300 metres explained

The 300 metres is an uncommon (meaning not on an Olympic or World Championship program) sprinting event in track and field competitions. The race starts on a straight and therefore comprises two straights and one bend.

All-time top 25

• + = en route to 400 m performance
• i = indoor performance
• A = affected by altitude
• OT = oversized track (> 200 m in circumference)
• h = hand timing

Men (outdoor)

• Correct as of February 2024.^{[1] [2]}

Rank	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Ref
1	30.69	Letsile Tebogo		17 February 2024	Pretoria	^[3]
2	30.81	Wayde van Niekerk		28 June 2017	Ostrava	^[4]
3	30.85	Michael Johnson		24 March 2000	Pretoria
4	30.97	Usain Bolt		27 May 2010	Ostrava	^[5]
5	31.20	Kirani James		14 August 2016	Rio de Janeiro	^[6]
		LaShawn Merritt
7	31.44	Isaac Makwala		28 June 2017	Ostrava
8	31.48	Roberto Hernández		3 September 1990	Jerez de la Frontera	^[7]
		Danny Everett				^[8]
10	31.52	Steven Gardiner		12 May 2022	Ponce	^[9]
11	31.56	Douglas Walker		19 July 1998	Gateshead
12	31.58	Jeremy Wariner		31 August 2007	Osaka	^[10]
13	31.61	Anthuan Maybank		13 July 1996	Durham
		Clarence Munyai		28 June 2017	Ostrava
15	31.64	Tony McQuay		11 June 2016	Kingston
16	31.67	John Regis		17 July 1992	Gateshead
17	31.70	Kirk Baptiste		18 August 1984	London
18	31.73	Thomas Jefferson		22 August 1987	London
19	31.74	Gabriel Tiacoh		6 August 1986	A Coruña
20	31.77	Tyler Christopher		20 May 2004	Sainte Anne
21	31.80	Pavel Maslák		28 June 2017	Ostrava	^[11]
22	31.81	Gil Roberts		11 June 2016	Kingston
		Vernon Norwood		12 May 2022	Ponce	^[12]
24	31.82	Steve Lewis		17 July 1992	Gateshead
25	31.87	Mark Richardson		19 July 1998	Gateshead
		Jonathan Borlée		5 July 2012	Naimette-Xhovémont

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 31.87:

• Wayde Van Niekerk also ran 31.03 (2016), 31.04 (2016) and 31.63 (2015).
• LaShawn Merritt also ran 31.23 (2016), 31.30 (2009), 31.31 (2006), 31.53 (2015), 31.68 (2007).
• Letsile Tebogo also ran 31.54 (2023).
• Michael Johnson also ran 31.55 (1995), 31.56 (1994), 31.64 (1996), 31.66 (1999), 31.72 (1993).
• Steven Gardiner also ran 31.56 (2022), 31.59 (2023), 31.83 (2020).
• Roberto Hernández also ran 31.69 (1990).
• Isaac Makwala also ran 31.77 (2018).
• Jeremy Wariner also ran 31.72 (2008).

Men (indoor)

• Correct as of January 2024.^{[13] [14] [15]}

Rank	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Ref
1	31.56			27 January 2022	Columbia
2	31.87			3 March 2017	Albuquerque	^[16]
3	31.88			9 February 2006	Fayetteville
4	31.92			3 March 2017	Albuquerque
5	31.94			9 February 2006	Fayetteville
				9 February 2006	Fayetteville
7	31.97			13 February 2017	Ostrava
8	31.99			14 January 2022	Clemson
9	32.10			9 February 2018	Boston
10	32.15			8 February 2014	Gent
11	32.19			23 February 1989	Karlsruhe
12	32.32			21 January 2010	Blacksburg
13	32.35			7 February 2020	New York
14	32.36			27 February 2003	Karlsruhe
		Brian Faust		13 January 2024	Clemson	^[17]
16	32.37			3 February 2017	New York
17	32.38			9 February 2009	Liévin
18	32.39			19 January 2018	Salamanca
19	32.40			13 January 2023	Clemson
20	32.42			11 February 2022	Louisville
21	32.46			3 March 2017	Albuquerque
	32.46			12 January 2023	Fayetteville
23	32.47			4 March 2010	Liévin
				27 February 2021	Bærum
		Christopher Morales Williams		13 January 2024	Clemson	^[18]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 32.47:

• Stephen Gardiner also ran 32.06 (2022) and 32.26 (2019).
• Noah Lyles also ran 32.16 (2017)
• Pavel Maslák also ran 32.19 (2017).
• Jacory Patterson also 32.28 (2020).
• Paul Dedewo also ran 32.38 (2017).
• Lalonde Gordon also ran 32.47 (2014, 2017).

