# Two miles

The 2 mile (3,520 yards, 10,560 feet, or exactly 3,218.688 metres) is a historic running distance. Like the mile run, it is still contested at some invitational meets due its historical chronology in the United States and United Kingdom. It has been largely superseded by the 3000 m (approximately 1.864 miles) and 5000 m, and by the 3200 m in NFHS American high school competitions (18.688m short of 2 miles). The IAAF no longer keeps official world records for this distance; they are called world best instead.
The world best for men is 7:54.10 set by Jakob Ingebrigtsen on 9 June 2023 in Paris. Ingebrigtsen, along with previous world best holder Daniel Komen, are the only people to have run the distance in under 8 minutes, and thus covered two miles at an average sub-four-minute mile pace. The women's record is 8:58.58, set by Ethiopian Meseret Defar in Brussels, Belgium on 14 September 2007.

## Continental Bests

* Correct as of October 2024. Source: World Athletics

### Key

* WB = World best
* (i) = Indoor performance
| Area | Men | Men | Men | Women | Women | Women |
| Area | Time | Athlete | Nation | Time | Athlete | Nation |
| Africa (records) | 7:58.61 | Daniel Komen | Kenya | 8:58.58 WB | Meseret Defar | Ethiopia |
| Asia (records) | 8:13.16 | Rashid Ramzi | Bahrain | 9:13.85 | Mimi Belete | Bahrain |
| Europe (records) | 7:54.10 WB | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway | 9:04.84 (i) | Laura Muir | United Kingdom |
| North, Central America and Caribbean (records) | 8:03.62 (i) | Grant Fisher | United States | 9:09.70 (i) | Alicia Monson | United States |
| Oceania (records) | 8:03.50 | Craig Mottram | Australia | 9:13.94 (i) | Kimberly Smith | New Zealand |
| South America (records) | 8:21.67 | Hudson de Souza | Brazil | none | none | none |

## All-time top 25

* Mx = mixed race

### Men (outdoor)

* Correct as of June 2023.
| Rank | Result | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Place |
| 1 | 7:54.10 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway | 9 June 2023 | Paris |
| 2 | 7:58.61 | Daniel Komen | Kenya | 19 July 1997 | Hechtel |
| 3 | 8:01.08 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia | 31 May 1997 | Hengelo |
| 4 | 8:03.50 | Craig Mottram | Australia | 10 June 2007 | Eugene |
| 5 | 8:04.83 | Tariku Bekele | Ethiopia | 10 June 2007 | Eugene |
| 6 | 8:07.07 | Matt Tegenkamp | United States | 10 June 2007 | Eugene |
| 7 | 8:07.54 | Joshua Cheptegei | Uganda | 30 June 2019 | Stanford |
| 8 | 8:07.59 | Paul Chelimo | United States | 30 June 2019 | Stanford |
| 9 | 8:07.68 | Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya | 4 June 2005 | Eugene |
| 10 | 8:07.75 | Mo Farah | Great Britain | 24 August 2014 | Birmingham |
| 11 | 8:08.69 | Selemon Barega | Ethiopia | 30 June 2019 | Stanford |
| 12 | 8:09.01 | Moses Kiptanui | Kenya | 30 July 1994 | Hechtel |
| 13 | 8:09.23 | Ishamel Rokitto Kipkurui | Kenya | 9 June 2023 | Paris |
| 14 | 8:10.16 | Jacob Kiplimo | Uganda | 21 August 2021 | Eugene |
| 15 | 8:10.34 | Lamecha Girma | Ethiopia | 9 June 2023 | Paris |
| 16 | 8:10.59 | Benjamin Limo | Kenya | 28 May 2006 | Eugene |
| 17 | 8:10.98 | Khalid Boulami | Morocco | 6 July 1996 | Hechtel |
| 18 | 8:11.04 | Berihu Aregawi | Ethiopia | 21 August 2021 | Eugene |
| 19 | 8:11.09 | Grant Fisher | United States | 21 August 2021 | Eugene |
| 20 | 8:11.48 | Alan Webb | United States | 4 June 2005 | Eugene |
| 21 | 8:11.55 | Joe Klecker | United States | 21 August 2021 | Eugene |
| 22 | 8:11.59 | Bob Kennedy | United States | 19 July 1997 | Hechtel |
| 23 | 8:11.62 | Boaz Cheboiywo | Kenya | 4 June 2005 | Eugene |
| 24 | 8:11.73 | Smail Sghir | Morocco | 6 July 1996 | Hechtel |
| 25 | 8:11.74 | Dathan Ritzenhein | United States | 10 June 2007 | Eugene |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 8:07.46:
* Daniel Komen also ran 7:58.91 (1998), 8:03.54 (1996).
* Haile Gebrselassie also ran 8:01.72 (1999), 8:01.86 (1999), 8:07.46 (1995).

