# Mile run

The mile run (1,760 yards, 5,280 feet, or exactly 1,609.344 metres) is a middle-distance foot race.
The history of the mile run event began in England, where it was used as a distance for gambling races. It survived track and field's switch to metric distances in the 1900s and retained its popularity, with the chase for the four-minute mile in the 1950s a high point for the race.
In spite of the roughly equivalent 1500 metres race, which is used instead of the mile at the World Championships and Olympic Games and is sometimes referred as the foremost middle-distance track event in athletics, the mile run is present in all fields of athletics, and since 1976, it is the only imperial distance World Athletics has on its books for official world records.
Although the mile is not featured at any major championships, the Wanamaker Mile, Dream Mile, Emsley Carr Mile and Bowerman Mile races are among the foremost annual middle-distance races.
The current mile world record holders are Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco with a time of 3:43.13 and Faith Kipyegon of Kenya with the Women's record of 4:07.64.
Despite being only 109.344 metres longer, the mile is distinctly different from its much more common 1500 metres counterpart. World record holder Hicham El Guerrouj considers the mile to be his more challenging event.
   “My favourite is 1500m. It’s part of my heart. I competed in it a lot and I know every metre of this race. The mile is completely different. If you are not strong physically and mentally, you cannot run it well.”
Each lap during El Guerrouj's world record run averaged 55.46 seconds per 400 m. Along with El Guerrouj, only three other men in history have broken the 3:44 barrier in the mile; Noah Ngeny (in the same race as El Guerrouj), Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Yared Nuguse.

## History

Although a statute mile today is equal to a length of 5,280 feet, the distance of the English mile gained its current definition of 1,760 yards through a statute of the Parliament of England in 1593. Thus, the history of the mile run began in England and it initially found usage within the wagered running contests of the 18th and 19th century. Such contests would attract large numbers of spectators and gamblers – so many that the activity became a professional one for its more-established participants.
The mile run was at the heart of the divide between professional and amateur sports in the late 19th century, as running was beginning to gain popularity in the sports world. Separate world record categories were kept for amateurs and professionals, with professional runners providing the faster times. High-profile contests between Britons William Cummings and Walter George brought much publicity to the sport, as did George's races against the American Lon Myers. The mile run was also one of the foremost events at the amateur AAA Championships. Although the spotlight was shining on the running scene, the categories remained distinct but the respective rise in amateurism and decline of the professional sector saw the division become irrelevant in the 20th century.
The mile run continued to be a popular distance in spite of the metrication of track and field and athletics in general, replacing the imperial distance for the metric mile (1500 meters). It was the 1500 metres – sometimes referred to as the metric mile – which was featured on the Olympic athletics programme. The International Amateur Athletics Federation formed in 1912 and confirmed the first officially recognised world record in the mile the following year (4:14.4 minutes run by John Paul Jones).
The fact that the mile run was the only imperial distance to retain its official world record status after 1976 reflects its continued popularity in the international (and principally metric) era. Decades later, the distance remains widespread, and is often used as a benchmark for distance running performance.
The top men's middle-distance runners continued to compete in the mile run in the first half of the 1900s – Paavo Nurmi, Jack Lovelock and Sydney Wooderson were all world record holders over the distance. In the 1940s, Swedish runners Gunder Hägg and Arne Andersson pushed times into a new territory, as they set three world records each during their rivalry over the decade.
The goal of completing a sub-four-minute mile sparked further interest in the distance in the 1950s and to this day, many competitive runners are still chasing the ambitious barrier. Englishman Roger Bannister became the first person to achieve the feat in May 1954 and his effort, conducted with the help of Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway, was a key moment in the rise of the use of pacemakers at the top level of the sport – an aspect which is now commonplace at non-championship middle and long-distance races. In fact, pacemakers, if performing effectively, can earn generous sums of money for their performances and accurate pacing duties.
The 1960s saw American Jim Ryun set world records near the 3:50-minute mark and his achievements popularised interval workout techniques which are still heavily used today, especially for collegiate distance runners. Jim Ryun was the first person to run a sub-four minute mile in high school. From this period onwards, African runners began to emerge, breaking the largely white, Western dominance of the distance; Kenya's Kip Keino won the mile at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games (which was among the last mile races to be held at a major multi-sport event as of 2021).
Filbert Bayi of Tanzania became Africa's first world record holder over the distance in 1975, although New Zealander John Walker further broke Bayi's record a few months later to become the first man under 3:50 minutes for the event. The 1980s were highlighted by the rivalry between British runners Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett, who improved the record five times between them, including two records at the Oslo Dream Mile race. Noureddine Morceli brought the mile record back into African hands in 1993 and Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj set the current record of 3:43.13, which has stood since 1999.
Mile run contests remain a key feature of many annual track and field meetings, including recreational, high school, and collegiate meets.
In the United States, particularly in many high school (NFHS) competitions, the 1600 meters is a substitute for the mile run.
On the professional level, races such as the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, the Dream Mile at the Bislett Games, the British Emsley Carr Mile, and the Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic are among the most prominent. Aside from track races, mile races are also occasionally contested in cross country running, and mile runs on the road include the Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City. However, in high school and collegiate cross country running, races are often measured in kilometers, with 5K and 8K being the most common.
In 2019, World Athletics President and former athlete Sebastian Coe organized the World Athletics Heritage Mile Night in Monaco, which brought together eleven mile world record holders, either indoors or outdoors: Ron Delany, Michel Jazy, Jim Ryun, Filbert Bayi, Paola Pigni-Cacchi, John Walker, Eamonn Coghlan, Coe, Steve Cram, Noureddine Morceli, and Hicham El Guerrouj. The event posthumously honored Roger Bannister and Diane Leather Charles, who were the first to break the four minute and five minute mile barriers, for men and women respectively.
In February 2025, it was announced that the mile run would be revived at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, replacing the 1500 metres.
On the men's side, the fastest mile run since Hicham El Guerrouj's 3:43.13 in 1999 was Jakob Ingebrigtsen's 3:43.73 at the 2023 Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic & Diamond League Final.

