800 metres explained

Event:800 metres
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The 800 metres, or meters (US spelling), is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the first modern games in 1896. During the winter track season the event is usually run by completing four laps of an indoor 200-metre track.

The event was derived from the imperial measurement of a half mile (880 yards), a traditional British racing distance. 800 m is 4.67 m less than a half mile.

The event combines aerobic endurance with anaerobic conditioning and sprint speed, so the 800m athlete has to combine training for both.

Runners in this event are occasionally fast enough to also compete in the 400 metres but more commonly have enough endurance to 'double up' in the 1500m. Only Alberto Juantorena and Jarmila Kratochvílová have won major international titles at 400m and 800m.

Race tactics

The 800m is also known for its tactical racing. Because it is the shortest middle-distance event that has all the runners converge into one lane (after the first bend), positioning on the cut-in and the position of the pack is critical to the outcome of the race. Gaining a front position early in the race is often advantageous as there are occasionally trips when running in a pack. Olympic champions Dave Wottle, Kelly Holmes and others have defied that logic by running a more evenly paced race, lagging behind the pack and accelerating past the slowing early leaders. Often the winner of elite 800m races is not the fastest runner, but the athlete best positioned near the end of the race: an athlete directly behind another runner, has to switch to an outer lane to overtake, so has to run further—and might be blocked by a third runner alongside.[1]

800 metre participants usually run a positive split, where the first lap is faster, but a negative split is occasionally run as a tactic. The current world record (by David Rudisha) was run with a positive split in the 2012 Olympics. Rudisha ran the first lap in 49.28 seconds and the second in 51.63 seconds. Theoretically, an even split is the most efficient running mode, but it is difficult to pace correctly.

Continental records

AreaMenWomen
Time AthleteNationTime AthleteNation
1:40.91 1:54.01
1:42.79 1:55.54
1:41.11 1:53.28
1:41.20 Marco Arop1:54.44
1:43.99 1:57.78
1:41.77 1:56.58

All-time top 25

See also: 800 metres world record progression.

Men (outdoor)

Key

(PB = Personal Best; if times tie, they are recorded as the same rank, with next rank being correct #)
Time Athlete Nation Date Place
1 1 1:40.91 9 August 2012 [5]
2 1:41.01 Rudisha #2 29 August 2010
3 1:41.09 Rudisha #3 22 August 2010
2 4 1:41.11 24 August 1997
3 5 1:41.19 10 August 2024 Saint-Denis[6]
4 61:41.20Marco Arop10 August 2024Saint-Denis
7 1:41.24 Kipketer #2 13 August 1997
8 1:41.33 Rudisha #410 September 2011 Rieti
591:41.46Djamel Sedjati12 July 2024Monaco[7]
101:41.50Sedjati #210 August 2024Saint-Denis
11 1:41.51 Rudisha #5 10 July 2010
12 1:41.54 Rudisha #6 6 July 2012
131:41.56Sedjati #37 July 2024Paris[8]
141:41.58Wanyonyi #27 July 2024Paris
6151:41.61Gabriel Tual7 July 2024Paris
7 16 1:41.67 10 August 2024Saint-Denis
171:41.70Wanyonyi #315 June 2024Nairobi[9]
8 18 1:41.73 Sebastian Coe10 June 1981 Florence
18 1:41.73 Kipketer #37 July 1997 Stockholm
8 18 1:41.73 Nijel Amos9 August 2012
21 1:41.74 Rudisha #79 June 2012 New York City
10 22 1:41.77 26 August 1984
23 1:41.83 Kipketer #41 September 1996 Rieti
24 1:41.89 Amos #212 July 2019 Monaco
25 1:42.01 Rudisha #86 September 2009 Rieti
11 1:42.04 12 July 2024 [10]
12 1:42.05 22 July 2018 [11]
131:42.08Aaron Kemei Cheminingwa7 July 2024Paris
Wyclife Kinyamal7 July 2024Paris
15 1:42.23 4 June 2010 Oslo[12]
16 1:42.27 12 July 2024 [13]
17 1:42.28 26 August 1984
18 1:42.34 8 September 2002
1 October 2019 [14]
20 1:42.37 6 September 2013 [15]
211:42.43Eliott Crestan7 July 2024Paris
22 1:42.47 24 August 2001
23 1:42.51 Amel Tuka17 July 2015 Monaco[16]
24 1:42.53 9 August 2012
18 July 2014

Women (outdoor)

