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1600 meters
Middle-distance running event From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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 1500 m run.
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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" or "the metric 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.
While World Athletics does not recognize an official world record or world best in the 1600 meters, the mile run can be used as an approximation.[3]
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American high school records[note 1]
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The current male high school record holder in the 1600 m 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 1600 m (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 1600 m, including Gary Martin (3:57.98 mile, 3:56.60 1600 m) in 2022 and Jim Ryun (3:58.3 mile, 3:56.92 1600 m) in 1965.
All-time outdoor top high school boys' times[note 2]
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 1600 m 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 1600 m 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 1600 m.
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 1600 m 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 1600 m.[8]
Moving forward, Mary Cain's 2013 indoor high school mile record of 4:28.25 converts to a 4:26.69 1600 m, though the NFHS does not recognize this as the high school girls' 1600 m record.
Finally, in 2022, Addy Wiley ran a 4:26.16 1600 m, which has not yet been ratified by NFHS.
All-time outdoor top 20 high school girls' times[note 2]
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Equivalent world bests
Outdoor
When converted down to 1600 m, Hicham El Guerrouj ran an equivalent of a 3:41.84 1600 m in his 1999 world record mile of 3:43.13.[10]
Likewise, when converted down to 1600 m, Faith Kipyegon ran an equivalent of a 4:06.20 1600 m in her 2023 world record mile of 4:07.64.[10]
Indoor
When converted down to 1600 m, Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran an equivalent of a 3:43.83 1600 m in his 2025 world record mile of 3:45.14.[10]
Likewise, when converted down to 1600 m, Genzebe Dibaba ran an equivalent of a 4:11.84 1600 m in her 2016 world record mile of 4:13.31.[10]
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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 4 × 400 meter relay, however the 2-2-4-8 version of the sprint medley relay is also 1600 meters.
Notes
- In high-school only 1600 m races, and not en-route to the mile. May not be perfectly up to date.
See also
References
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