1600 meters

Athletics 1600 Meters
World records
Men	Hicham El Guerrouj 3:41.84c (1999)
Women	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. That decision is not without controversy. 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

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

Sub-4:05 high school boys' 1600 m performers

Time	Athlete	State	Date & Location	Ref
3:57.08	Drew Griffith	Pennsylvania	(Butler), 2024
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
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.

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

Top high school girls' 1600 m performers

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.