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Two miles

Uncommon middle distance race

Uncommon middle distance race

FieldValue
eventTwo miles
WRmenJakob Ingebrigtsen 7:54.10 (2023)
WRwomenMeseret Defar 8:58.58 (2007)
ShWRmenJosh Kerr 8:00.67 (2024)
ShWRwomenGenzebe Dibaba 9:00.48 (2014)

The 2 mile (3,520 yards, 10,560 feet, or 3,218.688 metres) is a historic running distance. Like the mile run, it is still contested at some invitational meets due its historical chronology in the United States and United Kingdom. It has been largely superseded by the 3000 m and 5000 m, and by the 3200 m in NFHS American high school competitions. The IAAF no longer keeps official world records for this distance; they are called world best instead.

The world best for men is 7:54.10 set by Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen on 9 June 2023 in Paris. Ingebrigtsen, along with previous world best holder Daniel Komen, are the only people to have run the distance in under 8 minutes, and thus covered two miles at an average sub-four-minute mile pace. The women's record is 8:58.58, set by Ethiopian Meseret Defar in Brussels on 14 September 2007.

Continental Bests

  • Correct as of October 2024. Source: World Athletics

Key

  • WB = World best
  • i = Indoor performance
AreaMenWomenTimeAthleteNationTimeAthleteNation
Africa (*records*)7:58.61Daniel KomenKenya8:58.58 **WB**Meseret DefarEthiopia
Asia (*records*)8:13.16Rashid RamziBahrain9:13.85Mimi BeleteBahrain
Europe (*records*)7:54.10 **WB**Jakob IngebrigtsenNorway9:04.84Laura MuirUnited Kingdom
North, Central America
and Caribbean (*records*)8:03.62Grant FisherUnited States9:09.70Alicia MonsonUnited States
Oceania (*records*)8:03.50Craig MottramAustralia9:13.94Kimberly SmithNew Zealand
South America (*records*)8:21.67Hudson de SouzaBrazilnone

All-time top 25

  • Mx = mixed race

Men (outdoor)

  • Correct as of June 2023.
RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlaceRef12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
7:54.10Jakob IngebrigtsenNorway9 June 2023Paris
7:58.61Daniel KomenKenya19 July 1997Hechtel
8:01.08Haile GebrselassieEthiopia31 May 1997Hengelo
8:03.50Craig MottramAustralia10 June 2007Eugene
8:04.83Tariku BekeleEthiopia10 June 2007Eugene
8:07.07Matt TegenkampUnited States10 June 2007Eugene
8:07.54Joshua CheptegeiUganda30 June 2019Stanfordauthor=Brian Russelldate=1 July 2019title=Hassan takes historic 3000m victory in Stanford – IAAF Diamond Leagueurl=https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/prefontaine-classic-stanford-2019-diamond-lea4url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701072917/https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/prefontaine-classic-stanford-2019-diamond-lea4archive-date=1 July 2019access-date=20 July 2019publisher=IAAF}}
8:07.59Paul ChelimoUnited States30 June 2019Stanford
8:07.68Eliud KipchogeKenya4 June 2005Eugene
8:07.75Mo FarahGreat Britain24 August 2014Birmingham
8:08.69Selemon BaregaEthiopia30 June 2019Stanford
8:09.01Moses KiptanuiKenya30 July 1994Hechtel
8:09.23Ishamel Rokitto KipkuruiKenya9 June 2023Parisdate=9 June 2023title=Two Miles Resultsurl=https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/PARIS2023/PDF_ATHM2MILES--ADDITIONALFNL-000100--_C73C1.PDF?h=V8CKu4tlSs/7l9mLLHC6FSJ3T9c=/access-date=10 June 2023work=sportresult.com}}
8:10.16Jacob KiplimoUganda21 August 2021Eugene
8:10.34Lamecha GirmaEthiopia9 June 2023Paris
8:10.59Benjamin LimoKenya28 May 2006Eugene
8:10.98Khalid BoulamiMorocco6 July 1996Hechtel
8:11.04Berihu AregawiEthiopia21 August 2021Eugene
8:11.09Grant FisherUnited States21 August 2021Eugene
8:11.48Alan WebbUnited States4 June 2005Eugene
8:11.55Joe KleckerUnited States21 August 2021Eugene
8:11.59Bob KennedyUnited States19 July 1997Hechtel
8:11.62Boaz CheboiywoKenya4 June 2005Eugene
8:11.73Smail SghirMorocco6 July 1996Hechtel
8:11.74Dathan RitzenheinUnited States10 June 2007Eugene

