Two miles explained

Event:Two miles

The 2 mile (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 It has been largely superseded by the 3000 m (approximately 1.864 miles) and 5000 m, and by the 3200 m in NFHS American high school competitions (18.688m short of 2 miles). 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 Jakob Ingebrigtsen on 9 June 2023 in Paris. The women's record is 8:58.58, set by Ethiopian Meseret Defar in Brussels, Belgium on 14 September 2007. Ingebrigtsen, along with previous record holder Daniel Komen, are the only people to have run the distance in under 8 minutes, and thus run two miles at a four-minute mile pace.

All-time top 25

Men (outdoor)

RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlaceRef
17:54.10Jakob Ingebrigtsen9 June 2023Paris[1]
27:58.61Daniel Komen19 July 1997Hechtel
38:01.08Haile Gebrselassie31 May 1997Hengelo
48:03.50Craig Mottram10 June 2007Eugene
58:04.83Tariku Bekele10 June 2007Eugene
68:07.07Matt Tegenkamp10 June 2007Eugene
78:07.54Joshua Cheptegei30 June 2019Stanford[2]
88:07.59Paul Chelimo30 June 2019Stanford
98:07.68Eliud Kipchoge4 June 2005Eugene
108:07.75Mo Farah24 August 2014Birmingham
118:08.69Selemon Barega30 June 2019Stanford
128:09.01Moses Kiptanui30 July 1994Hechtel
138:09.23Ishamel Rokitto Kipkurui9 June 2023Paris[3]
148:10.16Jacob Kiplimo21 August 2021Eugene
158:10.34Lamecha Girma9 June 2023Paris
168:10.59Benjamin Limo28 May 2006Eugene
178:10.98Khalid Boulami6 July 1996Hechtel
188:11.04Berihu Aregawi21 August 2021Eugene
198:11.09Grant Fisher21 August 2021Eugene
208:11.48Alan Webb4 June 2005Eugene
218:11.55Joe Klecker21 August 2021Eugene
228:11.59Bob Kennedy19 July 1997Hechtel
238:11.62Boaz Cheboiywo4 June 2005Eugene
248:11.73Smail Sghir6 July 1996Hechtel
258:11.74Dathan Ritzenhein10 June 2007Eugene

Notes

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

Women (outdoor)

RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlaceRef
18:58.58Meseret Defar14 September 2007Brussels
28:59.08 Francine Niyonsaba27 May 2022Eugene[5]
39:06.74Letesenbet Gidey20 August 2021Eugene[6]
49:11.49Mercy Cherono24 August 2014Birmingham
59:11.97 Regina Jacobs12 August 1999Los Gatos[7] [8]
69:12.59Viola Kibiwott24 August 2014Birmingham
79:12.90Irene Jelagat24 August 2014Birmingham
89:13.85Mimi Belete31 May 2014Eugene
99:14.09Priscah Cherono14 September 2007Brussels
109:14.55Hellen Obiri20 August 2021Eugene
119:14.71Beatrice Chebet27 May 2022Eugene
129:15.74Laura Galván27 May 2022Eugene
139:16.62Sylvia Kibet14 September 2007Brussels
149:16.73Konstanze Klosterhalfen27 May 2022Eugene[9]
159:16.78Jenny Simpson27 April 2018Des Moines
169:16.95Betsy Saina24 August 2014Birmingham
179:17.62Helen Schlachenhaufen27 May 2022Eugene
189:18.73Elly Henes27 May 2022Eugene
199:19.01Edinah Jebitok27 May 2022Eugene
209:19.56Sonia O'Sullivan27 June 1998Cork City
219:20.17Eleanor Fulton27 May 2022Eugene
229:20.19Whittni Morgan27 May 2022Eugene
239:20.25Shannon Rowbury31 May 2014Eugene
249:20.81Alemitu Haroye24 August 2014Birmingham
259:21.35Amy Rudolph27 June 1998Cork City

Notes

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

Men (indoor)

RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlaceRef
18:00.67Josh Kerr11 February 2024New York City[10]
28:03.40 Mo Farah21 February 2015Birmingham
38:03.62Grant Fisher11 February 2024New York City[11]
48:04.35Kenenisa Bekele16 February 2008Birmingham
58:04.69Haile Gebrselassie21 February 2003Birmingham
68:05.70Cole Hocker11 February 2024New York City[12]
78:05.73Geordie Beamish11 February 2024New York City[13]
88:06.48Paul Koech16 February 2008Birmingham
98:06.61Hicham El Guerrouj23 February 2003Liévin
108:07.39Eliud Kipchoge18 February 2012Birmingham
118:07.41Galen Rupp24 January 2014Boston
128:08.16Moses Kipsiro18 February 2012Birmingham
138:08.27Tariku Bekele18 February 2012Birmingham
148:08.39Markos Geneti20 February 2004Birmingham
158:09.49Bernard Lagat16 February 2013New York City[14]
168:09.66Hailu Mekonnen18 February 2001Birmingham
178:10.78Arne Gabius18 February 2012Birmingham
188:11.33Ben True11 February 2017New York City
198:11.56Ryan Hill11 February 2017New York City
208:12.01Morgan McDonald11 February 2024New York City
218:12.10Million Wolde18 February 2001Birmingham
228:12.63Andrew Butchart11 February 2017New York City
238:12.80Girma Tola18 February 2001Birmingham
248:13.02Andrew Bumbalough16 February 2013New York City
258:13.16Mohammed Ahmed11 February 2017New York City

