Two miles

The 2 mile (3,520 yards, 10,560 feet, or 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 It has been largely superseded by the 3000 m and 5000 m, and by the 3200 m in NFHS American high school competitions. 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 Norwegian 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 on 14 September 2007.

Area bests Updated 9 July 2026. Area Men Women Time Season Athlete Time Season Athlete World 7:54.10 2023 8:58.58 2007 Area bests Africa 7:58.61 1997 8:58.58 2007 Asia 8:13.16 2008 9:13.85 2014 Europe 7:54.10 2023 9:04.84 2024 North, Central Americaand Caribbean 8:03.62 2024 9:09.70 2024 Oceania 8:03.50 2007 9:13.94 2008 South America 8:18.09 2026 none

All-time top 25 Mx = mixed race

Men (outdoor) Correct as of June 2023. RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlace17:54.10Jakob Ingebrigtsen9 June 2023Paris27:58.61Daniel Komen19 July 1997Hechtel38:01.08Haile Gebrselassie31 May 1997Hengelo48:03.50Craig Mottram10 June 2007Eugene58:04.83Tariku Bekele10 June 2007Eugene68:07.07Matt Tegenkamp10 June 2007Eugene78:07.54Joshua Cheptegei30 June 2019Stanford88:07.59Paul Chelimo30 June 2019Stanford98:07.68Eliud Kipchoge4 June 2005Eugene108:07.75Mo Farah24 August 2014Birmingham118:08.69Selemon Barega30 June 2019Stanford128:09.01Moses Kiptanui30 July 1994Hechtel138:09.23Ishamel Rokitto Kipkurui9 June 2023Paris148:10.16Jacob Kiplimo21 August 2021Eugene158:10.34Lamecha Girma9 June 2023Paris168:10.59Benjamin Limo28 May 2006Eugene178:10.98Khalid Boulami6 July 1996Hechtel188:11.04Berihu Aregawi21 August 2021Eugene198:11.09Grant Fisher21 August 2021Eugene208:11.48Alan Webb4 June 2005Eugene218:11.55Joe Klecker21 August 2021Eugene228:11.59Bob Kennedy19 July 1997Hechtel238:11.62Boaz Cheboiywo4 June 2005Eugene248:11.73Smail Sghir6 July 1996Hechtel258:11.74Dathan Ritzenhein10 June 2007Eugene

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 June 2025. RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlace18:58.58Meseret Defar14 September 2007Brussels28:59.08 Francine Niyonsaba27 May 2022Eugene39:06.74Letesenbet Gidey20 August 2021Eugene49:11.49Mercy Cherono24 August 2014Birmingham59:11.97 Regina Jacobs12 August 1999Los Gatos69:12.59Viola Kibiwott24 August 2014Birmingham79:12.90Irene Jelagat24 August 2014Birmingham89:13.85Mimi Belete31 May 2014Eugene99:14.09Priscah Cherono14 September 2007Brussels109:14.55Hellen Obiri20 August 2021Eugene119:14.71Beatrice Chebet27 May 2022Eugene129:15.74Laura Galván27 May 2022Eugene139:16.62Sylvia Kibet14 September 2007Brussels149:16.73Konstanze Klosterhalfen27 May 2022Eugene159:16.78Jenny Simpson27 April 2018Des Moines169:16.95Betsy Saina24 August 2014Birmingham179:17.62Helen Schlachenhaufen27 May 2022Eugene189:17.75Jane Hedengren8 June 2025Renton199:18.73Elly Henes27 May 2022Eugene209:19.01Edinah Jebitok27 May 2022Eugene219:19.56Sonia O'Sullivan27 June 1998Cork City229:20.17Eleanor Fulton27 May 2022Eugene239:20.19Whittni Morgan27 May 2022Eugene249:20.25Shannon Rowbury31 May 2014Eugene259:20.81Alemitu Haroye24 August 2014Birmingham

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 2026.

RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlace18:00.67Josh Kerr11 February 2024New York City28:03.40 Mo Farah21 February 2015Birmingham38:03.62Grant Fisher11 February 2024New York City48:04.35Kenenisa Bekele16 February 2008Birmingham58:04.69Haile Gebrselassie21 February 2003Birmingham68:05.70Cole Hocker11 February 2024New York City78:05.73Geordie Beamish11 February 2024New York City88:06.48Paul Koech16 February 2008Birmingham98:06.61Hicham El Guerrouj23 February 2003Liévin108:07.39Eliud Kipchoge18 February 2012Birmingham118:07.41Galen Rupp24 January 2014Boston128:07.83Parker Wolfe1 February 2026New York City138:08.16Moses Kipsiro18 February 2012Birmingham148:08.27Tariku Bekele18 February 2012Birmingham158:08.39Markos Geneti20 February 2004Birmingham168:08.40Ky Robinson1 February 2026New York City178:08.60Graham Blanks1 February 2026New York City188:08.91Cooper Teare1 February 2026New York City198:09.49Bernard Lagat16 February 2013New York City208:09.66Hailu Mekonnen18 February 2001Birmingham218:10.78Arne Gabius18 February 2012Birmingham228:10.91Drew Hunter1 February 2026New York City238:11.33Ben True11 February 2017New York City248:11.47Habtom Samuel1 February 2026New York City258:11.56Ryan Hill11 February 2017New York City

Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 8:11.56: Cole Hocker also ran 8:07.31 (2026). Josh Kerr also ran 8:07.68 (2026) Geordie Beamish also ran 8:08.58 (2026).

