World Records - 1500 m Men

The 1500 m Men world record stands at 3:26.00, set by Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) in 1998. Explore its full progression through athletics history.

HE
1500 mètresMen
WR
3:26.00WR
Hicham El Guerrouj
MARMARMAR
July 14, 1998
Rome, Italy

Record standing for: 28 years, 2 months

Record History

PerformanceAthleteCountryDateCompetitionsGap vs WRDurationImprovement
3:26.00WR
Hicham El GuerroujMARMARJul 14, 1998Rome, ItalyWR28y 2mo (Current)-1.37s
3:27.37
Noureddine MorceliALGALGJul 12, 1995Nice, France+1.37s3y -1.49s
3:28.86
Noureddine MorceliALGALGSep 6, 1992Rieti, Italy+2.86s2y 10mo -0.60s
3:29.46
Saïd AouitaMARMARAug 23, 1985Berlin, Germany+3.46s7y 1mo -0.21s
3:29.67
Steve CramGBRGBRJul 16, 1985Nice, France+3.67s1mo -1.10s
3:30.77
Steve OvettGBRGBRSep 4, 1983Rieti, Italy+4.77s1y 10mo -0.47s
3:31.24
Sydney MareeUSAUSAAug 28, 1983Cologne, West Germany+5.24s1mo -0.16s
3:31.4
Steve OvettGBRGBRAug 27, 1980Koblenz, West Germany+5.40s3y -0.70s
3:32.1
Steve OvettGBRGBRJul 15, 1980Oslo, Norway+6.10s1mo -
3:32.1
Sebastian CoeGBRGBRAug 15, 1979Zürich, Switzerland+6.10s11mo -0.10s
3:32.2
Filbert BayiTANTANFeb 2, 1974Christchurch, New Zealand+6.20s5y 6mo -0.90s
3:33.1
Jim RyunUSAUSAJul 8, 1967Los Angeles, United States+7.10s6y 7mo -2.50s
3:35.6
Herb ElliottAUSAUSSep 6, 1960Rome, Italy+9.60s6y 10mo -0.40s
3:36.0
Herb ElliottAUSAUSAug 28, 1958Gothenburg, Sweden+10.00s2y 1mo -2.10s
3:38.1
Stanislav JungwirthTCHTCHJul 12, 1957Stará Boleslav, Czechoslovakia+12.10s1y 1mo -2.10s
3:40.2
Olavi SalonenFINFINJul 11, 1957Turku, Finland+14.20s1d -
3:40.2
Olavi SalsolaFINFINJul 11, 1957Turku, Finland+14.20s0d -0.40s
3:40.6
István RózsavölgyiHUNHUNAug 3, 1956Tata, Hungary+14.60s11mo -0.20s
3:40.8
Gustav Lundholm NielsenDENDENSep 6, 1955Oslo, Norway+14.80s11mo -
3:40.8
László TáboriHUNHUNSep 6, 1955Oslo, Norway+14.80s0d -
3:40.8
Sándor IharosHUNHUNJul 28, 1955Helsinki, Finland+14.80s2mo -2.20s
3:43.0
Werner LuegFRGFRGJun 29, 1952Berlin, Germany+17.00s3y 1mo -
3:43.0
Lennart StrandSWESWEJul 15, 1947Malmö, Sweden+17.00s4y 11mo -
3:43.0
Gunder HäggSWESWEJul 7, 1944Gothenburg, Sweden+17.00s3y -2.00s
3:45.0
Anton AnderssonSWESWEAug 17, 1943Gothenburg, Sweden+19.00s11mo -0.80s
3:45.8
Gunder HäggSWESWEJul 17, 1942Stockholm, Sweden+19.80s1y 1mo -1.80s
3:47.6
Gunder HäggSWESWEAug 10, 1941Stockholm, Sweden+21.60s11mo -0.20s
3:47.8
Jack LovelockNZLNZLAug 6, 1936Berlin, Germany+21.80s5y -1.00s
3:48.8
Bill BonthronUSAUSAJun 30, 1934Milwaukee, United States+22.80s2y 2mo -0.20s
3:49.0
Luigi BeccaliITAITASep 17, 1933Milan, Italy+23.00s9mo -0.20s
3:49.2
Luigi BeccaliITAITASep 9, 1933Turin, Italy+23.20s8d -
3:49.2
Jules LadoumegueFRAFRAOct 5, 1930Paris, France+23.20s2y 11mo -1.80s
3:51.0
Otto PeltzerGERGERSep 11, 1926Berlin, Germany+25.00s4y 1mo -1.60s
3:52.6
Paavo NurmiFINFINJun 19, 1924Helsinki, Finland+26.60s2y 3mo -2.10s
3:54.7
John ZanderSWESWEAug 5, 1917Stockholm, Sweden+28.70s6y 10mo -1.10s
3:55.8
Abel KiviatUSAUSAJun 8, 1912Cambridge, United States+29.80s5y 2mo -13.20s
4:09
Jeff BrayUSAUSAMay 30, 1900Bayonne, France+43.00s12y 1mo -12.00s
4:21
Fernand MeiersFRAFRAMay 28, 1893Paris, France+55.00s7y -
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who holds the 1500 m Men world record?

Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco) holds the 1500 m Men world record with 3:26.00, set on July 14, 1998 in Rome, Italy.

Who held the 1500 m Men world record before Hicham El Guerrouj?

Noureddine Morceli (Algeria) held it with 3:27.37, from July 12, 1995 until July 14, 1998 (3 years).

How many times has the 1500 m Men world record been improved?

Elite Trackr's progression lists 37 improvements since 1893, when Fernand Meiers set 4:21.