### Women (outdoor)

* Correct as of May 2022.
| Rank | Result | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Place |
| 1 | 8:58.58 | Meseret Defar | Ethiopia | 14 September 2007 | Brussels |
| 2 | 8:59.08 | Francine Niyonsaba | Burundi | 27 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 3 | 9:06.74 | Letesenbet Gidey | Ethiopia | 20 August 2021 | Eugene |
| 4 | 9:11.49 | Mercy Cherono | Kenya | 24 August 2014 | Birmingham |
| 5 | 9:11.97 Mx | Regina Jacobs | United States | 12 August 1999 | Los Gatos |
| 6 | 9:12.59 | Viola Kibiwott | Kenya | 24 August 2014 | Birmingham |
| 7 | 9:12.90 | Irene Jelagat | Kenya | 24 August 2014 | Birmingham |
| 8 | 9:13.85 | Mimi Belete | Bahrain | 31 May 2014 | Eugene |
| 9 | 9:14.09 | Priscah Cherono | Kenya | 14 September 2007 | Brussels |
| 10 | 9:14.55 | Hellen Obiri | Kenya | 20 August 2021 | Eugene |
| 11 | 9:14.71 | Beatrice Chebet | Kenya | 27 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 12 | 9:15.74 | Laura Galván | Mexico | 27 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 13 | 9:16.62 | Sylvia Kibet | Kenya | 14 September 2007 | Brussels |
| 14 | 9:16.73 | Konstanze Klosterhalfen | Germany | 27 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 15 | 9:16.78 | Jenny Simpson | United States | 27 April 2018 | Des Moines |
| 16 | 9:16.95 | Betsy Saina | Kenya | 24 August 2014 | Birmingham |
| 17 | 9:17.62 | Helen Schlachenhaufen | United States | 27 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 18 | 9:18.73 | Elly Henes | United States | 27 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 19 | 9:19.01 | Edinah Jebitok | Kenya | 27 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 20 | 9:19.56 | Sonia O'Sullivan | Ireland | 27 June 1998 | Cork City |
| 21 | 9:20.17 | Eleanor Fulton | United States | 27 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 22 | 9:20.19 | Whittni Morgan | United States | 27 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 23 | 9:20.25 | Shannon Rowbury | United States | 31 May 2014 | Eugene |
| 24 | 9:20.81 | Alemitu Haroye | Ethiopia | 24 August 2014 | Birmingham |
| 25 | 9:21.35 | Amy Rudolph | United States | 27 June 1998 | Cork City |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 9:14.55:
* Francine Niyonsaba also ran 9:00.75 (2021).
* Meseret Defar also ran 9:10.47 (2007)
* Mercy Cherono also ran 9:13.27 (2014).

### Men (indoor)

* Correct as of February 2024.
| Rank | Result | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Place |
| 1 | 8:00.67 | Josh Kerr | Great Britain | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 2 | 8:03.40 | Mo Farah | Great Britain | 21 February 2015 | Birmingham |
| 3 | 8:03.62 | Grant Fisher | United States | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 4 | 8:04.35 | Kenenisa Bekele | Ethiopia | 16 February 2008 | Birmingham |
| 5 | 8:04.69 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia | 21 February 2003 | Birmingham |
| 6 | 8:05.70 | Cole Hocker | United States | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 7 | 8:05.73 | Geordie Beamish | New Zealand | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 8 | 8:06.48 | Paul Koech | Kenya | 16 February 2008 | Birmingham |
| 9 | 8:06.61 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco | 23 February 2003 | Liévin |
| 10 | 8:07.39 | Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya | 18 February 2012 | Birmingham |
| 11 | 8:07.41 | Galen Rupp | United States | 24 January 2014 | Boston |
| 12 | 8:08.16 | Moses Kipsiro | Uganda | 18 February 2012 | Birmingham |
| 13 | 8:08.27 | Tariku Bekele | Ethiopia | 18 February 2012 | Birmingham |
| 14 | 8:08.39 | Markos Geneti | Ethiopia | 20 February 2004 | Birmingham |
| 15 | 8:09.49 | Bernard Lagat | United States | 16 February 2013 | New York City |
| 16 | 8:09.66 | Hailu Mekonnen | Ethiopia | 18 February 2001 | Birmingham |
| 17 | 8:10.78 | Arne Gabius | Germany | 18 February 2012 | Birmingham |
| 18 | 8:11.33 | Ben True | United States | 11 February 2017 | New York City |
| 19 | 8:11.56 | Ryan Hill | United States | 11 February 2017 | New York City |
| 20 | 8:12.01 | Morgan McDonald | Australia | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 21 | 8:12.10 | Million Wolde | Ethiopia | 18 February 2001 | Birmingham |
| 22 | 8:12.63 | Andrew Butchart | Great Britain | 11 February 2017 | New York City |
| 23 | 8:12.80 | Girma Tola | Ethiopia | 18 February 2001 | Birmingham |
| 24 | 8:13.02 | Andrew Bumbalough | United States | 16 February 2013 | New York City |
| 25 | 8:13.16 | Mohammed Ahmed | Canada | 11 February 2017 | New York City |

