Athletics Two miles
Athletics Two miles
World records
Men Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 7:54.10 (2023)Women Meseret Defar (ETH) 8:58.58 (2007)Short track world records
Men Josh Kerr (GBR) 8:00.67 (2024)Women Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 9:00.48 (2014)The 2 mile (3,520 yards, 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 It has been largely superseded by the 3000 m and 5000 m , and by the 3200 m in NFHS American high school competitions. 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 Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen on 9 June 2023 in Paris. Ingebrigtsen, along with previous world best holder Daniel Komen , are the only people to have run the distance in under 8 minutes, and thus covered two miles at an average sub-four-minute mile pace. The women's record is 8:58.58, set by Ethiopian Meseret Defar in Brussels on 14 September 2007.
Continental Bests Correct as of October 2024. Source: World Athletics Key WB = World best i = Indoor performance Area Men Women Time Athlete Nation Time Athlete Nation Africa (records 7:58.61 Daniel Komen Kenya 8:58.58 WB Meseret Defar Ethiopia Asia (records 8:13.16 Rashid Ramzi Bahrain 9:13.85 Mimi Belete Bahrain Europe (records 7:54.10 WB Jakob Ingebrigtsen Norway 9:04.84 i Laura Muir United Kingdom North, Central America and Caribbean (records 8:03.62 i Grant Fisher United States 9:09.70 i Alicia Monson United States Oceania (records 8:03.50 Craig Mottram Australia 9:13.94 i Kimberly Smith New Zealand South America (records 8:21.67 Hudson de Souza Brazil none
All-time top 25 Men (outdoor) Rank Result Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref 1 7:54.10 Jakob Ingebrigtsen Norway 9 June 2023 Paris 2 7:58.61 Daniel Komen Kenya 19 July 1997 Hechtel 3 8:01.08 Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia 31 May 1997 Hengelo 4 8:03.50 Craig Mottram Australia 10 June 2007 Eugene 5 8:04.83 Tariku Bekele Ethiopia 10 June 2007 Eugene 6 8:07.07 Matt Tegenkamp United States 10 June 2007 Eugene 7 8:07.54 Joshua Cheptegei Uganda 30 June 2019 Stanford 8 8:07.59 Paul Chelimo United States 30 June 2019 Stanford 9 8:07.68 Eliud Kipchoge Kenya 4 June 2005 Eugene 10 8:07.75 Mo Farah Great Britain 24 August 2014 Birmingham 11 8:08.69 Selemon Barega Ethiopia 30 June 2019 Stanford 12 8:09.01 Moses Kiptanui Kenya 30 July 1994 Hechtel 13 8:09.23 Ishamel Rokitto Kipkurui Kenya 9 June 2023 Paris 14 8:10.16 Jacob Kiplimo Uganda 21 August 2021 Eugene 15 8:10.34 Lamecha Girma Ethiopia 9 June 2023 Paris 16 8:10.59 Benjamin Limo Kenya 28 May 2006 Eugene 17 8:10.98 Khalid Boulami Morocco 6 July 1996 Hechtel 18 8:11.04 Berihu Aregawi Ethiopia 21 August 2021 Eugene 19 8:11.09 Grant Fisher United States 21 August 2021 Eugene 20 8:11.48 Alan Webb United States 4 June 2005 Eugene 21 8:11.55 Joe Klecker United States 21 August 2021 Eugene 22 8:11.59 Bob Kennedy United States 19 July 1997 Hechtel 23 8:11.62 Boaz Cheboiywo Kenya 4 June 2005 Eugene 24 8:11.73 Smail Sghir Morocco 6 July 1996 Hechtel 25 8:11.74 Dathan Ritzenhein United States 10 June 2007 Eugene
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 8:07.46:
Daniel Komen also ran 7:58.91 (1998), 8:03.54 (1996).Haile Gebrselassie also ran 8:01.72 (1999), 8:01.86 (1999), 8:07.46 (1995).Women (outdoor) Rank Result Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref 1 8:58.58 Meseret Defar Ethiopia 14 September 2007 Brussels 2 8:59.08 Francine Niyonsaba Burundi 27 May 2022 Eugene 3 9:06.74 Letesenbet Gidey Ethiopia 20 August 2021 Eugene 4 9:11.49 Mercy Cherono Kenya 24 August 2014 Birmingham 5 9:11.97 Mx Regina Jacobs United States 12 August 1999 Los Gatos 6 9:12.59 Viola Kibiwott Kenya 24 August 2014 Birmingham 7 9:12.90 Irene Jelagat Kenya 24 August 2014 Birmingham 8 9:13.85 Mimi Belete Bahrain 31 May 2014 Eugene 9 9:14.09 Priscah Cherono Kenya 14 September 2007 Brussels 10 9:14.55 Hellen Obiri Kenya 20 August 2021 Eugene 11 9:14.71 Beatrice Chebet Kenya 27 May 2022 Eugene 12 9:15.74 Laura Galván Mexico 27 May 2022 Eugene 13 9:16.62 Sylvia Kibet Kenya 14 September 2007 Brussels 14 9:16.73 Konstanze Klosterhalfen Germany 27 May 2022 Eugene 15 9:16.78 Jenny Simpson United States 27 April 2018 Des Moines 16 9:16.95 Betsy Saina Kenya 24 August 2014 Birmingham 17 9:17.62 Helen Schlachenhaufen United States 27 May 2022 Eugene 18 9:17.75 Jane Hedengren United States 8 June 2025 Renton 19 9:18.73 Elly Henes United States 27 May 2022 Eugene 20 9:19.01 Edinah Jebitok Kenya 27 May 2022 Eugene 21 9:19.56 Sonia O'Sullivan Ireland 27 June 1998 Cork City 22 9:20.17 Eleanor Fulton United States 27 May 2022 Eugene 23 9:20.19 Whittni Morgan United States 27 May 2022 Eugene 24 9:20.25 Shannon Rowbury United States 31 May 2014 Eugene 25 9:20.81 Alemitu Haroye Ethiopia 24 August 2014 Birmingham
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 9:14.55:
Francine Niyonsaba also ran 9:00.75 (2021).Meseret Defar also ran 9:10.47 (2007)Mercy Cherono also ran 9:13.27 (2014).Men (indoor) Correct as of February 2026. Rank Result Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref 1 8:00.67 Josh Kerr Great Britain 11 February 2024 New York City 2 8:03.40 Mo Farah Great Britain 21 February 2015 Birmingham 3 8:03.62 Grant Fisher United States 11 February 2024 New York City 4 8:04.35 Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia 16 February 2008 Birmingham 5 8:04.69 Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia 21 February 2003 Birmingham 6 8:05.70 Cole Hocker United States 11 February 2024 New York City 7 8:05.73 Geordie Beamish New Zealand 11 February 2024 New York City 8 8:06.48 Paul Koech Kenya 16 February 2008 Birmingham 9 8:06.61 Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 23 February 2003 Liévin 10 8:07.39 Eliud Kipchoge Kenya 18 February 2012 Birmingham 11 8:07.41 Galen Rupp United States 24 January 2014 Boston 12 8:07.83 Parker Wolfe United States 1 February 2026 New York City 13 8:08.16 Moses Kipsiro Uganda 18 February 2012 Birmingham 14 8:08.27 Tariku Bekele Ethiopia 18 February 2012 Birmingham 15 8:08.39 Markos Geneti Ethiopia 20 February 2004 Birmingham 16 8:08.40 Ky Robinson Australia 1 February 2026 New York City 17 8:08.60 Graham Blanks United States 1 February 2026 New York City 18 8:08.91 Cooper Teare United States 1 February 2026 New York City 19 8:09.49 Bernard Lagat United States 16 February 2013 New York City 20 8:09.66 Hailu Mekonnen Ethiopia 18 February 2001 Birmingham 21 8:10.78 Arne Gabius Germany 18 February 2012 Birmingham 22 8:10.91 Drew Hunter United States 1 February 2026 New York City 23 8:11.33 Ben True United States 11 February 2017 New York City 24 8:11.47 Habtom Samuel Eritrea 1 February 2026 New York City 25 8:11.56 Ryan Hill United States 11 February 2017 New York City