## Records
### Outdoor

| Area | Men's | Men's | Women's | Women's |
| Area | Time | Athlete | Time | Athlete |
| World | 3:43.13 | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | 4:07.64 | Faith Kipyegon (KEN) |
| Continental records |||||
| Africa | 3:43.13 | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | 4:07.64 | Faith Kipyegon (KEN) |
| Asia | 3:47.97 | Daham Najim Bashir (QAT) | 4:17.75 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) |
| Europe | 3:43.73 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) | 4:12.33 | Sifan Hassan (NED) |
| North, Central America and Caribbean | 3:43.97 | Yared Nuguse (USA) | 4:16.71 | Mary Slaney (USA) |
| Oceania | 3:47.48 | Oliver Hoare (AUS) | 4:15.34 | Jessica Hull (AUS) |
| South America | 3:51.05 | Hudson de Souza (BRA) | 4:30.05 | Soraya Vieira Telles (BRA) |

### Indoor

| Area | Men's | Men's | Women's | Women's |
| Area | Time | Athlete | Time | Athlete |
| World | 3:45.14 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) | 4:13.31 | Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) |
| Continental records |||||
| Africa | 3:47.01 | Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) | 4:13.31 | Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) |
| Asia | 3:57.05 | Mohamed Suleiman (QAT) | 4:24.71 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) |
| Europe | 3:45.14 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) | 4:17.14 | Doina Melinte (ROM) |
| North, Central America and Caribbean | 3:46.63 | Yared Nuguse (USA) | 4:16.85 | Elle Purrier (USA) |
| Oceania | 3:47.48 | Cameron Myers (AUS) | 4:19.03 | Jessica Hull (AUS) |
| South America | 3:56.26 | Hudson de Souza (BRA) | 4:42.24 | Valentina Medina (VEN) |

### Road

| Area | Men's | Men's | Women's | Women's |
| Area | Time | Athlete | Time | Athlete |
| World | 3:51.3h | Elliot Giles (GBR) | 4:20.98 | Dirbe Welteji (ETH) |
| Continental records |||||
| Africa | 3:53.3h | Edward Cheserek (KEN) | 4:20.98 | Dirbe Welteji (ETH) |
| Asia | 4:01.26 | Ryoji Tatezawa (JPN) | 4:29.79 | Nozomi Tanaka (JPN) |
| Europe | 3:51.3h | Elliot Giles (GBR) | 4:29.0h | Maria Akraka (SWE) |
| North, Central America and Caribbean | 3:51.9h | Yared Nuguse (USA) | 4:25.0h | Ellinor Purrier (USA) |
| Oceania | 3:56.57 | Nick Willis (NZL) | 4:32.0h | Linden Hall (AUS) |
| South America | 4:02.75 | Guilherme Kurtz (BRA) | none | none |

