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3200 metres
3200 metres is an uncommon long middle-distance, or short long-distance, track and field running event that is 200m longer than the much more common 3,000 metre run, and slightly shorter than the two mile run. At exactly eight laps on a standard 400 m track, or sixteen laps around an indoor 200 m track, this event is typically run only in American high schools, along with the 1600 m. It is the longest standardized event in track meets conducted by the NFHS in American high school competition. It is colloquially called the "two-mile", despite the distance being 18.688 metres shorter. In college, the typical runner of this event would convert to the 5,000-metre run, or potentially the 3,000-metre run during the indoor season. While World Athletics does not recognize an official world record or world best in the 3200 metres, the two mile run can be used as an approximation.[1] American high school records[note 1]According to NFHS, the current male high school record holder in the 3200m is Simeon Birnbaum, with a time of 8:34.10 in 2023.[2] However, there have been faster high school 3200m times en route to two miles. Aforementioned Simeon Birnbaum ran an 8:31.73 3200m en route to two miles, also in 2023. Even faster was Lukas Verzbicas, who ran an equivalent 8:26.50 3200m en route to his high school two mile record of 8:29.46, in 2011, at the Prefontaine Classic. Therefore, Birnbaum holds the record for the fastest 3200m exclusively against other high schoolers and not en-route to two miles, while Verzbicas holds the record for fastest ever high school 3200m (and two miles). All-time outdoor top 13 high school boys' times (table credit: NFHS)[note 2]
Likewise, the current official female high school record holder in the 3200m is Katelyn Touhy, with a time of 9:47.88 in 2018.[3] However, in 2024, Elizabeth Leachman broke Touhy's record twice, first clocking 9:45.57 on February 1 and subsequently 9:43.74 on February 15. The NFHS has yet to ratify this record. In 2020, en route to two miles, Dalias Frias ran a 9:47.27 equivalent 3200m in her two mile high school record of 9:50.70, also faster than Touhy's record but still slower than Leachman's new records. The fastest time ever recorded outdoors for a high school girl in the 3200m only was by Brynn Brown in 2020, with a time of 9:39.91. However, this time was achieved with two male pacers, during an unofficial workout, on an uncertified course, and was not officially timed, nor officially measured. Therefore, once ratified, Leachman's 9:43.74 will be the outdoor high school girls' 3200m record. However, on June 12, 2024, Allie Zealand ran 9:41.76 for the two miles at the Brooks PR Invitational, which converts down to a 9:38.38 3200m. Since this 3200m split was en route to two miles, it is not eligible to be an NFHS 3200 metre record. If indoor tracks are considered, Mary Cain's 2013 9:38.68 two mile time converts down to a 9:35.32 3200m, and is the therefore the fastest 3200m split ever recorded for a high school girl. All-time outdoor top 19 high school girls' times (table credit: NFHS)[note 2]
Equivalent world bestsOutdoorJakob Ingebrigtsen ran a converted equivalent of a 7:51.35 3200m in his 2023 world best of 7:54.10 in the two mile run.[4] Meseret Defar ran a converted equivalent of an 8:52.34 3200m in her 2007 world best of 8:58.58 in the two mile run.[4] IndoorJosh Kerr ran a converted equivalent of a 7:57.88 3200m in his 2024 world best of 8:00.67 in the two mile run.[4] Genzebe Dibaba ran a converted equivalent of an 8:57.35 3200m in her 2014 world best of 9:00.48 in the two mile run.[4] RelaysThe term "3200 metre relay" usually refers to the 4x800 metre relay. Notes
References
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