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1500 metres
Middle distance running event, "the metric mile"
Middle distance running event, "the metric mile"
| Field | Value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| event | 1500 metres | |||
| image | 1500m men Final Budapest 2023.jpg | |||
| image_upright | 1.2 | |||
| caption | [Men's 1500 m final](2023-world-athletics-championships-men-s-1500-metres) at the [2023 World Championships](2023-world-athletics-championships) in Budapest. Jakob Ingebrigtsen leads with Josh Kerr to the far left and Yared Nuguse in center frame. | |||
| WRmen | Hicham El Guerrouj 3:26.00 (1998) | |||
| ORmen | Cole Hocker 3:27.65 (2024) | |||
| CRmen | Hicham El Guerrouj 3:27.65 (1999) | |||
| WRwomen | Faith Kipyegon 3:48.68 (2025) | |||
| ORwomen | Faith Kipyegon 3:51.29 (2024) | |||
| CRwomen | Sifan Hassan 3:51.95 (2019) | |||
| WU20Rwomen | Lang Yinglai 3:51.34 (1997) | WU20Rmen=Phanuel Koech 3:27.72 (2025) | ShWRmen=Jakob Ingebrigtsen 3:29.63 (2025) | ShWRwomen=Gudaf Tsegay 3:53.09 (2021) |
The 1500 metres or 1500-metre run is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Championships in Athletics since 1983. It is equivalent to 1.5 kilometers or approximately miles. The event is closely associated with its slightly longer variant, the mile run, from which it derives its nickname "the metric mile".
The demands of the race are similar to that of the 800 metre run, but with a slightly higher emphasis on aerobic endurance and a slightly lower sprint speed requirement. The 1500-metre run is predominantly aerobic, but anaerobic conditioning is also required.
Each lap run during the men's world-record race of 3:26.00, run by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 1998, averaged just under 55 seconds per lap. Since El Guerrouj, only three other men in history have broken the 3:27 barrier; Bernard Lagat, Asbel Kiprop, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen. El Guerrouj remains the only man to break the 3:27 barrier more than once, having done so five times.
1500 metres is three and three-quarter laps around a 400-metre track (or seven and a half laps around an indoor 200 m track). During the 1970s and 1980s this race was dominated by British runners, along with an occasional Finn, American, or New Zealander. Through the 1990s, many African runners began to win Olympic medals in this race, especially runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, and East Africa, as well as North African runners from Morocco and Algeria. In the mid-2010s and 2020s, European and American runners began to emerge again in the men's event. American Matthew Centrowitz Jr. won at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In the 2020 Summer Olympics, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the youngest of a dynasty of Norwegian middle-distance runners, became Olympic champion, while Scottish and British runner Jake Wightman became world champions the following year at the head of an all-European podium. Wightman's compatriot Josh Kerr won at the world championships the year after. In the 2024 Summer Olympics, Americans and Europeans continued to dominate the podium, with Cole Hocker, Kerr, and Yared Nuguse earning gold, silver, and bronze respectively. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya maintained Africa's grip on the global titles in the female event in the same time period, although here again, Europeans Sifan Hassan and Laura Muir, and Americans such as Jenny Simpson also contended for the podium, along with Australian Jessica Hull.
In the Modern Olympic Games, the men's 1500-metre run has been contested since the 1896 Games. The first winner, in 1896, was Edwin Flack of Australia, who also became Olympic champion in the 800-metre race. The women's 1500-metre race was first added to the Summer Olympics in 1972, and the first champion was Lyudmila Bragina of the Soviet Union. During the Olympic Games of 1972 through 2008, the women's 1500-metre race has been won by three Soviets plus one Russian, one Italian, one Romanian, one Briton, one Kenyan, and two Algerians. The 2012 Olympic results are still undecided as a result of multiple doping cases. The best women's times for the race were controversially set by Chinese runners, all set in the same race on just two dates four years apart at the Chinese National Games. At least one of those top Chinese athletes has admitted to being part of a doping program. This women's record was finally broken by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in 2015.
In American high schools, the 1600-metre run, also colloquially referred to as "metric mile", is the designated official distance by the National Governing Body the NFHS. Because of the legacy, since US customary units are better-known in America, the mile run (which is 1609.344 metres in length) is more frequently run than the 1500-metre run. For convenience, national rankings are standardized by converting all 1500-metre run times to their mile run equivalents.
Strategy
Many 1500 metres events, particularly at the championship level, turn into slow, strategic races, with the pace quickening and competitors jockeying for position in the final lap to settle the race in a final sprint. Such is the difficulty of maintaining the pace throughout the duration of the event, most records are set in planned races led by pacemakers or "rabbits" who sacrifice their opportunity to win by leading the early laps at a fast pace before dropping out.