## All-time top 25

* Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 mile times and the top 25 athletes:
* - denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 mile times
* - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 mile times, by repeat athletes
* - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 mile times

### Men (outdoor)

* Correct as of May 2024.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
| 1 | 1 | 3:43.13 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco | 7 July 1999 | Rome |
| 2 | 2 | 3:43.40 | Noah Ngeny | Kenya | 7 July 1999 | Rome |
| 3 | 3 | 3:43.73 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway | 16 September 2023 | Eugene |
| 4 | 4 | 3:43.97 | Yared Nuguse | United States | 16 September 2023 | Eugene |
| 5 | 5 | 3:44.39 | Noureddine Morceli | Algeria | 5 September 1993 | Rieti |
| | 6 | 3:44.60 | El Guerrouj #2 | | 16 July 1998 | Nice |
| | 7 | 3:44.90 | El Guerrouj #3 | | 4 July 1997 | Oslo |
| | 8 | 3:44.95 | El Guerrouj #4 | | 29 June 2001 | Rome |
| | 9 | 3:45.19 | Morceli #2 | | 16 August 1995 | Zürich |
| 6 | 10 | 3:45.34 | Josh Kerr | Great Britain | 25 May 2024 | Eugene |
| | 11 | 3:45.60 | Ingebrigtsen #2 | | 25 May 2024 | Eugene |
| | 12 | 3:45.64 | El Guerrouj #5 | | 26 August 1997 | Berlin |
| | 13 | 3:45.96 | El Guerrouj #6 | | 5 August 2000 | London |
| | 14 | 3:46.22 | Nuguse #2 | | 25 May 2024 | Eugene |
| | 15 | 3:46.24 | El Guerrouj #7 | | 28 July 2000 | Oslo |
| 7 | 16 | 3:46.32 | Steve Cram | Great Britain | 27 July 1985 | Oslo |
| 8 | 17 | 3:46.38 | Daniel Komen | Kenya | 26 August 1997 | Berlin |
| | 18 | 3:46.46 | Ingebrigtsen #3 | | 16 June 2022 | Oslo |
| 9 | 19 | 3:46.70 | Vénuste Niyongabo | Burundi | 26 August 1997 | Berlin |
| 10 | 20 | 3:46.76 | Saïd Aouita | Morocco | 2 July 1987 | Helsinki |
| | 21 | 3:46.78 | Morceli #3 | | 27 August 1993 | Berlin |
| 11 | 22 | 3:46.91 | Alan Webb | United States | 21 July 2007 | Brasschaat |
| | 23 | 3:46.92 | Aouita #2 | | 21 August 1985 | Zürich |
| | 24 | 3:47.10 | El Guerrouj #8 | | 7 August 1999 | London |
| | 25 | 3:47.24 | Ingebrigtsen #4 | | 21 August 2021 | Eugene |
| 12 | | 3:47.28 | Bernard Lagat | Kenya | 29 June 2001 | Rome |
| 13 | | 3:47.32 | Ayanleh Souleiman | Djibouti | 31 May 2014 | Eugene |
| 14 | | 3:47.33 | Sebastian Coe | Great Britain | 28 August 1981 | Brussels |
| 15 | | 3:47.48 | Oliver Hoare | Australia | 16 June 2022 | Oslo |
| 16 | | 3:47.65 | Laban Rotich | Kenya | 4 July 1997 | Oslo |
| 16 | | 3:47.65 | George Mills | United Kingdom | 16 September 2023 | Eugene |
| 18 | | 3:47.69 | Steve Scott | United States | 7 July 1982 | Oslo |
| 18 | | 3:47.69 | Mario García | Spain | 16 September 2023 | Eugene |
| 20 | | 3:47.74 | Neil Gourley | Great Britain | 25 May 2024 | Eugene |
| 21 | | 3:47.79 | José Luis González | Spain | 27 July 1985 | Oslo |
| 22 | | 3:47.83 | Jake Wightman | Great Britain | 25 May 2024 | Eugene |
| 23 | | 3:47.88 | John Kibowen | Kenya | 4 July 1997 | Oslo |
| 23 | | 3:47.88 | Silas Kiplagat | Kenya | 31 May 2014 | Eugene |
| 25 | | 3:47.94 | William Chirchir | Kenya | 28 July 2000 | Oslo |

