5000 metres

The 5000 metres (approximately 3.1 mi or 16,404 ft) is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K ("five-K") in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event. While mainly run as an outdoor event, the 5000 m is sometimes run on an indoor track. Official records are kept for both outdoor[1] and indoor[2] 5000 m track events, but not for 5 km road races.

Much of the distance's popularity is due to the challenge it offers to both novices and accomplished professionals. It is a distance race that demands a great deal of aerobic endurance whilst speed is necessary. Tactics also play a key role, and the combination makes it attractive to many.

Contents

Best year performance

Men's seasons best (outdoor track)

YEAR TIME ATHLETE PLACE
1960 13:38.1  Pyotr Bolotnikov (URS) Kiev
1961 13:38.2  Murray Halberg (NZL) Stockholm
1962 13:38.4  Murray Halberg (NZL) Auckland
1963 13:38.6  Pyotr Bolotnikov (URS) Zürich
1964 13:38.0  Bob Schul (USA) Compton
1965 13:24.2  Kipchoge Keino (KEN) Auckland
1966 13:16.6  Ron Clarke (AUS) Stockholm
1967 13:18.8  Ron Clarke (AUS) Stockholm
1968 13:27.66  Ron Clarke (AUS) London
1969 13:29.0  Dick Taylor (GBR) London
1970 13:22.8  Ian Stewart (GBR) Edinburgh
1971 13:22.2  Dave Bedford (GBR) Edinburgh
1972 13:13.0  Emiel Puttemans (BEL) Brussels
1973 13:14.51  Emiel Puttemans (BEL) Stockholm
1974 13:14.4  Ben Jipcho (KEN) Christchurch
1975 13:18.6  Emiel Puttemans (BEL) Papendal
1976 13:13.10  Dick Quax (NZL) Stockholm
1977 13:12.86  Dick Quax (NZL) Stockholm
1978 13:08.4  Henry Rono (KEN) Berkeley
1979 13:12.29  Suleiman Nyambui (TAN) Stockholm
1980 13:16.38  Miruts Yifter (ETH) Bratislava
1981 13:06.20  Henry Rono (KEN) Knarvik
1982 13:00.41  David Moorcroft (GBR) Oslo
1983 13:08.54  Fernando Mamede (POR) Tokyo
1984 13:04.78  Saïd Aouita (MAR) Florence
1985 13:00.40  Saïd Aouita (MAR) Oslo
1986 13:00.86  Saïd Aouita (MAR) La Coruña
1987 12:58.39  Saïd Aouita (MAR) Rome
1988 13:11.70  John Ngugi (KEN) Seoul
1989 13:04.24  Yobes Ondieki (KEN) Oslo
1990 13:05.59  Salvatore Antibo (ITA) Bologna
1991 13:01.82  Yobes Ondieki (KEN) Zürich
1992 13:00.93  Moses Kiptanui (KEN) Brussels
1993 13:02.75  Ismael Kirui (KEN) Stuttgart
1994 12:56.96  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Hengelo
1995 12:44.39  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Zürich
1996 12:45.09  Daniel Komen (KEN) Zürich
1997 12:39.74  Daniel Komen (KEN) Brussels
1998 12:39.36  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Helsinki
1999 12:49.64  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Zürich
2000 12:49.28  Brahim Lahlafi (MAR) Brussels
2001 12:56.72  Richard Limo (KEN) Zürich
2002 12:55.85  Salah Hissou (MAR) Rome
2003 12:48.81  Stephen Cherono (KEN) Ostrava
2004 12:37.35  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) Hengelo
2005 12:40.18  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) Paris
2006 12:48.09  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) Brussels
2007 12:49.53  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) Zaragoza
2008 12:50.18  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) Zürich
2009 12:52.32  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) Zürich
2010 12:51.21  Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) Doha

Women's seasons best (outdoor track)

