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 common 1500m run.
| Athletics 1600 Meters | |
|---|---|
| World records | |
| Men |  Hicham El Guerrouj 3:41.83+ (1999) |
| Women |  Faith Kipyegon 4:06.20+ (2023) |
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.
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 SchoolinReston, 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 GuerroujofMorocco 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.
| 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 EfraimsonofCamas High SchoolinCamas, 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.
| 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 |
When converted down to 1600m, Hicham El Guerrouj ran an equivalent of a 3:41.83 1600m in his 1999 world record mile of 3:43.13.
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]
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.
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.
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.