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.Middle-distance running. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on 2014-06-02. 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 1912, 1920 and 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 (1984 to 1992)Women's 3000 metres at the Olympic Games. Sport Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-18. and World Championships (1980 to 1993).World Championships in Athletics. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2014-01-18. 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. Division Time Athlete Nation Date Place Men 7:17.55 Jakob Ingebrigtsen 25 August 2024 Chorzów Women 8:06.11 Wang Junxia 13 September 1993 Beijing
Short track world records Updated 8 February 2025. Division Time Athlete Nation Date Place Men 7:22.91 Grant Fisher 8 February 2025 New York City Women 8:16.60 Genzene Dibaba 6 February 2014 Stockholm
Area records Updated 9 July 2026.
Area Men Women Time Season Athlete Time Season Athlete Africa 7:20.67 1996 8:07.04 2025 Asia 7:29.60 2026 8:06.11 1993 Europe 7:17.55 2024 8:18.49 2019 North, Central Americaand Caribbean 7:22.91 2025 8:20.87 2024 Oceania 7:27.57 2026 8:24.20 2024 South America 7:29.72 2026 8:43.26 2023
All-time top 25
Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" – the top 25 3000 m times and the top 25 athletes:- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 3000 m times- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 3000 m times, by repeat athletes- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 3000 m times
Outdoor men Correct as of August 2026. Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 17:17.55 Jakob Ingebrigtsen 25 August 2024Chorzów227:20.67Daniel Komen1 September 1996Rieti 3 37:21.28 Berihu Aregawi 25 August 2024Chorzów 4 47:23.09 Hicham El Guerrouj 3 September 1999Brussels57:23.63Ingebrigtsen #217 September 2023Eugene567:23.64Yomif Kejelcha17 September 2023Eugene77:24.00Ingebrigtsen #39 June 2023Paris 6 87:25.02 Ali Saïdi-Sief 18 August 2000Monaco 7 97:25.09 Haile Gebrselassie 28 August 1998Brussels 8 107:25.11 Noureddine Morceli 2 August 1994Monaco117:25.16Komen #210 August 1996Monaco9127:25.47Grant Fisher17 September 2023Eugene10137:25.48Telahun Haile Bekele17 September 2023Eugene147:25.54Gebrselassie #28 August 1998Monaco11157:25.77Mohamed Abdilaahi16 May 2026Shaoxing 12167:25.79Kenenisa Bekele7 August 2007Stockholm177:25.87Komen #323 August 1996Brussels 13 187:25.93Thierry Ndikumwenayo10 August 2022Monaco197:26.02Gebrselassie #322 August 1997Brussels207:26.03Gebrselassie #410 June 1999Helsinki14217:26.11Reynold Cheruiyot16 May 2026Shaoxing15227:26.18Lamecha Girma5 May 2023Doha237:26.25Kejelcha #21 July 2021Oslo16247:26.28Selemon Barega17 September 2023Eugene17257:26.48Andreas Almgren16 May 2026Shaoxing 18 7:26.62 Mohammed Mourhit 18 August 2000Monaco 197:26.64Jacob Kiplimo17 September 2020Rome 207:27.18 Moses Kiptanui 25 July 1995Monaco217:27.24Timothy Cheruiyot16 May 2026Shaoxing 227:27.26 Yenew Alamirew 6 May 2011Doha237:27.43Parker Wolfe27 August 2026Zurich247:27.46Cornelius Kemboi16 May 2026Shaoxing 257:27.55 Edwin Soi 6 May 2011Doha