YEAR TIME ATHLETE PLACE
1976 16:04.2  Nina Holmén (FIN) Pietarsaari
1977 15:37.0  Jan Merrill (USA) Ingelheim
1978 15:35.52  Kathy Mills (USA) Knoxville
1979 15:33.8  Jan Merrill (USA) Durham
1980 15:30.6  Jan Merrill (USA) Palo Alto
1981 15:14.51  Paula Fudge (GBR) Knarvik
1982 15:08.26  Mary Slaney (USA) Eugene
1983 15:01.65  Zola Budd (RSA) Port Elizabeth
1984 14:58.89  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) Oslo
1985 14:48.07  Zola Budd (GBR) London
1986 14:37.33  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) Stockholm
1987 15:01.08  Liz McColgan (GBR) Oslo
1988 15:03.29  Liz McColgan (GBR) Berlin
1989 14:59.01  Kathrin Weßel (GDR) Stockholm
1990 15:02.23  Yelena Romanova (URS) Seattle
1991 14:49.35  Elana Meyer (RSA) Cape Town
1992 14:44.15  Elana Meyer (RSA) Bellville
1993 14:45.92  Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) Berlin
1994 15:05.94  Yelena Romanova (RUS) Stockholm
1995 14:36.45  Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) Hechtel
1996 14:41.07  Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) Oslo
1997 14:28.09  Jiang Bo (CHN) Shanghai
1998 14:31.48  Gabriela Szabo (ROM) Berlin
1999 14:40.59  Gabriela Szabo (ROM) Berlin
2000 14:30.88  Getenesh Wami (ETH) Heusden
2001 14:29.32  Olga Yegorova (RUS) Berlin
2002 14:31.42  Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Manchester
2003 14:29.32  Berhane Adere (ETH) Oslo
2004 14:24.68  Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) Bergen
2005 14:28.98  Meseret Defar (ETH) Brussels
2006 14:24.53  Meseret Defar (ETH) New York City
2007 14:16.63  Meseret Defar (ETH) Oslo
2008 14:11.15  Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) Oslo
2009 14:33.65  Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) London
14:24.37i  Meseret Defar (ETH) Stockholm
2010 14:27.41  Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) Saint-Denis
14:24.79i  Meseret Defar (ETH) Stockholm

All-time top 25

Men

(Updated July 2011)

Pos Time Athlete Venue Date
1. 12:37.35  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) Hengelo May 31, 2004
2. 12:39.36  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Helsinki June 13, 1998
3. 12:39.74  Daniel Komen (KEN) Brussels August 22, 1997
4. 12:46.53  Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) Rome July 2, 2004
5. 12:47.04  Sileshi Sihine (ETH) Rome July 2, 2004
6. 12:48.66  Isaac Songok (KEN) Zürich August 18, 2006
7. 12:48.81  Stephen Cherono (KEN) Ostrava June 12, 2003
8. 12:49.28  Brahim Lahlafi (MAR) Brussels August 25, 2000
9. 12:49.71  Mohammed Mourhit (BEL) Brussels August 25, 2000
10. 12:49.87  Paul Tergat (KEN) Zürich August 13, 1997
11. 12:50.24  Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) Ostrava June 12, 2003
12. 12:50.25  Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) Brussels August 26, 2005
13. 12:50.55  Moses Ndiema Masai (KEN) Berlin June 1, 2008
14. 12:50.72  Moses Ndiema Kipsiro (UGA) Brussels September 14, 2007
15. 12:50.80  Salah Hissou (MAR) Rome June 5, 1996
16. 12:50.86  Ali Saïdi-Sief (ALG) Rome June 30, 2000
17. 12:51.00  Joseph Ebuya (KEN) Brussels September 14, 2007
18. 12:51.45  Vincent Kiprop Chepkok (KEN) Doha May 14, 2010
19. 12:51.95  Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa (KEN) Brussels September 14, 2007
20. 12:52.33  Sammy Kipketer (KEN) Oslo June 27, 2003
21. 12:52.40  Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (KEN) Paris July 8, 2006
22. 12:52.45  Tariku Bekele (ETH) Berlin June 1, 2008
23. 12:52.80  Gebregziabher Gebremariam (ETH) Rome July 8, 2005
24. 12:52.99  Abraham Chebii (KEN) Oslo June 27, 2003
25. 12:53.11  Mo Farah (GBR) Fontvieille July 22, 2011[3]

Women

(Updated September 2011)