### Women (indoor)

* Correct as of February 2024.
| Rank | Result | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Place |
| 1 | 9:00.48 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia | 15 February 2014 | Birmingham |
| 2 | 9:04.84 | Laura Muir | United Kingdom | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 3 | 9:06.26 | Meseret Defar | Ethiopia | 26 February 2009 | Prague |
| 4 | 9:07.12 | Melknat Wudu | Ethiopia | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 5 | 9:09.70 | Alicia Monson | United States | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 6 | 9:10.28 | Elinor Purrier | United States | 13 February 2021 | New York City |
| 7 | 9:12.23 | Tirunesh Dibaba | Ethiopia | 20 February 2010 | Birmingham |
| 8 | 9:12.35 | Vivian Cheruiyot | Kenya | 20 February 2010 | Birmingham |
| 9 | 9:12.68 | Sentayehu Ejigu | Ethiopia | 20 February 2010 | Birmingham |
| 10 | 9:13.94 | Kim Smith | New Zealand | 26 January 2008 | Boston |
| 11 | 9:15.71 | Emma Coburn | United States | 13 February 2021 | New York City |
| 12 | 9:15.80 | Nikki Hiltz | United States | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 13 | 9:16.76 | Nozomi Tanaka | Japan | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 14 | 9:18.29 | Emily Mackay | United States | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 15 | 9:18.35 | Jenny Simpson | United States | 7 February 2015 | Boston |
| 16 | 9:19.39 | Jessica Augusto | Portugal | 20 February 2010 | Birmingham |
| 17 | 9:21.04 | Sally Kipyego | Kenya | 8 February 2014 | Boston |
| 18 | 9:21.59 | Hiwot Ayalew | Ethiopia | 15 February 2014 | Birmingham |
| 19 | 9:22.66 | Julie-Anne Staehli | Canada | 13 February 2021 | New York City |
| 20 | 9:23.38 | Regina Jacobs | United States | 27 January 2002 | Boston |
| 21 | 9:23.58 | Emily Infeld | United States | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 22 | 9:24.71 | Courtney Wayment | United States | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 23 | 9:26.87 | Emily Lipari | United States | 13 February 2021 | New York City |
| 24 | 9:26.95 | Helen Schlachenhaufen | United States | 13 February 2021 | New York City |
| 25 | 9:27.45 | Katrina Coogan | United States | 13 February 2021 | New York City |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 9:13.94:
* Meseret Defar also ran 9:06.26 (2009), 9:10.50 (2008)