Outdoor women Correct as of July 2026. Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 8:06.11Wang Junxia13 September 1993Beijing22 8:07.04Faith Kipyegon16 August 2025Chorzów33 8:08.95Agnes Ngetich10 July 2026Monaco448:11.56Beatrice Chebet25 May 2025Rabat 5 5 8:12.18Qu Yunxia13 September 1993Beijing68:12.19Wang #212 September 1993Beijing78:12.27Qu #212 September 1993Beijing 6 8 8:16.50Zhang Linli13 September 1993Beijing798:18.49Sifan Hassan30 June 2019Stanford8108:19.08Francine Niyonsaba28 August 2021Paris9118:19.52Ejgayehu Taye28 August 2021Paris10128:19.78Ma Liyan12 September 1993Beijing11138:20.07Konstanze Klosterhalfen30 June 2019Stanford12148:20.27Letesenbet Gidey30 June 2019Stanford13158:20.68Hellen Obiri9 May 2014Doha14168:21.14Mercy Cherono9 May 2014Doha178:21.26Ma #213 September 1993Beijing15188:21.29Genzebe Dibaba30 June 2019Stanford1619 8:21.42Gabriela Szabo19 July 2002Monaco17208:21.50Diribe Welteji22 August 2024Lausanne18218:21.53Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi28 August 2021Paris1922 8:21.64Sonia O'Sullivan15 July 1994London2023 8:21.84Zhang Lirong13 September 1993Beijing248:22.06Zhang Linli #212 September 1993Beijing2125 8:22.20Paula Radcliffe19 July 2002Monaco228:22.22Almaz Ayana14 June 2015Rabat 238:22.62Tatyana Kazankina26 August 1984Leningrad248:22.92Agnes Tirop25 September 2020Doha8:22.92Beatrice Chepkoech25 September 2020Doha
Indoor men Correct as of March 2026. Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 7:22.91Grant Fisher8 February 2025New York City 2 2 7:23.14Cole Hocker8 February 2025New York City 3 3 7:23.81Lamecha 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 2024Toruń87:26.10Barega #29 February 2021Liévin 897:26.15Haile Gebrselassie25 January 1998Karlsruhe 9107:26.20Berihu Aregawi28 January 2022Karlsruhe117:26.73Wale #26 February 2024Toruń127:26.80Gebrselassie #224 January 1999Karlsruhe10137:27.57Cameron Myers24 January 2026Boston11147:27.80Yenew Alamirew5 February 2011Stuttgart12157:27.92George Mills2 February 2025Val-de-Reuil167:27.93Komen #21 February 1998Stuttgart177:27.98Girma #29 February 2021Liévin13187:28.00Augustine Kiprono Choge5 February 2011Stuttgart14197:28.23Yared Nuguse27 January 2023Boston207:28.29Gebrselassie #328 February 2003Karlsruhe217:29.09Girma #34 February 2024Boston227:29.24Aregawi #29 February 2021Liévin237:29.34Gebrselassie #415 February 2004Karlsruhe15247:29.37Eliud Kipchoge5 February 2011Stuttgart16257:29.38Yann Schrub8 February 2026Metz177:29.49Niels Laros13 February 2025Liévin187:29.72Graham Blanks2 March 2025Boston197:29.94Edwin Cheruiyot Soi12 February 2012Karlsruhe207:29.99Biniam Mehary13 February 2025Liévin217:30.14Josh Kerr11 February 2024New York City227:30.15Ethan Strand7 December 2024Boston237:30.16Galen Rupp21 February 2013Stockholm247:30.18Jimmy Gressier8 February 2025New York City257:30.23Parker Wolfe7 December 2024Boston