### Women (outdoor)

* Correct as of July 2023.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
| 1 | 1 | 4:07.64 | Faith Kipyegon | Kenya | 21 July 2023 | Monaco |
| 2 | 2 | 4:12.33 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands | 12 July 2019 | Monaco |
| 3 | 3 | 4:12.56 | Svetlana Masterkova | Russia | 14 August 1996 | Zürich |
| 4 | 4 | 4:14.30 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia | 6 September 2016 | Rovereto |
| | 5 | 4:14.71 | Hassan #2 | | 22 July 2018 | London |
| | 6 | 4:14.74 | Hassan #3 | | 3 September 2021 | Brussels |
| 5 | 7 | 4:14.58 | Ciara Mageean | Ireland | 21 July 2023 | Monaco |
| 6 | 8 | 4:14.79 | Freweyni Hailu | Ethiopia | 21 July 2023 | Monaco |
| 7 | 9 | 4:15.24 | Laura Muir | Great Britain | 21 July 2023 | Monaco |
| 8 | 10 | 4:15.34 | Jessica Hull | Australia | 21 July 2023 | Monaco |
| 9 | 11 | 4:15.61 | Paula Ivan | Romania | 10 July 1989 | Nice |
| 10 | 12 | 4:15.8h | Natalya Artyomova | Soviet Union | 5 August 1984 | Leningrad |
| | 13 | 4:16.05 | Dibaba #2 | | 6 July 2017 | Lausanne |
| 11 | 14 | 4:16.14 | Gudaf Tsegay | Ethiopia | 22 July 2018 | London |
| 12 | 15 | 4:16.15 | Hellen Obiri | Kenya | 22 July 2018 | London |
| | 16 | 4:16.15 | Obiri #2 | | 9 July 2017 | London |
| 13 | 17 | 4:16.35 | Nikki Hiltz | United States | 21 July 2023 | Monaco |
| 14 | 18 | 4:16.38 | Melissa Courtney-Bryant | Great Britain | 21 July 2023 | Monaco |
| 15 | 19 | 4:16.47 | Elise Cranny | United States | 21 July 2023 | Monaco |
| 16 | 20 | 4:16.71 | Mary Slaney | United States | 21 August 1985 | Zürich |
| | 20 | 4:16.71 | Kipyegon #2 | | 11 September 2015 | Brussels |
| | 22 | 4:17.00 | Artyomova #2 | | 20 September 1991 | Barcelona |
| 17 | 23 | 4:17.13 | Birke Haylom | Ethiopia | 15 June 2023 | Oslo |
| 18 | 24 | 4:17.25 | Sonia O'Sullivan | Ireland | 22 July 1994 | Oslo |
| 19 | 25 | 4:17.30 | Jenny Simpson | United States | 22 July 2018 | London |
| 20 | | 4:17.33 | Maricica Puica | Romania | 21 August 1985 | Zürich |
| 21 | | 4:17.57 | Zola Budd | Great Britain | 21 August 1985 | Zürich |
| 22 | | 4:17.60 | Laura Weightman | Great Britain | 12 July 2019 | Monaco |
| 23 | | 4:17.75 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal | Bahrain | 14 September 2007 | Brussels |
| 24 | | 4:17.87 | Gabriela DeBues-Stafford | Canada | 12 July 2019 | Monaco |
| 25 | | 4:18.11 | Cory McGee | United States | 15 June 2023 | Oslo |