Continental records
- Updated 5 July 2025.
| Area | Men | Women | Time | Athlete | Nation | Time | Athlete | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa (*records*) | **3:26.00** | Hicham El Guerrouj | **3:48.68** | Faith Kipyegon | ||||
| Asia (*records*) | **3:29.14** | Rashid Ramzi | **3:50.46** | Qu Yunxia | ||||
| Europe (*records*) | **3:26.73** | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | **3:51.95** | Sifan Hassan | ||||
| North, Central America | ||||||||
| and Caribbean (*records*) | **3:27.65** | Cole Hocker | **3:54.99** | Shelby Houlihan | ||||
| Oceania (*records*) | **3:29.41** | Oliver Hoare | **3:50.83** | Jessica Hull | ||||
| South America (*records*) | **3:33.25** | Hudson de Souza | **4:05.67** | Letitia Vriesde |
All-time top 25
| *- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 **athletes** who fall outside the top 25 1500m times* |
|---|
Men (outdoor)
- Updated June 2025.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:26.00 | Hicham El Guerrouj | 14 July 1998 | Rome | ||||||
| 2 | 3:26.12 | *El Guerrouj #2* | 24 August 2001 | Brussels | |||||||
| 2 | 3 | 3:26.34 | Bernard Lagat | 24 August 2001 | Brussels | ||||||
| 4 | 3:26.45 | *El Guerrouj #3* | 12 August 1998 | Zürich | |||||||
| 3 | 5 | 3:26.69 | Asbel Kiprop | 17 July 2015 | Monaco | ||||||
| 4 | 6 | 3:26.73 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | 12 July 2024 | Monaco | ||||||
| 7 | 3:26.89 | *El Guerrouj #4* | 16 August 2002 | Zürich | |||||||
| 8 | 3:26.96 | *El Guerrouj #5* | 8 September 2002 | Rieti | |||||||
| 9 | 3:27.14 | *Ingebrigtsen #2* | 16 July 2023 | Chorzów | title=Ingebrigtsen, Rojas and Barshim break meeting records in Silesia | url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/silesia-skolimowska-memorial-2023-ingebrigtsen-rojas-barshim | website=World Athletics | date=16 July 2023 | access-date=17 July 2023}} | ||
| 10 | 3:27.21 | *El Guerrouj #6* | 11 August 2000 | Zürich | |||||||
| 11 | 3:27.34 | *El Guerrouj #7* | 19 July 2002 | Monaco | |||||||
| 5 | 12 | 3:27.37 | Noureddine Morceli | 12 July 1995 | Nice | ||||||
| 13 | 3:27.40 | *Lagat #2* | 6 August 2004 | Zürich | |||||||
| 6 | 14 | 3:27.49 | Azeddine Habz | 20 June 2025 | Paris | ||||||
| 15 | 3:27.52 | *Morceli #2* | 25 July 1995 | Monaco | |||||||
| 16 | 3:27.64 | *El Guerrouj #8* | 6 August 2004 | Zürich | |||||||
| 7 | 16 | 3:27.64 | Silas Kiplagat | 18 July 2014 | Monaco | ||||||
| 18 | 3:27.65 | *El Guerrouj #9* | 24 August 1999 | Seville | |||||||
| 8 | 18 | 3:27.65 | Cole Hocker | 6 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | ||||||
| 20 | 3:27.72 | *Kiprop #2* | 19 July 2013 | Monaco | |||||||
| 9 | 20 | 3:27.72 | Phanuel Koech | 20 June 2025 | Paris | ||||||
| 10 | 22 | 3:27.79 | Josh Kerr | 6 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | ||||||
| 11 | 23 | 3:27.80 | Yared Nuguse | 6 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | ||||||
| 24 | 3:27.83 | *Ingebrigtsen #3* | 22 August 2024 | Lausanne | |||||||
| 25 | 3:27.91 | *Lagat #3* | 19 July 2002 | Monaco | |||||||
| 12 | 3:28.12 | Noah Ngeny | 11 August 2000 | Zürich | |||||||
| 13 | 3:28.28 | Timothy Cheruiyot | 9 July 2021 | Monaco | title=1500m Result | url=http://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2021/monaco/re0130040.pdf | work=sportresult.com | date=9 July 2021 | access-date=19 July 2021}} | ||
| 14 | 3:28.36 | George Mills | 20 June 2025 | Paris | |||||||
| 15 | 3:28.75 | Taoufik Makhloufi | 17 July 2015 | Monaco | |||||||
| 16 | 3:28.76 | Mohamed Katir | 9 July 2021 | Monaco | |||||||
| 17 | 3:28.79 | Abdalaati Iguider | 17 July 2015 | Monaco | |||||||
| 18 | 3:28.80 | Elijah Manangoi | 21 July 2017 | Monaco | |||||||
| Brian Komen | 12 July 2024 | Monaco | |||||||||
| 20 | 3:28.81 | Mo Farah | 19 July 2013 | Monaco | title=Seven world leads on magical night in Monaco – IAAF Diamond League | url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/seven-world-leads-on-magical-night-in-monaco | publisher=IAAF | author=Mike Rowbottom | date=19 July 2013 | access-date=21 July 2013}} | |
| Ronald Kwemoi | 18 July 2014 | Monaco | |||||||||
| 22 | 3:28.95 | Fermín Cacho | 13 August 1997 | Zürich | |||||||
| 23 | 3:28.98 | Mehdi Baala | 5 September 2003 | Brussels | |||||||
| 24 | 3:29.02 | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen | 14 July 2006 | Rome | |||||||
| 25 | 3:29.03 | Festus Lagat | 20 June 2025 | Paris |
Women (outdoor)
- Updated September 2025.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:48.68 | Faith Kipyegon | 5 July 2025 | Eugene | ||||||