Key

(PB = Personal Best; if times tie, they are recorded as the same rank, with next rank being correct #)
Time Athlete Nation Date Place
1 1 1:53.28 26 July 1983
2 2 1:53.43 27 July 1980
3 3 1:54.01 29 August 2008
4 4 1:54.25 30 June 2018 [18]
5 5 1:54.44 9 September 1989
6 1:54.60 Semenya #2 20 July 2018
6 7 1:54.61Keely Hodgkinson20 July 2024London[19]
8 1:54.68 Kratochvílová #2 9 August 1983
9 1:54.77 Semenya #3 9 September 2018
7 10 1:54.81 27 July 1980
11 1:54.82 Quirot #2 24 August 1997
12 1:54.85 Olizarenko #2 12 June 1980
13 1:54.87 Jelimo #2 18 August 2008
8 14 1:54.94 26 July 1976
15 1:54.97 Jelimo #3 18 July 2008
9 15 1:54.97 17 September 2023 [20]
17 1:54.98 Semenya #4 3 May 2019
18 1:54.99 Jelimo #4 1 June 2008
19 1:55.04 Kratochvílová #3 23 August 1983
20 1:55.04 Mu #221 August 2021 [21]
10 21 1:55.05 1 August 1982
22 1:55.16 Jelimo #5 5 September 2008
Semenya #5 13 August 2017
11 24 1:55.19 17 August 1994
20 July 2002
24 1:55.19 Hodgkinson #2 17 September 2023
13 1:55.26 31 August 1987
14 1:55.32 31 August 1987
15 1:55.42 26 July 1976
16 1:55.46 27 July 1980
17 1:55.47 21 July 2017 [22]
18 1:55.54 3 August 1992
9 September 1993
20 1:55.56 31 August 1987
21 1:55.60 26 July 1976
22 1:55.61 21 July 2017
20 July 2024 [23]
24 1:55.68 2 June 1985
25 1:55.69 22 June 1984

Annulled marks

Men (indoor)

RankTimeAthleteNationDatePlaceRef
11:42.679 March 1997
21:43.6317 February 2021
31:43.989 February 2019
41:44.1527 January 2001
51:44.21 3 February 2018
13 February 2021
71:44.37 31 January 2021
81:44.52 15 February 2014
91:44.54 17 February 2021
101:44.57 14 February 2012
111:44.71 31 January 2004
121:44.75 26 February 2009
131:44.78 3 March 2002
141:44.81 9 March 2008
151:44.82 18 February 2003
161:44.84 4 March 1989
171:44.88 5 February 1995
181:44.91 12 March 1983
9 March 2008
201:44.93 3 March 2002
211:44.97 2 February 2003
221:44.98 11 February 2023 [25]
231:44.99 15 February 2014
241:45.00 8 March 1992
23 February 2024 [26]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:44.88 (top 25 performances)

Women (indoor)

RankTimeAthleteNationDatePlaceRef
11:55.823 March 2002
21:55.853 March 2002
31:56.4013 February 1988
41:56.907 March 1999
51:57.06 21 February 1999
61:57.18Keely Hodgkinson25 February 2023Birmingham[28]
71:57.23 Inna Yevseyeva1 February 1992 Moscow
81:57.47 Natalya Tsyganova7 March 1999 Maebashi
91:57.51 Olga Kotlyarova18 February 2006 Moscow
101:57.52 Gudaf Tsegay14 February 2021 Val-de-Reuil
111:57.53 Larisa Chzhao23 January 2005 Moscow
121:57.67 Sigrun Wodars13 February 1988 Vienna
131:57.86Habitam Alemu6 February 2024Toruń[29]
141:57.91 Jemma Reekie1 February 2020 Glasgow
151:58.10 Mariya Savinova8 March 2009 Turin
161:58.14 Yuliya Stepanova17 February 2011 Moscow
171:58.29 Ajeé Wilson8 February 2020 New York City
181:58.31 Francine Niyonsaba4 March 2018 Birmingham
191:58.34 Svetlana Cherkasova4 February 2006 Moscow
201:58.35Tsige Duguma2 March 2024Glasgow[30]
211:58.37 Helena Fuchsova25 February 2001 Liévin
221:58.40 Athing Mu27 February 2021 Fayetteville
231:58.43 Jennifer Meadows14 March 2010 Doha
241:58.44 1 February 2020
251:58.46Natoya Goule17 February 2022Liévin[31]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:57.68 (top 25 performances)

U20 records and U18 world bests

Age groupMenWomen
Time AthleteNationTime AthleteNation
1:41.73 1:54.01
1:43.37 1:57.18

Olympic medalists

Women

World Championships medalists

Women

World Indoor Championships medalists

Men

1985 Paris
1987 Indianapolis
1989 Budapest
1991 Seville
1993 Toronto
1995 Barcelona
1997 Paris
1999 Maebashi
2001 Lisbon
2003 Birmingham
2004 Budapest
2006 Moscow
2008 Valencia
2010 Doha
2012 Istanbul
2014 Sopot
2016 Portland
2018 Birmingham
2022 Belgrade
2024 Glasgow

