Encyclopedia
300 metres
Athletics event
The 300 metres is an uncommon (meaning not on an Olympic or World Championship program) sprinting event in track and field competitions. The race starts on a straight and therefore comprises two straights and one bend.
The imperial distance analogue to the event is the 300 yards (270 m), which is slightly shorter than the 300 m (330 yd) distance and was contested at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships from 1906 to 1932.
01All-time top 25
| Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 300m times and the top 25 athletes: |
| - denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 300m times |
| - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 300m times, by repeat athletes |
| - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 300m times |
Men (outdoor)
- Correct as of April 2026.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 30.69 A | Letsile Tebogo | Botswana | 17 February 2024 | Pretoria | |
| 2 | 2 | 30.81 | Wayde van Niekerk | South Africa | 28 June 2017 | Ostrava | |
| 3 | 3 | 30.85 A | Michael Johnson | United States | 24 March 2000 | Pretoria | |
| 4 | 4 | 30.97 | Usain Bolt | Jamaica | 27 May 2010 | Ostrava | |
| 5 | 31.03 | van Niekerk #2 | 11 June 2016 | Kingston | |||
| 5 | 6 | 31.23 | LaShawn Merritt | United States | 11 June 2016 | Kingston | |
| 7 | 31.30 | Merritt #2 | 7 June 2009 | Eugene | |||
| 8 | 31.31 | Merritt #3 | 8 August 2006 | Eugene | |||
| 6 | 9 | 31.38 | Muzala Samukonga | Zambia | 28 April 2026 | Pretoria | |
| 7 | 10 | 31.44 | Isaac Makwala | Botswana | 28 June 2017 | Ostrava | |
| 8 | 11 | 31.48 | Roberto Hernández | Cuba | 3 September 1990 | Jerez de la Frontera | |
| Danny Everett | United States | 3 September 1990 | Jerez de la Frontera | ||||
| 10 | 13 | 31.52 | Steven Gardiner | Bahamas | 12 May 2022 | Ponce | |
| 14 | 31.52 A | Tebogo #2 | 18 February 2023 | Pretoria | |||
| 15 | 31.53 | Merritt #2 | 1 August 2015 | Atlanta | |||
| 16 | 31.56 | Johnson #2 | 22 July 1994 | Salamenca | |||
| 11 | 17 | 31.56 | Douglas Walker | Great Britain | 19 July 1998 | Gateshead | |
| 12 | 18 | 31.58 | Lythe Pillay | South Africa | 28 April 2026 | Pretoria | |
| 19 | 31.59 | Gardiner #2 | 17 March 2023 | Carolina | |||
| 13 | 20 | 31.61 | Anthuan Maybank | United States | 13 July 1996 | Durham | |
| Clarence Munyai | South Africa | 28 June 2017 | Ostrava | ||||
| 22 | 31.63 | van Niekerk #3 | 7 June 2015 | Birmingham | |||
| 15 | 23 | 31.64 | Tony McQuay | United States | 11 June 2016 | Kingston | |
| 16 | 24 | 31.67 | John Regis | Great Britain | 17 July 1992 | Gateshead | |
| 25 | 31.69 | Hernández #2 | 20 June 1990 | Bratislava | |||
| 17 | 31.70 | Kirk Baptiste | United States | 18 August 1984 | London | ||
| 18 | 31.72 | Jeremy Wariner | United States | 12 June 2008 | Ostrava | ||
| 19 | 31.73 | Thomas Jefferson | United States | 22 August 1987 | London | ||
| 20 | 31.74 | Gabriel Tiacoh | Ivory Coast | 6 August 1986 | A Coruña | ||
| 21 | 31.77 | Tyler Christopher | Canada | 20 May 2004 | Sainte Anne | ||
| Gordeo Isaacs | South Africa | 28 April 2026 | Pretoria | ||||
| 23 | 31.80 | Pavel Maslák | Czech Republic | 28 June 2017 | Ostrava | ||
| 24 | 31.81 | Gil Roberts | United States | 11 June 2016 | Kingston | ||
| Vernon Norwood | United States | 12 May 2022 | Ponce |
Men (indoor)
- Correct as of January 2026.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 31.56 | Steven Gardiner | Bahamas | 27 January 2022 | Columbia | |
| 2 | 2 | 31.87 A | Noah Lyles | United States | 3 March 2017 | Albuquerque | |
| 3 | 3 | 31.88 | Wallace Spearmon | United States | 9 February 2006 | Fayetteville | |