Women (indoor)

RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlaceRef
19:00.48 Genzebe Dibaba15 February 2014Birmingham
29:04.84 Laura Muir11 February 2024New York City[15]
39:06.26Meseret Defar26 February 2009Prague
49:07.12 Melknat Wudu11 February 2024New York City[16]
59:09.70Alicia Monson11 February 2024New York City[17]
69:10.28Elinor Purrier13 February 2021New York City[18]
79:12.23 Tirunesh Dibaba20 February 2010Birmingham
89:12.35Vivian Cheruiyot20 February 2010Birmingham
99:12.68Sentayehu Ejigu20 February 2010Birmingham
109:13.94Kim Smith26 January 2008Boston
119:15.71Emma Coburn13 February 2021New York City
129:15.80Nikki Hiltz11 February 2024New York City[19]
139:16.76Nozomi Tanaka11 February 2024New York City
149:18.29Emily Mackay11 February 2024New York City
159:18.35Jenny Simpson7 February 2015Boston
169:19.39Jessica Augusto20 February 2010Birmingham
179:21.04Sally Kipyego8 February 2014Boston
189:21.59Hiwot Ayalew15 February 2014Birmingham
199:22.66Julie-Anne Staehli13 February 2021New York City
209:23.38Regina Jacobs27 January 2002Boston
219:23.58Emily Infeld11 February 2024New York City
229:24.71Courtney Wayment11 February 2024New York City
239:26.87Emily Lipari13 February 2021New York City
249:26.95Helen Schlachenhaufen13 February 2021New York City
259:27.45Katrina Coogan13 February 2021New York City

Notes

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

World Best Performance Progression

Men

Outdoors

TIMEATHLETEDATEPLACE
9:17.01903-09-12London, United Kingdom
9:08.41904-06-11Glasgow, United Kingdom
9:08.41925-06-23Kramfors, Sweden
9:01.41926-09-12Berlin, Germany
8:59.61931-06-24Helsinki, Finland
8:58.41936-06-13Princeton, USA
8:57.41936-09-24Stockholm, Sweden
8:56.01937-09-30Budapest, Hungary
8:53.21939-06-07Helsinki, Finland
8:47.81942-06-03Stockholm, Sweden
8:46.41944-06-25Östersund, Sweden
8:42.81944-08-04Stockholm, Sweden
8:40.41952-08-26Paris, France
8:33.41955-05-30London, United Kingdom
8:32.01958-08-07Dublin, Ireland
8:30.01961-06-07Jyväskylä, Finland
8:29.81962-06-08Los Angeles, USA
8:29.61963-06-06Paris, France
8:26.41964-08-29Los Angeles, USA
8:22.61965-06-23Melun, France
8:19.81967-07-27Västerås, Sweden
8:19.61968-08-24London, United Kingdom
8:17.81971-08-21Edinburgh, United Kingdom
8:14.01972-08-14Stockholm, Sweden
8:13.81973-08-27London, United Kingdom
8:13.511978-09-15London, United Kingdom
8:13.451987-05-28Turin, Italy
8:12.171993-06-30Hechtel, Belgium
8:09.011994-06-30Hechtel, Belgium
8:07.461995-05-27Kerkrade, Netherlands
8:03.541996-07-14Lappeenranta, Finland
8:01.081997-05-31Hengelo, Netherlands
7:58.611997-07-19Hechtel, Belgium
7:54.102023-06-09Paris, France

Indoors

TIMEATHLETEDATEPLACE
8:09.662000-02-20Birmingham, United Kingdom
8:04.692003-02-21Birmingham, United Kingdom
8:04.352008-02-16Birmingham, United Kingdom
8:03.402015-02-21Birmingham, United Kingdom
8:00.672024-02-11New York City, United States

Women

Outdoors

TIMEATHLETEDATEPLACE
10:07.01971-07-10Bakersfield, USA
9:55.91972-06-04Redwood City, USA
9:19.561998-06-27Cork, Ireland
9:10.472007-05-20Carson, USA
8:58.582007-09-14Brussels, Belgium

Indoors

TIMEATHLETEDATEPLACE
9:28.151986-02-20New York City, USA
9:23.382002-01-27Boston, USA
9:10.502008-01-26Boston, USA
9:06.262009-02-26Prague, Czech Republic
9:00.482014-02-15Birmingham, 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.[20]

