List of middle distance runners

As of May 2005, this is a list of notable male middle distance runners (800 m - 3000 m) since the first Olympic Games in 1896.

This list includes any athlete who has been a medalist in the Olympic Games or World championships (indoor and outdoor). Also included are medalists in the IAAF World Cup and WAF events. Finally, it includes any athlete ranked (by time) in the top three of a middle distance event for any given year since 1980.

A

* José Manuel Abascal, ESP
* Saïd Aouita, MAR
* Yevgeniy Arzhanov, URS(UKR)
* Jeff Atkinson, USA

B

* Philip Baker, GBR
* Mehdi Baala, FRA
* Andrea Benvenuti, ITA
* Olaf Beyer, GDR
* Abdi Bile, SOM
* Hanns Braun, GER
* André Bucher, SUI
* Andreas Busse, GDR
* Arthur Blake, USA
* Arturo Barrios, MEX
* Audun Boysen, NOR
* Brahim Boutayeb, MAR
* Charles Bennett, GBR
* Dieter Baumann, FRG
* Emil Breitkreutz, USA
* Erik Byléhn, SWE
* Filbert Bayi, TAN
* Hammou Boutayeb, MAR
* Ikem Billy, GBR
* Johan Botha, RSA
* John Bray, USA
* Jonah Birir, KEN
* José Luiz Barbosa, BRA
* Josy Barthel, LUX
* Kenenisa Bekele, ETH
* Luigi Beccali, ITA
* Mike Boit, KEN
* Paul Bitok, KEN
* Rachid El Basir, MAR
* Wilfred Bungei, KEN
* Yuriy Borzakovskiy, RUS
* Terry Brahm, USA

C

* William Chirchir, KEN
* Steve Cram, GBR
* Tom Courtney, USA
* Sebastian Coe, GBR
* Pawel Czapiewski, POL
* Mateo Cañellas, ESP
* Joseph Chesire, KEN
* John Cregan, USA
* João Campos, POR
* Jerry Cornes, GBR
* Glenn Cunningham, USA
* Fermín Cacho, ESP
* Eamonn Coghlan, IRL
* Don Clary, USA
* Bill Crothers, CAN
* Abraham Chebii, KEN
* Joaquim Cruz, BRA

D

* Nándor Dáni, HUN
* Tomás de Teresa, ESP
* Eric Dubus, FRA
* Osmar dos Santos, BRA
* Dmitriy Dmitriyev, URS(RUS)
* Andrés Díaz, ESP
* Gennaro Di Napoli, ITA
* Giuseppe D'Urso, ITA
* Henri Deloge, FRA
* Ira Davenport, USA
* John Davies, NZL
* Ron Delany, IRL
* Simon Doyle, AUS
* Pierre Délèze, SUI
* Ralph Doubell, AUS
* Rob Denmark, GBR
* Rob Druppers, NED
* Rod Dixon, NZL

E

* Salah El Ghazi, MAR
* Schuyler Enck, USA
* Reyes Estévez, ESP
* Paul Ereng, KEN
* Peter Elliott, GBR
* Phil Edwards, CAN
* Mark Everett, USA
* Earl Eby, USA
* Henry Eriksson, SWE
* Herb Elliott, AUS
* Hermann Engelhard, GER
* Hicham El Guerrouj, MAR

F

* Tom Farrell, USA
* Joe Falcon, USA
* Hauke Fuhlbrügge, GDR
* Edwin Flack, AUS
* Simon Fairbrother, GBR
* Ray Flynn, IRL

G

* Vladimir Graudyn, URS(RUS)
* Roberto García, ESP
* Markos Geneti, ETH
* José Luis González, ESP
* Johnny Gray, USA
* Haile Gebrselassie, ETH
* Dimitrios Golemis, GRE
* Djabir Saïd Guerni, ALG
* Benjamín González, ESP
* Agberto Guimarães, BRA
* Alberto García, ESP
* José David Galván, MEX

H

* Wyndham Halswelle, GBR
* Thomas Hampson, GBR
* Simon Hoogewerf, CAN
* Norman Hallows, GBR
* Mike Hillardt, AUS
* Marcel Hansenne, FRA
* Kristian Hellström, SWE
* Lacey Hearn, USA
* Mahjoub Haïda, MAR
* Ivan Heshko, UKR
* Harald Hudak, FRG
* David Hall, USA
* Abdelkader Hachlaf, MAR
* Arthémon Hatungimana, BDI
* Albert Hill, GBR
* Jens-Peter Herold, GDR

J

* Earl Jones, USA
* Derek Johnson, GBR
* Brahim Jabbour, MAR
* Arnold Jackson, GBR
* Anacleto Jiménez, ESP
* Alberto Juantorena, CUB
* Michel Jazy, FRA

