# 200 metres straight

The 200 metres straight is a track and field outdoor event of 200 metres on a straight track.
In the 1960s, the straight 200 metres was a separate world record event for men until IAAF deleted this variation from its list of official records. The race was more common during the early to mid 20th century, when panhandle tracks, with 200 metre straightaways, were common. The United States Olympic Trials held the event on a straight until 1932.
Interest in the event was revived around 2009. Several street events, primarily in Manchester, Brussels and Boston have constructed special tracks to hold the races, inviting elite sprinters.
The imperial analogue of the 200 m straight is the 220 yards straight – held over 220 yards (201.17 m) – which has been contested at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships 38 times from 1887 to 1926.

## Record progression
### Men

| Time | Wind | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Place |
| 21.2 | | Bernard Wefers | United States | 30 May 1896 | New York City, United States |
| 21.2 | | Ralph Craig | United States | 28 May 1910 | Philadelphia, United States |
| 21.2 | | Donald Lippincott | United States | 31 May 1913 | Cambridge, United States |
| 21.2 | | Howard Drew | United States | 28 February 1914 | Claremont, United States |
| 21.2 | | George Parker | United States | 2 October 1914 | Fresno, United States |
| 20.8 | | Charlie Paddock | United States | 26 March 1921 | Berkeley, United States |
| 20.8 | | Charlie Paddock | United States | 6 September 1924 | West Orange, United States |
| 20.6 | | Roland Locke | United States | 1 May 1926 | Lincoln, United States |
| 20.6 | | Ralph Metcalfe | United States | 12 August 1933 | Budapest, Hungary |
| 20.3 | | Jesse Owens | United States | 25 May 1935 | Ann Arbor, United States |
| 20.2 | | Mel Patton | United States | 7 May 1949 | Los Angeles, United States |
| 20.1 | | Dave Sime | United States | 11 May 1956 | Durham, United States |
| 20.0 | | Dave Sime | United States | 9 June 1956 | Sanger, United States |
| 20.0 | | Frank Budd | United States | 12 May 1962 | Villanova, United States |
| 20.0 | | Tommie Smith | United States | 13 March 1965 | San Jose, United States |
| 19.5 | | Tommie Smith | United States | 7 May 1966 | San Jose, United States |
| 19.41 | -0.4 m/s | Tyson Gay | United States | 16 May 2010 | Manchester, United Kingdom |

### Women

| Time | Wind | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Place | Ref |
| 22.55 | +0.2 m/s | Allyson Felix | United States | 16 May 2010 | Manchester, United Kingdom | |
| 21.76 | +0.5 m/s | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas | 4 June 2017 | Boston, United States | |

## All-time top 25

* h = hand timing
* NWI = no wind measurement

### Men

| Rank | Result | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Place |
| 1 | 19.41 | −0.4 | Tyson Gay | United States | 16 May 2010 | Manchester |
| 2 | 19.5 h | NWI | Tommie Smith | United States | 7 May 1966 | San Jose |
| 3 | 19.84 | +0.6 | Wayde van Niekerk | South Africa | 4 June 2017 | Boston |
| 4 | 19.88 | +0.3 | Steven Gardiner | Bahamas | 20 May 2018 | Boston |
| 5 | 19.89 | -0.3 | Jerome Blake | Canada | 23 May 2021 | Boston |
| 6 | 19.93 | -0.3 | Zharnel Hughes | Great Britain | 23 May 2021 | Boston |
| 7 | 20.0 h | NWI | Frank Budd | United States | 12 May 1962 | Villanova |
| 7 | 20.0 h | NWI | Dave Sime | United States | 9 June 1956 | Sanger |
| 9 | 20.03 | +0.3 | Alonso Edward | Panama | 20 May 2018 | Boston |
| 9 | 20.03 | +0.3 | Jereem Richards | Trinidad and Tobago | 20 May 2018 | Boston |
| 11 | 20.09 | -0.2 | Kyle Greaux | Trinidad and Tobago | 16 June 2019 | Boston |
| 12 | 20.17 | +0.6 | BeeJay Lee | United States | 4 June 2017 | Boston |
| 13 | 20.2 h | NWI | Mel Patton | United States | 7 May 1949 | Los Angeles |
| 14 | 20.3 h | NWI | Jesse Owens | United States | 25 May 1935 | Ann Arbor |
| 15 | 20.36 | +0.3 | Josephus Lyles | United States | 20 May 2018 | Boston |
| 16 | 20.48 | −0.6 | Solomon Bockarie | Netherlands | 4 September 2016 | Brussels |
| 17 | 20.59 | −0.4 | Kim Collins | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 16 May 2010 | Manchester |
| 17 | 20.59 | +0.6 | Wallace Spearmon | United States | 4 June 2017 | Boston |
| 19 | 20.6 h | NWI | Roland Locke | United States | 1 May 1926 | Lincoln |
| 19 | 20.6 h | NWI | Ralph Metcalfe | United States | 12 August 1933 | Budapest |
| 21 | 20.64 | +0.2 | Jaysuma Saidy Ndure | Norway | 20 May 2012 | Manchester |
| 21 | 20.64 | -0.2 | Tony McQuay | United States | 16 June 2019 | Boston |
| 23 | 20.66 | -0.4 | Paul Hession | Ireland | 16 May 2010 | Manchester |
| 24 | 20.67 | +0.2 | James Ellington | Great Britain | 20 May 2012 | Manchester |
| 25 | 20.71 | +0.2 | David Neville | United States | 20 May 2012 | Manchester |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 20.71:
* Steven Gardiner also ran 20.49 (2019).
* Zharnel Hughes also ran 20.00 (2019).