Pos Time Athlete Venue Date
1. 14:11.15  Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) Oslo June 6, 2008
2. 14:12.88  Meseret Defar (ETH) Stockholm July 22, 2008
3. 14:20.87  Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) Stockholm July 29, 2011
4. 14:23.75  Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) Kazan July 19, 2008
5. 14:24.68  Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) Bergen June 11, 2004
6. 14:28.09  Jiang Bo (CHN) Shanghai October 23, 1997
7. 14:28.39  Sentayehu Ejigu (ETH) Paris July 16, 2010
8. 14:29.11  Paula Radcliffe (GBR) Bydgoszcz June 20, 2004
9. 14:29.32  Olga Yegorova (RUS) Berlin August 31, 2001
 Berhane Adere (ETH) Oslo June 27, 2003
11. 14:29.82  Dong Yanmei (CHN) Shanghai October 23, 1997
12. 14:30.42  Sally Kipyego (KEN) Zürich September 08, 2011
13. 14:30.88  Gete Wami (ETH) Heusden-Zolder August 5, 2000
14. 14:31.14  Linet Chepkwemoi Masai (KEN) Shanghai May 23, 2010
15. 14:31.20  Gelete Burka (ETH) Ostrava June 27, 2007
16. 14:31.48  Gabriela Szabo (ROM) Berlin September 1, 1998
17. 14:31.91  Meselech Melkamu (ETH) Shanghai May 23, 2010
 Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet (KEN) Shanghai May 23, 2010
19. 14:32.08  Zahra Ouaziz (MAR) Berlin September 1, 1998
20. 14:32.33  Liu Shixiang (CHN) Shanghai October 21, 1997
21. 14:32.74  Ejegayehu Dibaba (ETH) Bergen June 11, 2004
22. 14:33.04  Werknesh Kidane (ETH) Oslo June 27, 2003
23. 14:33.13  Gulnara Samitova-Galkina (RUS) Kazan July 19, 2008
24. 14:33.49  Lucy Wangui (KEN) Oslo June 6, 2008
25. 14:33.84  Edith Masai (KEN) Oslo June 12, 2006

World record progression

Men's world record progression

Pre-IAAF

WORLD RECORDS IN THE MEN'S 5,000 METRES (OUTDOORS)
TIME ATHLETE DATE PLACE
16:34.6  George Touquet-Daunis (FRA) 1897-10-31 Paris, France
16:29.2  George Touquet-Daunis (FRA) 1899-05-22 Lyon, France
15:29.8  Charles Bennett (GBR) 1900-07-22 Paris, France
14:59.0  Alfred Shrubb (GBR) 1904-06-13 Glasgow, Scotland

IAAF era

The first world record in the men's 5000 metres was recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912.[4]

As of June 21, 2009, 35 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event.[4]

WORLD RECORDS IN THE MEN'S 5,000 METRES (OUTDOORS)
TIME ATHLETE DATE PLACE
14:36.6  Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN) 1912-06-10 Stockholm, Sweden[4]
14:35.4  Paavo Nurmi (FIN) 1922-09-12 Stockholm, Sweden[4]
14:28.2  Paavo Nurmi (FIN) 1924-06-19 Helsinki, Finland[4]
14:17.0  Lauri Lehtinen (FIN) 1932-06-19 Helsinki, Finland[4]
14:08.8  Taisto Mäki (FIN) 1939-06-16 Helsinki, Finland[4]
13:58.2  Gunder Hägg (SWE) 1942-09-20 Gothenburg, Sweden[4]
13:57.2  Emil Zátopek (TCH) 1954-05-30 Paris, France[4]
13:56.6  Vladimir Kuts (URS) 1954-08-29 Bern, Switzerland[4]
13:51.6  Chris Chataway (GBR) 1954-10-13 London, United Kingdom[4]
13:51.2  Vladimir Kuts (URS) 1954-10-23 Prague, Czechoslovakia[4]
13:50.8  Sandor Iharos (HUN) 1955-09-10 Budapest, Hungary[4]
13:46.8  Vladimir Kuts (URS) 1955-09-18 Belgrad, Yugoslavia[4]
13:40.6  Sandor Iharos (HUN) 1955-09-23 Budapest, Hungary[4]
13:36.8  Gordon Pirie (GBR) 1956-06-19 Bergen, Norway[4]
13:35.0  Vladimir Kuts (URS) 1957-10-13 Rome, Italy[4]
13:34.8  Ron Clarke (AUS) 1965-01-16 Hobart, Australia[4]
13:33.6  Ron Clarke (AUS) 1965-02-01 Auckland, New Zealand[4]
13:25.8  Ron Clarke (AUS) 1965-06-04 Compton, USA[4]
13:24.2  Kipchoge Keino (KEN) 1965-11-30 Auckland, New Zealand[4]
13:16.6  Ron Clarke (AUS) 1966-07-05 Stockholm, Sweden[4]
13:16.4  Lasse Virén (FIN) 1972-09-14 Helsinki, Finland[4]
13:13.0  Emiel Puttemans (BEL) 1972-09-20 Brussels, Belgium[4]
13:12.9  Dick Quax (NZL) 1977-07-05 Stockholm, Sweden[4]
13:08.4  Henry Rono (KEN) 1978-04-08 Berkeley, California, USA[4]
13:06.20  Henry Rono (KEN) 1981-09-13 Knarvik, Norway[4]
13:00.41  David Moorcroft (GBR) 1982-07-07 Oslo, Norway[4]
13:00.40  Saïd Aouita (MAR) 1985-07-22 Oslo, Norway[4]
12:58.39  Saïd Aouita (MAR) 1987-07-27 Rome, Italy[4]
12:56.96  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 1994-06-04 Hengelo, Netherlands[4]
12:55.30  Moses Kiptanui (KEN) 1995-06-06 Rome, Italy[4]
12:44.39  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 1995-08-16 Zürich, Switzerland[4]
12:41.86  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 1997-08-13 Zürich, Switzerland[4]
12:39.74  Daniel Komen (KEN) 1997-08-22 Brussels, Belgium[4]
12:39.36  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 1998-06-13 Helsinki, Finland[4]
12:37.35  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 2004-05-31 Hengelo, Netherlands[4]