K

* Yousef Saad Kamal, BRN
* William Tanui, KEN
* William Wuycke, VEN
* William Yiampoy, KEN
* Willy Schärer, SUI
* Wilson Kipketer, DEN
* Wilson Kiprugut, KEN
* William Kemei, KEN
* Wilfred Kirochi, KEN
* Timothy Kiptanui, KEN
* Stephen Kipkorir, KEN
* Paul Kipkoech, KEN
* Rich Kenah, USA
* Paul Korir, KEN
* Patrick Konchellah, KEN
* Omer Khalifa, SUD
* Nixon Kiprotich, KEN
* Nikolay Kirov, URS(BLR)
* Moses Kiptanui, KEN
* Luke Kipkosgei, KEN
* Kip Keino, KEN
* Kenneth Kimwetich, KEN
* John Kibowen, KEN
* Han Kulker, NED
* George Kerr, JAM
* Eliud Kipchoge, KEN
* Daniel Komen, KEN
* Billy Konchellah, KEN
* Benson Koech, KEN
* Alex Kipchirchir, KEN
* Abel Kiviat, USA
* David Kibet, KEN
* David Krummenacker, USA
* Viktor Kalinkin, URS
* Sammy Koskei, KEN
* James Kwalia, KEN
* Japheth Kimutai, KEN

L

* Benjamin Limo, KEN
* António Leitão, POR
* Albin Lermusiaux, FRA
* Bernard Lagat, KEN
* Douglas Lowe, GBR
* Emilio Lunghi, ITA
* Faouzi Lahbi, MAR
* Harri Larva, FIN
* Igor Lotarev, URS
* Jack Lovelock, NZL
* James Lightbody, USA
* John Landy, AUS
* Jules Ladoumègue, FRA
* Mario Lanzi, ITA
* Werner Lueg, GER(FRG)
* Sergey Lebid, UKR
* Cyrille Laventure, FRA

M

* James Maina, KEN
* Joseph Mutua, KEN
* Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, RSA
* Paul Martin, SUI
* Noureddine Morceli, ALG
* Sydney Maree, USA
* Ted Meredith, USA
* Hailu Mekonnen, ETH
* Enrique Molina, ESP
* Driss Maazouzi, FRA
* David Moorcroft, GBR
* Craig Mottram, AUS
* Assefa Mezegebu, ETH
* Bob McMillen, USA
* Tom McKean, GBR
* Mohammed Mourhit, BEL
* Nico Motchebon, GER
* John Mayock, GBR
* John McGough, GBR(IRL)
* Roger Moens, BEL

N

* Patrick Ndururi, KEN
* Jean-Patrick Nduwimana, BDI
* Erik Nedeau, USA
* Noah Ngeny, KEN
* Vénuste Niyongabo, BDI
* Charles Nkazamyampi, BDI
* Paavo Nurmi, FIN
* Tom Nyariki, KEN

O

* Frank O'Mara, IRL
* Josef Odložil, CZE
* Marcus O'Sullivan, IRL
* Steve Ovett, GBR
* Yobes Ondieki, KEN
* Fred Onyancha, KEN

P

* Vladimir Ponomaryov, URS
* Francesco Panetta, ITA
* Eino Purje, FIN
* Don Paige, USA
* Doug Padilla, USA
* Paul Pilgrim, USA

R

* Paul Ruto, KEN
* Klaus Richtzenhain, GER(GDR)
* Laban Rotich, KEN
* Jim Ryun, USA
* James Robinson, USA
* István Rózsavölgyi, HUN
* Henry Rono, KEN
* Bevil Rudd, SAF
* Antonio Manuel Reina, ESP
* Vebjørn Rodal, NOR
* Peter Rono, KEN
* Rashid Ramzi, BRN

* Wes Santee, USA
* Nils Schumann, GER
* Ali Saïdi Sief, ALG
* Azzedine Sediki, MAR
* Boniface Songok, KEN
* Bram Som, NED
* David Sharpe, GBR
* David Strang, GBR
* Hezekiél Sepeng, RSA
* Hyla "Henry" Stallard, GBR
* Jim Spivey, USA
* Larry Shields, USA
* Lennart Strand, SWE
* Jürgen Straub, GDR
* Khalid Skah, MAR
* Mário Silva, POR
* Martin Steele, GBR
* Mel Sheppard, USA
* Mohammed Sulaiman, QAT
* Pavel Soukup, CZE
* Smaïl Sghir, MAR
* Rüdiger Stenzel, GER
* Rui Silva, POR
* Peter Snell, NZL
* Willem Slijkhuis, NED
* Steve Scott, USA

T

* Clive Terrelonge, JAM
* Bodo Tümmler, FRG
* Alfred Tysoe, GBR
* Colomán Trabado, ESP
* Norberto Téllez, CUB
* Norman Taber, USA

U

* Heinz Ulzheimer, GER(FRG)
* Ivan Uvizl, CZE

V

* William "Frank" Verner, USA
* Tonino Viali, ITA
* Pekka Vasala, FIN
* Ivo Van Damme, BEL
* Howard Valentine, USA
* Isaac Viciosa, ESP