### Women

* Correct as of June 2021.
| Rank | Result | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Place |
| 1 | 21.76 | +0.5 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas | 4 June 2017 | Boston |
| 2 | 22.16 | +0.9 | Anastasia Le-Roy | Jamaica | 20 May 2018 | Boston |
| 3 | 22.31 | +0.9 | Joanna Atkins | United States | 20 May 2018 | Boston |
| 4 | 22.40 | -0.1 | Kortnei Johnson | United States | 23 May 2021 | Boston |
| 5 | 22.43 | +0.9 | Shakima Wimbley | United States | 20 May 2018 | Boston |
| 6 | 22.50 | +0.5 | Natasha Hastings | United States | 4 June 2017 | Boston |
| 7 | 22.55 | +0.2 | Allyson Felix | United States | 16 May 2010 | Manchester |
| 8 | 22.57 | -0.1 | Wadeline Jonathas | United States | 23 May 2021 | Boston |
| 9 | 22.62 | -0.1 | Michelle-Lee Ahye | Trinidad and Tobago | 23 May 2021 | Boston |
| 10 | 22.71 | −0.3 | Sanya Richards-Ross | United States | 20 May 2012 | Manchester |
| 11 | 22.81 | +0.5 | Kimberlyn Duncan | United States | 4 June 2017 | Boston |
| 12 | 22.86 | +0.9 | Tynia Gaither | Bahamas | 20 May 2018 | Boston |
| 13 | 22.96 | +0.2 | Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie | Bahamas | 16 May 2010 | Manchester |
| 14 | 23.10 | +0.5 | Phyllis Francis | United States | 4 June 2017 | Boston |
| 15 | 23.24 | +0.1 | Lynna Irby | United States | 16 June 2019 | Boston |
| 16 | 23.29 | +0.2 | Emily Freeman | Great Britain | 16 May 2010 | Manchester |
| 17 | 23.31 | +0.1 | Felicia Brown | United States | 16 June 2019 | Boston |
| 18 | 23.46 | +0.1 | Jessica Beard | United States | 16 June 2019 | Boston |
| 19 | 23.53 | −0.3 | Denisa Rosolova | Czech Republic | 20 May 2012 | Manchester |
| 20 | 23.56 | −0.3 | Margaret Adeoye | Great Britain | 20 May 2012 | Manchester |
| 21 | 23.75 | +0.2 | Lee McConnell | Great Britain | 16 May 2010 | Manchester |
| 22 | 23.79 | −0.3 | Nicola Sanders | Great Britain | 20 May 2012 | Manchester |
| 23 | 24.20 | +0.6 | Olivia Borlée | Belgium | 4 September 2016 | Brussels |
| 24 | 25.06 | +0.6 | Elke Vereecken | Belgium | 4 September 2016 | Brussels |
| 25 | 25.25 | +0.6 | Ine Hugaerts | Belgium | 4 September 2016 | Brussels |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 25.25:
* Shaunae Miller-Uibo also ran 22.08 (2021).
* Tynia Gaither also ran 22.96 (2021).
* Anastasia Le-Roy also ran 23.12 (2019).
* Shakima Wimbley also ran 23.40 (2019).