| 4 | 4 | 31.92 A | Paul Dedewo | United States | 3 March 2017 | Albuquerque | |
| 5 | 5 | 31.94 | Kerron Clement | United States | 9 February 2006 | Fayetteville | |
| 6 | 6 | LaShawn Merritt | United States | 9 February 2006 | Fayetteville | ||
| 7 | 7 | 31.97 | Bralon Taplin | Grenada | 13 February 2017 | Ostrava | |
| 8 | 8 | 31.99 | Jacory Patterson | United States | 14 January 2022 | Clemson | |
| 9 | 32.06 | Gardiner #2 | 14 January 2022 | Birmingham | |||
| 9 | 10 | 32.10 | Jereem Richards | Trinidad and Tobago | 9 February 2018 | Boston | |
| Sidi Njie | United States | 10 January 2026 | Clemson | ||||
| Garrett Kaalund | United States | 16 January 2026 | Spokane | ||||
| 13 | 32.14 | Richards #2 | 24 January 2026 | Boston | |||
| 12 | 14 | 32.15 | Pavel Maslák | Czech Republic | 8 February 2014 | Gent | |
| 15 | 32.15 | Lyles #2 | 24 January 2026 | Boston | |||
| 16 | 32.16 | Lyles #3 | 4 March 2017 | Albuquerque | |||
| 17 | 32.18 | Patterson #2 | 31 January 2025 | Clemson | |||
| 13 | 18 | 32.19 | Robson Caetano da Silva | Brazil | 23 February 1989 | Karlsruhe | |
| 19 | 32.19 | Maslák #2 | 14 February 2017 | Ostrava | |||
| 14 | 20 | 32.21 | Rai Benjamin | United States | 2 February 2025 | Boston | |
| 15 | 21 | 32.22 | Tyson Williams | United States | 10 January 2026 | Columbia | |
| 22 | 32.26 | Gardiner #3 | 16 February 2019 | Columbia | |||
| 23 | 32.28 | Patterson #3 | 17 January 2020 | Blacksburg | |||
| 16 | 24 | 32.32 | Torrin Lawrence | United States | 21 January 2010 | Blacksburg | |
| 17 | 25 | 32.34 | Auhmad Robinson | United States | 10 January 2025 | College Station | |
| 18 | 32.36 | Frank Fredericks | Namibia | 27 February 2003 | Karlsruhe | ||
| Brian Faust | United States | 13 January 2024 | Clemson | ||||
| Josiah Wrice | United States | 10 January 2026 | Columbia | ||||
| 21 | 32.37 | Lalonde Gordon | Trinidad and Tobago | 3 February 2017 | New York | ||
| Judson Lincoln IV | United States | 6 December 2024 | Clemson | ||||
| 23 | 32.38 | Greg Nixon | United States | 9 February 2009 | Liévin | ||
| Takudzwa Chiyangwa | Zimbabwe | 25 January 2025 | Clemson | ||||
| Vernon Norwood | United States | 24 January 2026 | Boston |
Women (outdoor)
- Correct as of August 2026.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 34.41 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas | 20 June 2019 | Ostrava | |
| 2 | 2 | 34.60 A | Beatrice Masilingi | Namibia | 18 February 2023 | Pretoria | |
| 3 | 3 | 35.16 | Marileidy Paulino | Dominican Republic | 17 March 2023 | Carolina | |
| 4 | 4 | 35.30 A | Ana Guevara | Mexico | 3 May 2003 | Mexico City | |
| 5 | 5 | 35.46 | Kathy Cook | Great Britain | 18 August 1984 | London | |
| Chandra Cheeseborough | United States | 18 August 1984 | London | ||||
| Henriette Jæger | Norway | 22 May 2024 | Bergen | ||||
| 8 | 35.49 | Jæger #2 | 29 May 2026 | Bergen | |||
| 9 | 35.51 | Cook #2 | 9 September 1983 | London | |||
| 8 | 9 | 35.51 | Natalia Bukowiecka | Poland | 9 August 2025 | Białystok | |
| 11 | 35.52 | Bukowiecka #2 | 30 January 2024 | Potchefstroom | |||
| 12 | 35.56 | Jæger #2 | 3 June 2025 | Bergen | |||
| 9 | 13 | 35.70 | Irena Szewinska | Poland | 4 July 1975 | London | |
| Léa Sprunger | Switzerland | 25 May 2017 | Langenthal | ||||
| 11 | 15 | 35.71 | Donna Fraser | Great Britain | 28 August 2000 | Gateshead | |
| 12 | 16 | 35.74 | Courtney Okolo | United States | 23 July 2016 | Houston | |
| 13 | 17 | 35.76 | Lurdes Gloria Manuel | Czech Republic | 23 August 2026 | Chorzów | |
| 14 | 18 | 35.77 A | Mercy Oketch | Kenya | 28 April 2026 | Pretoria | |
| 15 | 19 | 35.81 | Silke-Beate Knoll | West Germany | 19 May 1990 | Olpe | |
| 35.81 A | Kenondra Davis | United States | 28 April 2026 | Pretoria | |||