Women

1985 Paris
1987 Indianapolis
1989 Budapest
1991 Seville
1993 Toronto
1995 Barcelona
1997 Paris
1999 Maebashi
2001 Lisbon
2003 Birmingham
2004 Budapest
2006 Moscow
2008 Valencia
2010 Doha
2012 Istanbul
2014 Sopot
2016 Portland
2018 Birmingham
2022 Belgrade
2024 Glasgow

Season's bests

Men

YearTimeAthletePlace
19701:44.8Stuttgart
19711:44.7Stellenbosch
19721:44.3Eugene
19731:43.7Milan
19741:43.5Eugene
19751:43.79Zürich
19761:43.50Montreal
19771:43.44Sofia
19781:43.84Prague
19791:42.33Oslo
19801:44.53Eugene
19811:41.73Florence
19821:44.45London
19831:43.61Oslo
19841:41.77Cologne
19851:42.49Koblenz
19861:43.19Rieti
19871:43.06Rome
19881:42.65Zürich
19891:43.16Zürich
19901:42.97Seville
19911:43.08Rieti
19921:42.80New Orleans
19931:43.54Rieti
19941:43.17Rieti
19951:42.87Monaco
19961:41.83Rieti
19971:41.11Cologne
19981:42.75Stuttgart
19991:42.27Brussels
20001:43.12Lausanne
20011:42.47Brussels
20021:42.32Rieti
20031:42.52Brussels
20041:43.08Zürich
20051:43.70Rieti
20061:43.09Rieti
20071:43.74Monaco
20081:42.69Oslo
20091:42.01Rieti
20101:41.01Rieti
20111:41.33Rieti
20121:40.91London
20131:42.37Brussels
20141:42.45Monaco
20151:42.51Monaco
20161:42.15Rio de Janeiro
20171:43.10Monaco
20181:42.05London
20191:41.89Monaco
20201:43.15Monaco
20211:42.91Monaco
20221:43.26Zürich
20231:42.80Eugene
20241:41.19Saint-Denis

Women

YearTimeAthletePlace
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
19761:54.94Montreal
19771:57.39Bucharest
19781:55.80Prague
19791:56.2Paris
19801:53.43Moscow
19811:56.98Leningrad
19821:55.05Bucharest
19831:53.28Munich
19841:55.69Kyiv
19851:55.68Bucharest
19861:56.2Bucharest
19871:55.26Rome
19881:56.00Kyiv
Kharkiv
19891:54.44Barcelona
19901:55.87Split
19911:57.23Kyiv
19921:55.54Barcelona
19931:55.43Stuttgart
19941:55.19Zürich
19951:55.72Monaco
19961:56.04Monaco
19971:54.82Cologne
19981:56.11Zürich
19991:55.87Moscow
20001:56.15Sydney
20011:56.85Zürich
20021:55.19Heusden-Zolder
20031:55.55Madrid
20041:56.23Tula
20051:56.07Tula
20061:56.66Lausanne
20071:56.04Osaka
20081:54.01Zürich
20091:55.45Berlin
20101:57.34Monaco
20111:55.87Daegu
20121:56.19London
20131:56.72Eugene
20141:57.67Monaco
20151:56.99Saint-Denis
20161:55.28Rio de Janeiro
20171:55.16London
20181:54.25Paris
20191:54.98Doha
20201:57.68Doha
20211:55.04Eugene
20221:56.30Eugene
20231:54.97Eugene
20241:54.61London