Indoor women Correct as of March 2026. Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 8:16.60Genzebe Dibaba6 February 2014Stockholm 2 2 8:16.69Gudaf Tsegay25 February 2023Birmingham 3 8:17.11Tsegay #210 February 2024Liévin 348:19.98Freweyni Hailu13 February 2025Liévin 458:20.87Elle St. Pierre2 March 2024Glasgow68:21.23Tsegay #32 March 2024Glasgow78:22.50Dibaba #219 February 2016Sabadell88:22.65Tsegay #424 February 2021Madrid 598:22.68Beatrice Chepkoech2 March 2024Glasgow 6108:23.24Dawit Seyaum17 February 2022Liévin 7 118:23.72Meseret Defar3 February 2007Stuttgart 8 128:23.74Meselech Melkamu3 February 2007Stuttgart 138:24.17Hailu #24 February 2025Ostrava 9 148:24.39Jessica Hull2 March 2024Glasgow 158:24.46Defar #26 February 2010Stuttgart168:24.59Hailu #319 February 2026Liévin 178:24.85Dibaba #315 February 2014Birmingham 188:24.93Hull #24 February 2024Boston 10 198:25.05Alicia Monson11 February 2023New York City 208:25.12Tsegay #513 February 2025Liévin 218:25.25St. Pierre #24 February 2024Boston 11 228:25.27Sentayehu Ejigu6 February 2010Stuttgart 12 238:25.37Birke Haylom13 February 2025Liévin 13 248:25.70Karissa Schweizer27 February 2020Boston14258:26.29Aleshign Baweke19 February 2026Liévin 158:26.41Laura Muir4 February 2017Karlsruhe168:26.44Nadia Batocletti19 February 2026Liévin 178:26.66Shelby Houlihan27 February 2020Boston 188:26.77Ejhayehu Taye17 February 2022Liévin 198:27.03Linden Hall24 January 2026Boston 208:27.86Liliya Shobukhova17 February 2006Moscow 218:28.03Whittni Morgan8 February 2025New York City 228:28.46Hirut Meshesha3 February 2024Metz 238:28.49Anna Alminova7 February 2009Stuttgart 248:28.69Melissa Courtney-Bryant2 February 2025Boston 258:28.71Colleen Quigley27 February 2020Boston
Medalists Women's Olympic medalists
Women's World Championships medalists
Men's World Indoor Championships medalists 1985 Paris1987 Indianapolis1989 Budapest1991 Seville1993 Toronto1995 Barcelona1997 Paris1999 Maebashi2001 Lisbon2003 Birmingham2004 Budapest2006 Moscow2008 Valencia2010 Doha2012 Istanbul2014 Sopot2016 Portland2018 Birmingham2022 Belgrade2024 Glasgow2025 Nanjing2026 Toruń
Women's World Indoor Championships medalists 1985 Paris1987 Indianapolis1989 Budapest1991 Seville1993 Toronto1995 Barcelona1997 Paris1999 Maebashi2001 Lisbon2003 Birmingham2004 Budapest2006 Moscow2008 Valencia2010 Doha2012 Istanbul2014 Sopot2016 Portland2018 Birmingham2022 Belgrade2024 Glasgow2025 Nanjing2026 Toruń Known as the World Indoor Games
World leading times
Men (outdoor) YearTimeAthletePlace19707:49.4 Potsdam19717:39.8 Brussels19727:37.6 Århus19737:42.0 London19747:35.1 Gateshead19757:45.0 Paris19767:43.46Cologne19777:41.22Cologne19787:32.1 Oslo19797:37.70Eugene19807:37.60Oslo19817:36.69Ingelheim19827:32.79London19837:35.84Oslo19847:33.3 Brussels19857:32.94Brussels19867:32.23Cologne19877:40.25Berlin19887:38.79Malmö19897:29.45Cologne19907:37.09Cologne19917:33.91Cologne19927:28.96Cologne19937:29.24Monaco19947:25.11Monaco19957:27.18Monaco19967:20.67Rieti19977:26.02Brussels19987:25.09Brussels19997:23.09Brussels20007:25.02Monaco20017:30.53Brussels20027:34.72Monaco20037:30.23Turin20047:27.72Brussels20057:28.56Doha20067:28.72Rieti20077:25.79Stockholm20087:31.83Rieti20097:28.37Doha20107:28.70Rieti20117:27.26Doha20127:30.42Doha20137:30.36Doha20147:31.66Ostrava20157:38.08Doha20167:28.19Saint-Denis20177:28.73Doha20187:28.00Gothenburg20197:32.17Oslo20207:26.64Rome20217:26.25Oslo20227:25.93Monaco20237:23.63Eugene20247:17.55Chorzów20257:31.42Sollentuna20267:25.77Shaoxing
Men (indoor)