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 8:07.46:

  • Daniel Komen also ran 7:58.91 (1998), 8:03.54 (1996).
  • Haile Gebrselassie also ran 8:01.72 (1999), 8:01.86 (1999), 8:07.46 (1995).

Women (outdoor)

  • Correct as of June 2025.
RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlaceRef12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
8:58.58Meseret DefarEthiopia14 September 2007Brussels
8:59.08Francine NiyonsabaBurundi27 May 2022Eugenetitle=Mahuchikh and Taye triumph on opening night in Eugeneurl=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/mahuchikh-taye-duplantis-eugene-prefontaine-classicpublisher=World Athleticsauthor=Cathal Dennehydate=28 May 2022access-date=10 June 2022}}
9:06.74Letesenbet GideyEthiopia20 August 2021Eugeneauthor=Mike Rowbottomdate=21 August 2021title=No world record but Hassan claims clear win in Eugeneurl=https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/eugene-distance-night-hassan-reporturl-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822142853/https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/eugene-distance-night-hassan-reportarchive-date=22 August 2021access-date=27 August 2021website=World Athletics}}
9:11.49Mercy CheronoKenya24 August 2014Birmingham
9:11.97Regina JacobsUnited States12 August 1999Los Gatos
9:12.59Viola KibiwottKenya24 August 2014Birmingham
9:12.90Irene JelagatKenya24 August 2014Birmingham
9:13.85Mimi BeleteBahrain31 May 2014Eugene
9:14.09Priscah CheronoKenya14 September 2007Brussels
9:14.55Hellen ObiriKenya20 August 2021Eugene
9:14.71Beatrice ChebetKenya27 May 2022Eugene
9:15.74Laura GalvánMexico27 May 2022Eugene
9:16.62Sylvia KibetKenya14 September 2007Brussels
9:16.73Konstanze KlosterhalfenGermany27 May 2022Eugenedate=28 May 2022title=2 Miles Resultsurl=https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/calendar-results/7153964/result?eventId=10229520&gender=Waccess-date=10 June 2022work=World Athletics}}
9:16.78Jenny SimpsonUnited States27 April 2018Des Moines
9:16.95Betsy SainaKenya24 August 2014Birmingham
9:17.62Helen SchlachenhaufenUnited States27 May 2022Eugene
9:17.75Jane HedengrenUnited States8 June 2025Renton
9:18.73Elly HenesUnited States27 May 2022Eugene
9:19.01Edinah JebitokKenya27 May 2022Eugene
9:19.56Sonia O'SullivanIreland27 June 1998Cork City
9:20.17Eleanor FultonUnited States27 May 2022Eugene
9:20.19Whittni MorganUnited States27 May 2022Eugene
9:20.25Shannon RowburyUnited States31 May 2014Eugene
9:20.81Alemitu HaroyeEthiopia24 August 2014Birmingham

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 9:14.55:

  • Francine Niyonsaba also ran 9:00.75 (2021).
  • Meseret Defar also ran 9:10.47 (2007)
  • Mercy Cherono also ran 9:13.27 (2014).

