1600 meters

Athletics
1600 Meters
World records
MenMorocco Hicham El Guerrouj 3:41.84c (1999)
WomenKenya Faith Kipyegon 4:06.20c (2023)

1600 meters is a middle distance track and field running event that is slightly shorter than the more common mile run, and 100 meters longer than the much more frequent 1500m run.

It is a standardized event in track meets conducted by the NFHS in American high school competition, often being colloquially referred to as "the mile".

When the organization went through metrication, finalized with their 1980 rule book, the 4 lap around a 440 yard, imperial-measured mile run, was replaced by the closest metric distance, 4 laps around a 400 meter track, or 8 laps around an indoor 200 meter track.[1] That decision is not without controversy.[2] The race is 9.344 meters shorter, similarly to the 3200 meter run being 18.688 meters short of 2 miles. Other organizations have followed the lead of World Athletics and use the 1500 meters as the closest equivalent.

American high school records[note 1]

The current male high school record holder in the 1600m is Drew Griffith, who ran 3:57.08 against other high schoolers at the PIAA Class 3A Championships.

Griffith took the record from Alan Webb, who ran for South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia. Webb ran 3:59.51 at the Arcadia Invitational against high school athletes on April 14, 2001. Six weeks later, Webb ran a mile against seasoned international runners at the Prefontaine Classic, including world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco and the 2000 Summer Olympics' 1500 metres bronze medalist Bernard Lagat. Webb was timed in 3:51.83 for 1600m (en route to the high school mile record in 3:53.43). Webb was technically still in high school at the time, but the NFHS only recognizes the race against other high school competitors.

Several other high schoolers have run faster than Griffith's 3:57.08 1600m, including Gary Martin (3:57.98 mile, 3:56.60 1600m) in 2022 and Jim Ryun (3:58.3 mile, 3:56.92 1600m) in 1965.

All-time outdoor top 20 high school boys' times[note 2]

Sub-4:05 high school boys' 1600 m performers[3]
Time Athlete State Date & Location Ref
3:57.08 Drew Griffith  Pennsylvania (Butler), 2024 [4]
3:59.51 Alan Webb  Virginia (Reston South Lakes) at Arcadia, CA, 2001
3:59.54 Michael Slagowski  Idaho (Meridian), 2016
4:00.28 Grant Fisher  Michigan (Grand Blanc), 2015
4:00.29 German Fernandez  California (Riverbank), 2008
4:02.30 Sam Worley  Texas (Comal Canyon), 2017
4:02.49 Reed Brown  Texas (Southlake Carroll), 2017
4:02.62 Ryan Hall  California (Big Bear), 2001
4:03.00 Austin Mudd  Indiana (Greenwood Center Grove), 2011
4:03.22 Paul Vandergrift  Pennsylvania (Cnshhckn. Archbshp. Kndy.), 1987
4:03.59 John Quade  Washington (Woodinville), 1985
4:03.80 John Robinson  Texas (Pasadena Dobie), 1980
4:03:27 Steve Magness  Texas (Klein Oak), 2003
4:04.00 Michael Stember  California (Carmichael Jesuit), 1995
4:04.09 Matthew Centrowitz, Jr.  Maryland (Annapolis Broadneck), 2007
4.04.49 Luke Pash  New Jersey (Ridgewood), 2024 [5]
4:04.70 Gabe Fendel  Indiana (Hamilton Southeastern), 2017
4:04.91 Tyler Sainsbury  Idaho (Rocky Mountain) at Pasco Invitational, WA, 2023
4:04.95 A.J. Acosta  California (Oceanside El Camino), 2006
4:04.97 Gabe Jennings  Wisconsin (Madison East), 1997

The female record is less disputed, as Alexa Efraimson of Camas High School in Camas, Washington ran her 4:33.29 at the Washington State 4A Championships, exclusively against other high school girls, in 2014. In 2022, Sadie Engelhardt tied Efraimson's record.

However, some high school girls have run faster than Efraimson, though this is not recognized by the NFHS, who only recognizes times in a 1600m race against other high schoolers.

First, on April 6, 2024, Engelhardt broke Efraimson's record by running 4:32.48, though this has not yet been ratified by the NFHS.

Furthermore, Katelyn Tuohy ran a 4:32.28 1600m en route to her 2018 outdoor high school mile record of 4:33.87. Tuohy's record has since been broken three times, which have not yet been ratified by the NFHS.