| 2 | 3:49.04 | *Kipyegon #2* | 7 July 2024 | Paris | |||||||
| 3 | 3:49.11 | *Kipyegon #3* | 2 June 2023 | Florence | |||||||
| 2 | 4 | 3:50.07 | Genzebe Dibaba | 17 July 2015 | Monaco | ||||||
| 3 | 5 | 3:50.30 | Gudaf Tsegay | 20 April 2024 | Xiamen | ||||||
| 6 | 3:50.37 | *Kipyegon #4* | 10 August 2022 | Monaco | |||||||
| 4 | 7 | 3:50.46 | Qu Yunxia | 11 September 1993 | Beijing | ||||||
| 8 | 3:50.62 | *Tsegay #2* | 16 August 2025 | Chorzów | |||||||
| 9 | 3:50.72 | *Kipyegon #5* | 16 September 2023 | Eugene | title=1500m Results | url=https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/EUGENE2023/PDF_ATHW1500M---DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73C1.PDF?h=lCAV6meVEg5eiQXEbRu6KpGVa48= | work=sportresult.com | date=16 September 2023 | access-date=19 September 2023}} | ||
| 5 | 10 | 3:50.83 | Jessica Hull | 7 July 2024 | Paris | ||||||
| 6 | 11 | 3:50.98 | Jiang Bo | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai | ||||||
| 12 | 3:51.07 | *Kipyegon #6* | 9 July 2021 | Monaco | |||||||
| 13 | 3:51.29 | *Kipyegon #7* | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | |||||||
| 7 | 14 | 3:51.34 | Lang Yinglai | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai | ||||||
| 15 | 3:51.41 | *Kipyegon #8* | 21 July 2023 | Monaco | |||||||
| 8 | 16 | 3:51.44 | Diribe Welteji | 5 July 2025 | Eugene | ||||||
| 9 | 17 | 3:51.92 | Wang Junxia | 11 September 1993 | Beijing | ||||||
| 10 | 18 | 3:51.95 | Sifan Hassan | 5 October 2019 | Doha | ||||||
| 19 | 3:52.15 | *Kipyegon #9* | 16 September 2025 | Tokyo | |||||||
| 11 | 20 | 3:52.47 | Tatyana Kazankina | 13 August 1980 | Zürich | ||||||
| 21 | 3:52.56 | *Hull #2* | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | |||||||
| 22 | 3:52.59 | *Kipyegon #10* | 28 May 2022 | Eugene | title=Norman reigns in fierce 400m clash with record run in Eugene | url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/norman-kipyegon-crouser-eugene-prefontaine-classic | publisher=World Athletics | author=Cathal Dennehy | date=29 May 2022 | access-date=15 June 2022}} | |
| 12 | 23 | 3:52.61 | Georgia Bell | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | ||||||
| 24 | 3:52.67 | *Hull #3* | 5 July 2025 | Eugene | |||||||
| 25 | 3:52.75 | *Welteji #2* | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | |||||||
| 13 | 3:53.22 | Birke Haylom | 20 April 2024 | Xiamen | |||||||
| 14 | 3:53.37 | Laura Muir | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | |||||||
| 15 | 3:53.91 | Yin Lili | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai | |||||||
| 16 | 3:53.96 | Paula Ivan | 1 October 1988 | Seoul | |||||||
| 17 | 3:53.97 | Lan Lixin | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai | |||||||
| 18 | 3:54.16 | Freweyni Hailu | 30 August 2024 | Rome | |||||||
| 19 | 3:54.23 | Olga Dvirna | 27 July 1982 | Kyiv | |||||||
| 20 | 3:54.52 | Zhang Ling | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai | |||||||
| 21 | 3:54.73 | Beatrice Chebet | 16 August 2025 | Chorzów | |||||||
| 22 | 3:54.87 | Hirut Meshesha | 16 July 2023 | Chorzów | |||||||
| 23 | 3:54.92 | Dorcas Ewoi | 16 September 2025 | Tokyo | |||||||
| 24 | 3:54.99 | Shelby Houlihan | 5 October 2019 | Doha | |||||||
| 25 | 3:55.07 | Dong Yanmei | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai |
Men (indoor)
- Updated 13 February 2025.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:29.63 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | 13 February 2025 | Liévin | |
| 2 | 3:30.60 | *Ingebrigtsen #2* | 17 February 2022 | Liévin | ||
| 2 | 3 | 3:31.04 | Samuel Tefera | 16 February 2019 | Birmingham | |
| 3 | 4 | 3:31.18 | Hicham El Guerrouj | 2 February 1997 | Stuttgart | |
| 4 | 5 | 3:31.25 | Yomif Kejelcha | 3 March 2019 | Boston | |
| 6 | 3:31.58 | *Kejelcha #2* | 3 March 2019 | Birmingham | ||
| 5 | 7 | 3:31.74 | Yared Nuguse | 8 February 2025 | New York City | |
| 6 | 8 | 3:31.76 | Haile Gebrselassie | 1 February 1998 | Stuttgart | |
| 9 | 3:31.80 | *Ingebrigtsen #3* | 9 February 2021 | Liévin | ||
| 7 | 10 | 3:31.89 | Hobbs Kessler | 8 February 2025 | New York City | |
| 11 | 3:32.01 | *El Guerrouj #2* | 22 February 1998 | Liévin | ||
| 8 | 12 | 3:32.11 | Laban Rotich | 1 February 1998 | Stuttgart | |
| 9 | 13 | 3:32.24 | Azeddine Habz | 8 February 2025 | New York City | |
| 14 | 3:32.29 | *Habz #2* | 13 February 2025 | Liévin | ||
| 10 | 15 | 3:32.35 | Olli Hoare | 13 February 2021 | New York City | |
| 16 | 3:32.38 | *Ingebrigtsen #4* | 15 February 2023 | Liévin | ||
| 17 | 3:32.39 | *Gebrselassie #2* | 2 February 1997 | Stuttgart | ||