### Men (indoor)

* Correct as of March 2025.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
| 1 | 1 | 3:45.14 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway | 13 February 2025 | Liévin |
| 2 | 2 | 3:46.63 | Yared Nuguse | United States | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| 3 | 3 | 3:46.90 | Hobbs Kessler | United States | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| 4 | 4 | 3:47.01 | Yomif Kejelcha | Ethiopia | 3 March 2019 | Boston |
| | 5 | 3:47.22 | Nuguse #2 | | 2 March 2025 | Boston |
| | 6 | 3:47.38 | Nuguse #3 | | 11 February 2023 | New York City |
| 5 | 7 | 3:47.48 | Cam Myers | Australia | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| 6 | 8 | 3:47.56 | Azeddine Habz | France | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| | 9 | 3:47.83 | Nuguse #4 | | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 7 | 10 | 3:48.32 | Ethan Strand | United States | 1 February 2025 | Boston |
| 8 | 11 | 3:48.45 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco | 12 February 1997 | Ghent |
| | 12 | 3:48.46 | Kejelcha #2 | | 9 February 2019 | New York City |
| | 13 | 3:48.66 | Kessler #2 | | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 9 | 14 | 3:48.82 | Gary Martin | United States | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| 10 | 15 | 3:48.87 | Josh Kerr | Great Britain | 27 February 2022 | Boston |
| 11 | 16 | 3:48.93 | George Mills | Great Britain | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 12 | 17 | 3:49.22 | Neil Gourley | United Kingdom | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| 13 | 18 | 3:49.26 | Andrew Coscoran | Ireland | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| 14 | 19 | 3:49.44 | Edward Cheserek | Kenya | 9 February 2018 | Boston |
| 15 | 20 | 3:49.45 | Robert Farken | Germany | 1 February 2025 | Boston |
| | 21 | 3:49.46 | Gourley #2 | | 11 February 2023 | New York City |
| 16 | 22 | 3:49.62 | Adam Fogg | Great Britain | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 17 | 23 | 3:49.78 | Eamonn Coghlan | Ireland | 27 February 1983 | East Rutherford |
| | 24 | 3:49.85 | Fogg #2 | | 1 February 2025 | Boston |
| 18 | 25 | 3:49.89 | Bernard Lagat | Kenya | 11 February 2005 | Fayetteville |
| 19 | | 3:49.98 | Johnny Gregorek | United States | 3 March 2019 | Boston |
| 20 | | 3:50.17 | Cooper Teare | United States | 11 February 2022 | Chicago |
| 21 | | 3:50.35 | Cole Hocker | United States | 11 February 2022 | Chicago |
| 22 | | 3:50.45 | Amos Bartelsmeyer | Germany | 11 February 2023 | Boston |
| 23 | | 3:50.46 | Anass Essayi | Morocco | 11 February 2023 | Boston |
| 24 | | 3:50.56 | Vincent Ciattei | United States | 2 March 2024 | New York City |
| 24 | | 3:50.56 | Matthew Centrowitz | United States | 20 February 2016 | New York City |

### Women (indoor)

* Correct as of March 2025.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
| 1 | 1 | 4:13.31 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia | 17 February 2016 | Stockholm |
| 2 | 2 | 4:16.16 | Gudaf Tsegay | Ethiopia | 8 February 2023 | Toruń |
| 3 | 3 | 4:16.41 | Elinor Purrier | United States | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| | 4 | 4:16.85 | Purrier #2 | | 8 February 2020 | New York City |
| 4 | 5 | 4:17.01 | Heather MacLean | United States | 2 March 2025 | Boston |
| 5 | 6 | 4:17.14 | Doina Melinte | Romania | 9 February 1990 | East Rutherford |
| 6 | 7 | 4:17.26 | Konstanze Klosterhalfen | Germany | 8 February 2020 | New York City |
| 7 | 8 | 4:17.36 | Freweyni Hailu | Ethiopia | 30 January 2024 | Ostrava |
| 8 | 9 | 4:17.88 | Jemma Reekie | Great Britain | 8 February 2020 | New York City |
| 9 | 10 | 4:18.75 | Laura Muir | Great Britain | 16 February 2019 | Birmingham |
| | 11 | 4:18.86 | Melinte #2 | | 13 February 1988 | East Rutherford |
| 10 | 12 | 4:18.99 | Paula Ivan | Romania | 10 February 1989 | East Rutherford |
| 11 | 13 | 4:19.03 | Jessica Hull | Australia | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| | 14 | 4:19.30 | Purrier #3 | | 29 January 2022 | New York City |
| 12 | 15 | 4:19.53 | Hirut Meshesha | Ethiopia | 30 January 2024 | Ostrava |
| 13 | 16 | 4:19.73 | Gabriela DeBues-Stafford | Canada | 8 February 2020 | New York City |
| 14 | 17 | 4:19.89 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands | 11 February 2017 | New York City |
| | 18 | 4:19.98 | Klosterhalfen #2 | | 9 February 2019 | New York City |
| | 19 | 4:20.15 | Muir #2 | | 11 February 2023 | New York City |
| 15 | 20 | 4:20.30 | Shelby Houlihan | United States | 8 February 2025 | Boston |
| 16 | 21 | 4:20.5h | Mary Decker-Tabb | United States | 19 February 1982 | San Diego |
| 17 | 22 | 4:20.61 | Susan Lokayo Ejore | Kenya | 11 February 2024 | New York City |
| 18 | 23 | 4:20.81 | Josette Norris | United States | 29 January 2022 | New York City |
| 19 | 24 | 4:20.83 | Elise Cranny | United States | 31 January 2025 | Boston |
| | 25 | 4:20.88 | Norris #2 | | 11 February 2023 | New York City |
| 19 | | 4:21.19 | Katie Snowden | Great Britain | 11 February 2023 | New York City |
| 20 | | 4:21.51 | Sintayehu Vissa | Italy | 2 March 2025 | Boston |
| 21 | | 4:21.56 | Maia Ramsden | New Zealand | 2 March 2025 | Boston |
| 22 | | 4:21.74 | Lucia Stafford | Canada | 15 February 2025 | Boston |
| 23 | | 4:21.79 | Regina Jacobs | United States | 8 January 2000 | New York City |
| 24 | | 4:22.21 | Susan Ejore | Kenya | 2 March 2025 | Boston |
| 25 | | 4:22.39 | Dorcus Ewoi | Kenya | 2 March 2025 | Boston |