Men (indoor)

  • Correct as of February 2024.
RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlaceRef12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
8:00.67Josh KerrGreat Britain[11 February 2024](2024-millrose-games)New York City
8:03.40Mo FarahGreat Britain21 February 2015Birmingham
8:03.62Grant FisherUnited States11 February 2024New York Citydate=11 February 2024title=Two Miles Resulturl=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/calendar-results/7191163/result?eventId=10229599&gender=Maccess-date=11 February 2024work=World Athletics}}
8:04.35Kenenisa BekeleEthiopia16 February 2008Birmingham
8:04.69Haile GebrselassieEthiopia21 February 2003Birmingham
8:05.70Cole HockerUnited States11 February 2024New York City
8:05.73Geordie BeamishNew Zealand11 February 2024New York City
8:06.48Paul KoechKenya16 February 2008Birmingham
8:06.61Hicham El GuerroujMorocco23 February 2003Liévin
8:07.39Eliud KipchogeKenya18 February 2012Birmingham
8:07.41Galen RuppUnited States24 January 2014Boston
8:08.16Moses KipsiroUganda18 February 2012Birmingham
8:08.27Tariku BekeleEthiopia18 February 2012Birmingham
8:08.39Markos GenetiEthiopia20 February 2004Birmingham
8:09.49Bernard LagatUnited States16 February 2013New York Citydate=16 February 2013title=Two Miles Resultsurl=http://branchsportstech.com/2013_Meets/indoor/02-16-millrose/Results39-1.htmurl-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220003303/http://branchsportstech.com/2013_Meets/indoor/02-16-millrose/Results39-1.htmarchive-date=20 February 2013access-date=14 February 2017publisher=branchsportstech.com}}
8:09.66Hailu MekonnenEthiopia18 February 2001Birmingham
8:10.78Arne GabiusGermany18 February 2012Birmingham
8:11.33Ben TrueUnited States11 February 2017New York City
8:11.56Ryan HillUnited States11 February 2017New York City
8:12.01Morgan McDonaldAustralia11 February 2024New York City
8:12.10Million WoldeEthiopia18 February 2001Birmingham
8:12.63Andrew ButchartGreat Britain11 February 2017New York City
8:12.80Girma TolaEthiopia18 February 2001Birmingham
8:13.02Andrew BumbaloughUnited States16 February 2013New York City
8:13.16Mohammed AhmedCanada11 February 2017New York City

Women (indoor)

  • Correct as of February 2024.
RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlaceRef12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
9:00.48Genzebe DibabaEthiopia15 February 2014Birmingham
9:04.84Laura MuirUnited Kingdom11 February 2024New York City
9:06.26Meseret DefarEthiopia26 February 2009Prague
9:07.12Melknat WuduEthiopia11 February 2024New York City
9:09.70Alicia MonsonUnited States11 February 2024New York City
9:10.28Elinor PurrierUnited States13 February 2021New York Cityauthor=Taylor Dutchdate=14 February 2021title=Three American Records and 10 National Records Fall at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prixurl=https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a35499064/new-balance-indoor-grand-prix-results/url-status=livearchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226143457/https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a35499064/new-balance-indoor-grand-prix-results/archive-date=26 February 2021access-date=23 February 2021website=runnersworld.com}}
9:12.23Tirunesh DibabaEthiopia20 February 2010Birmingham
9:12.35Vivian CheruiyotKenya20 February 2010Birmingham
9:12.68Sentayehu EjiguEthiopia20 February 2010Birmingham
9:13.94Kim SmithNew Zealand26 January 2008Boston
9:15.71Emma CoburnUnited States13 February 2021New York City
9:15.80Nikki HiltzUnited States11 February 2024New York Citydate=11 February 2024title=Two Miles Resulturl=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/calendar-results/7191163/result?eventId=10229585&gender=Waccess-date=11 February 2024work=World Athletics}}
9:16.76Nozomi TanakaJapan11 February 2024New York City
9:18.29Emily MackayUnited States11 February 2024New York City
9:18.35Jenny SimpsonUnited States7 February 2015Boston
9:19.39Jessica AugustoPortugal20 February 2010Birmingham
9:21.04Sally KipyegoKenya8 February 2014Boston
9:21.59Hiwot AyalewEthiopia15 February 2014Birmingham
9:22.66Julie-Anne StaehliCanada13 February 2021New York City
9:23.38Regina JacobsUnited States27 January 2002Boston
9:23.58Emily InfeldUnited States11 February 2024New York City
9:24.71Courtney WaymentUnited States11 February 2024New York City
9:26.87Emily LipariUnited States13 February 2021New York City
9:26.95Helen SchlachenhaufenUnited States13 February 2021New York City
9:27.45Katrina CooganUnited States13 February 2021New York City