| 11 | 18 | 3:32.48 | Neil Gourley | 25 February 2023 | Birmingham | |
| 12 | 19 | 3:32.59 | Isaac Nader | 13 February 2025 | Liévin | |
| 13 | 20 | 3:32.67 | Cam Myers | 8 February 2025 | New York City | |
| 21 | 3:32.77 | *Tefera #2* | 20 March 2022 | Belgrade | ||
| 14 | 22 | 3:32.86 | Josh Kerr | 27 February 2022 | Boston | |
| 15 | 23 | 3:32.97 | Selemon Barega | 17 February 2021 | Toruń | |
| 24 | 3:33.02 | *Ingebrigtsen #5* | 20 March 2022 | Belgrade | ||
| 16 | 25 | 3:33.08 | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen | 13 February 2005 | Karlsruhe | |
| 17 | 3:33.10 | Deresse Mekonnen | 20 February 2010 | Birmingham | ||
| 18 | 3:33.14 | Robert Farken | 8 February 2025 | New York City | ||
| 19 | 3:33.17 | Vénuste Niyongabo | 22 February 1998 | Liévin | ||
| 20 | 3:33.23 | Augustine Choge | 19 February 2011 | Birmingham | ||
| 21 | 3:33.28 | Adel Mechaal | 25 February 2023 | Birmingham | ||
| 22 | 3:33.32 | Andrés Manuel Díaz | 24 February 1999 | Piraeus | ||
| 23 | 3:33.34 | Bernard Lagat | 11 February 2005 | Fayetteville | ||
| 24 | 3:33.36 | Abel Kipsang | 20 March 2022 | Belgrade | ||
| 25 | 3:33.40 | Andrew Coscoran | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
Women (indoor)
- Updated March 2025.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:53.09 | Gudaf Tsegay | 9 February 2021 | Liévin | |||||
| 2 | 3:53.92 | *Tsegay #2* | 16 February 2025 | Toruń | ||||||
| 3 | 3:54.77 | *Tsegay #3* | 22 February 2022 | Toruń | ||||||
| 4 | 3:54.86 | *Tsegay #4* | 23 March 2025 | Nanjing | ||||||
| 2 | 5 | 3:55.17 | Genzebe Dibaba | 1 February 2014 | Karlsruhe | |||||
| 3 | 6 | 3:55.28 | Freweyni Hailu | 6 February 2024 | Toruń | |||||
| 4 | 7 | 3:55.47 | Diribe Welteji | 6 February 2024 | Toruń | |||||
| 8 | 3:56.46 | *Dibaba #2* | 17 February 2016 | Stockholm | ||||||
| 5 | 9 | 3:56.47 | Hirut Meshesha | 6 February 2024 | Toruń | |||||
| 10 | 3:57.19 | *Tsegay #5* | 19 March 2022 | Belgrade | ||||||
| 11 | 3:57.24 | *Hailu #2* | 10 February 2024 | Liévin | date=13 February 2025 | title=Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF 2024 Women's 1500 m Results | url=https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7191164?eventId=10229581&gender=W | access-date=16 February 2024 | website=World Athletics}} | |
| 12 | 3:57.38 | *Tsegay #6* | 2 March 2022 | Madrid | ||||||
| 13 | 3:57.45 | *Dibaba #3* | 3 February 2018 | Karlsruhe | ||||||
| 14 | 3:57.47 | *Tsegay #7* | 15 February 2023 | Liévin | ||||||
| 15 | 3:57.48 | *Welteji #2* | 10 February 2024 | Liévin | ||||||
| 6 | 16 | 3:57.91 | Abeba Aregawi | 6 February 2014 | Stockholm | |||||
| 17 | 3:58.11 | *Tsegay #8* | 4 February 2024 | Boston | ||||||
| 7 | 18 | 3:58.28 | Yelena Soboleva | 18 February 2006 | Moscow | |||||
| 19 | 3:58.40 | *Aregawi #2* | 21 February 2013 | Stockholm | ||||||
| 8 | 20 | 3:58.43 | Birke Haylom | 4 February 2024 | Boston | |||||
| 9 | 21 | 3:58.79 | Tigist Girma | 6 February 2024 | Toruń | |||||
| 22 | 3:58.80 | *Dibaba #4* | 10 February 2017 | Toruń | ||||||
| 23 | 3:58.89 | *Welteji #3* | 13 February 2025 | Liévin | ||||||
| 24 | 3:59.08 | *Dibaba #5* | 6 February 2019 | Sabadell | ||||||
| 25 | 3:59.48 | *Tsegay #9* | 8 February 2023 | Toruń | ||||||
| 10 | 3:59.58 | Laura Muir | 9 February 2021 | Liévin | ||||||
| 11 | 3:59.60 | Heather MacLean | 2 March 2025 | Boston | ||||||
| 12 | 3:59.75 | Gelete Burka | 9 March 2008 | Valencia | ||||||
| 13 | 3:59.79 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal | 9 March 2008 | Valencia | ||||||
| 14 | 3:59.84 | Georgia Bell | 23 March 2025 | Nanjing | ||||||
| 15 | 3:59.87 | Konstanze Klosterhalfen | 8 February 2020 | New York City | ||||||
| 16 | 3:59.98 | Regina Jacobs | 1 February 2003 | Boston | ||||||
| 17 | 4:00.20 | Elle Purrier | 8 February 2020 | New York City | ||||||
| 18 | 4:00.27 | Doina Melinte | 9 February 1990 | East Rutherford | ||||||
| 19 | 4:00.28 | Dawit Seyaum | 28 February 2016 | Boston | ||||||
| 20 | 4:00.46 | Sifan Hassan | 19 February 2015 | Stockholm | ||||||
| 21 | 4:00.52 | Jemma Reekie | 8 February 2020 | New York City | ||||||
| 22 | 4:00.72 | Natalya Gorelova | 27 February 2003 | Moscow | ||||||
| 23 | 4:00.8 | Mary Decker | 8 February 1980 | New York City | ||||||
| 24 | 4:00.80 | Gabriela DeBues-Stafford | 8 February 2020 | New York City | ||||||
| 4:00.80 | Georgia Griffith | 23 March 2025 | Nanjing |
U20 records and U18 world bests
- Updated 20 June 2025.
| Age group | Men | Women | Time | Athlete | Nation | Time | Athlete | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U20 (*records*) | **3:27.72** | Phanuel Koech | **3:51.34** | Lang Yinglai | ||||