## World Best Performance Progression
### Men
#### Outdoors

| Time | Athlete | Date | Place |
| 9:17.0 | Alfred Shrubb (GBR) | 1903-09-12 | London, United Kingdom |
| 9:08.4 | Alfred Shrubb (GBR) | 1904-06-11 | Glasgow, United Kingdom |
| 9:08.4 | Edvin Wide (SWE) | 1925-06-23 | Kramfors, Sweden |
| 9:01.4 | Edvin Wide (SWE) | 1926-09-12 | Berlin, Germany |
| 8:59.6 | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | 1931-06-24 | Helsinki, Finland |
| 8:58.4 | Don Lash (USA) | 1936-06-13 | Princeton, USA |
| 8:57.4 | Gunnar Höckert (FIN) | 1936-09-24 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 8:56.0 | Miklós Szabó (HUN) | 1937-09-30 | Budapest, Hungary |
| 8:53.2 | Taisto Mäki (FIN) | 1939-06-07 | Helsinki, Finland |
| 8:47.8 | Gunder Hägg (SWE) | 1942-06-03 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 8:46.4 | Gunder Hägg (SWE) | 1944-06-25 | Östersund, Sweden |
| 8:42.8 | Gunder Hägg (SWE) | 1944-08-04 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 8:40.4 | Gaston Reiff (BEL) | 1952-08-26 | Paris, France |
| 8:33.4 | Sándor Iharos (HUN) | 1955-05-30 | London, United Kingdom |
| 8:32.0 | Albie Thomas (AUS) | 1958-08-07 | Dublin, Ireland |
| 8:30.0 | Murray Halberg (NZL) | 1961-06-07 | Jyväskylä, Finland |
| 8:29.8 | Jim Beatty (USA) | 1962-06-08 | Los Angeles, USA |
| 8:29.6 | Michel Jazy (FRA) | 1963-06-06 | Paris, France |
| 8:26.4 | Bob Schul (USA) | 1964-08-29 | Los Angeles, USA |
| 8:22.6 | Michel Jazy (FRA) | 1965-06-23 | Melun, France |
| 8:19.8 | Ron Clarke (AUS) | 1967-07-27 | Västerås, Sweden |
| 8:19.6 | Ron Clarke (AUS) | 1968-08-24 | London, United Kingdom |
| 8:17.8 | Emiel Puttemans (BEL) | 1971-08-21 | Edinburgh, United Kingdom |
| 8:14.0 | Lasse Virén (FIN) | 1972-08-14 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 8:13.8 | Brendan Foster (GBR) | 1973-08-27 | London, United Kingdom |
| 8:13.51 | Steve Ovett (GBR) | 1978-09-15 | London, United Kingdom |
| 8:13.45 | Saïd Aouita (MAR) | 1987-05-28 | Turin, Italy |
| 8:12.17 | Khalid Skah (MAR) | 1993-06-30 | Hechtel, Belgium |
| 8:09.01 | Moses Kiptanui (KEN) | 1994-06-30 | Hechtel, Belgium |
| 8:07.46 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 1995-05-27 | Kerkrade, Netherlands |
| 8:03.54 | Daniel Komen (KEN) | 1996-07-14 | Lappeenranta, Finland |
| 8:01.08 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 1997-05-31 | Hengelo, Netherlands |
| 7:58.61 | Daniel Komen (KEN) | 1997-07-19 | Hechtel, Belgium |
| 7:54.10 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) | 2023-06-09 | Paris, France |

#### Indoors

| Time | Athlete | Date | Place |
| 8:09.66 | Hailu Mekonnen (ETH) | 2000-02-20 | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| 8:04.69 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 2003-02-21 | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| 8:04.35 | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) | 2008-02-16 | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| 8:03.40 | Mo Farah (GBR) | 2015-02-21 | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| 8:00.67 | Josh Kerr (GBR) | 2024-02-11 | New York City, United States |

### Women
#### Outdoors

| Time | Athlete | Date | Place |
| 10:07.0 | Doris Brown (USA) | 1971-07-10 | Bakersfield, USA |
| 9:55.9 | Francie Larrieu (USA) | 1972-06-04 | Redwood City, USA |
| 9:19.56 | Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) | 1998-06-27 | Cork, Ireland |
| 9:10.47 | Meseret Defar (ETH) | 2007-05-20 | Carson, USA |
| 8:58.58 | Meseret Defar (ETH) | 2007-09-14 | Brussels, Belgium |

#### Indoors

| Time | Athlete | Date | Place |
| 9:28.15 | Lynn Jennings (USA) | 1986-02-20 | New York City, USA |
| 9:23.38 | Regina Jacobs (USA) | 2002-01-27 | Boston, USA |
| 9:10.50 | Meseret Defar (ETH) | 2008-01-26 | Boston, USA |
| 9:06.26 | Meseret Defar (ETH) | 2009-02-26 | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 9:00.48 | Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) | 2014-02-15 | Birmingham, United Kingdom |

### US high school boys progression

Note: this list only covers boys because the history of 2 mile running largely occurred before Title IX, before high school girls were allowed to compete, which occurred about the same time as conversion to metric distances.
| Time | Athlete | School | City | Date | Place |
| (8:40.0i) | Gerry Lindgren | Rogers High School | Spokane, Washington | 15 February 1964 | Cow Palace, Daly City, California |
| 8:57.8 | Mike Ryan | Wilcox High School | Santa Clara, California | 1965 | |
| 8:48.3 | Rick Riley | Ferris High School | Spokane, Washington | 28 May 1966 | Washington State Championships |
| 8:41.5 | Steve Prefontaine | Marshfield High School | Coos Bay, Oregon | 25 April 1969 | Corvallis Invitational, Corvallis, Oregon |
| 8:40.9 | Craig Virgin | Lebanon High School | Lebanon, Illinois | 9 June 1973 | International Prep Invitational, Prospect, Illinois |
| 8:36.3 | Jeff Nelson | Burbank High School | Burbank, California | 6 May 1979 | Pepsi Invitational, Westwood, Los Angeles, California |
| 8:34.23 | German Fernandez | Riverbank High School | Riverbank, California | 20 June 2008 | Nike Outdoor Nationals, Greensboro, North Carolina video |
| 8:29.46 | Lukas Verzbicas | Carl Sandburg High School | Orland Hills, Illinois | 4 June 2011 | Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Oregon video |