Auto times to the hundredth of a second were accepted by the IAAF for events up to and including 10,000m from 1981.[4] Dick Quax's 13:12.9 from 1977 was recorded as 13:12.87 to the hundredth of a second.

Women's world record progression

The first world record in the women's 5000 metres was recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1981.[5]

As of June 21, 2009, 13 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event.[5]

WORLD RECORDS IN THE WOMEN'S 5,000 METRES (OUTDOORS)
TIME ATHLETE DATE PLACE
15:14.51  Paula Fudge (GBR) 1981-09-13 Knarvik, Norway[5]
15:13.22  Anne Audain (NZL) 1982-03-17 Auckland, New Zealand[5]
15:08.26  Mary Decker-Slaney (USA) 1982-07-05 Eugene, Oregon, United States[5]
14:58.89  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) 1984-06-28 Oslo, Norway[5]
14:48.07  Zola Budd (GBR) 1985-08-26 London, United Kingdom[5]
14:37.33  Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) 1986-08-05 Stockholm, Sweden[5]
14:36.45  Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) 1995-07-22 Hechtel, Belgium[5]
14:31.27  Dong Yanmei (CHN) 1997-10-21 Shanghai, PR China[5]
14:28.09  Jiang Bo (CHN) 1997-10-23 Shanghai, PR China[5]
14:24.68  Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) 2004-06-11 Bergen, Norway[5]
14:24.53  Meseret Defar (ETH) 2006-06-03 New York, USA[5]
14:16.63  Meseret Defar (ETH) 2007-06-15 Oslo, Norway[5]
14:11.15  Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 2008-06-06 Oslo, Norway[5]

 Zola Budd (RSA) ran 15:01.83 in 1984, but this time was not ratified as a world record.