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 8:11.56:
Cole Hocker also ran 8:07.31 (2026).Josh Kerr also ran 8:07.68 (2026)Geordie Beamish also ran 8:08.58 (2026).Women (indoor) Correct as of February 2024. Rank Result Athlete Nationality Date Place Ref 1 9:00.48 Genzebe Dibaba Ethiopia 15 February 2014 Birmingham 2 9:04.84 Laura Muir United Kingdom 11 February 2024 New York City 3 9:06.26 Meseret Defar Ethiopia 26 February 2009 Prague 4 9:07.12 Melknat Wudu Ethiopia 11 February 2024 New York City 5 9:09.70 Alicia Monson United States 11 February 2024 New York City 6 9:10.28 Elinor Purrier United States 13 February 2021 New York City 7 9:12.23 Tirunesh Dibaba Ethiopia 20 February 2010 Birmingham 8 9:12.35 Vivian Cheruiyot Kenya 20 February 2010 Birmingham 9 9:12.68 Sentayehu Ejigu Ethiopia 20 February 2010 Birmingham 10 9:13.94 Kim Smith New Zealand 26 January 2008 Boston 11 9:15.71 Emma Coburn United States 13 February 2021 New York City 12 9:15.80 Nikki Hiltz United States 11 February 2024 New York City 13 9:16.76 Nozomi Tanaka Japan 11 February 2024 New York City 14 9:18.29 Emily Mackay United States 11 February 2024 New York City 15 9:18.35 Jenny Simpson United States 7 February 2015 Boston 16 9:19.39 Jessica Augusto Portugal 20 February 2010 Birmingham 17 9:21.04 Sally Kipyego Kenya 8 February 2014 Boston 18 9:21.59 Hiwot Ayalew Ethiopia 15 February 2014 Birmingham 19 9:22.66 Julie-Anne Staehli Canada 13 February 2021 New York City 20 9:23.38 Regina Jacobs United States 27 January 2002 Boston 21 9:23.58 Emily Infeld United States 11 February 2024 New York City 22 9:24.71 Courtney Wayment United States 11 February 2024 New York City 23 9:26.87 Emily Lipari United States 13 February 2021 New York City 24 9:26.95 Helen Schlachenhaufen United States 13 February 2021 New York City 25 9:27.45 Katrina Coogan United States 13 February 2021 New York City
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 9:13.94:
Meseret Defar also ran 9:06.26 (2009), 9:10.50 (2008)World Best Performance progression Men Outdoors Time Athlete Date Place 9:17.0 Alfred Shrubb (GBR)1903-09-12 London, United Kingdom 9:08.4 Alfred Shrubb (GBR)1904-06-11 Glasgow , United Kingdom9:08.4 Edvin Wide (SWE)1925-06-23 Kramfors , Sweden9:01.4 Edvin Wide (SWE)1926-09-12 Berlin, Germany 8:59.6 Paavo Nurmi (FIN)1931-06-24 Helsinki , Finland8:58.4 Don Lash (USA)1936-06-13 Princeton , USA8:57.4 Gunnar Höckert (FIN)1936-09-24 Stockholm , Sweden8:56.0 Miklós Szabó (HUN)1937-09-30 Budapest , Hungary8:53.2 Taisto Mäki (FIN)1939-06-07 Helsinki , Finland8:47.8 Gunder Hägg (SWE)1942-06-03 Stockholm , Sweden8:46.4 Gunder Hägg (SWE)1944-06-25 Östersund , Sweden8:42.8 Gunder Hägg (SWE)1944-08-04 Stockholm , Sweden8:40.4 Gaston Reiff (BEL)1952-08-26 Paris, France 8:33.4 Sándor Iharos (HUN)1955-05-30 London, United Kingdom 8:32.0 Albie Thomas (AUS)1958-08-07 Dublin , Ireland8:30.0 Murray Halberg (NZL)1961-06-07 Jyväskylä , Finland8:29.8 Jim Beatty (USA)1962-06-08 Los Angeles, USA 8:29.6 Michel Jazy (FRA)1963-06-06 Paris, France 8:26.4 Bob Schul (USA)1964-08-29 Los Angeles, USA 8:22.6 Michel Jazy (FRA)1965-06-23 Melun , France8:19.8 Ron Clarke (AUS)1967-07-27 Västerås , Sweden8:19.6 Ron Clarke (AUS)1968-08-24 London, United Kingdom 8:17.8 Emiel Puttemans (BEL)1971-08-21 Edinburgh , United Kingdom8:14.0 Lasse Virén (FIN)1972-08-14 Stockholm , Sweden8:13.8 Brendan Foster (GBR)1973-08-27 London, United Kingdom 8:13.51 Steve Ovett (GBR)1978-09-15 London, United Kingdom 8:13.45 Saïd Aouita (MAR)1987-05-28 Turin , Italy8:12.17 Khalid Skah (MAR)1993-06-30 Hechtel , Belgium8:09.01 Moses Kiptanui (KEN)1994-06-30 Hechtel , Belgium8:07.46 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)1995-05-27 Kerkrade , Netherlands8:03.54 Daniel Komen (KEN)1996-07-14 Lappeenranta , Finland8:01.08 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)1997-05-31 Hengelo , Netherlands7:58.61 Daniel Komen (KEN)1997-07-19 Hechtel , Belgium7:54.10 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR)2023-06-09 Paris , France
Indoors Time Athlete Date Place 8:09.66 Hailu Mekonnen (ETH)2000-02-20 Birmingham , United Kingdom8:04.69 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)2003-02-21 Birmingham , United Kingdom8:04.35 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)2008-02-16 Birmingham , United Kingdom8:03.40 Mo Farah (GBR)2015-02-21 Birmingham , United Kingdom8:00.67 Josh Kerr (GBR)2024-02-11 New York City , United States
Women Outdoors Time Athlete Date Place 10:07.0 Doris Brown (USA)1971-07-10 Bakersfield , USA9:55.9 Francie Larrieu (USA)1972-06-04 Redwood City , USA9:19.56 Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL)1998-06-27 Cork , Ireland9:10.47 Meseret Defar (ETH)2007-05-20 Carson , USA8:58.58 Meseret Defar (ETH)2007-09-14 Brussels , Belgium
Indoors Time Athlete Date Place 9:28.15 Lynn Jennings (USA)1986-02-20 New York City , USA9:23.38 Regina Jacobs (USA)2002-01-27 Boston , USA9:10.50 Meseret Defar (ETH)2008-01-26 Boston , USA9:06.26 Meseret Defar (ETH)2009-02-26 Prague , Czech Republic9:00.48 Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)2014-02-15 Birmingham , 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.
Time Athlete School City Date Place (8:40.0 h i) Gerry Lindgren Rogers High School Spokane, Washington 15 February 1964 Cow Palace , Daly City, California 8:57.8 h Mike Ryan Wilcox High School Santa Clara, California 1965 8:48.3 h Rick Riley Ferris High School Spokane, Washington 28 May 1966 Washington State Championships 8:41.5 h Steve Prefontaine Marshfield High School Coos Bay, Oregon 25 April 1969 Corvallis Invitational, Corvallis, Oregon 8:40.9 h Craig Virgin Lebanon High School Lebanon, Illinois 9 June 1973 International Prep Invitational, Prospect, Illinois 8:36.3 h Jeff Nelson Burbank High School Burbank, California 6 May 1979 Pepsi Invitational, Westwood, Los Angeles, California 8:34.23 German Fernandez Riverbank High School Riverbank, California 20 June 2008 Nike Outdoor Nationals, Greensboro, North Carolina 8:29.46 Lukas Verzbicas Carl Sandburg High School Orland Hills, Illinois 4 June 2011 Prefontaine Classic , Eugene, Oregon
See also Notes External links