Abel Kiviat (USA) 3:55.8 (June 8, 1912) Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
On June 8, 1912, Abel Kiviat ran 1,500 meters in 3:55.8 in Cambridge, Massachusetts; the first world record recognized by the IAAF in the 1,500 meters. This time came in the 1912 US Olympic Trials, in which he continued to the mile post, posting 4:15.6. At the 1912 Olympic Games, Kiviat finished second in the 1,500 meters.
John Zander(Sweden) 3:54.7 (August 5, 1917) Stockholm, Sweden
Kiviat held the record for more than five years before John Zander lowered it to 3:54.7 on August 5, 1917 in Stockholm, Sweden. At the 1912 Olympic Games, Zander had finished seventh in the 1,500 meters. On August 17, 1918, he established a world record in the 3,000 meters of 8:33.2 in Stockholm. At the 1920 Olympic Games, Zander did not finish the 1,500 meters.
Paavo Nurmi (Finland) 3:52.6 (June 19, 1924) Helsinki, Finland
Zander held the record for nearly seven years until Paavo Nurmi ran 3:52.6 on June 19, 1924 in Helsinki. At the time, he claimed the world record he held world records in the 2,000 meters (5:26.4), 3,000 meters (8:28.6), 5,000 meters (14:35.4), and 10,000 meters (30:40.2). Moreover, he had won gold medals in the 10,000 meters and the individual and team cross country and a silver medal in the 5,000 meters at the 1920 Olympic Games. When Nurmi established the world record for 1,500 meters he became the first athlete to hold world records in both the 1,500 meters and the mile simultaneously. At the 1924 Olympic Games, Nurmi collected gold medals in the 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, and the individual and team cross country events.
Otto Peltzer (Germany) 3:51.0 (September 11, 1926) Berlin, Germany
On September 11, 1926, Otto Peltzer ran 1,500 meters in 3:51.0 in Berlin, Germany. At the time he established the world record, Peltzer had won three consecutive German national titles in the 800 meters from 1923 to 1925; five consecutive national titles in the 1,500 meters from 1922 to 1926. On July 3, 1926, he had established a world record of 1:51.6 for 880 yards, three-tenths of a second faster than the existing world record for the shorter 800 meters. His record setting performance came in winning the 880 at the British national championship. On September 18, 1927, he claimed the world record in the 1,000 meters, running 2:25.8 in Paris. At the 1928 Olympic Games, Peltzer finished fifth in the first semi-final of the 800 meters, and fourth in the qualifying heat of the 1,500 meters. Four years later, he finished ninth in the 800 meter Olympic final.
Jules Ladoumegue (France) 3:49.2 (October 5, 1930) Paris, France
Peltzer’s record stood until October 5, 1930, when Jules Ladoumegue ran 3:49.2 in Paris, France. The first of four world records, Ladoumegue clocked 2:23.6 for 1,000 meters on October 19, 1930 in Paris; 5:21.8 for 2,000 meters on July 2, 1931 in Paris; and 4:09.2 for the mile October 4, 1931 in Paris.
Luigi Beccali (Italy) 3:49.2 (September 9, 1933), Turin, Italy; 3:49.0 (October 17, 1933) Milan, Italy
Less than three years after Ladoumegue posted the world record, Luigi Beccali tied the mark on September 9, 1933 in Turin, and then lowered the record to 3:49.0 on October 17, in Milan. Although he finished fourth in the qualifying heats of the 1,500 meters at the 1928 Olympic Games, Beccali won the 1,500 meters in the Olympic record time of 3:51.2 at the 1923 Olympic Games. At the 1934 European Track and Field Championships, he won the 1,500 meters. Beccali finished third in the 1,500 meters at the 1936 Olympic Games. Beccali finished third in the 1,500 meters at the 1938 European Championships.
Bill Bonthron (United States) 3:48.8 (June 30, 1934) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Beccali held the record until June 30, 1934, when Bill Bonthron chipped the time down to 3:48.8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His record setting performance came at the AAU national championships, in which he relegated Glenn Cunningham to second place in 3:48.9. In 1933, Bonthron had raced Jack Lovelock in Princeton, New Jersey, where Bonthron was a student, in the mile. In that race Lovelock established a world record of 4:07.6 and Bonthron finished second in 4:08.7.
