The 200 metres straight is a
track and field
Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping events ...
outdoor event of
200 metres
The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slightl ...
on a straight track.
In the 1960s, the straight 200 metres was a separate world record event for men until
IAAF
World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body for ...
deleted this variation from its list of official records. The race was more common during the early to mid 20th century, when
panhandle tracks, with 200 metre straightaways, were common. The
United States Olympic Trials held the event on a straight until 1932.
Interest in the event was revived around 2009. Several street events, primarily in
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
,
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
and
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
have constructed special tracks to hold the races, inviting elite sprinters.
Record progression
Men
Women
All-time top 25
*h = hand timing
*NWI = no wind measurement
Men
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 20.71:
*
Steven Gardiner
Steven Gardiner (born 12 September 1995) is a Bahamian track and field sprinter competing in the 400 metres and 200 metres. He is the current Olympic and world champion in the 400 m, and also won the silver medal at the 2017 World Champio ...
also ran 20.49 (2019).
*
Zharnel Hughes
Zharnel Hughes (born 13 July 1995, The Valley, Anguilla) is an Anguillan-born British sprinter who specialises in the 100 metres and 200 metres. Born and raised in the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, he has competed internationally for ...
also ran 20.00 (2019).
Women
*Correct as of June 2021.
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 25.25:
*
Shaunae Miller-Uibo
Shaunae Miller-Uibo (born 15 April 1994) is a Bahamian track and field sprinter who competes in the 200 and 400 metres. She is a two-time Olympic champion after winning the women's 400 metres at the 2016 Rio Olympics and again at the 2020 Tok ...
also ran 22.08 (2021).
*
TyNia Gaither
Tynia Gaither (born 16 March 1993) is a Bahamian athlete competing in sprinting events. Gaither has represented the Bahamas at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.
Career
She won the silver medal in the 200 metres at the 2010 Summer Youth Olymp ...
also ran 22.96 (2021).
*
Anastasia Le-Roy
Anastasia Le-Roy (born 11 September 1987) is a Jamaican track and field
Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a ...
also ran 23.12 (2019).
*
Shakima Wimbley
Shakima Wimbley (born April 23, 1995) is an American sprinter. She competed in the women's 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics
Seventeen or 17 may refer to:
*17 (number), the natural number following 16 and pre ...
also ran 23.40 (2019).
References
{{Athletics events
Events in track and field
Sprint (running)