2000 metres explained

The 2000 metres or 2000-metre run is a track running event where five laps are completed around an outdoor 400 m track, or ten laps around a 200 m indoor track - the distance is 11.68 meters short of 1¼ miles.

The global governing body World Athletics recognises official world records for the distance, and it is also recorded in continental and national record settings. The men's world record is held by Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who ran a time of 4:43.13 in 2023, while the women's world record is held by Australia's Jessica Hull, who ran a time of 5:19.70 in 2024.^{[1] [2]}

The distance sparsely features on event programmes of professional one-day track and field meetings, serving as a comparatively novel event with greater scope for record-breaking performances.^[3] It is also used at lower-level competitions, such as school and youth tournaments. Since 2017, a 2000-metre run is one of the events held to test the fitness of potential draftees at the AFL Draft Combine.^[4]

Despite its world record status, it has not yet featured as a world championship level event indoors or outdoors; however, the event was briefly held at national level in the mid-1960s at the Spanish Indoor and Soviet Indoor Athletics Championships.^{[5] [6]}

Records

See also: 2000 metres world record progression.

World records

scope=col	Division	scope=col	Time	scope=col	Athlete	scope=col	Nation	scope=col	Date	scope=col	Place
Men	4:43.13	Jakob Ingebrigtsen		8 September 2023	Brussels
Women	5:19.70	Jessica Hull		12 July 2024	Monaco

Short track world bests

Division	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place
Men	4:49.99	Kenenisa Bekele		17 February 2007	Birmingham
Women	5:23.75	Genzebe Dibaba		7 February 2017	Sabadell

Continental records

Area! colspan="3"

Men	Women
Time	Athlete	Nationality	Time	Athlete	Nationality
	4:44.79			5:21.56
	4:55.57			5:29.41
	4:43.13 WR			5:25.36
	4:51.54			5:28.78	Cory McGee
	4:50.76			5:19.70 WR	Jessica Hull
	5:03.34			5:50.21

All-time top 25

Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 2000m times and the top 25 athletes:
- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 2000m times
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 2000m times, by repeat athletes
- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 2000m times

Men (outdoor)

• Correct as of December 2023.^[7]

Ath.#	Perf.#	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Ref
1	1	4:43.13	Jakob Ingebrigtsen		8 September 2023	Brussels	[8]
2	2	4:44.79	Hicham El Guerrouj		7 September 1999	Berlin
3	3	4:46.88	Ali Saïdi-Sief		19 June 2001	Strasbourg
4	4	4:47.88	Noureddine Morceli		3 July 1995	Paris
5	5	4:48.14	Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot		8 September 2023	Brussels
	6	4:48.36	El Guerrouj #2		19 July 1998	Gateshead
6	7	4:48.69	Vénuste Niyongabo		12 July 1995	Nice
7	8	4:48.74	John Kibowen		1 August 1998	Hechtel
8	9	4:48.77	Stewart McSweyn		8 September 2023	Brussels
	10	4:49.00	Niyongabo #2		3 September 1997	Rieti
	11	4:49.55	Morceli #2		10 July 1996	Nice
9	12	4:49.68	Niels Laros		8 September 2023	Brussels
10	13	4:49.85	Mario García		8 September 2023	Brussels
11	14	4:49.99	Kenenisa Bekele		17 February 2007	Birmingham
	15	4:50.01	Ingebrigsten #2		11 June 2020	Oslo
12	16	4:50.08	Noah Ngeny		30 July 1999	Stockholm
13	17	4:50.64	Narve Gilje Nordås		8 September 2023	Brussels
14	18	4:50.68	Abel Kipsang		8 September 2023	Brussels
15	19	4:50.76	Craig Mottram		9 March 2006	Melbourne
16	20	4:50.81	Saïd Aouita		16 July 1987	Paris
	21	4:51.17	El Guerrouj #3		31 August 2001	Berlin
17	22	4:51.30	Daniel Komen		5 June 1998	Milan
18	23	4:51.39	Steve Cram		4 August 1985	Budapest
19	24	4:51.52	John Walker		30 June 1976	Oslo
20	25	4:51.54	Charles Philibert-Thiboutot		8 September 2023	Brussels
21		4:52.20	Thomas Wessinghage		31 August 1982	Ingelheim
22		4:52.37	Ruben Verheyden		8 September 2023	Brussels
23		4:52.40	José Manuel Abascal		7 September 1986	Santander
24		4:52.44	Jim Spivey		15 September 1987	Lausanne
25		4:52.53	Moses Kiptanui		21 August 1992	Berlin

Men (indoor)

• Correct as of February 2024.^[9]

		Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place
1	1	4:49.99			17 February 2007		[10]
2	2	4:51.23			10 February 2024		[11]
3	3	4:52.86	Haile Gebrselassie		15 February 1998	Birmingham
4	4	4:52.90	Sergio Sánchez		23 January 2010	Oviedo
5	5	4:54.07	Eamonn Coghlan		20 February 1987	Inglewood
6	6	4:54.74	Bernard Lagat		15 February 2014	New York City
7	7	4:54.76	Vénuste Niyongabo		18 February 1996	Liévin
8	8	4:55.35	Cameron Levins		15 February 2014	New York City
9	9	4:55.72	Shadrack Korir		17 February 2007	Birmingham
10	10	4:56.09	Laban Rotich		14 February 1999	Birmingham
11	11	4:56.23	Jens-Peter Herold		6 March 1993	Karlsruhe
12	12	4:56.30	Augustine Kiprono Choge		9 February 2007	Aubiére
13	13	4:56.40	Noah Ngeny		25 February 2001	Liévin
14	14	4:56.87	Andrés Manuel Díaz		14 February 1999	Birmingham
15	15	4:56.99	David Torrence		15 February 2014	New York City
16	16	4:57.00	Samuel Zeleke		17 February 2022	Liévin
17	17	4:57.09	John Mayock		25 February 2001	Liévin
18	18	4:57.17	Abiyote Abinet		28 February 2014	Metz
19	19	4:57.21	Abel Kipsang		17 February 2022	Liévin
20	20	4:57.22	Azeddine Habz		17 February 2022	Liévin
21	21	4:57.31	William Tanui		28 February 1999	Sindelfingen
22	22	4:57.35	Andrew Bumbalough		15 February 2014	New York City
23	23	4:57.56	Evan Jager		15 February 2014	New York City
24	24	4:57.74	Yomif Kejelcha		28 February 2014	Metz
25	25	4:57.97	Jimmy Gressier		17 February 2022	Liévin

Women (outdoor)

• Correct as of July 2024.^[12]

Ath.#	Perf.#	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Ref
1	1	5:19.70	Jessica Hull		12 July 2024	Monaco	[13]
2	2	5:21.56	Francine Niyonsaba		14 September 2021	Zagreb	[14]
3	3	5:25.36	Sonia O'Sullivan		8 July 1994	Edinburgh
4	4	5:25.86	Freweyni Hailu		14 September 2021	Zagreb	[15]
5	5	5:26.08	Melissa Courtney-Bryant		12 July 2024	Monaco	[16]
6	6	5:26.09	Edinah Jebitok		12 July 2024	Monaco	[17]
7	7	5:26.93	Yvonne Murray		8 July 1994	Edinburgh
8	8	5:27.50	Genzebe Dibaba		17 June 2014	Ostrava
	9	5:27.73	Dibaba #2		19 June 2018	Montreuil
9	10	5:28.69	Maricica Puică		11 July 1986	London
10	11	5:28.72	Tatyana Kazankina		4 August 1984	Moscow
11	12	5:28.78	Cory McGee		12 July 2024	Monaco	[18]
12	13	5:28.82	Georgia Griffith		12 July 2024	Monaco	[19]
	14	5:29.42	Dibaba #3		26 June 2014	Sollentuna
	15	5:29.58	Murray #2		11 July 1986	London
13	16	5:29.64	Tatyana Pozdnyakova		4 August 1984	Moscow
14	17	5:30.19	Zola Budd		11 July 1986	London
			Gelete Burka		4 September 2009	Brussels
	19	5:30.39	Puică #2		4 September 1985	Rieti
16	20	5:30.92	Galina Zakharova		4 August 1984	Moscow
17	21	5:31.03	Gulnara Samitova-Galkina		27 May 2007	Sochi
18	22	5:31.18	Lucia Stafford		12 July 2024	Monaco	[20]
19	23	5:31.52	Vivian Cheruiyot		7 June 2009	Eugene
20	24	5:31.88	Maryam Yusuf Jamal		7 June 2009	Eugene
21	25	5:32.40	Dawit Seyaum		14 September 2021	Zagreb	[21]
22		5:32.63	Agathe Guillemot		12 July 2024	Monaco	[22]
23		5:32.7	Mary Decker		3 August 1984	Eugene
24		5:32.83	Roberta Brunet		14 September 1996	Turin
25		5:32.86	Marta García		12 July 2024	Monaco	[23]

Women (indoor)

• Correct as of March 2024.^[24]

		Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place
1	1	5:23.75	Genzebe Dibaba		7 February 2017	Sabadell	[25]
2	2	5:30.53	Gabriela Szabo		8 March 1998	Sindelfingen
3	3	5:34.52	Mary Slaney		18 January 1985	Los Angeles
4	4	5:35.46	Dawit Seyaum		7 February 2015	Boston
5	5	5:35.78	Gudaf Tsegay		2 March 2024	Glasgow	[26]
6	6	5:35.99	Jessica Hull		2 March 2024	Glasgow	[27]
7	7	5:37.34	Fernanda Ribeiro		28 February 1996	Valencia
8	8	5:39.15	Yelena Kanales		7 January 2006	Yekaterinburg
9	9	5:39.30	Olga Yegorova		13 February 2000	Liévin
10	10	5:39.36	Violeta Beclea-Szekely		13 February 2000	Liévin
11	11	5:39.47	Berhane Adere		22 February 2002	Chemnitz
12	12	5:40.26	Mariya Konovalova		7 January 2008	Yekaterinburg
13	13	5:40.35	Sally Kipyego		7 February 2015	Boston
14	14	5:40.75	Yelena Soboleva		7 January 2006	Yekaterinburg
15	15	5:40.86	Yvonne Murray		20 February 1993	Birmingham
16	16	5:40.95	Yelena Zadorozhnaya		7 January 2008	Yekaterinburg
17	17	5:41.10	Kim Conley		8 February 2014	Boston
			Yelena Korobkina		7 January 2018	Yekaterinburg
19	19	5:41.11	Emma Coburn		7 February 2015	Boston
20	20	5:42.12	Aleksandra Gulyayeva		7 January 2018	Yekaterinburg
21	21	5:42.55	Kathleen Friedrich		22 February 2002	Chemnitz
22	22	5:43.30	Yekaterina Podkopayeva		12 February 1983	Moskva
23	23	5:43.53	Svetlana Popova
24	24	5:43.62	Wioletta Frankiewicz		12 February 2006	Leipzig
25	25	5:43.82	Heidi See		7 February 2015	Boston

References

General

• Records by Event 2000 metres. World Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-05.

Notes and References

1. https://www.worldathletics.org/records/by-category/world-records World Records
2. Web site: 2000m Result. swisstiming.com. 12 July 2024. 17 July 2024.
3. https://worldathletics.org/records/toplists/middle-long/2000-metres/outdoor/men/senior/2022?regionType=world&page=1&bestResultsOnly=true
4. Web site: 2017-10-06 . Running machine takes out Combine 2km trial . 2023-10-01 . afl.com.au . en.
5. http://www.gbrathletics.com/nc/espi.htm Spanish Indoor Championships
6. http://www.gbrathletics.com/nc/ursi.htm Soviet Indoor Championships
7. Web site: 2000 Metres - men - senior - all . worldathletics.org . 1 January 2024.
8. Web site: 2000m Result. sportresult.com. 8 September 2023. 8 September 2023. 9 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230909102525/https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/BRUSSELS2023/PDF_ATHM2000M---DIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73C1.PDF?h=XXmMI2Va2XOWC/DVzVBUO3abgxQ=/. dead.
9. Web site: 2000m short track - men - senior - all. World Athletics. 11 February 2024.
10. Web site: 2000 Metres Short Track - men - senior - all . 2024-10-14 . worldathletics.org.
11. Web site: Tsegay, Girma and Holloway threaten world indoor records in Lievin. World Athletics. Jon Mulkeen. 10 February 2024. 11 February 2024 .
12. Web site: 2000 Metres - women - senior - all . worldathletics.org . 1 January 2024.
13. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Results 2000m Women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
14. News: Niyonsaba breaks world 2000m record in Zagreb. World Athletics. Chris Broadbent. 14 September 2021. 27 September 2021.
15. News: Niyonsaba breaks world 2000m record in Zagreb. World Athletics. Chris Broadbent. 14 September 2021. 27 September 2021.
16. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Results 2000m Women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
17. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Results 2000m Women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
18. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Results 2000m Women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
19. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Results 2000m Women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
20. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Results 2000m Women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
21. Web site: 2000m Result. online.atletika.cz. 14 September 2021. 27 September 2021.
22. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Results 2000m Women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
23. Web site: 12 July 2024 . Results 2000m Women . 13 July 2024 . Diamond League.
24. Web site: 2000m short track - women - senior - all . 2 March 2024 . World Athletics.
25. Web site: 2000 Metres Short Track - women - senior - all . 2024-10-14 . worldathletics.org.
26. Web site: 2 March 2024 . 3000m Final Race Analysis . 2 March 2024 . World Athletics.
27. Web site: 2 March 2024 . 3000m Final Race Analysis . 2 March 2024 . World Athletics.