Jack Lovelock (New Zealand) 3:47.8 (August 6, 1936) Berlin, Germany
At the 1936 Olympic Games, Jack Lovelock ran 1,500 meters in 3:47.8, clipping one second of the record established by Bonthron in 1934. His time came in winning the gold medal at the 1936 Olympic Games. At the 1932 Olympic Games, Lovelock had finished in seventh place in the 1,500 meters. In between the Olympic Games, he established a world record of 4:07.6 for the mile on July 15, 1933 in Princeton, New Jersey. The record came in a track meet between Oxford and Princeton Universities, in which he defeated Bonthron. At the 1934 British Empire Games, Lovelock won the mile in 4:12.8.
Gunder Hägg (Sweden) 3:47.5 (August 10, 1941) Stockholm, Sweden; 3:45.8 (July 17, 1942) Stockholm, Sweden; 3:43.0 (July 2, 1944) Gothenburg, Sweden
Lovelock held the record until August 10, 1941, when Gunder Hägg sped 3:47.5 in Stockholm. On July 17, 1942, he lowered the time to 3:45.8 in Stockholm, one of nine world records, beginning with a 4:06.2 mile on July 1, 1942 in Gothenburg. Hägg surpassed that mark with a 3:43.0 performance on July 2, 1944 also in Gothenburg.
Arne Andersson (Sweden) 3:44.9 (August 17, 1943) Gothenburg, Sweden
On August 17, 1943, Arne Andersson claimed the world record with a 3:44.9 performance in Gothenburg, surpassing the record established by countryman and rival Gunder Hägg on July 17, 1942. Andersson held the record for less than a year, as Hägg reclaimed it on July 2, 1944 with a 3:43.0 performance in Gothenburg.
Lennart Strand (Sweden) 3:43.0 (July 15, 1947) Malmö, Sweden
Lennart Strand equaled Hägg’s world record on July 15, 1947 in Malmö, Sweden. Prior to his record setting performance, Strand had won the gold medal in the 1,500 meters at the 1946 European Track and Field Championships. At the 1948 Olympic Games, he finished second in the 1,500 meters to countryman and rival Henry Eriksson.
Werner Lueg (Federal Republic of Germany) 3:43.0 (June 29, 1952) Berlin, Germany
On June 29, 1952, Werner Lueg equaled the world record held by Hägg and Strand on June 29, 1952 in Berlin. At the 1952 Olympic Games, he earned the bronze medal in the 1500 meters.
Wes Santee (United States) 3:42.8 (June 4, 1954) Compton, California USA
The world record first established by Gunder Hägg on July 2, 1944 stood until June 4, 1954, when Wes Santee sped 3:42.8 in Compton, California. Santee ranked as the top 1,500/miler in the United States in the early 1950s, winning the AAU national championship from 1952 to 1953 and in 1955. In 1953, he won the NCAA title in the mile. Santee nearly became the first American to run a mile in less than four minutes, clocking 4:00.5 in 1955. That year at the Pan-American Games, he finished second in the 1,500 meters.
John Landy (Australia) 3:41.8 (June 21, 1954) Turku, Finland
On June 21, 1954, John Landy surpassed the world record, clocking 3:41.8, enroute to a world record in the mile of 3:57.9 in Turku, Finland. With this performance he became the second man to run the mile in less than four minutes. In 1956, Landy earned the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.
Sándor Iharos (Hungary) 3:40.8 (July 28, 1955) Helsinki, Finland
Landy’s record stood until July 28, 1955, when Sándor Iharos improved the time with a 3:40.8 performance in Helsinki, one of five world records he established that year. Before the 1,500 meter mark, Iharos ran 3,000 meters in 7:55.6 on May 15, 1955, and then two-miles in 8:33.4 on May 30, 1955. Two world records in the 5,000 meters followed the 1,500 meters. First, 13:50.8 on September 10, 1955, and then 13:40.6 on October 23, 1955. Iharos also established a world record of 28:42.8 in the 10,000 meters on June 19, 1956.
