Jarmila KratochvílováJarmila KratochvílováJarmila Kratochvílová is a Czech former sprinter and middle distance runner. In 1983, she set world record times for both the 400 metres and 800 metres, and won gold medals in both distances at the World Championships....
(CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
) 1:53.28 MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, 26 July 1983
- Jarmila Kratochvílová
-
1000 m
This distance is not commonly raced, though it is more common than the 500 m event is for sprinters. This is commonly raced as an indoor men's heptathlonHeptathlon
A heptathlon is a track and field athletics combined events contest made up of seven events. The name derives from the Greek hepta and athlon . A competitor in a heptathlon is referred to as a heptathlete.-Women's Heptathlon:...
event, or as an indoor high school event. In 1881, Lon Myers
Lon Myers
Laurence Eugene "Lon" Myers was an American sprinter and middle distance runner.Myers won 28 national championships. He also set world records at 11 different distances, and held every American record for races 50 yards to one mile. Myers set the world quarter-mile record while running the final...
set what was then a world record at 1000 m, running it in 2:13.0. The record at this distance for men is:
-
-
- Noah NgenyNoah NgenyNoah Kiprono Ngeny is a former Kenyan athlete, Olympic gold medalist at 1500 m at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and world record holder in the 1000 m.-Before Sydney:...
(KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
) 2:11.96 RietiRietiRieti is a city and comune in Lazio, central Italy, with a population of c. 47,700. It is the capital of province of Rieti.The town centre rests on a small hilltop, commanding a wide plain at the southern edge of an ancient lake. The area is now the fertile basin of the Velino River...
5 September 1999
- Noah Ngeny
-
For women:
-
-
- Svetlana MasterkovaSvetlana MasterkovaSvetlana Alexandrovna Masterkova is a Russian former middle distance runner and current world record holder for the mile. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, she won the gold medal in both the 800 and 1,500 metres....
(Russia) 2:28.98 BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
23 August 1996
- Svetlana Masterkova
-
1200 m
Three laps. A distance seldom raced on its own, but commonly raced as part of the Distance Medley RelayDistance Medley Relay
The distance medley relay is an athletic event in which four athletes compete as part of a relay. Unlike most track relays, each member of the team runs a different distance. A distance medley relay is made up of a 1200 meter leg, or three laps on a standard 400 meter track; a 400 meter leg, or one...
.
1500 m
Also known as the metric mile, this is a premier middle-distance race, covering three and three-quarter laps around a standard Olympic-sized track. In recent years, races over this distance have become more of a prolonged sprint, with each lap averaging 55 seconds for the world record performance by Hicham El GuerroujHicham El Guerrouj
Hicham El Guerrouj "King of the Mile" is a Moroccan former middle distance runner...
of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
in 1998 at Rome (two 1:50 s 800 m performances back to back). Thus, speed is necessary, and it seems that the more aerobic conditioning
Aerobic conditioning
Aerobic conditioning is a process whereby one trains the heart and lungs to pump blood more efficiently, allowing more oxygen to get to muscles and organs.Aerobic conditioning is a determining factor in performance in events with a duration greater than 2mins...
, the better. This is a difficult distance to compete at, mentally, in addition to being one of the more tactical middle-distance track events. The distance is often witness to some of the most tactical, physical races in the sport, as many championship races are won in the final few metres. The record at this distance for men is:
-
-
- Hicham El GuerroujHicham El GuerroujHicham El Guerrouj "King of the Mile" is a Moroccan former middle distance runner...
(MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
) 3:26.00 Rome 14 July 1998
- Hicham El Guerrouj
-
For women:
-
-
- Qu YunxiaQu YunxiaQu Yunxia is a Chinese Olympic athlete who specialized in the 1500 metres.At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona she won a bronze medal on 1500 m. In 1993 she achieved the still standing world record in the 1500 metres at 3:50.46 minutes while running in the National Games of the People's...
(China) 3:50.46 BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
11 September 1993
- Qu Yunxia
-
1600 m
At exactly four laps of a normal 400 m track, this distance is raced as a near replacement for the mile (it is, in fact, 9.344 m, about 30.6 feet, shorter; however, it is still colloquially referred to as "the mile"). The 1600 meters is the official distance for this range of races in US High SchoolsNational Federation of State High School Associations
The National Federation of State High School Associations is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, whether public or private, belong to their state's high school association; in turn, each state association...
. The 1500 m, however, is the most common distance run at the college and international levels.
An accurate way to run an actual mile on a metric track would be to run the additional 9.34 meters before starting the first marked 400 meter lap. On a metric track, there will be a relay zone 10 meters before the common start/finish line, frequently marked by a triangle pointed toward the finish. In many configurations, that triangle is about half a meter wide, making its point extremely close to the mile start line, which would be slightly less than two feet from the marked relay zone (the widest part of the triangle, or line).