First, on April 19, 2024, Sadie Engelhardt ran a 4:31.72 mile at the Mt. SAC Relays, which converts to a 4:30.14 1600m.

Next, on May 30, 2024, at the HOKA Festival of Miles, Allie Zealand ran a 4:30.38 mile which converts to a 4:28.81 1600m against other high schoolers. Lastly, in the race after Zealand, against professionals, Engelhardt ran a 4:28.26 mile, which converts to a 4:26.70 1600m.[6]

Moving forward, Mary Cain's 2013 indoor high school mile record of 4:28.25 converts to a 4:26.69 1600m, though the NFHS does not recognize this as the high school girls' 1600m record.

Finally, in 2022, Addy Wiley ran a 4:26.16 1600m, which has not yet been ratified by NFHS.

All-time outdoor top 20 high school girls' times[note 2]

Top high school girls' 1600 m performers[7]
Time Athlete State Date & Location
4:32.48 Sadie Engelhardt  California (Ventura) at Arcadia, CA, 4-6, 2024
4:33.29 Alexa Efraimson  Washington (Camas) at Tacoma, WA, 5-29, 2014
4:33.29 Sadie Engelhardt  California (Ventura) at Arcadia, CA, 4-10, 2022
4:33.82 Christine Babcock  California (Irvine Woodbridge) at Norwalk, CA, 2008
4:36.57 Christine Babcock  California (Irvine Woodbridge), 2008
4:37.07 Taryn Parks  Pennsylvania (Greencastle), 2019
4:37.45 Marlee Starliper  Pennsylvania (Dillsburg Northern York), 2019
4:38.15 Alex Kosinski  California (El Dorado Hills Oak Ridge), 2007
4:38.85 Christine Babcock  California (Irvine Woodbridge), 2007
4:39.13 Jordan Hasay  California (San Luis Obispo Mission Prep), 2007
4:39.23 Hannah Meier  Michigan (Grosse Pointe South), 2013
4:39.33 Amanda Gehrich  California (Tesoro), 2015
4:39.4 Laura Matson  Michigan (Bloomfield Hills-Andover), 1985
4:39.88 Marissa Williams  California (Palisades), 2015
4:39.92 Polly Anne Plumer  California (Irvine University), 1982
4:40.88 Cami Chapus  California (Harvard-Westlake), 2011
4:41.08 Kim Gallagher  Pennsylvania (Fort Washington Upper Dublin), 1981
4:41.29 Christine Babcock  California (Irvine Woodbridge), 2006
4:41.29 Brynn Brown  Texas (Denton Guyer), 2021
4:42.10 Annie St. Geme  California (Newport. Beach Corona del Mar), 2006

Equivalent world bests

Outdoor

When converted down to 1600m, Hicham El Guerrouj ran an equivalent of a 3:41.84 1600m in his 1999 world record mile of 3:43.13.[8]

Likewise, when converted down to 1600m, Faith Kipyegon ran an equivalent of a 4:06.20 1600m in her 2023 world record mile of 4:07.64.[8]

Indoor

When converted down to 1600m, Yomif Kejelcha ran an equivalent of a 3:45.69 1600m in his 2019 world record mile of 3:47.01.[8]

Likewise, when converted down to 1600m, Genzebe Dibaba ran an equivalent of a 4:11.84 1600m in her 2016 world record mile of 4:13.31.[8]

Relays

1600 meters is also the distance of the final leg of a distance medley relay, because it is an even 4 laps where at 3.75 laps, the 1500 would require the start line or finish line to be moved.

The term when used in the phrase 1600 meter relay, usually is referring to the 4x400 meter relay, however the 2-2-4-8 version of the sprint medley relay is also 1600 meters.

Notes

  1. ^ References List of United States high school national records in track and field
  2. ^ a b In high-school only 1600m races, and not en-route to the mile. May not be perfectly up to date.

References

  1. ^ "Search Mile History click + icon - Mile History". Bring Back the Mile.
  2. ^ "Track debate: Mile or 1,600? - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. May 4, 2012.
  3. ^ "Record Books".
  4. ^ Chris Harlan (24 May 2024). "Butler's Drew Griffith breaks national 1,600-meter record at PIAA track championships". tribhssn.triblive.com. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  5. ^ Steven Bassin (12 June 2024). "Ridgewood's Pash blasts boys 1,600-meter record at 2024 Meet of Champions". nj.com. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  6. ^ "AthleticLIVE". field.brrm.com. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  7. ^ "Record Books".
  8. ^ a b c d "Running Conversion Calculator - MileSplit".