| U18 (*world bests*) | **3:33.26** | Cameron Myers | **3:54.52** | Zhang Ling |
Olympic medalists
Main article: 1500 metres at the Olympics
Men
Women
World Championships medalists
Main article: 1500 metres at the World Championships in Athletics
Men
Women
European Championships medalists
Men
Main article: List of European Athletics Championships medalists (men)#1500 meters
Women
Main article: List of European Athletics Championships medalists (women)#1500 meters
World Indoor Championships medalists
Men
| [2025 Nanjing](2025-world-athletics-indoor-championships) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Neil Gourley | Luke Houser |
Women
| [2025 Nanjing](2025-world-athletics-indoor-championships) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gudaf Tsegay | Diribe Welteji | Georgia Hunter Bell |
- Known as the World Indoor Games
Season's bests
Men
| Year | Time | Athlete | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 3:36.1 | Jim Ryun | Berkeley |
| 1967 | 3:33.1 | Jim Ryun | Los Angeles |
| [1968](1968-in-athletics) | 3:34.9 | Kipchoge Keino | Mexico City |
| 1969 | 3:37.2 | Marty Liquori | Stuttgart |
| 1970 | 3:34.0 | Jean Wadoux | Colombes |
| 1971 | 3:36.0 | Marty Liquori | Milan |
| 1972 | 3:36.33 | Pekka Vasala | Munich |
| 1973 | 3:34.6 | Filbert Bayi | Helsinki |
| 1974 | 3:32.16 | Filbert Bayi | Christchurch |
| 1975 | 3:32.4 | John Walker | Oslo |
| 1976 | 3:34.19 | John Walker | Stockholm |
| 1977 | 3:32.72 | John Walker | Brussels |
| 1978 | 3:35.48 | David Moorcroft | Edmonton |
| [1979](1979-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:32.03 | Sebastian Coe | Zürich |
| [1980](1980-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:31.36 | Steve Ovett | Koblenz |
| [1981](1981-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:31.57 | Steve Ovett | Budapest |
| [1982](1982-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:32.12 | Sydney Maree | Brussels |
| [1983](1983-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:30.77 | Steve Ovett | Rieti |
| [1984](1984-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:31.54 | Saïd Aouita | Hengelo |
| [1985](1985-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.46 | Saïd Aouita | Berlin |
| [1986](1986-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.77 | Sebastian Coe | Rieti |
| [1987](1987-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:30.69 | Saïd Aouita | Oslo |
| [1988](1988-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:30.95 | Steve Cram | Brussels |
| [1989](1989-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:30.55 | Abdi Bile | Rieti |
| [1990](1990-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:32.60 | Noureddine Morceli | Bologna |
| [1991](1991-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:31.00 | Noureddine Morceli | Helsinki |
| [1992](1992-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:28.86 | Noureddine Morceli | Rieti |
| [1993](1993-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.20 | Noureddine Morceli | Narbonne |
| [1994](1994-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:30.61 | Noureddine Morceli | Villeneuve-d'Ascq |
| [1995](1995-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:27.37 | Noureddine Morceli | Nice |
| [1996](1996-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.05 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Brussels |
| [1997](1997-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:28.91 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Zürich |
| [1998](1998-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:26.00 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Rome |
| [1999](1999-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:27.65 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Seville |
| [2000](2000-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:27.21 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Zürich |
| [2001](2001-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:26.12 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Brussels |
| [2002](2002-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:26.89 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Zürich |
| [2003](2003-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:28.40 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Brussels |
| [2004](2004-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:27.40 | Bernard Lagat | Zürich |