Mile
This length of middle-distance race, 1760 yards, (1609.344 metres), is very common in countries that don't use the metric systemSi
Si, si, or SI may refer to :- Measurement, mathematics and science :* International System of Units , the modern international standard version of the metric system...
, and is still often referred to as the "Blue Riband
Blue Riband
The Blue Riband is an unofficial accolade given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest speed. The term was borrowed from horse racing and was not widely used until after 1910. Under the unwritten rules, the record is based on average speed...
" of the track.
When the International Amateur Athletic Federation
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
decided in 1976 to recognize only world records for metric distances, it made an exception for the mile and records are kept to this day.
Historically, the mile took the place that the 1500 m has today. It is still raced on the world class level, but usually only at select occasions, like the famous Wanamaker Mile
Wanamaker Mile
The Wanamaker Mile is an event held annually at the Millrose Games in New York City's Madison Square Garden.The event is an indoor one-mile race. It was first held in 1908, and in 1926 became known as the "Wanamaker." It is named in honor of the head of the Wanamaker's Department Store in New...
held annually at the Millrose Games
Millrose Games
The Millrose Games is an annual indoor athletics meet held on the first Friday in February in New York City. They will be held at the Armory in Washington Heights in 2012, after having taken place in Madison Square Garden from 1914 to 2011...
. Running a mile in less than four minutes is a famously difficult achievement, long thought impossible by the scientific community. The first man to break the four minute barrier
Four-minute mile
In the sport of athletics, the four-minute mile is the act of completing the mile run in less than four minutes. It was first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister in 3:59.4. The 'four minute barrier' has since been broken by many male athletes, and is now the standard of all male professional...
was Englishman
Englishman
Englishman may refer to:*English people*Grey Partridge*Jason Englishman, Canadian rock music singer and guitarist*Jenny-Bea Englishman, real name of the Canadien singer Esthero*Erald Briscoe, reggae musician who records under the name Englishman...
Roger Bannister
Roger Bannister
Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, CBE is an English former athlete best known for running the first recorded mile in less than 4 minutes...
at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1954. The record at this distance for men is:
-
-
- Hicham El GuerroujHicham El GuerroujHicham El Guerrouj "King of the Mile" is a Moroccan former middle distance runner...
(MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
) 3:43.13 Rome 7 July 1999
- Hicham El Guerrouj
-
For women:
-
-
- Svetlana MasterkovaSvetlana MasterkovaSvetlana Alexandrovna Masterkova is a Russian former middle distance runner and current world record holder for the mile. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, she won the gold medal in both the 800 and 1,500 metres....
(Russia) 4:12.56 ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
14 August 1996
- Svetlana Masterkova
-
2000 m
- Another event that is rarely run, a miler's speed will generally allow him/her to prevail at this distance over less balanced challengers. The record at this distance for men is:
-
-
- Hicham El GuerroujHicham El GuerroujHicham El Guerrouj "King of the Mile" is a Moroccan former middle distance runner...
(MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
) 4:44.79 Berlin September 7, 1999
- Hicham El Guerrouj
-
For women:
-
-
- Sonia O'SullivanSonia O'SullivanSonia O'Sullivan in Cobh, County Cork. She began her running career in Ballymore Running Club which is located in the eastern side of Cobh Town. She was one of the world's leading female 5000 m runners for most of the 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century...
(IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
) 5:25.36 EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
July 8, 1994
- Sonia O'Sullivan
-
3000 m
- Truly on the borderline between middle and longer distances, the 3000 m (7.5 laps) is a standard race in the United States, though it is not raced at the outdoor IAAF World ChampionshipsIAAF World Championships in AthleticsThe World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations . Originally, it was organised every four years, but this changed in 1991, and it has since been organised biennially.-History:...
. This race requires decent speed, but a lack of natural quickness can be made up for with superior aerobic conditioning and supporting race tactics. The record at this distance for men is:
-
-
- Daniel KomenDaniel KomenDaniel Kipngetich Komen is a Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner. Remembered for his rivalry with Haile Gebrselassie, Komen's most notable achievements came in a two-year period between 1996 and 1998, during which he broke a string of world records...
(KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
) 7:20.67 RietiRietiRieti is a city and comune in Lazio, central Italy, with a population of c. 47,700. It is the capital of province of Rieti.The town centre rests on a small hilltop, commanding a wide plain at the southern edge of an ancient lake. The area is now the fertile basin of the Velino River...