TIMEATHLETESCHOOLCITYDATEPLACE
(8:40.0i)Gerry LindgrenRogers High SchoolSpokane, WashingtonFebruary 15, 1964Cow Palace, Daly City, California[21]
8:57.8Mike RyanWilcox High SchoolSanta Clara, California1965
8:48.3Rick RileyFerris High SchoolSpokane, WashingtonMay 28, 1966Washington State Championships[22]
8:41.5Steve PrefontaineMarshfield High SchoolCoos Bay, OregonApril 25, 1969Corvallis Invitational, Corvallis, Oregon
8:40.9Craig VirginLebanon High SchoolLebanon, IllinoisJune 9, 1973International Prep Invitational, Prospect, Illinois
8:36.3Jeff NelsonBurbank High SchoolBurbank, CaliforniaMay 6, 1979Pepsi Invitational, Westwood, Los Angeles, California
8:34.23German FernandezRiverbank High SchoolRiverbank, CaliforniaJune 20, 2008Nike Outdoor Nationals, Greensboro, North Carolina video
8:29.46Lukas VerzbicasCarl Sandburg High SchoolOrland Hills, IllinoisJune 4, 2011Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Oregon video

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kipyegon, Girma and Ingebrigtsen make history in Paris. World Athletics. Jon Mulkeen. 9 June 2023. 10 June 2023.
  2. News: Brian Russell . 1 July 2019 . Hassan takes historic 3000m victory in Stanford – IAAF Diamond League . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190701072917/https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/prefontaine-classic-stanford-2019-diamond-lea4 . 1 July 2019 . 20 July 2019 . IAAF.
  3. Web site: 9 June 2023 . Two Miles Results . 10 June 2023 . sportresult.com.
  4. Web site: 21 May 2017 . All-time men's best Two miles . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150627073929/http://www.alltime-athletics.com/m2milesok.htm . 27 June 2015. 13 February 2024 . alltime-athletics.com.
  5. News: Mahuchikh and Taye triumph on opening night in Eugene. World Athletics. Cathal Dennehy. 28 May 2022. 10 June 2022.
  6. News: Mike Rowbottom . 21 August 2021 . No world record but Hassan claims clear win in Eugene . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210822142853/https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/eugene-distance-night-hassan-report . 22 August 2021 . 27 August 2021 . World Athletics.
  7. Web site: 20 May 2007 . Defar breaks world record in two miles . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180429025140/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-athletics-carson-defar-idUSL2039239320070520 . 29 April 2018 . 3 May 2018 . Reuters.
  8. Web site: 17 April 2018 . U.S. ALL-TIME LIST — WOMEN . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190401215229/https://trackandfieldnews.com/tfn-lists/u-s-all-time-list-women/ . 1 April 2019 . 3 May 2018 . Track and Field News.
  9. Web site: 28 May 2022 . 2 Miles Results . 10 June 2022 . World Athletics.
  10. Web site: Singh . Nancy . 11 February 2024 . Josh Kerr Shatters 9-Year Record to Beat American Record Holder on New York . 11 February 2024 . EssentiallySports.
  11. Web site: 11 February 2024 . Two Miles Result . 11 February 2024 . World Athletics.
  12. Web site: 11 February 2024 . Two Miles Result . 11 February 2024 . World Athletics.
  13. Web site: 11 February 2024 . Two Miles Result . 11 February 2024 . World Athletics.
  14. Web site: 16 February 2013 . Two Miles Results . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130220003303/http://branchsportstech.com/2013_Meets/indoor/02-16-millrose/Results39-1.htm . 20 February 2013 . 14 February 2017 . www.branchsportstech.com.
  15. Web site: 11 February 2024 . Two Miles Result . 11 February 2024 . World Athletics.
  16. Web site: 11 February 2024 . Two Miles Result . 11 February 2024 . World Athletics.
  17. Web site: 11 February 2024 . Two Miles Result . 11 February 2024 . World Athletics.
  18. News: Taylor Dutch . 14 February 2021 . Three American Records and 10 National Records Fall at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210226143457/https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a35499064/new-balance-indoor-grand-prix-results/ . 26 February 2021 . 23 February 2021 . runnersworld.com.
  19. Web site: 11 February 2024 . Two Miles Result . 11 February 2024 . World Athletics.
  20. Web site: Archived copy . 23 April 2013 . 14 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120314220709/http://www.cs.uml.edu/~phoffman/nats/gods.htm . live .
  21. Web site: Track & Field News – The Bible Of The Sport Since 1948. www.trackandfieldnews.com. 12 April 2018. 15 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170215194739/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/index.php?id=557&option=com_content. live.
  22. Web site: Running_Shots_25. runningentertainment.com. 12 April 2018. 1 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180301215514/http://www.runningentertainment.com/runningshots25.html. live.