The following tables show the world record progression in the men's 600 yards.
Outdoor Time Auto Athlete Nationality Location of race Date 1:15.0 James Clegg Sheffield, England July 7, 1873 1:14.6 Frederick Elborough London, England April 28, 1877 1:14.5 Lon Myers West New Brighton, New York, United States May 29, 1880 1:11.4 Lon MyersMyers was paced in the last 200 yards of his race. New York, New York, United States July 1, 1882 William Downs Bergen Point, New Jersey, United States November 16, 1889 1:11.0 Thomas Burke New York, New York, United States September 19, 1896 Edwin Montague London, England September 19, 1908 1:10.8 Mel Sheppard New York, New York, United States August 14, 1910 1:10.4 Douglas Lowe London, England June 26, 1926 1:09.2 Ben Eastman San Francisco, California, United States April 1, 1933 1:08.8 Ben Eastman San Francisco, California, United States June 2, 1934 1:08.5 Willie Atterberry Columbus, Ohio, United States April 20, 1957 1:08.1This time was run on an oversized track indoors, but was superior to the outdoor record. Hardee McAlhaney Houston, Texas, United States January 25, 1969 1:06.87 Butch Reynolds Johnson City, Tennessee, United States January 17, 1987
Indoor
600 yard US indoor record progression600 yard world record progression
Time Auto Athlete Nationality Location of race Date 1:17.8 Gabriel G. Hollander unknown unknown 1:16.4 Gabriel G. Hollander New York, New York, United States March 25, 1897 1:14.0 Eli B. Parsons New York, New York, United States March 3, 1906 John Baxter Taylor New York, New York, United States February 9, 1907 1:13.6 Mel Sheppard Brooklyn, New York, United StatesThis was a handicap race, and Sheppard was not the winner of the event: some sources exclude this time as a record. March 30, 1907 1:13.4 Tom Halpin Brooklyn, New York, United States March 2, 1914 1:12.8 Jake Driscoll Buffalo, New York, United States April 14, 1923 1:11.6 Alan Helffrich New York, New York, United States March 17, 1925 1:11.3 Charles Hornbostel New York, New York, United States February 2, 1935 1:11.1 James Herbert New York, New York, United States March 12, 1938 Chicago, Illinois, United States March 26, 1938 1:10.8 James Herbert New York, New York, United States March 9, 1940 1:10.2 John Borican New York, New York, United States March 8, 1941 Hugh Short New York, New York, United States February 6, 1943 Mal Whitfield Boston, Massachusetts, United States January 31, 1953 1:09.5 Mal Whitfield New York, New York, United States February 28, 1953 Tom Courtney Boston, Massachusetts, United States February 2, 1957 1:09.3 George Kerr New York, New York, United States March 3, 1961 1:09.2 Wendell Mottley Ithaca, New York, United States February 29, 1964 1:09.0 Martin McGrady Louisville, Kentucky, United States February 12, 1966 1:08.7McGrady and Evans ran this time at the 1970 Los Angeles Indoor Games; the photo-finish gave McGrady first and Evans second, with each man being credited with a new world record. Martin McGrady Los Angeles, California, United States February 13, 1970 Lee Evans 1:08.5 Martin McGrady Louisville, Kentucky, United States February 14, 1970 1:07.6 Martin McGrady New York, New York, United States February 27, 1970 1:07.53 Mark Everett New York, New York, United States February 7, 1992 1:06.93 Moitalel Naadokila Lubbock, Texas, United States February 15, 2020 1:06.68 Jonathan Jones Ames, Iowa, United States February 26, 20221:05.75Jenoah McKiverLubbock, Texas, United StatesJanuary 18, 2025
References