| Athletics 1600 Meters | |
|---|---|
| World records | |
| Men |  Hicham El Guerrouj 3:41.83+ (1999) |
| Women |  Faith Kipyegon 4:06.20+ (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 common 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.[1] That decision is not without controversy.[2] 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.
- ^ "Search Mile History click + icon - Mile History". Bring Back the Mile.
- ^ "Track debate: Mile or 1,600? - MaxPreps". MaxPreps.com. May 4, 2012.