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 9:13.94:

  • Meseret Defar also ran 9:06.26 (2009), 9:10.50 (2008)

World Best Performance Progression

World Record Progression

Men

Outdoors

TimeAthleteDatePlace
**9:17.0**Alfred Shrubb1903-09-12London, United Kingdom
**9:08.4**Alfred Shrubb1904-06-11Glasgow, United Kingdom
**9:08.4**Edvin Wide1925-06-23Kramfors, Sweden
**9:01.4**Edvin Wide1926-09-12Berlin, Germany
**8:59.6**Paavo Nurmi1931-06-24Helsinki, Finland
**8:58.4**Don Lash1936-06-13Princeton, USA
**8:57.4**Gunnar Höckert1936-09-24Stockholm, Sweden
**8:56.0**Miklós Szabó1937-09-30Budapest, Hungary
**8:53.2**Taisto Mäki1939-06-07Helsinki, Finland
**8:47.8**Gunder Hägg1942-06-03Stockholm, Sweden
**8:46.4**Gunder Hägg1944-06-25Östersund, Sweden
**8:42.8**Gunder Hägg1944-08-04Stockholm, Sweden
**8:40.4**Gaston Reiff1952-08-26Paris, France
**8:33.4**Sándor Iharos1955-05-30London, United Kingdom
**8:32.0**Albie Thomas1958-08-07Dublin, Ireland
**8:30.0**Murray Halberg1961-06-07Jyväskylä, Finland
**8:29.8**Jim Beatty1962-06-08Los Angeles, USA
**8:29.6**Michel Jazy1963-06-06Paris, France
**8:26.4**Bob Schul1964-08-29Los Angeles, USA
**8:22.6**Michel Jazy1965-06-23Melun, France
**8:19.8**Ron Clarke1967-07-27Västerås, Sweden
**8:19.6**Ron Clarke1968-08-24London, United Kingdom
**8:17.8**Emiel Puttemans1971-08-21Edinburgh, United Kingdom
**8:14.0**Lasse Virén1972-08-14Stockholm, Sweden
**8:13.8**Brendan Foster1973-08-27London, United Kingdom
**8:13.51**Steve Ovett1978-09-15London, United Kingdom
**8:13.45**Saïd Aouita1987-05-28Turin, Italy
**8:12.17**Khalid Skah1993-06-30Hechtel, Belgium
**8:09.01**Moses Kiptanui1994-06-30Hechtel, Belgium
**8:07.46**Haile Gebrselassie1995-05-27Kerkrade, Netherlands
**8:03.54**Daniel Komen1996-07-14Lappeenranta, Finland
**8:01.08**Haile Gebrselassie1997-05-31Hengelo, Netherlands
**7:58.61**Daniel Komen1997-07-19Hechtel, Belgium
**7:54.10**Jakob Ingebrigtsen2023-06-09Paris, France

Indoors

TimeAthleteDatePlace
**8:09.66**Hailu Mekonnen2000-02-20Birmingham, United Kingdom
**8:04.69**Haile Gebrselassie2003-02-21Birmingham, United Kingdom
**8:04.35**Kenenisa Bekele2008-02-16Birmingham, United Kingdom
**8:03.40**Mo Farah2015-02-21Birmingham, United Kingdom
**8:00.67**Josh Kerr2024-02-11New York City, United States

Women

Outdoors

TimeAthleteDatePlace
**10:07.0**Doris Brown1971-07-10Bakersfield, USA
**9:55.9**Francie Larrieu1972-06-04Redwood City, USA
**9:19.56**Sonia O'Sullivan1998-06-27Cork, Ireland
**9:10.47**Meseret Defar2007-05-20Carson, USA
**8:58.58**Meseret Defar2007-09-14Brussels, Belgium