1 September 1996
- Daniel Komen
-
For women:
-
-
- Junxia WangWang JunxiaWang Junxia is a Chinese former long-distance runner.-Career:Wang was coached by Ma Junren until 1995 and by Mao Dezhen from 1995 to her retirement after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics....
(China) 8:06.11 BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
13 September 1993
- Junxia Wang
-
3200 m
At exactly 8 laps on a standard 400 m track, this event is typically run only in American high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s along with the 1600 m. It is colloquially called the "two-mile", as the distance is only about 19 metres shorter than two miles (3 km). In college, the typical runner of this event would convert to the 3,000 metre run. It should be noted that in most Eastern-American high schools, colleges, and middle schools, this event is often considered a long distance event, depending on the region. For example, in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, the 3200m run is considered a long distance event.
2,000 metre steeplechase
Another race only run in high school or Masters meets. The typical specialist in this event would move up to the 3000m steeplechase in college.3,000 metre steeplechase
- The 3,000 metre SteeplechaseSteeplechase (athletics)The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
is a distance event requiring greater strength, stamina, and agility than the flat 3,000 metre event. This is because athletes are required to jump over five barriers per lap, after a flat first 200 m to allow for settling in. One barrier per lap is placed in front of a water pit, meaning that runners are also forced to deal with the chaffing of wet shoes as they race. The world record for men is:
-
-
- Saif Saeed Shaheen (QatarQatarQatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
) 7:53.63 BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
3 September 2004
- Saif Saeed Shaheen (Qatar
-
For women:
-
-
- Gulnara SamitovaGulnara SamitovaGulnara Iskanderovna Samitova-Galkina is a Russian middle-distance runner. In July 2004 she ran 3000 metres steeplechase in a new world record of 9:01.59. Early that year she won a bronze medal over 1500 metres at the 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships.Gulnara Samitova-Galkina is of mixed Tatar...
(Russia) 8:58.81 BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
17 August 2008
- Gulnara Samitova
-
United States and Japan youth running
In the United States, the 3000 m is more common at the high school and collegiate levels (along with the US two mile). In Japan, the 800, 1500 and 3000 meter events are competed in both genders for junior high school and high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, except that high school boys jump to 5000 meters. Both 3000 and 5000 meter distances are sometimes described as long distance but also frequently as middle distance, depending on the context. From the perspective of a longer race like a half marathon, marathon or relays such as the ekiden
Ekiden
is a term referring to a long-distance relay running race, typically on roads. The Japanese term originally referred to a post-horse or stagecoach which transmitted communication by stages.-History:...
relay, the 5000 meter race might be viewed as middle distance.
The tables below do not focus on record times but rather on the performance of many runners in a given year (in this case, 2007 and 2008). These are the top 100 (or even 500) junior high school and high school runners in Japan and the USA.
800 meters
| 800 meters | Age Group | Country | # of Athletes | Time Range 2007 | Time Range 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | Junior High School | Japan | Top 200 | 1:56.06 - 2:03.91 | |
| Boys | Middle School | USA | Top 500 | 2:00.67 - 2:29.00 | |
| Boys | High School | Japan | Top 100 | 1:51.66 - 1:56.34 | 1:50.85 - 1:57.87 |
| Boys | High School | USA | Top 100 | 1:48.63 - 1:53.82 | 1:48.6 - 1:53.77 |
| Girls | Junior High School | Japan | Top 100 | 2:09.87 - 2:19.02 | |
| Girls | Middle School | USA | Top 500 | 2:18.03 - 2:48.00 | |
| Girls | High School | Japan | Top 100 | 2:07.34 - 2:16.34 | 2:06.47 - 2:15.70 |
| Girls | High School | USA | Top 100 | 2:02.38 - 2:12.83 | 2:01.61 - 2:13.09 |
1500 meters
A few states of the USA use this distance, among them Oregon, Florida and Massachusetts.| 1500 meters | Age Group | Country | # of Athletes | Time Range 2007 | Time Range 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | Junior High School | Japan | Top 150 | 3:59.40 - 4:13.77 | |