Women (outdoor)

• Correct as of July 2024.^{[19] [20]}

Rank	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Ref
1	34.14	Marita Koch		6 October 1985	Canberra	^[21]
2	34.41	Shaunae Miller-Uibo		20 June 2019	Ostrava	^[22]
3	34.6	Rita Wilden		18 August 1975	Dortmund
4	34.60	Beatrice Masilingi		18 February 2023	Pretoria	^[23]
5	34.94	Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone		9 June 2023	Paris	^[24]
6	34.95	Jarmila Kratochvílová		18 August 1982	Zürich	^[25]
7	35.00	Marie-José Pérec		27 August 1991	Tokyo	^[26]
8	35.01	Olga Bryzgina		6 October 1985	Canberra	^[27]
9	35.16	Marileidy Paulino		17 March 2023	Carolina	^[28]
10	35.24	Tatána Kocembová		10 August 1983	Helsinki	^[29]
11	35.29	Nickisha Pryce		20 July 2024	London	^[30]
12	35.30	Ana Guevara		3 May 2003	Mexico City
13	35.37	Lieke Klaver		12 July 2024	Monaco	^[31]
14	35.38	Rhasidat Adeleke		12 July 2024	Monaco	^[32]
15	35.46	Kathy Cook		18 August 1984	London
		Chandra Cheeseborough		18 August 1984	London
		Henriette Jæger		22 May 2024	Bergen	^[33]
18	35.47	Valerie Brisco-Hooks		26 September 1988	Seoul	^[34]
19	35.51	Natalia Kaczmarek		20 July 2024	London	^[35]
20	35.63	Sanya Richards-Ross		18 August 2009	Berlin	^[36]
21	35.70	Irena Szewinska		4 July 1975	London
		Léa Sprunger		25 May 2017	Langenthal	^[37]
	35.70	Sada Williams		21 July 2023	Monaco	^[38]
24	35.71	Donna Fraser		28 August 2000	Gateshead
25	35.73	Novlene Williams-Mills		29 August 2007	Osaka	^[39]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 35.73:

• Marita Koch also ran 34.66 (1984).
• Jarmila Kratochvílová also ran 35.06 (1983).
• Marileidy Paulino also ran 35.40 (2023).
• Lieke Klaver also ran 35.43 (2023), 35.61 (2023).
• Olga Bryzgina also ran 35.47 (1988).
• Shaunae Miller-Uibo also ran 35.55 (2022), 35.61 (2022), and 35.71 (2022).
• Kathy Cook also ran 35.51 (1983).
• Natalia Kaczmarek also ran 35.52 (2024).

Women (indoor)

• Correct as of March 2024.^{[40] [41]}

Rank	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Ref
1	35.45			16 January 1993	Moscow
				2 February 2018	New York
3	35.54			10 February 2023	New York
4	35.69			13 February 2012	Liévin
5	35.71			6 January 2017	Clemson
6	35.73			12 February 2021	Staten Island
7	35.83			13 March 1981	Pocatello
	35.83			8 December 2023	Clemson	^[42]
9	35.95			22 February 2019	Staten Island
10	35.99			12 February 2021	Staten Island
		Favour Ofili		4 February 2024	Boston	^[43]
12	36.06	Femke Bol		2 March 2024	Glasgow	^[44]
13	36.12			7 December 2017	Bloomington
				13 January 2023	Clemson
15	36.15			3 March 2017	Albuquerque
16	36.18			3 March 2017	Albuquerque
17	36.20			4 February 2022	Spala
18	36.25			13 February 2016	Boston
19	36.27			10 February 2017	New York
	36.27	Lieke Klaver		2 March 2024	Glasgow	^[45]
21	36.30	Olesya Krasnomovets		6 January 2006	Yekaterinburg
22	36.33			8 February 2007	Fayetteville
				4 March 2010	Liévin
24	36.38			31 January 2009	Moscow
25	36.41			11 February 2011	Fayetteville
				3 February 2023	Brighton

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 36.45:

• Shaunae Miller-Uibo also ran 35.71 (2017), 36.10 (2014), and 36.40 (2014).
• Gabby Thomas also ran 35.75 (2024), 35.92 (2021), 35.98 (2019), 36.21 (2022), and 36.31 (2023).
• Abby Steiner also ran 35.80 (2017).
• Lynna Irby-Jackson also ran 36.05 (2024), 36.42 (2022).
• Brittany Brown also ran 36.13 (2023) and 36.30 (2019).
• Natalia Kaczmarek also ran 36.25 (2023).
• Talitha Diggs also ran 36.21 (2024), 36.37 (2022).
• Antonina Krivoshapka also ran 36.42 (2012).