Women (indoor)

Correct as of February 2024.

RankResultAthleteNationalityDatePlace19:00.48 Genzebe Dibaba15 February 2014Birmingham29:04.84 Laura Muir11 February 2024New York City39:06.26Meseret Defar26 February 2009Prague49:07.12 Melknat Wudu11 February 2024New York City59:09.70Alicia Monson11 February 2024New York City69:10.28Elinor Purrier13 February 2021New York City79:12.23 Tirunesh Dibaba20 February 2010Birmingham89:12.35Vivian Cheruiyot20 February 2010Birmingham99:12.68Sentayehu Ejigu20 February 2010Birmingham109:13.94Kim Smith26 January 2008Boston119:15.71Emma Coburn13 February 2021New York City129:15.80Nikki Hiltz11 February 2024New York City139:16.76Nozomi Tanaka11 February 2024New York City149:18.29Emily Mackay11 February 2024New York City159:18.35Jenny Simpson7 February 2015Boston169:19.39Jessica Augusto20 February 2010Birmingham179:21.04Sally Kipyego8 February 2014Boston189:21.59Hiwot Ayalew15 February 2014Birmingham199:22.66Julie-Anne Staehli13 February 2021New York City209:23.38Regina Jacobs27 January 2002Boston219:23.58Emily Infeld11 February 2024New York City229:24.71Courtney Wayment11 February 2024New York City239:26.87Emily Lipari13 February 2021New York City249:26.95Helen Schlachenhaufen13 February 2021New York City259:27.45Katrina Coogan13 February 2021New 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 TimeAthleteDatePlace9:17.01903-09-12London, United Kingdom9:08.41904-06-11Glasgow, United Kingdom9:08.41925-06-23Kramfors, Sweden9:01.41926-09-12Berlin, Germany8:59.61931-06-24Helsinki, Finland8:58.41936-06-13Princeton, USA8:57.41936-09-24Stockholm, Sweden8:56.01937-09-30Budapest, Hungary8:53.21939-06-07Helsinki, Finland8:47.81942-06-03Stockholm, Sweden8:46.41944-06-25Östersund, Sweden8:42.81944-08-04Stockholm, Sweden8:40.41952-08-26Paris, France8:33.41955-05-30London, United Kingdom8:32.01958-08-07Dublin, Ireland8:30.01961-06-07Jyväskylä, Finland8:29.81962-06-08Los Angeles, USA8:29.61963-06-06Paris, France8:26.41964-08-29Los Angeles, USA8:22.61965-06-23Melun, France8:19.81967-07-27Västerås, Sweden8:19.61968-08-24London, United Kingdom8:17.81971-08-21Edinburgh, United Kingdom8:14.01972-08-14Stockholm, Sweden8:13.81973-08-27London, United Kingdom8:13.511978-09-15London, United Kingdom8:13.451987-05-28Turin, Italy8:12.171993-06-30Hechtel, Belgium8:09.011994-06-30Hechtel, Belgium8:07.461995-05-27Kerkrade, Netherlands8:03.541996-07-14Lappeenranta, Finland8:01.081997-05-31Hengelo, Netherlands7:58.611997-07-19Hechtel, Belgium7:54.102023-06-09Paris, France

Indoors TimeAthleteDatePlace8:09.662000-02-20Birmingham, United Kingdom8:04.692003-02-21Birmingham, United Kingdom8:04.352008-02-16Birmingham, United Kingdom8:03.402015-02-21Birmingham, United Kingdom8:00.672024-02-11New York City, United States

Women Outdoors TimeAthleteDatePlace10:07.01971-07-10Bakersfield, USA9:55.91972-06-04Redwood City, USA9:19.561998-06-27Cork, Ireland9:10.472007-05-20Carson, USA8:58.582007-09-14Brussels, Belgium

Indoors TimeAthleteDatePlace9:28.151986-02-20New York City, USA9:23.382002-01-27Boston, USA9:10.502008-01-26Boston, USA9:06.262009-02-26Prague, Czech Republic9:00.482014-02-15Birmingham, 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. TimeAthleteSchoolCityDatePlace(8:40.0 )Gerry LindgrenRogers High SchoolSpokane, Washington15 February 1964Cow Palace, Daly City, California8:57.8 Mike RyanWilcox High SchoolSanta Clara, California19658:48.3 Rick RileyFerris High SchoolSpokane, Washington28 May 1966Washington State Championships8:41.5 Steve PrefontaineMarshfield High SchoolCoos Bay, Oregon25 April 1969Corvallis Invitational, Corvallis, Oregon8:40.9 Craig VirginLebanon High SchoolLebanon, Illinois9 June 1973International Prep Invitational, Prospect, Illinois8:36.3 Jeff NelsonBurbank High SchoolBurbank, California6 May 1979Pepsi Invitational, Westwood, Los Angeles, California8:34.23German FernandezRiverbank High SchoolRiverbank, California20 June 2008Nike Outdoor Nationals, Greensboro, North Carolina video8:29.46Lukas VerzbicasCarl Sandburg High SchoolOrland Hills, Illinois4 June 2011Prefontaine Classic, Eugene, Oregon video

Two miles

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