László Tábori (Hungary) 3:40.8 (September 6, 1955) Oslo, Norway
On September 6, 1955, László Tábori, teammate of Sándor Iharos, tied the world record in Oslo, Norway. Earlier, he had become the third man to run a mile in less than four minutes, 3:59, on May 28, 1955. At the 1956 Olympic Games, Tábori finished fourth in the 1,500 meters and sixth in the 5,000 meters.
Gunnar Nielsen (Denmark) 3:40.8 (September 6, 1955) Oslo, Norway
Gunnar Nielsen tied the world record on September 6, 1955 in Oslo, Norway. At the 1954 European Track and Field Championships, he finished third in the 1,500 meters.
István Rózsavölgyi (Hungary) 3:40.6 (August 3, 1956) Tata, Hungary
On August 3, 1956, István Rózsavölgyi improved the world record to 3:40.6 in Tata, Hungary. At the time, he held the world record in the 1,000 meters and 2,000 meters. At the 1956 Olympic Games, Rózsavölgyi finished fifth in the qualifying heats of the 1,500, but captured the bronze at the 1960 Olympic Games.
Olavi Salsola (Finland) 3:40.2 (July 11, 1957) Turku, Finland
Olavi Salonen (Finland) 3:40.2 (July 11, 1957) Turku, Finland
On July 11, 1957, Olavi Salsola and Olavi Salonen improved the world record to 3:40.2.
Stanislav Jungwirth (Czechoslovakia) 3:38.1 (July 12, 1957) Stara Boleslav, Czechoslovakia
Salsola and Salonen held the record for only one day before Stanislav Jungwirth ran 3:38.1 on July 12, 1957 in Stara Boleslav, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic). At the 1952 Olympic Games, he finished seventh in the qualifying heats of the 1,500s. Four years later, Jungwirth finished sixth in the Olympic 1,500 meters final.
Herb Elliott (Australia) 3:36.0 (August 28, 1958) Gothenburg, Sweden; 3:35.6 (September 6, 1960) Rome, Italy
On August 28, 1958, Herb Elliot improved the world record with a 3:36.0 performance in Gothenburg, Sweden. Earlier that month, he had established a world record in the mile of 3:54.5 in Dublin, Ireland. In that race, Elliot led four other athletes under four minutes, then the most runners to break the four-minute barrier in a single race. At the 1960 Olympic Games, he lowered the world record in the 1,500 meters to 3:35.6 in Rome.
Jim Ryun (United States) 3:33.1 (July 8, 1967) Los Angeles, California
Elliot’s record stood until July 8, 1967, when Jim Ryun surpassed it with a 3:33.1 performance in Los Angeles, California. When Ryun set the world record, he had established a world record in the 880 of 1:44.9 in 1966. Later that year, he eclipsed the world record in the mile by more than two seconds, clocking 3:51.3 in Berkeley, California. In 1967, Ryun improved the world record in the mile to 3:51.1 in Bakersfield, California. At the 1968 Olympic Games, he finished second in the 1,500 meters. An unfortunate fall in the qualify heats of the 1,500 meters at the 1972 Olympics Games knocked Ryun out of competition.
Filbert Bayi (Tanzania) 3:32.16 (February 2, 1974) Christchurch, New Zealand
Ryun held the record until February 2, 1974, when Filbert Bayi clocked 3:32.16 in Christchurch. Christchurch. His record setting performance came at the British Commonwealth Games, in what many consider to be the greatest 1,500 meters ever contested. At the 800 meter mark, Bayi had established a 20 meters lead, but John Walker of New Zealand ran down the fast starting Tanzanian, to finish second in 3:32.52, with Ben Jipcho of Kenya in tow, finishing third in 3:33.16. In 1975, Bayi eclipsed the world record in the mile by one-tenth of a second, clocking 3:51.0 in Kingston, Jamaica. In 1978, Bayi won a second 1,500 meter title in the All African Games, his first came in 1973, but finished second in the 1,500 meters at the Commonwealth Games. At the 1980 Olympic Games, he won the silver medal in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
Sebastian Coe (Great Britain) 3:32.1 (3:32.03) (August 15, 1979) Zürich, Switzerland
Bayi held the record for more than five years, when Sebastian Coe posted 3:32.1 (3:32.03) in Zürich. When he set the record, Coe already had established world records of 1:42.33 in the 800 meters and 3:49.0 in the mile. On July 1, 1980, Coe established a world record of 2:13.40 for 1,000 meters in Oslo, which made him the first athlete to possess the world records for 800, 1,000, 1,500, and the mile simultaneously. At the 1980 Olympic Games, Coe won the 1,500 meters and placed second in the 800 meters. At the 1984 Olympic Games, Coe claimed the silver medal in the 800 meters and the gold medal in the 1,500 meters, establishing an Olympic record of 3:32.53. On September 7, 1986, Coe became the fourth athlete to run 1,500 meters in less than three minutes and thirty seconds, clocking a personal best of 3:29.77 in Rieti, Italy.