| 17 | 21 | 35.82 | Cydonie Mothersille | Cayman Islands | 14 September 2000 | Sydney | |
| 18 | 22 | 35.85 | Salwa Eid Naser | Bahrain | 9 August 2025 | Białystok | |
| 19 | 23 | 35.89 | Shawnti Jackson | United States | 27 March 2026 | Coral Gables | |
| 20 | 24 | 35.91 | Brittany Brown | United States | 20 June 2019 | Ostrava | |
| 25 | 35.92 | Guevara #2 | 19 August 2001 | Gateshead | |||
| 21 | 25 | 35.92 | Charlotte Henrich | Great Britain | 23 August 2026 | Chorzów | |
| 22 | 35.94 | Bassant Hemida | Egypt | 9 August 2025 | Białystok | ||
| 23 | 35.99 | Merlene Ottey | Jamaica | 18 August 1984 | London | ||
| 24 | 36.00 | Katharine Merry | Great Britain | 28 August 2000 | Gateshead | ||
| LaTasha Colander | United States | 28 August 2000 | Gateshead |
Women (indoor)
- Correct as of February 2026.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 35.45 | Irina Privalova | Russia | 16 January 1993 | Moscow | |
| Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas | 2 February 2018 | New York | ||||
| 3 | 3 | 35.54 | Abby Steiner | United States | 10 February 2023 | New York | |
| 4 | 4 | 35.69 | Patricia Hall-Pritchett | Jamaica | 13 February 2012 | Liévin | |
| 5 | 5 | 35.71 | Quanera Hayes | United States | 6 January 2017 | Clemson | |
| 6 | 35.71 | Miller-Uibo #2 | 11 February 2017 | New York | |||
| 6 | 7 | 35.73 | Gabby Thomas | United States | 12 February 2021 | Staten Island | |
| 8 | 35.75 | Thomas #2 | 4 February 2024 | Boston | |||
| 9 | 35.79 | Miller-Uibo #3 | 31 January 2026 | Clemson | |||
| 10 | 35.80 | Steiner #2 | 11 December 2021 | Louisville | |||
| 7 | 11 | 35.83 A | Merlene Ottey | Jamaica | 13 March 1981 | Pocatello | |
| 35.83 | JaMeesia Ford | United States | 8 December 2023 | Clemson | |||
| 13 | 35.92 | Thomas #3 | 24 January 2021 | Fayetteville | |||
| 9 | 13 | 35.92 | Stacey-Ann Williams | Jamaica | 14 February 2026 | Fayetteville | |
| 10 | 15 | 35.94 | Dejanea Oakley | Jamaica | 10 January 2026 | Clemson | |
| 11 | 16 | 35.95 | Brittany Brown | United States | 22 February 2019 | Staten Island | |
| 17 | 35.96 A | Ottey #2 | 13 March 1981 | Pocatello | |||
| 18 | 35.98 | Thomas #4 | 23 February 2019 | New York | |||
| 12 | 19 | 35.99 | Lynna Irby-Jackson | United States | 12 February 2021 | Staten Island | |
| Favour Ofili | Nigeria | 4 February 2024 | Boston | ||||
| 21 | 36.05 | Irby-Jackson #2 | 4 February 2024 | Boston | |||
| 14 | 22 | 36.08 | Talitha Diggs | United States | 31 January 2025 | Clemson | |
| 23 | 36.10 | Miller-Uibo #4 | 15 February 2014 | New York | |||
| 15 | 24 | 36.12 | Sydney McLaughlin | United States | 7 December 2017 | Bloomington | |
| 24 | 36.12 | Ford #2 | 30 January 2026 | Fayetteville | |||
| 16 | 36.15 A | Phyllis Francis | United States | 3 March 2017 | Albuquerque | ||
| 17 | 36.16 | Julien Alfred | Saint Lucia | 2 February 2025 | Boston | ||
| 18 | 36.20 | Natalia Kaczmarek | Poland | 4 February 2022 | Spala | ||
| 19 | 36.24 | Mariah Maxwell | United States | 17 January 2026 | Virginia Beach | ||
| 20 | 36.25 | Natasha Hastings | United States | 13 February 2016 | Boston | ||
| 21 | 36.27 | Ashley Spencer | United States | 10 February 2017 | New York | ||
| 22 | 36.30 | Olesya Krasnomovets | Russia | 6 January 2006 | Yekaterinburg | ||
| Elise Cooper | United States | 1 March 2025 | Philadelphia | ||||
| Rhasidat Adeleke | Ireland | 14 February 2026 | Fayetteville | ||||
| 25 | 36.33 | Allyson Felix | United States | 8 February 2007 | Fayetteville | ||
| Amantle Montsho | Botswana | 4 March 2010 | Liévin | ||||
| Madison Whyte | United States | 16 January 2026 | Spokane |
02Best performances en-route to 400 metres result
Men (outdoor)
Correct as of September 2025.