Medalists

Olympic games

Men

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1912 Stockholm  Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN)  Jean Bouin (FRA)  George Hutson (GBR)
1920 Antwerp  Joseph Guillemot (FRA)  Paavo Nurmi (FIN)  Eric Backman (SWE)
1924 Paris  Paavo Nurmi (FIN)  Ville Ritola (FIN)  Edvin Wide (SWE)
1928 Amsterdam  Ville Ritola (FIN)  Paavo Nurmi (FIN)  Edvin Wide (SWE)
1932 Los Angeles  Lauri Lehtinen (FIN)  Ralph Hill (USA)  Lauri Virtanen (FIN)
1936 Berlin  Gunnar Höckert (FIN)  Lauri Lehtinen (FIN)  Henry Jonsson (SWE)
1948 London  Gaston Reiff (BEL)  Emil Zátopek (TCH)  Wim Slijkhuis (NED)
1952 Helsinki  Emil Zátopek (TCH)  Alain Mimoun (FRA)  Herbert Schade (GER)
1956 Melbourne  Vladimir Kuts (URS)  Gordon Pirie (GBR)  Derek Ibbotson (GBR)
1960 Rome  Murray Halberg (NZL)  Hans Grodotzki (EUA)  Kazimierz Zimny (POL)
1964 Tokyo  Bob Schul (USA)  Harald Norpoth (EUA)  Bill Dellinger (USA)
1968 Mexico City  Mohammed Gammoudi (TUN)  Kipchoge Keino (KEN)  Naftali Temu (KEN)
1972 Munich  Lasse Virén (FIN)  Mohammed Gammoudi (TUN)  Ian Stewart (GBR)
1976 Montreal  Lasse Virén (FIN)  Dick Quax (NZL)  Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand (FRG)
1980 Moscow  Miruts Yifter (ETH)  Suleiman Nyambui (TAN)  Kaarlo Maaninka (FIN)
1984 Los Angeles  Saïd Aouita (MAR)  Markus Ryffel (SUI)  António Leitão (POR)
1988 Seoul  John Ngugi (KEN)  Dieter Baumann (FRG)  Hansjörg Kunze (GDR)
1992 Barcelona  Dieter Baumann (GER)  Paul Bitok (KEN)  Fita Bayisa (ETH)
1996 Atlanta  Vénuste Niyongabo (BDI)  Paul Bitok (KEN)  Khalid Boulami (MAR)
2000 Sydney  Million Wolde (ETH)  Ali Saïdi-Sief (ALG)  Brahim Lahlafi (MAR)
2004 Athens  Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR)  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)  Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)
2008 Beijing  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)  Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)  Edwin Soi (KEN)

Women

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1996 Atlanta  Wang Junxia (CHN)  Pauline Konga (KEN)  Roberta Brunet (ITA)
2000 Sydney  Gabriela Szabó (ROU)  Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL)  Gete Wami (ETH)
2004 Athens  Meseret Defar (ETH)  Isabella Ochichi (KEN)  Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)
2008 Beijing  Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)  Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR)  Meseret Defar (ETH)

World championships

Men

Championship Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki  Eamonn Coghlan (IRL)  Werner Schildhauer (GDR)  Martti Vainio (FIN)
1987 Rome  Saïd Aouita (MAR)  Domingos Castro (POR)  Jack Buckner (GBR)
1991 Tokyo  Yobes Ondieki (KEN)  Fita Bayisa (ETH)  Brahim Boutayeb (MAR)
1993 Stuttgart  Ismael Kirui (KEN)  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Fita Bayisa (ETH)
1995 Gothenburg  Ismael Kirui (KEN)  Khalid Bouhlami (MAR)  Shem Kororia (KEN)
1997 Athens  Daniel Komen (KEN)  Khalid Bouhlami (MAR)  Tom Nyariki (KEN)
1999 Seville  Salah Hissou (MAR)  Benjamin Limo (KEN)  Mohammed Mourhit (BEL)
2001 Edmonton  Richard Limo (KEN)  Million Wolde (ETH)  John Kibowen (KEN)
2003 Paris  Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)  Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR)  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)
2005 Helsinki  Benjamin Limo (KEN)  Sileshi Sihine (ETH)  Craig Mottram (AUS)
2007 Osaka  Bernard Lagat (USA)  Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)  Moses Ndiema Kipsiro (UGA)
2009 Berlin  Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)  Bernard Lagat (USA)  James Kwalia C'Kurui (QAT)
2011 Daegu  Mo Farah (GBR)  Bernard Lagat (USA)  Dejen Gebremeskel (ETH)

Women

Championship Gold Silver Bronze
1995 Gothenburg  Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL)  Fernanda Ribeiro (POR)  Zahra Ouaziz (MAR)
1997 Athens  Gabriela Szabo (ROU)  Roberta Brunet (ITA)  Fernanda Ribeiro (POR)
1999 Seville  Gabriela Szabo (ROU)  Zahra Ouaziz (MAR)  Ayelech Worku (ETH)
2001 Edmonton  Olga Yegorova (RUS)  Marta Dominguez (ESP)  Ayelech Worku (ETH)
2003 Paris  Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)  Marta Dominguez (ESP)  Edith Masai (KEN)
2005 Helsinki  Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)  Meseret Defar (ETH)  Ejegayehu Dibaba (ETH)
2007 Osaka  Meseret Defar (ETH)  Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)  Priscah Jepleting Cherono (KEN)
2009 Berlin  Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)  Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet (KEN)  Meseret Defar (ETH)
2011 Daegu  Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)  Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet (KEN)  Meseret Defar (ETH)

See also

Notes

External links