Steve Ovett (GBR) 3:32.1 (3:32.09) (July 15, 1980) Oslo, Norway; 3:31.4 (3:31.36) (August 27, 1980) Koblenz, Germany; 3:30.77 (September 4, 1983) Rieti, Italy
Coe held the record for less than a year before countryman Steve Ovett equaled the mark with a 3:32.1 (3:32.09) in Oslo on July 15, 1980. When he set the record, Ovett already held the world records in the two-mile at 8:13.5 and one-mile at 3:48.8. At the 1980 Olympic Games, he captured the gold medal in the 800 meters and the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters. On August 27, 1980, in Koblenz, he clocked 3:31.4 (3:31.36) to claim sole possession of the world record in the 1,500 meters. Ovett lost the world record in the mile to Coe on August 19, 1981, who clocked 3:48.5 in Zurich. On August 26, however, Ovett reclaimed possession of the mile with a 3:48.4 performance in Koblenz, Germany, before Coe obtained it once more with a 3:47.3 run in Brussels. At the inaugural IAAF World Track and Field Championships in 1983, Ovett finished fourth in the 1,500 meters, but later that year lowered the world record to 3:30.77 in Rieti, Italy.
Sydney Maree (USA) 3:31.24 (August 28, 1983) Cologne, Germany
On August 28, 1983, Sydney Maree, a South African born naturalized American, established a world record in the 1,500 meters on 3:31.24 on August 28, 1983 in Colonge. Although his time remained the global standard only until September 4, 1985, when Ovett ran 3:30.77 in Rieti, Maree posted a time of 3:29.77 on August 25, 1985, which remained the American national record until Bernard Lagat, a Kenyan born naturalized American, ran 3:29.30 in Rieti, Italy.
Steve Cram (Great Britain) 3:29.67 (July 16, 1985) Nice, France
Ovett held the world record until July 16, 1985, when Steve Cram ran 3:29.67 in Nice, France. Cram, a 1,500 meters prodigy won the 1,500 meters in the British national championships for under age 17. At the 1980 Olympic Games, he finished eighth in the 1,500 meters. In 1982, Cram won the 1,500 meters at both the Commonwealth Games and the European track and field championships. At the inaugural IAAF World Track and Field Championships in 1983, he won the 1,500 meters. Cram claimed the silver medal in the 1,500 meters at the 1984 Olympic Games. In 1985, he posted 1:42.88 for 800 meters, the fastest time of his career, defeating Joaquim Cruz, the defending Olympic champion. On July 16, 1985, he became the first athlete to run 1,500 meters in less than three minutes and thirty seconds, posting a world record of 3:29.67 for 1,500 meters in Nice, France. Eleven days later in Oslo, he lowered the world record in the mile to 3:46.32. Next, on August 4, 1985, Cram ran 2,000 meters in 4:51.93 for another world record.
Saïd Aouita (Morocco) 3:29.46 (August 23, 1985) Berlin, Germany
On August 23, 1985, Saïd Aouita lowered the world record to 3:29.46 in Berlin, Germany.