### Men (road)

Note: World Athletics only accepts times achieved on World Athletics certified courses that are conducted according to World Athletics rules. The elevation gradient must not exceed one meter per kilometer. For instance, the famous Fifth Avenue Mile in New York City, or New Zealand's Queen Street Golden Mile, are too steep to be record eligible by World Athletics. Downhill miles such as Craig Wheeler's 3:24 clocking in the 1993 Meltham Mile were achieved on ineligible courses and as such are not recognized by World Athletics. The road mile became an official world record event on 1 September 2023 which is why most performances prior to this date were not previously considered records. The winning times from the 2023 U.S. Road Mile Championships, on 25 April, were ratified by World Athletics as the inaugural road mile world records.
* Correct as of September 2024.
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
| 1 | 3:51.3h | Elliot Giles | United Kingdom | 1 September 2024 | Düsseldorf |
| 2 | 3:51.9h | Yared Nuguse | United States | 1 September 2024 | Düsseldorf |
| 3 | 3:53.3h | Edward Cheserek | Kenya | 7 December 2019 | Honolulu |
| 4 | 3:54.6h | Emmanuel Wanyonyi | Kenya | 27 April 2024 | Herzogenaurach |
| 5 | 3:54.89 | Leonard Kipkemoi Bett | Kenya | 8 December 2018 | Honolulu |
| 6 | 3:54.9h | Vincent Kibet Keter | Kenya | 1 September 2024 | Düsseldorf |
| 7 | 3:55.0h | Jordan McNamara | United States | 21 September 2014 | Lahaina |
| 8 | 3:55.6h | Leonel Manzano | United States | 24 March 2012 | Austin |
| 9 | 3:55.8h | Ben Blankenship | United States | 12 May 2016 | Minneapolis |
| 10 | 3:56.0h | Graham Hood | Canada | 13 December 1997 | Honolulu |
| 11 | 3:56.13 | Hobbs Kessler | United States | 1 October 2023 | Riga |
| 12 | 3:56.3h | Brimin Kiprono Kiprotich | Kenya | 7 December 2019 | Honolulu |
| 13 | 3:56.40 | Steve Scott | United States | 14 July 1984 | Berkeley |
| 14 | 3:56.41 | Callum Elson | United Kingdom | 1 October 2023 | Riga |
| 15 | 3:56.43 | Samuel Prakel | United States | 1 October 2023 | Riga |
| 16 | 3:56.5h | Ryan Mphahlele | South Africa | 27 April 2024 | Herzogenaurach |
| 17 | 3:56.57 | Nick Willis | New Zealand | 4 August 2013 | Saline |
| 17 | 3:56.57 | Maël Gouyette | France | 1 October 2023 | Riga |
| 19 | 3:56.77 | John Walker | New Zealand | 14 July 1984 | Berkeley |
| 20 | 3:56.81 | Vincent Ciattei | United States | 9 December 2023 | Honolulu |
| 21 | 3:56.98 | Kieran Lumb | Canada | 1 October 2023 | Riga |
| 22 | 3:57.0h | Philemon Hanneck | Zimbabwe | 1 February 1998 | Santee |
| 22 | 3:57.0h | Ibrahim Mohamed Aden | Somalia | 1 February 1998 | Santee |
| 22 | 3:57.0h | Patrick Joseph | United States | 7 December 2019 | Honolulu |
| 25 | 3:57.1h | Ulf Högberg | Sweden | 4 July 1975 | London |
| 25 | 3:57.1h | Craig Huffer | Australia | 7 December 2019 | Honolulu |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 3:57.0h:
* Edward Cheserek also ran 3:54.83 (2018).
* Hobbs Kessler also ran 3:56.2h (2024).
* Yared Nuguse also ran 3:56.58 (2023).
* Patrick Joseph also ran 3:57.0h (2019).