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: A Fan's Guide to the 800m. Versaw. Rob. Arizona Milesplit. 2018-06-25. 26 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180626030253/http://az.milesplit.com/articles/143353/a-fans-guide-to-the-800m. live.
  2. Web site: Men's outdoor 800 Metres Records . worldathletics.org . . 3 February 2024 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104194356/https://worldathletics.org/records/by-discipline/middlelong/800-metres/all/men . live .
  3. Web site: Women's outdoor 800 Metres Records . worldathletcs.org . . 3 February 2024 . 16 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240216202143/https://worldathletics.org/records/by-discipline/middlelong/800-metres/all/women . live .
  4. Web site: All-time men's best 800m. alltime-athletics.com. 19 August 2018. 22 August 2018. 25 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825032049/http://www.alltime-athletics.com/m_800ok.htm. live.
  5. Web site: 800 Metres Results. IAAF. 9 August 2012. 14 November 2012. 20 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130220030216/http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/london-2012-event-report-mens-800m-final. live.
  6. Web site: MEN'S 800M FINAL RESULTS .
  7. Web site: 800m Result. swisstiming.com. 12 July 2024. 12 July 2024.
  8. Web site: 800m Result. swisstiming.com. 7 July 2024. 7 July 2024.
  9. Web site: Justin Lagat . 15 June 2024 . Kipyegon and Wanyonyi shine at Kenyan Olympic Trials . 17 June 2024 . World Athletics.
  10. Web site: 800m Result. swisstiming.com. 12 July 2024. 12 July 2024.
  11. Web site: 800m Results. sportresult.com. 22 July 2018. 2 August 2018. 2 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180802193145/https://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2018/london/re0110040.pdf. live.
  12. Web site: 800m Results. diamondleague-oslo.com. 4 June 2010. 7 June 2010. https://archive.today/20100607032720/http://www.diamondleague-oslo.com/en/Live-StartlistsResults/Overview/800m-Men1/. 7 June 2010. dead.
  13. Web site: 800m Result. swisstiming.com. 12 July 2024. 12 July 2024.
  14. Web site: 800m Results. IAAF. 1 October 2019. 3 October 2019. 27 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191027064655/https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/6033/AT-800-M-f----.RS6.pdf?v=587535268. live.
  15. Web site: 800m Result. . . 6 September 2013 . 6 September 2013 .
  16. Web site: 800m Results. sportresult.com. 17 July 2015. 18 July 2015. 22 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150722052446/http://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2015/monaco/re0110040.pdf. live.
  17. Web site: All-time women's best 800m. alltime-athletics.com. 16 July 2017. 21 July 2017. 30 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170630004820/http://www.alltime-athletics.com/w_800ok.htm. live.
  18. Web site: 800m Results. sportresult.com. 30 June 2018. 3 July 2018. 3 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180703075842/https://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2018/paris/re1110040.pdf. live.
  19. Web site: 800m Result. swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. 20 July 2024.
  20. Web site: Tsegay smashes world 5000m record and Duplantis breaks world pole vault record in Eugene REPORT World Athletics . 2023-09-18 . worldathletics.org . 23 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230923223404/https://worldathletics.org/news/report/diamond-league-final-eugene-2023-day-two-report . live .
  21. Web site: Prefontaine Classic 2021 Complete Results. sportresult.com. 21 August 2021. 27 August 2021. 23 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210823063154/http://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2021/eugene/Results.pdf. live.
  22. Web site: 800m Results. sportresult.com. 21 July 2017. 21 July 2017. 1 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190501235906/https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/AT_PROD/MONACO2017/PDF_RE1110040.PDF?h=y5q+IdckuRbXCrayRmmfKTQv2t4=. dead.
  23. Web site: 800m Result. swisstiming.com. 20 July 2024. 20 July 2024.
  24. Web site: All-time men's best 800m indoors. 17 January 2022. 17 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220117050235/https://www.worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/middle-long/800-metres/indoor/men/senior?regionType=world&timing=electronic&page=1&bestResultsOnly=true&oversizedTrack=regular&firstDay=1899-12-28&lastDay=2022-01-15. live.
  25. News: Kenya's Kibet Sets World Leading Time As Coleman Wins 60m Crown At Millrose Games. capitalfm.co.ke. Timothy Olobulu. 12 February 2023. 12 February 2023. 12 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230212122510/https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/2023/02/12/kenyas-kibet-sets-world-leading-time-as-coleman-wins-60m-crown-at-millrose-games/. live.
  26. Web site: Charlton threatens world record in Madrid. World Athletics. Jon Mulkeen. 23 February 2024. 25 February 2024. 24 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240224193539/https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/news/charlton-threatens-world-record-in-madrid. live.
  27. Web site: All-time women's best 800m indoors. 17 January 2022. 18 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182346/https://www.worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/middle-long/800-metres/indoor/women/senior?regionType=world&timing=electronic&page=1&bestResultsOnly=true&oversizedTrack=regular&firstDay=1899-12-28&lastDay=2022-01-15. live.
  28. Web site: Tsegay threatens world indoor 3000m record, as tour titles are won in Birmingham REPORT World Athletics . 2023-02-25 . www.worldathletics.org . 25 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230225182332/https://www.worldathletics.org/news/report/birmingham-final-tsegay-gourley-asher-smith-hodgkinson . live .
  29. Web site: 800m Results. copernicus.domtel-sport.pl. 6 February 2024. 6 February 2024. 4 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231004133420/https://copernicus.domtel-sport.pl/pdf/K800_1_r.pdf. live.
  30. Web site: 800m Semifinal Results Summary. World Athletics. 2 March 2024. 2 March 2024.
  31. News: Ingebrigtsen breaks world indoor 1500m record in Liévin. World Athletics. Jon Mulkeen. 17 February 2022. 18 February 2022. 17 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220217234314/https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/news/hauts-france-lievin-ingebrigtsen-world-indoor-1500m-record. live.

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