| Boys | Middle School | USA | Top 200 | 4:21.07 - 5:17 | |
| Boys | High School | Japan | Top 100 | 3:51.65 - 3:59.10 | 3:44.21 - 3:57.87 |
| Boys | High School | USA | Top 31, Top 100 | 3:47.31 - 3:59.68 | 3:49.51 - 4:08.0 |
| Girls | Junior High School | Japan | Top 200 | 4:23.92 - 4:45.49 | |
| Girls | Middle School | USA | Top 200 | 4:58.73 - 6:01.00 | |
| Girls | High School | Japan | Top 200 | 4:20.44 - 4:37.68 | 4:17.13 - 4:36.64 |
| Girls | High School | USA | Top 28, Top 200 | 4:16.98 - 4:39.92 | 4:14.50 - 4:55.0 |
1600 meters
| 1600 meters | Age Group | Country | # of Athletes | Time Range 2007 | Time Range 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | Middle School | USA | Top 200 | 4:39.0 - 5:24.0 | |
| Boys | High School | USA | Top 100, Top 200 | 4:04.9 to 4:15.05 | 4:00.29 to 4:18.0 |
| Girls | Middle School | USA | Top 200 | 5:09.26 - 6:07.5 | |
| Girls | High School | USA | Top 100, Top 200 | 4:38.15 to 4:58.15 | 4:33.82 to 5:03.0 |
3000 meters
A few states of the USA use this distance, among them Oregon, Massachusetts and Florida.| 3000 meters | Age Group | Country | # of Athletes | Time Range 2007 | Time Range 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | Junior High School | Japan | Top 250 | 8:27.57 - 9:09.8 | |
| Boys | Middle School | USA | Top 100 | 9:36.35 - 12:05 | |
| Boys | High School | Japan | Top 50 | 8:17.85 - 8:40.14 | 7:59.12 - 8:32.69 |
| Boys | High School | USA | Top 23, Top 100 | 8:09.09 - 8:31.80 | 8:28.46 - 9:04.0 |
| Girls | Junior High School | Japan | Top 100 | 9:12.89 - 10:06.89 | |
| Girls | Middle School | USA | Top 30 | 10:54.8 - 12:47.67 | |
| Girls | High School | Japan | Top 400 | 9:04.63 - 9:59.02 | 8:58.77 - 9:56.75 |
| Girls | High School | USA | Top 50, Top 100 | 9:26.9 - 10:06.6 | 9:15.11 - 10:25.0 |
3200 meters
| 3200 meters | Age Group | Country | # of Athletes | Time Range 2007 | Time Range 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | Middle School | USA | Top 150 | 10:54.33 - 13:10 | |
| Boys | High School | USA | Top 100 | 8:46.04 - 9:13.1 | 8:34.23 - 9:15.54 |
| Girls | Middle School | USA | Top 70 | 12:03.05 - 15:40/28 | |
| Girls | High School | USA | Top 100 | 10:04.07 - 10:52.32 | 9:52.13 - 10:51.52 |
2000 meter steeplechase
In the USA, the steeplechase is still relatively uncommon in high school. One example is New York state, where high school boys compete in the 3000 meter steeplechase and the high school girls compete in the 2000 meter steeplechase. In many states, both boys and girls compete in the 2000 meter steeple chase.| 2000 meter steeplechase | Age Group | Country | # of Athletes | Time Range 2007 | Time Range 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | High School | USA | Top 5, Top 100 | 5:52.63 - 6:03.33 | 5:54.58 - 7:48.40 |
| Girls | High School | Japan | Top 2 | 7:06.62 and 7:23.11 | |
| Girls | High School | USA | Top 5, Top 100 | 16:36.34 - 16:50.47 | 6:42.86 - 8:11.0 |
3000 meter steeplechase
| 3000 meter steeplechase | Age Group | Country | # of Athletes | Time Range 2007 | Time Range 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | High School | Japan | Top 100 | 9:06.10 - 9:26.91 | 8:54.55 - 9:25.34 |
| Boys | High School | USA | Top 10, Top 100 | 9:08.11 - 9:35.80 | 9:07.02 - 10:50.0 |
| Girls | High School | Japan | Top 2 | 10:50.14 and 10:52.84 | |
| Girls | High School | USA | Top 1, | 10:52.82 | 10:42.22 |
5000 meters
(Not a middle distance event)Japanese high school boys regularly run 5000 meters on the track rather than 3000 meters. USA high school boys rarely run this distance except during cross country.
| 5000 meters | Age Group | Country | # of Athletes | Time Range 2007 | Time Range 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | High School | Japan | Top 500 | 14:00.8 - 14:57.57 | 13:33.24 - 14:56.94 |
| Boys | High School | USA | Top 5 | 13:55.96 - 14:41.96 | |
| Girls | High School | Japan | Top 200 | 15:27.98 - 17:24.99 | 15:02.28 - 17:19.84 |
| Girls | High School | USA | Top 5 | 16:36.34 - 16:50.47 | 16:18.91 - 17:20.07 |
See also
- The Flying FinnsFlying Finn (athlete)"The Flying Finn" is a nickname given to several Finnish athletes. Originally, it was given to several Finnish middle and long-distance runners...
- Beer mileBeer mileA Beer mile is a drinking game combining running and speed drinking. Typically, the game takes place on a standard 400 meter or 1/4 mile running track. The race begins at the 1-mile starting line with the consumption of a standard amount of beer, followed by a full lap around the track...