THE TWELVE MINUTE THREE-MILE?

Kenenisa Bekele

May 31, 2004

5 KM

12:37.35!



The twelve minute three-mile?

Yes, it's time to start talking about it!

On June 8,1995 Moses Kiptanui set a 5 KM world record by running 12:55.30.
Little more than three years later this record had dropped 15.94 seconds to 12:39.36.
How many more years are needed for the record to arrive at 12:25.68, which is 5 KM (3.107 miles)
run at four-minute-per-mile pace? "Only" 11.67 more seconds need to come off the present world record.

The current world record holder is Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele. His 12:37.35 in Hengelo, Holland
on May 31, 2004 is equivalent to 4:03.75 per mile average pace.
He ran an average of 60.59 seconds per 400 meter lap for 12.5 laps.


RECENT 5KM WORLD RECORD PROGRESSION

Date

Runner

Time

April 8, 1978

Henry Rono

13:08.4

September 13, 1981

Henry Rono

13:06.20

July 7, 1982

David Moorcroft

13:00.41

July 27, 1985

Said Aouita

13:00.40

July 22, 1987

Said Aouita

12:58.39

June 4, 1994

Haile Gebrselassie

12:56.96

June 8, 1995

Moses Kiptanui

12:55.30

August 16, 1995

Haile Gebrselassie

12:44.39

August 13, 1997

Haile Gebrselassie

12:41.86

August 22, 1997

Daniel Komen

12:39.74

June 13, 1998

Haile Gebrselassie

12:39.36

May 31, 2004

Kenenisa Bekele

12:37.35


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