Notes and References

1. Web site: All-time men's best 300m. alltime-athletics.com. 15 January 2017. 23 January 2017.
2. Web site: All-time men's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 9 September 2021. 24 September 2021.
3. Web site: 17 February 2024 . Tebogo breaks world 300m best with 30.69 in Pretoria . 17 February 2024 . World Athletics.
4. News: Van Niekerk breaks 300m world best in Ostrava. IAAF. Bob Ramsak. 28 June 2017. 29 June 2017.
5. Web site: 300 Metres Results. www.zlatatretra.cz. 27 May 2010. 23 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170227/http://www.zlatatretra.cz/results2010/re0030041.pdf. 3 March 2016. dead.
6. Web site: Stride Length vs Stride Frequency in the 400 Metres. Žiga P. Škraba. 1 September 2016. 27 March 2018.
7. Web site: Danny Everett 300m 31.48 RM 3-Sep-1990. 15 March 2008. 28 January 2017.
8. Web site: Danny Everett 300m 31.48 RM 3-Sep-1990. 15 March 2008. 28 January 2017.
9. News: Crouser crushes world lead and Johnson gets shock win in Ponce. World Athletics. Javier Clavelo Robinson. 13 May 2022. 31 May 2022.
10. Web site: All-time men's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 8 January 2017. 31 January 2017.
11. Web site: 300m Results. zlatatretra.cz. 28 June 2017. 29 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20190830085323/http://www.zlatatretra.cz/results2017/re24178.pdf. 30 August 2019. dead.
12. News: Crouser crushes world lead and Johnson gets shock win in Ponce. World Athletics. Javier Clavelo Robinson. 13 May 2022. 31 May 2022.
13. Web site: All-time men's best 300m. alltime-athletics.com. 15 January 2017. 23 January 2017.
14. Web site: All-time men's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 9 September 2021. 24 September 2021.
15. Web site: subscription. World alltime indoor list men 300m . www.tilastopaja.eu . 16 October 2023.
16. News: Gwen Berry, Noah Lyles break world indoor records. foxsports.com. 4 March 2017. 4 March 2017.
17. Web site: 300m Result. Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 13 January 2024. 2 February 2024.
18. Web site: 300m Result. Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 13 January 2024. 2 February 2024.
19. Web site: All-time women's best 300m. alltime-athletics.com. 15 January 2017. 23 January 2017.
20. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 9 September 2019. 24 September 2021.
21. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 30 January 2017.
22. News: Miller-Uibo breaks 300m world best, Lasitskene tops 2.06m and Kirt joins 90-metre club in Ostrava . . Bob Ramsak . 20 June 2019 . 25 June 2019.
23. Web site: MASILINGI & COETZEE BREAK 300M RECORDS. newtonagency.co.za. 22 February 2023. 12 June 2023.
24. Web site: 2023 Meeting de Paris - Women's 400m Race Analysis. sportresult.com. 9 June 2023. 12 June 2023.
25. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 30 January 2017.
26. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 30 January 2017.
27. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 30 January 2017.
28. Web site: Steven Gardiner and Marileidy Paulino win fast 300m in Puerto Rico. world-track.org. Gary Smith. 18 March 2023. 12 June 2023.
29. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 30 January 2017.
30. Web site: 20 July 2024 . Race analysis 400m women . 22 July 2024.
31. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Race analysis 400m women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
32. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Race analysis 400m women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
33. Web site: 22 May 2024 . 300 metres results . 22 May 2024 . World Athletics.
34. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 30 January 2017.
35. Web site: 20 July 2024 . Race analysis 400m women . 22 July 2024.
36. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 30 January 2017.
37. News: Lea Sprunger und Kariem Hussein brillieren mit Schweizer Allzeit-Bestleistungen. Swiss Athletics. de. 25 May 2017. 26 May 2017.
38. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 30 January 2017.
39. Web site: 30 January 2017 . All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m . 30 January 2017 . alltime-athletics.com.
40. Web site: All-time women's best 300m. alltime-athletics.com. 15 January 2017. 23 January 2017.
41. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m. alltime-athletics.com. 9 September 2019. 24 September 2021.
42. Web site: 300m Results. Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 8 December 2023. 10 December 2023.
43. Web site: Favour Ofili breaks national, African record at Boston indoor grand prix. nigeriaworld.com. James Agberebi. 5 February 2024. 6 February 2024.
44. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m - indoors. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 25 April 2024.
45. Web site: All-time women's best 300m en route to 400m - indoors. alltime-athletics.com. 30 January 2017. 25 April 2024.