3000 metres

The 3000 metres or 3000-metre run is a track running event, also commonly known as the "3K" or "3K run", where 7.5 laps are run around an outdoor 400m track, or 15 laps around a 200m indoor track.

It is debated whether the 3000m should be classified as a middle-distance or long-distance event. In elite-level competition, 3000m pace is more comparable to the pace found in the longer 5000 metres event, rather than mile pace. The men's world record performance for 3000m equates to a pace of 58.34seconds per 400m, which is closer to the 60.43seconds for 5000m than the 55.46seconds for the mile. However, the 3000m does require some anaerobic conditioning, and an elite athlete needs to develop a high tolerance to lactic acid, as does the mile runner. Thus, the 3000m demands a balance of aerobic endurance needed for the 5000m and lactic acid tolerance needed for the mile.

In men's athletics, 3000 metres has been an Olympic discipline only as a team race at the 1912, 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics. It has not been contested at any of the IAAF outdoor championships, but it is occasionally hosted at annual elite track and field meetings. It is often featured in indoor track and field programmes and is the longest-distance event present at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.

In women's athletics, 3000metres was a standard event in the Olympic Games (1984 to 1992) and World Championships (1980 to 1993). The event was discontinued at World Championship and Olympic level after the 1993 World Championships in Athletics, with Qu Yunxia being the final gold medal winner at the event. Starting with the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 1996 Olympic Games, it was replaced by 5000metres, with other IAAF-organized championships following suit.

Skilled runners in this event reach speeds near vVO2max, for which the oxygen requirements of the body cannot continuously be satisfied, requiring some anaerobic effort.[further explanation needed]

Records

World records

• Updated 25 August 2024.

Short track world records

• Updated 8 February 2025.

Area records

• Updated 9 July 2026.

All-time top 25

Outdoor men

• Correct as of May 2026.

Outdoor women

• Correct as of July 2026.

Indoor men

• Correct as of March 2026.

Indoor women

• Correct as of March 2026.

Medalists

Women's Olympic medalists

Women's World Championships medalists

Men's World Indoor Championships medalists

Women's World Indoor Championships medalists

• A Known as the World Indoor Games

World leading times

See also

• 3200 meters
• 2 miles

Notes and references

External links

• 31 March 2022 at theWayback Machine