W

* Thomas Wessinghage, FRG
* Willi Wülbeck, FRG
* Rick Wohlhuter, USA
* Paul-Heinz Wellmann, FRG
* Mulugeta Wendimu, ETH
* Million Wolde, ETH
* Mal Whitfield, USA
* Detlef Wagenknecht, GDR
* Arthur Wint, JAM
* Anthony Whiteman, GBR
* Alex Wilson, CAN
* John Woodruff, USA
* Dave Wottle, USA
* Craig Winrow, GBR
* Harold Wilson, GBR
* John Walker, NZL

Z

* Branko Zorko, CRO

MIA

Athletes who medalled in a middle distance event at both the European and Commonwealth Championships but did not meet the criteria to be listed above:

* Sydney Wooderson GBR
* Roger Bannister GBR
* Mike Rawson GBR
* John Parlett GBR
* Brendan Foster GBR
* Brian Hewson GBR

----Other athletes that were ranked in the top three of 'Track and Field News' (TFN) end of year rankings for 800 m or 1500 m but have not already been listed above. Rankings have been done every year since 1947.

André De Hertoghe BEL -- Andy Carter GB -- Arnie Sowell USA -- Ben Jipcho KEN -- Dan Waern SWE -- Danie Malan SA -- David Mack US -- Derek Ibbotson GBR -- Dieter Fromm EG -- Don Gehrmann USA -- Doug Harris NZ -- Dyrol Burleson USA -- Francesco Arese ITA -- Franz-Josef Kemper WG -- Gaston Reiff BEL -- Gösta Bergkvist SWE -- Gunnar Nielsen DEN -- Henry Szordykowski POL -- Jean-Pierre Dufresne FRA -- Jerry Siebert USA -- Jim Baily AUS -- Jim Beatty USA -- Jim Dupree FRA -- John Fulton USA -- Jozef Plachy CZE -- Jürgen May EG -- Ken Swenson USA -- Lajos Szentgáli HUN -- László Tábori HUN -- Manfred Matuschewski EG -- Marcello Fiasconaro ITA -- Marty Liquori USA -- Merv Lincoln AUS -- Murray Halberg NZ -- Niels Hoslt-Sörensen DEN -- Olle Åberg SWE -- Patrick El Mabrouk FRA -- Luciano Susanj YUG -- Urban Cleve WG -- Sándor Iharos HUN -- Siegried Valentin EG -- Stanislav Jungwirth CZE -- Stefan Lewandowski POL -- Wade Bell USA -- Wes Santee USA -- Wolfred Kirochi KEN

----Other Commonwealth Games medalists not already listed above:

Gerald Backhouse AUS -- Frank Handley ENG -- Alan Simpson ENG -- Albie Thomas AUS -- Ben Jipcho KEN -- Benedict Cayenne TRI -- Bill Dale CAN -- Bill Parnell CAN -- Brian Hewson ENG -- Chris McGeorge ENG -- Dave Campbell CAN -- Dick Quax NZL -- Willie Botha SAF -- Ian Boyd ENG -- Ian Studd NZL -- Jack Hutchins CAN -- James "Hamish" Stothard SCO -- Jim Alford WAL -- John Gladwin ENG -- John Kipkurgat KEN -- John Robson SCO -- Kevin Sullivan CAN -- Kris McCarthy AUS -- Len Eyre ENG -- Matthew Yates ENG -- Maurice Marshall NZL -- Merv Lincoln AUS -- Michael East ENG -- Noel Clough AUS -- Peter Bourke AUS -- Peter Lemashon KEN -- Peter O'Donoghue NZL -- Reg Thomas ENG(WAL) -- Reuben Chesang KEN -- Rich Ferguson CAN -- Robert Ouko KEN -- Sammy Tirop KEN -- Savieri Ngidhi ZIM -- Seymour Newman JAM -- Terry Sullivan FRN -- Tony Blue AUS -- Vernon "Pat" Boot NZL -- William Smart CAN -- William Whyte AUS -- Youcef Abdi AUS

----

Other European Championship medalists not already listed above:

Bill Nankeville GBR -- Erik Jørgensen DEN -- Frank Murphy IRL -- Hans-Peter Ferner FRG -- Harald Norpoth FRG -- Jacques Lévèque FRA -- John Whetton GBR -- Jorma Härkönen FIN -- Joseph Mostert BEL -- Klaus-Peter Justus GDR -- Lucien De Muynck BEL -- Luká Vydra CZE -- Markku Taskinen FIN -- Miklós Szabó HUN -- Paul Schmidt FRG -- Piotr Piekarski POL -- Roger Normand FRA -- Rudolf Harbig GER -- Rune Gustafsson SWE -- Tom Birger Hansen DEN -- Tomá Salinger TCH -- Valeriy Bulyshev URS -- Witold Baran POL