Indoors

TimeAthleteDatePlace
**9:28.15**Lynn Jennings1986-02-20New York City, USA
**9:23.38**Regina Jacobs2002-01-27Boston, USA
**9:10.50**Meseret Defar2008-01-26Boston, USA
**9:06.26**Meseret Defar2009-02-26Prague, Czech Republic
**9:00.48**Genzebe Dibaba2014-02-15Birmingham, United Kingdom

US high school boys progression

Note: this list only covers boys because the history of 2 mile running largely occurred before Title IX, before high school girls were allowed to compete, which occurred about the same time as conversion to metric distances.

TimeAthleteSchoolCityDatePlace
(8:40.0 )Gerry LindgrenRogers High SchoolSpokane, Washington15 February 1964Cow Palace, Daly City, California
8:57.8Mike RyanWilcox High SchoolSanta Clara, California1965
8:48.3Rick RileyFerris High SchoolSpokane, Washington28 May 1966url=http://runningentertainment.com/runningshots25.htmltitle=Running_Shots_25website=runningentertainment.comaccess-date=12 April 2018archive-date=1 March 2018archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301215514/http://www.runningentertainment.com/runningshots25.htmlurl-status=live}}
8:41.5Steve PrefontaineMarshfield High SchoolCoos Bay, Oregon25 April 1969Corvallis Invitational, Corvallis, Oregon
8:40.9Craig VirginLebanon High SchoolLebanon, Illinois9 June 1973International Prep Invitational, Prospect, Illinois
8:36.3Jeff NelsonBurbank High SchoolBurbank, California6 May 1979Pepsi Invitational, Westwood, Los Angeles, California
8:34.23German FernandezRiverbank High SchoolRiverbank, California20 June 2008Nike Outdoor Nationals, Greensboro, North Carolina [video](http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/234026-2008-Nike-Outdoor-Nationals/video/66551-B-2-Mile-F2-National-Record)
8:29.46Lukas VerzbicasCarl Sandburg High SchoolOrland Hills, Illinois4 June 2011Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Oregon [video](http://www.runnerspace.com/video.php?video_id=48108)

Notes

tags--

References

  1. "Two Miles – men – senior – all".
  2. Jon Mulkeen. (9 June 2023). "Kipyegon, Girma and Ingebrigtsen make history in Paris". World Athletics.
  3. Brian Russell. (1 July 2019). "Hassan takes historic 3000m victory in Stanford – IAAF Diamond League". IAAF.
  4. (9 June 2023). "Two Miles Results". sportresult.com.
  5. (21 May 2017). "All-time men's best Two miles". alltime-athletics.com.
  6. Cathal Dennehy. (28 May 2022). "Mahuchikh and Taye triumph on opening night in Eugene". World Athletics.
  7. Mike Rowbottom. (21 August 2021). "No world record but Hassan claims clear win in Eugene".
  8. (20 May 2007). "Defar breaks world record in two miles". Reuters.
  9. (17 April 2018). "U.S. ALL-TIME LIST – WOMEN". [[Track and Field News]].
  10. (28 May 2022). "2 Miles Results". World Athletics.
  11. Keenan Gray. "Jane Hedengren Runs Another Mind-Boggling Record For 2-Mile At Brooks PR Invitational".
  12. Singh, Nancy. (11 February 2024). "Josh Kerr Shatters 9-Year Record to Beat American Record Holder on New York".
  13. (11 February 2024). "Two Miles Result". World Athletics.
  14. (16 February 2013). "Two Miles Results". branchsportstech.com.
  15. Taylor Dutch. (14 February 2021). "Three American Records and 10 National Records Fall at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix".
  16. (11 February 2024). "Two Miles Result". World Athletics.
  17. "Archived copy".
  18. "Track & Field News – The Bible Of The Sport Since 1948".
  19. "Running_Shots_25".
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