The 200 metres straight is a track and field outdoor event of 200 metres on a straight track.
In the 1960s, the straight 200 metres was a separate world record event for men until IAAF deleted this variation from its list of official records. The race was more common during the early to mid 20th century, when panhandle tracks, with 200 metre straightaways, were common. The United States Olympic Trials held the event on a straight until 1932.
Interest in the event was revived around 2009. Several street events, primarily in Manchester, Brussels and Boston have constructed special tracks to hold the races, inviting elite sprinters.
The imperial analogue of the 200 m straight is the 220 yards straightheld over which has been contested at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships 38 times from 1887 to 1926.
Record progression Men TimeWindAthleteNationalityDatePlace21.2Bernard Wefers30 May 1896 New York City, United States21.2Ralph Craig28 May 1910 Philadelphia, United States21.2Donald Lippincott31 May 1913 Cambridge, United States21.2Howard Drew28 February 1914 Claremont, United States21.2George Parker2 October 1914 Fresno, United States20.8Charlie Paddock26 March 1921 Berkeley, United States20.8Charlie Paddock6 September 1924 West Orange, United States20.6Roland Locke1 May 1926 Lincoln, United States20.6Ralph Metcalfe12 August 1933 Budapest, Hungary20.3Jesse Owens25 May 1935 Ann Arbor, United States20.2Mel Patton7 May 1949 Los Angeles, United States20.1Dave Sime11 May 1956 Durham, United States20.0Dave Sime9 June 1956 Sanger, United States20.0Frank Budd12 May 1962 Villanova, United States20.0Tommie Smith13 March 1965 San Jose, United States19.5Tommie Smith7 May 1966 San Jose, United StatesDue to the fact that IAAF has stopped ratifying records for this distance, Smith's time as the last ratified record will be permanent. Gay's time is the World's Best.19.41 -0.4 m/sTyson Gay16 May 2010 Manchester, United Kingdom
Women TimeWindAthleteNationalityDatePlace22.55 +0.2 m/sAllyson Felix16 May 2010 Manchester, United Kingdom21.76 +0.5 m/sShaunae Miller-Uibo4 June 2017 Boston, United States
All-time top 25 h = hand timing NWI = no wind measurement Men RankResultWind (m/s)AthleteNationalityDatePlace119.41 −0.4Tyson Gay16 May 2010Manchester219.5 Tommie Smith7 May 1966San Jose319.84 +0.6Wayde van Niekerk4 June 2017Boston419.88 +0.3Steven Gardiner20 May 2018Boston519.89 -0.3Jerome Blake23 May 2021Boston619.93 -0.3Zharnel Hughes23 May 2021Boston720.0 Frank Budd12 May 1962VillanovaDave Sime9 June 1956Sanger920.03 +0.3Alonso Edward20 May 2018Boston +0.3Jereem Richards20 May 2018Boston1120.09 -0.2Kyle Greaux16 June 2019Boston1220.17 +0.6BeeJay Lee4 June 2017Boston1320.2 Mel Patton7 May 1949Los Angeles1420.3 Jesse Owens25 May 1935Ann Arbor1520.36 +0.3Josephus Lyles20 May 2018Boston1620.48 −0.6Solomon Bockarie4 September 2016Brussels1720.59 −0.4Kim Collins16 May 2010Manchester +0.6Wallace Spearmon4 June 2017Boston1920.6 Roland Locke1 May 1926LincolnRalph Metcalfe12 August 1933Budapest2120.64 +0.2Jaysuma Saidy Ndure20 May 2012Manchester -0.2Tony McQuay16 June 2019Boston2320.66 -0.4Paul Hession16 May 2010Manchester2420.67 +0.2James Ellington20 May 2012Manchester2520.71 +0.2David Neville20 May 2012Manchester
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 20.71: Steven Gardiner also ran 20.49 (2019). Zharnel Hughes also ran 20.00 (2019).
Women Correct as of June 2021. RankResultWind (m/s)AthleteNationalityDatePlace121.76 +0.5Shaunae Miller-Uibo4 June 2017Boston222.16 +0.9Anastasia Le-Roy20 May 2018Boston322.31 +0.9Joanna Atkins20 May 2018Boston422.40 -0.1Kortnei Johnson23 May 2021Boston522.43 +0.9Shakima Wimbley20 May 2018Boston622.50 +0.5Natasha Hastings4 June 2017Boston722.55 +0.2Allyson Felix16 May 2010Manchester822.57 -0.1Wadeline Jonathas23 May 2021Boston922.62 -0.1Michelle-Lee Ahye23 May 2021Boston1022.71 −0.3Sanya Richards-Ross20 May 2012Manchester1122.81 +0.5Kimberlyn Duncan4 June 2017Boston1222.86 +0.9Tynia Gaither20 May 2018Boston1322.96 +0.2Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie16 May 2010Manchester1423.10 +0.5Phyllis Francis4 June 2017Boston1523.24 +0.1Lynna Irby16 June 2019Boston1623.29 +0.2Emily Freeman16 May 2010Manchester1723.31 +0.1Felicia Brown16 June 2019Boston1823.46 +0.1Jessica Beard16 June 2019Boston1923.53 −0.3Denisa Rosolova20 May 2012Manchester2023.56 −0.3Margaret Adeoye20 May 2012Manchester2123.75 +0.2Lee McConnell16 May 2010Manchester2223.79 −0.3Nicola Sanders20 May 2012Manchester2324.20 +0.6Olivia Borlée4 September 2016Brussels2425.06 +0.6Elke Vereecken4 September 2016Brussels2525.25 +0.6Ine Hugaerts4 September 2016Brussels
Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 25.25: Shaunae Miller-Uibo also ran 22.08 (2021). Tynia Gaither also ran 22.96 (2021). Anastasia Le-Roy also ran 23.12 (2019). Shakima Wimbley also ran 23.40 (2019).
References