| [2005](2005-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.30 | Bernard Lagat | Rieti |
| [2006](2006-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.02 | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen | Rome |
| [2007](2007-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:30.54 | Alan Webb | Saint-Denis |
| [2008](2008-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:31.49 | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen | Monaco |
| [2009](2009-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.47 | Augustine Kiprono Choge | Berlin |
| [2010](2010-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.27 | Silas Kiplagat | Monaco |
| [2011](2011-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:30.46 | Asbel Kiprop | Rieti |
| [2012](2012-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:28.88 | Asbel Kiprop | Monaco |
| [2013](2013-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:27.72 | Asbel Kiprop | Monaco |
| [2014](2014-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:27.64 | Silas Kiplagat | Monaco |
| [2015](2015-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:26.69 | Asbel Kiprop | Monaco |
| [2016](2016-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.33 | Asbel Kiprop | Birmingham |
| [2017](2017-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:28.80 | Elijah Manangoi | Monaco |
| [2018](2018-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:28.41 | Timothy Cheruiyot | Monaco |
| [2019](2019-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:28.77 | Timothy Cheruiyot | Lausanne |
| [2020](2020-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:28.45 | Timothy Cheruiyot | Monaco |
| [2021](2021-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:28.28 | Timothy Cheruiyot | Monaco |
| [2022](2022-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:29.02 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Zürich |
| [2023](2023-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:27.14 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Chorzów |
| [2024](2024-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:26.73 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Monaco |
| [2025](2025-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:27.49 | Azeddine Habz | Paris |
Women
| Year | Time | Athlete | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | |||
| 1967 | |||
| 1968 | |||
| 1969 | |||
| 1970 | 4:12.2 | Karin Burneleit | Berlin |
| 1971 | 4:09.6 | Karin Burneleit | Helsinki |
| 1972 | 4:01.4 | Lyudmila Bragina | Munich |
| 1973 | 4:04.6 | Karin Krebs | Potsdam |
| 1974 | 4:02.25 | Gunhild Hoffmeister | Rome |
| 1975 | 4:06.0 | Nina Morgunova | Moscow |
| 1976 | 3:56.0 | Tatyana Kazankina | Podolsk |
| 1977 | 4:02.65 | Natalia Mărășescu | Bucharest |
| 1978 | 3:59.01 | Giana Romanova | Prague |
| [1979](1979-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:57.4 | Totka Petrova | Athens |
| [1980](1980-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:52.47 | Tatyana Kazankina | Zürich |
| [1981](1981-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:57.78 | Olga Dvirna | Budapest |
| [1982](1982-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:54.23 | Olga Dvirna | Kyiv |
| [1983](1983-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:57.12 | Mary Slaney | Stockholm |
| [1984](1984-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.63 | Nadezhda Ralldugina | Prague |
| [1985](1985-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:57.24 | Mary Slaney | Brussels |
| [1986](1986-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.7 | Doina Melinte | Bucharest |
| [1987](1987-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:58.56 | Tatyana Dorovskikh | Rome |
| [1988](1988-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:53.96 | Paula Ivan | Seoul |
| [1989](1989-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:59.23 | Paula Ivan | Nice |
| [1990](1990-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:58.69 | Doina Melinte | Villeneuve-d'Ascq |
| [1991](1991-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:59.16 | Natalya Artyomova | Zürich |
| [1992](1992-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:55.30 | Hassiba Boulmerka | Barcelona |
| [1993](1993-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:50.46 | Qu Yunxia | Beijing |
| [1994](1994-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:59.10 | Sonia O'Sullivan | Nice |
| [1995](1995-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:58.85 | Sonia O'Sullivan | Monaco |