### Women (road)

Note: World Athletics only accepts times achieved on World Athletics certified courses that are conducted according to World Athletics rules. The elevation gradient must not exceed one meter per kilometer. For instance, the famous Fifth Avenue Mile, or New Zealand's Queen Street Golden Mile, are too steep to be record eligible by World Athletics. Downhill miles are achieved on ineligible courses and as such are not recognized by World Athletics. The road mile became an official world record event on 1 September 2023 which is why performances prior to this date were not previously considered records. The winning times from the 2023 U.S. Road Mile Championships, on 25 April, were ratified by World Athletics as the inaugural road mile world records.
* Correct as of September 2024.
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
| 1 | 4:20.98 | Diribe Welteji | Ethiopia | 1 October 2023 | Riga |
| 2 | 4:22.54 | Mirriam Cherop | Kenya | 8 December 2018 | Honolulu |
| 3 | 4:23.06 | Freweyni Hailu | Ethiopia | 1 October 2023 | Riga |
| 4 | 4:24.13 | Faith Kipyegon | Kenya | 1 October 2023 | Riga |
| 5 | 4:25.0h | Elle St. Pierre | United States | 7 December 2019 | Honolulu |
| 6 | 4:25.7h | Shannon Osika | United States | 7 December 2019 | Honolulu |
| 7 | 4:27.0h | Sinclaire Johnson | United States | 23 July 2021 | Pittsburgh |
| 8 | 4:27.4h | Katrina Coogan | United States | 9 December 2017 | Honolulu |
| 9 | 4:27.97 | Nikki Hiltz | United States | 25 April 2023 | Des Moines |
| 10 | 4:28.0h | Leah Pells | Canada | 13 December 1997 | Honolulu |
| 11 | 4:28.00 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia | 20 July 2014 | London |
| 11 | 4:28.0h | Emily Lipari | United States | 22 July 2022 | Pittsburgh |
| 13 | 4:29.0h | Maria Akraka | Sweden | 1 February 1998 | Santee |
| 14 | 4:29.00 | Morgan Uceny | United States | 20 July 2014 | London |
| 15 | 4:29.1h | Nicole Sifuentes | Canada | 10 December 2016 | Honolulu |
| 16 | 4:29.79 | Nozomi Tanaka | Japan | 9 December 2023 | Honolulu |
| 17 | 4:30.0h | Suzy Favor Hamilton | United States | 1 February 1998 | Santee |
| 18 | 4:30.16 | Weini Kelati Frezghi | United States | 9 December 2023 | Honolulu |
| 19 | 4:30.24 | Susan Lokayo Ejore | Kenya | 9 December 2023 | Honolulu |
| 20 | 4:30.30 | Rachel Schneider | United States | 21 April 2021 | Des Moines |
| 21 | 4:30.3h | Marissa Damink | Netherlands | 1 September 2024 | Düsseldorf |
| 22 | 4:30.94 | Addison Wiley | United States | 25 April 2023 | Des Moines |
| 23 | 4:31.0h | Hannah England | United Kingdom | 26 May 2013 | London |
| 23 | 4:31.0h | Melissa Courtney-Bryant | United Kingdom | 26 May 2019 | London |
| 23 | 4:31.0h | Sarah McDonald | United Kingdom | 26 May 2019 | London |
| 23 | 4:31.0h | Heather MacLean | United States | 22 July 2022 | Pittsburgh |
| 23 | 4:31.0h | Allie Wilson | United States | 22 July 2022 | Pittsburgh |
| 23 | 4:31.0h | Nelly Chepchirchir | Kenya | 27 April 2024 | Herzogenaurach |

#### Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 4:30.0h:
* Mirriam Cherop also ran 4:24.7h (2017).
* Leah Pells also ran 4:28.0h (1998).
* Nikki Hiltz also ran 4:28.0h (2022), 4:28.07 (2023), and 4:29.7h (2019).
* Sinclaire Johnson also ran 4:28.70 (2023).
* Emily Lipari also ran 4:29.3h (2020).
* Shannon Osika also ran 4:30.0h (2021).