| Rank | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31.04+ | Wayde van Niekerk | South Africa | 14 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |
| 2 | 31.20+ | Kirani James | Grenada | |||
| LaShawn Merritt | United States | |||||
| 4 | 31.33+ | Busang Kebinatshipi | Botswana | 18 September 2025 | Tokyo | |
| 5 | 31.35+ | Matthew Hudson-Smith | Great Britain | 7 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | |
| 6 | 31.42+ | Jereem Richards | Trinidad and Tobago | 7 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | |
| 7 | 31.55+ | Michael Johnson | United States | 9 August 1995 | Göteborg | |
| 8 | 31.58+ | Jeremy Wariner | United States | 31 August 2007 | Osaka | |
| 9 | 31.59+ | Zakithi Nene | South Africa | 18 September 2025 | Tokyo | |
| 10 | 31.65+ | Rusheen McDonald | Jamaica | 18 September 2025 | Tokyo | |
| 11 | 31.81+ | Quincy Hall | United States | 7 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | |
| 12 | 31.88+ | Angelo Taylor | United States | 31 August 2007 | Osaka | |
| 13 | 31.91+ | Chris Brown | Bahamas | 31 August 2007 | Osaka | |
| Muzala Samukonga | Zambia | 6 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
Men (indoor)
Correct as of March 2025.
| Rank | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32.50+ | Jimy Soudril | France | 21 March 2025 | Nanjing | |
| 2 | 32.65+ | Attila Molnár | Hungary | 8 March 2025 | Apeldoorn | |
| 3 | 32.73+ | Karsten Warholm | Norway | 2 March 2024 | Glasgow | |
| 4 | 32.75+ | Rusheen McDonald | Jamaica | 21 March 2025 | Nanjing | |
| 5 | 32.76+ | Christopher Bailey | United States | 22 March 2025 | Nanjing | |
| 6 | 32.77+ | Brian Faust | United States | 21 March 2025 | Nanjing | |
| 7 | 32.80+ | Jacory Patterson | United States | 21 March 2025 | Nanjing | |
| 8 | 32.86+ | Maksymilian Szwed | Poland | 7 March 2025 | Apeldoorn | |
| 9 | 32.88+ | Alexander Doom | Belgium | 2 March 2024 | Glasgow | |
| 10 | 32.90+ | Matheus Lima | Brazil | 21 March 2025 | Nanjing |
Women (outdoor)
Correct as of September 2025.
| Rank | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 34.14+ | Marita Koch | East Germany | 6 October 1985 | Canberra | |
| 2 | 34.78+ | Marileidy Paulino | Dominican Republic | 9 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | |
| 3 | 34.87+ | Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone | United States | 18 September 2025 | Tokyo | |
| 4 | 34.95+ | Jarmila Kratochvílová | Czechoslovakia | 18 August 1982 | Zürich | |
| 5 | 35.00+ | Marie-José Pérec | France | 27 August 1991 | Tokyo | |
| Salwa Eid Naser | Bahrain | 18 September 2025 | Tokyo | |||
| 7 | 35.01+ | Olga Bryzgina | Ukraine | 6 October 1985 | Canberra | |
| 8 | 35.24+ | Tatána Kocembová | Czechoslovakia | 10 August 1983 | Helsinki | |
| 9 | 35.29+ | Nickisha Pryce | Jamaica | 20 July 2024 | London | |
| 10 | 35.37+ | Lieke Klaver | Netherlands | 12 July 2024 | Monaco |
Women (indoor)
Correct as of March 2025.
| Rank | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36.04+ | Femke Bol | Netherlands | 10 February 2024 | Liévin | |
| Amandine Brossier | France | 10 February 2024 | Liévin | |||
| 3 | 36.32+ | Lieke Klaver | Netherlands | 8 March 2025 | Apeldoorn | |
| 4 | 36.38+ | Alexis Holmes | United States | 22 March 2025 | Nanjing | |
| 5 | 36.42+ | Henriette Jæger | Norway | 8 March 2025 | Apeldoorn | |
| 6 | 36.54+ | Amber Anning | Great Britain | 22 March 2025 | Nanjing | |
| 7 | 36.83+ | Paula Sevilla | Spain | 8 March 2025 | Apeldoorn | |
| 8 | 36.88+ | Martina Weil | Chile | 22 March 2025 | Nanjing | |
| 9 | 36.93+ | Lurdes Gloria Manuel | Czech Republic | 8 March 2025 | Apeldoorn | |
| 10 | 37.17+ | Rosey Effiong | United States | 22 March 2025 | Nanjing |
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “300 metres”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Lincoln Park Jersey City September 2021 008.jpg by King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0
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