Noureddine Morceli (Algeria) 3:28.86 (September 6, 1992) Rieti, Italy; 3:27.37 (July 12, 1995) Nice, France
Aouita’s record stood until September 6, 1992, when Noureddine Morceli ran 3:28.86 in Rieti, Italy. He first showed promise as a middle distance runner by finishing second in the 1,500 meters at the IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships. Three years later, on February 28, 1991, Morceli established an indoor world record of 3:34.16 for 1,500 meters in Seville, Spain. Less than a month after the world record, he won the IAAF Indoor World Championship in the 1,500 meters on the same track. Later that summer, Morceli won the 1,500 meters at the IAAF outdoor world championship, posting a championship meet record of 3:32.84 in Tokyo, Japan. In 1992, he established an indoor world record of 2:15.26 for 1,000 meters. After a seventh place finish in the 1,500 meters at the 1992 Olympic Games, Morceli finished the year with a world record of 3:28.86 for 1,500 meters in Rieti. After defending his 1,500 meter title at the 1993 IAAF World Track and Field Championships, he established a world record of 3:44.39 for the mile in Rieti. On August 2, 1994, Morceli claimed the world record for 3,000 meters, clocking 7:25.11 in Monaco. On June 3, 1995, he added the world record for 2,000 meters to his resume with a 4:47.88 performance in Paris. Nine days later, Morceli lowered the world record in the 1,500 meters to 3:27.37 in Nice. Later that year, he defended his title in the 1,500 meters for a third time at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Gothenburg. At the 1996 Olympic Games, Morceli claimed the gold medal in the 1,500 meters. In 1997, he finished fourth in the 1,500 meters at the world track and field championships and, in 1999, qualified for but failed to finish the final.
Hicham El Guerrouj (Morocco) 3:26.00 (July 14, 1998) Rome, Italy
On July 14, 1998, Hicham El Guerrouj established the current world record of 3:26.00 in Rome. He first demonstrated potential as a runner after finishing third in the 5,000 meters at the 1992 IAAF Junior World Track and Field Championships. After winning the 1,500 meters at the 1995 IAAF Indoor World Track and Field Championships, El Guerrouj finished second to Morceli at the 1995 IAAF World Track and Field Championships outdoors. Considered a favorite in the 1,500 meters at the 1996 Olympic Games, he tripped and fell with 400 meters to go, and finished in 12th place. Later that year, El Guerrouj became the first runner to beat Morceli in the 1,500 meter in four years. In 1997, he defended his 1,500 meter title at the IAAF Indoor World Track and Field Championships. That year, El Guerrouj also won the 1,500 meters IAAF World Track and Field Championships outdoors, the first of four consecutive victories. In 1997, he established the current indoor world records of 3:31.18 for 1,500 meters and 3:48.45 for the mile. In the following year, El Guerrouj lowered the world record in the 1,500 meters to its current standard of 3:26.00 in Rome. On July 7, 1999 he established the current world record of 3:43.13 for the mile in Rome. In that race, Noah Ngeny of Kenya finished second in 3:43.40, which also bettered the previous record of 3:44.39 by Morceli. Later that year, El Guerrouj claimed another of Morceli’s world records, the 2,000 meters, in which he posted 4:44.79. His attempt to gain the world record in the 3,000 meters resulted in 7:23.09, the second fastest time for the distance. At the 2000 Olympic Games, El Guerrouj finished second to Ngeny in the 1,500 meters. In 2003, he clocked 12:50.24 for 5,000 meters. At the 2004 Olympic Games, El Guerrouj won both the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters, the first man to do so since Paavo Nurmi in 1924.
References:
Athletics Weekly, All-Africa Games, GBR Athletics Website
Athletics Weekly, British Empire Games, GBR Athletics WebsiteAthletics Weekly, British National Championships, GBR Athletics Website
Athletics Weekly, Commonwealth Games, GBR Athletics Website
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Sports Reference, Herb Elliott , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Hicham El Guerrouj , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, István Rózsavölgyi , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Jack Lovelock , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Jim Ryun, S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, John Landy , S/R Olympic Sports Website
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Sports Reference, Jules Ladoumegue , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, László Tábori , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Lennart Strand , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Luigi Beccali , S/R Olympic Sports Website
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Sports Reference, Olavi Salonen, S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Olavi Salsola, S/R Olympic Sports Website
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Sports Reference, Paavo Nurmi , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Saïd Aouita , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Sándor Iharos , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Sebastian Coe , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Stanislav Jungwirth , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Steve Cram , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Steve Ovett , S/R Olympic Sports Website
Sports Reference, Sydney Maree, S/R Olympic Sports Website
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USATF, American Open Outdoor Track & Field Records, USATF Official Website
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