## Youth age records

Key:  Incomplete information

### Boys

| Age | Time | Athlete | Nation | Birthdate | Date | Place | Ref |
| 5 | 6:33.3 | Daniel Skandera | United States | 2 November 2007 | 23 July 2013 | Santa Rosa | |
| 6 | 5:44.4 | Daniel Skandera | United States | 2 November 2007 | 5 August 2014 | Santa Rosa | |
| 7 | 5:20.3 | Daniel Skandera | United States | 2 November 2007 | 9 June 2015 | Santa Rosa | |
| 8 | 5:12.1 | Daniel Skandera | United States | 2 November 2007 | 9 August 2016 | Santa Rosa | |
| 9 | 5:02.5 | Daniel Skandera | United States | 2 November 2007 | 27 June 2017 | Santa Rosa | |
| 10 | 4:46.6 | Daniel Skandera | United States | 2 November 2007 | 24 July 2018 | Santa Rosa | |
| 11 | 4:36.04 | Archie Sideridis | Australia | 18 October 2011 | 9 February 2023 | Melbourne | |
| 12 | 4:35.66 | Quenton Lanese | United States | 4 March 2011 | 20 May 2023 | Mercer Island | |
| 13 | 4:22.33 | Jackson Miller | United States | 11 June 1999 | 1 June 2023 | St. Louis | |
| 14 | 4:11.20 | Angus Wilkinson | Great Britain | 16 January 2009 | 26 August 2023 | Stirling | |
| 15 | 3:58.35 | Sam Ruthe | New Zealand | 12 April 2009 | 19 March 2025 | Auckland | [73] [74] |
| 16 | 3:55.44 | Cameron Myers | Australia | 9 June 2006 | 23 February 2023 | Melbourne | |
| 17 | 3:50.15 | Cameron Myers | Australia | 9 June 2006 | 25 May 2024 | Eugene | |
| 18 | 3:47.48 i | Cameron Myers | Australia | 9 June 2006 | 8 February 2025 | New York City | |
| 19 | 3:48.06 | Reynold Cheruiyot | Kenya | 30 July 2004 | 16 September 2023 | Eugene | |

### Girls

| Age | Time | Athlete | Nation | Birthdate | Date | Place |
| 6 | 6:36.0 | Celine Struijvé | Netherlands | 10 November 2012 | 17 September 2019 | Epe |
| 7 | 6:05.1 | Kristina Wilson | United States | 5 December 1963 | 5 June 1971 | |
| 8 | 5:43.5 | Imogen Stewart | Australia | 27 July 2005 | 10 December 2013 | Sydney |
| 9 | 5:18.74 | Imogen Stewart | Australia | 27 July 2005 | 17 January 2015 | Wollongong |
| 10 | 5:04.19 | Imogen Stewart | Australia | 27 July 2005 | 16 January 2016 | Wollongong |
| 11 | 4:56.08 | Imogen Stewart | Australia | 27 July 2005 | 4 March 2017 | Sydney |
| 12 | 4:46.57 | Imogen Stewart | Australia | 27 July 2005 | 13 January 2018 | Wollongong |
| 13 | 4:44.73 | Imogen Stewart | Australia | 27 July 2005 | 22 December 2018 | Sydney |
| 14 | 4:40.1 i | Mary Decker | United States | 4 August 1958 | 16 March 1973 | Richmond |
| 15 | 4:35.16 | Sadie Engelhardt | United States | 21 August 2006 | 9 April 2022 | Arcadia |
| 16 | 4:28.25 i | Mary Cain | United States | 3 May 1996 | 16 February 2013 | New York City |
| 17 | 4:24.11 i | Mary Cain | United States | 3 May 1996 | 24 January 2014 | Boston |
| 18 | 4:24.10 i | Kalkidan Gezahegne | Ethiopia | 8 May 1991 | 20 February 2010 | Birmingham |
| 19 | 4:17.57 | Zola Budd | Great Britain | 26 May 1966 | 21 August 1985 | Zürich |

## Season's bests

* "i" indicates performance on 200m indoor track