| [1996](1996-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.77 | Svetlana Masterkova | Zürich |
| [1997](1997-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:50.98 | Jiang Bo | Shanghai |
| [1998](1998-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.97 | Gabriela Szabo | Monaco |
| [1999](1999-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:59.31 | Violeta Szekely | Zürich |
| [2000](2000-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:57.40 | Suzy Favor-Hamilton | Oslo |
| [2001](2001-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:59.35 | Violeta Szekely | Monaco |
| [2002](2002-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:57.75 | Süreyya Ayhan | Brussels |
| [2003](2003-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:55.33 | Süreyya Ayhan | Brussels |
| [2004](2004-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:57.90 | Kelly Holmes | Athens |
| [2005](2005-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.79 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal | Rieti |
| [2006](2006-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:55.68 | Yuliya Fomenko | Saint-Denis |
| [2007](2007-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:58.75 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal | Osaka |
| [2008](2008-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:59.75 | Gelete Burka | Valencia |
| [2009](2009-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.55 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal | Rome |
| [2010](2010-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:57.65 | Anna Alminova | Saint-Denis |
| [2011](2011-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 4:00.06 | Morgan Uceny | Brussels |
| [2012](2012-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.54 | Abeba Aregawi | Rome |
| [2013](2013-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.60 | Abeba Aregawi | Doha |
| [2014](2014-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:55.17 | Genzebe Dibaba | Karlsruhe |
| [2015](2015-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:50.07 | Genzebe Dibaba | Monaco |
| [2016](2016-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:55.22 | Laura Muir | Saint-Denis |
| [2017](2017-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.14 | Sifan Hassan | Hengelo |
| [2018](2018-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:56.68 | Genzebe Dibaba | Chorzów |
| [2019](2019-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:51.95 | Sifan Hassan | Doha |
| [2020](2020-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:57.40 | Laura Muir | Berlin |
| [2021](2021-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:51.07 | Faith Kipyegon | Monaco |
| [2022](2022-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:50.37 | Faith Kipyegon | Monaco |
| [2023](2023-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:49.11 | Faith Kipyegon | Florence |
| [2024](2024-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:49.04 | Faith Kipyegon | Paris |
| [2025](2025-in-the-sport-of-athletics) | 3:48.68 | Faith Kipyegon | Eugene |
- "i" indicates performance on 200m indoor track
Other sports
In swimming, the 1500 m race is commonly referred to as "the swimmer's mile", and is often the longest distance swum by competitors in a pool. The standard distance triathlon also employs the swimmer's mile, except that it is in open water instead of in a pool. 1500 metres is also an event in speed skating and wheelchair racing.
The world records for the distance in swimming for men are 14:31.02 (swum in a 50-metre pool) by Sun Yang, 14:08.06 (swum in a 25-metre pool) by Gregorio Paltrinieri; and by women 15:20.48 (swum in a 50-metre pool) by Katie Ledecky, and 15:19.71 (swum in a 25-metre pool) by Mireia Belmonte García.
The world records for the distance in speed skating are 1:40.17 by Kjeld Nuis and 1:49.83 by Miho Takagi.
The records for wheelchair racing vary by disability classification:
- T51: 4:53.50 by Hélder Mestre
- T52: 3:29.79 by Raymond Martin
- T53 and T54: 2:51.84 by Brent Lakatos
References
- In the United States, where the mile race remains highly popular, 'metric mile' often refers to a 1600 metre race, an event generally not run outside its borders.
- [http://www.iaaf.org/community/athletics/trackfield/newsid=9397.html 1500 m - Introduction]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-02-07.
- "1500 Metres - men - senior - all".
- (9 March 2012). "Scandal as controversial Chinese athlete Wang Junxia enters IAAF Hall of Fame". The Daily Telegraph.
