50 metres is a sprint event in track and field. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor athletics competitions it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes. It is an alternative to the 60 metres running event.
Records and personal bests in the 50 metres are frequently achieved in February and March as these dates coincide with the indoor athletics season.
Indoor results only. Updated April 2010.
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 5.56[A] B | Donovan Bailey | Canada | 9 February 1996 | Reno |
| Maurice Greene | United States | 13 February 1999 | Los Angeles | ||
| 3. | 5.58 | Leonard Scott | United States | 26 February 2005 | Liévin |
| 4 | 5.61 | Manfred Kokot | East Germany | 4 February 1973 | Berlin |
| James Sanford | United States | 20 February 1981 | San Diego | ||
| Michael Green | Jamaica | 16 February 1997 | Liévin | ||
| Deji Aliu | Nigeria | 21 February 1999 | Liévin | ||
| Jason Gardener | United Kingdom | 16 February 2000 | Madrid | ||
| Freddy Mayola | Cuba | 16 February 2000 | Madrid | ||
| 10 | 5.62 | Emmit King | United States | 5 March 1986 | Kobe |
| Andre Cason | United States | 15 February 1992 | Los Angeles | ||
| Eric Nkansah | Ghana | 21 February 1999 | Liévin | ||
| Morne Nagel | South Africa | 24 February 2002 | Liévin |
Indoor results only. Updated April 2010.
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 5.96 | Irina Privalova | Russia | 9 February 1995 | Madrid, Spain |
| 2. | 6.00 | Merlene Ottey | Jamaica | 4 February 1994 | Moscow |
| 3. | 6.02 | Gail Devers | United States | 21 February 1999 | Liévin |
| 4. | 6.04 | Chioma Ajunwa | Nigeria | 22 February 1998 | Liévin |
| 5. | 6.05 | Savatheda Fynes | Bahamas | 13 February 2000 | Liévin |
| Philomena Mensah | Canada | 13 February 2000 | Liévin | ||
| 7. | 6.07[A] | Gwen Torrence | United States | 9 February 1996 | Reno, NV |
| 8. | 6.08 | Christy Opara-Thompson | Nigeria | 16 February 1997 | Liévin |
| 9. | 6.09 | Zhanna Block | Ukraine | 2 February 1993 | Moscow |
| 10 | 6.11 | Marita Koch | East Germany | 2 February 1980 | Grenoble |
| Liliana Allen | Mexico | 13 February 2000 | Liévin | ||
| Christine Arron | France | 26 February 2006 | Aubière |
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