- (25 February 2016). "Athletics world records blow as Wang Junxia 'admits' being part of Chinese state-sponsored doping regime". The Telegraph.
- McCune R. R. (2011-07-11). [http://www.letsrun.com/2011/lvsub4-0611.php Verzbicas Breaks Four]. Lets Run. Retrieved on 2012-02-07.
- (30 January 2014). "Bayi's record may be gone but it should never be forgotten".
- "Men's outdoor 1500 Metres {{!}} Records". [[World Athletics]].
- "Women's outdoor 1500 Metres {{!}} Records". [[World Athletics]].
- (26 July 2018). "All-time men's best 1500m". alltime-athletics.com.
- (17 July 2015). "1500m Results".
- (12 July 2024). "1500m Results".
- (16 July 2023). "Ingebrigtsen, Rojas and Barshim break meeting records in Silesia".
- (20 June 2025). "2025 Meeting de Paris - Men's Promotional - 1500 metres results".
- Mike Rowbottom. (18 July 2014). "Kiplagat shows his class with 3:27.64 in Monaco – IAAF Diamond League". [[IAAF]].
- "Hocker runs Olympic record to win highly anticipated 1500m clash in Paris {{!}} News {{!}} Paris 24 {{!}} Olympic Games".
- (22 August 2024). "1500m Results".
- (9 July 2021). "1500m Result". sportresult.com.
- (17 July 2015). "1500m Results". sportresult.com.
- (21 July 2017). "1500m Results". sportresult.com.
- Mike Rowbottom. (19 July 2013). "Seven world leads on magical night in Monaco – IAAF Diamond League". [[IAAF]].
- (18 July 2014). "IAAF Diamond League – 1500m Results". www.diamondleague-monaco.com.
- (6 August 2021). "All-time women's best 1500m". alltime-athletics.com.
- (2025-07-05). "Prefontaine Classic: Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet break world records".
- (7 July 2024). "1500m Result".
- (2 June 2023). "1500m Result". sportresult.com.
- (17 July 2015). "IAAF Diamond League Monaco – 1500m Results". sportresult.com.
- (20 April 2024). "1500m Result".
- (10 August 2022). "1500m Results". sportresult.com.
- (16 August 2025). "Results 1500m Women".
- (16 September 2023). "1500m Results". sportresult.com.
- (7 July 2024). "1500m Result".
- (9 July 2021). "1500m Result". sportresult.com.
- (10 August 2024). "Women's 1500m Final Results".
- "Herculis EBS {{!}} Results {{!}} World Athletics".
- (5 July 2025). "1500m Results".
- (5 October 2019). "1500m Women − Final − Results". IAAF.
- (16 September 2025). "Women's 1500m Final Results Summary".
- (10 August 2024). "Women's 1500m Final Results".
- Cathal Dennehy. (29 May 2022). "Norman reigns in fierce 400m clash with record run in Eugene". World Athletics.
- (10 August 2024). "Women's 1500m Final Results".
- (10 August 2024). "Women's 1500m Final Results".
- (20 April 2024). "1500m Result".
- (10 August 2024). "Women's 1500m Final Results".
- (30 August 2024). "Women's 1500m Results".
- (16 September 2025). "Women's 1500m Final Results Summary".
- "1500 Metres - men - senior - indoor".
- (13 February 2025). "Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF - Men's 1 Mile final results".
- (13 February 2025). "Ingebrigtsen smashes world indoor 1500m and mile records in Lievin".
- (8 February 2025). "Nuguse and Fisher break world indoor records in New York".
- (13 February 2025). "Ingebrigtsen smashes world indoor 1500m and mile records in Lievin".
- "Tsegay threatens world indoor 3000m record, as tour titles are won in Birmingham".
- (13 February 2025). "Ingebrigtsen smashes world indoor 1500m and mile records in Lievin".
- "1500 Metres - women - senior - indoor".
- (9 February 2021). "Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais 2021 Women's 1500m Results".
- (16 February 2025). "Tsegay rebounds with No.2 all time indoor 1500m in Torun".
- (23 March 2025). "1500 Metres Women - Final results".
- (6 February 2024). "1500m Results".
- (13 February 2025). "Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF 2024 Women's 1500 m Results".
- (15 February 2023). "Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Women's 1500 m Results".
- Jon Mulkeen. (5 February 2024). "Lyles breaks 60m meeting record in Boston with 6.44".
- Gault, Jonathan. (2025-03-02). "BU Last Chance: Yared Nuguse’s Mile World Record Attempt Comes Up Short (3:47.22), Heather MacLean Breaks American 1500 Record (3:59.60), Nico Young (12:51.56) Runs Super Fast".
- (23 March 2025). "1500 Metres Women - Final results".
- (23 March 2025). "1500 Metres Women - Final results".
- (16 May 2018). "Katie Ledecky's World Record Kick Starts TYR Pro Swim Series at Indianapolis".
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