The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field, approximately equivalent to 3 miles 188 yards or 16,404 feet 2 inches. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics, run over 12+1⁄2 laps of a standard track. The same distance in road running is called a 5K run; referring to the distance in metres rather than kilometres serves to disambiguate the two events. The 5000 m has been present on the Olympic programme since 1912 for men and since 1996 for women. Prior to 1996, women had competed in an Olympic 3000 metres race since 1984. The 5000 m has been held at each of the World Championships in Athletics in men's competition and since 1995 in women's.
Akani Simbine is a South African sprinter specialising in the 100 metres event. He was fifth at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the men's 100 metres and was the 100 metres African record holder with a time of 9.84 seconds set in July 2021 until broken by Ferdinand Omurwa in September 2021.
The 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships was the seventeenth edition of the biennial, global athletics competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), since renamed World Athletics. It was held between 27 September and 6 October 2019 in Doha, Qatar, at the renovated multi-purpose Khalifa International Stadium, but reduced to 21,000 available seats. 1,772 athletes from 206 teams competed in 49 athletics events over the ten-day competition, comprising 24 events each for men and women, plus a mixed relay. There were 43 track and field events, 4 racewalking events, and 2 marathon road running events. The racewalking and marathon events were held in Doha Corniche.
The 2018–19 Australian Athletics Championships was the 97th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 4–7 April 2019 at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre in Sydney. It served as the selection meeting for Australia at the 2019 World Athletics Championships. Distance events were held separately, with the 10,000 metres taking place at the Zatopek 10K on 13 December 2018 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne, the mile run taking place at the Albie Thomas meet at the Crest Athletic Centre in Bankstown on 22 December 2018, and the 5000 metres taking place at the Sydney Track Classic on 23 February 2019.
The 2016–17 Australian Athletics Championships was the 95th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 30 March – 2 April 2017 at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre in Sydney. It served as the selection meeting for Australia at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics. Distance events were held separately, with the 10,000 metres taking place at the Zatopek 10K on 8 December 2016 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne and the 5000 metres taking place at the Summer of Athletics Meet in Canberra on 11 March 2017.
The 2014–15 Australian Athletics Championships was the 93rd edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 26–29 March 2015 at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane. It served as the selection meeting for Australia at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics. Distance events were held separately, with the 10,000 metres taking place at the Zatopek 10K on 11 December 2014 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne, the men's 5000 metres being held at the same location on 21 March 2015, and the women's 5000 m taking place at Sydney Olympic Park on 14 March 2015.
The 2013–14 Australian Athletics Championships was the 92nd edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 3–6 April 2014 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The 10,000 metres event took place separately at the Zatopek 10K on 12 December 2013 at the same venue.
The 2012–13 Australian Athletics Championships was the 91st edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 11–14 April 2013 at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre in Sydney. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics. The 10,000 metres event took place separately at the Zatopek 10K on 8 December 2012 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne.
The 2010–11 Australian Athletics Championships was the 89th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 15–17 April 2011 at the Olympic Park Stadium in Melbourne. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics. This was the last competition to be held at the stadium before its demolition.
The 2009–10 Australian Athletics Championships was the 88th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 16–18 April 2010 at the Western Australian Athletics Stadium in Perth. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The 10,000 metres event took place separately at the Zatopek 10K on 10 December 2009 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne. The decathlon and heptathlon competitions were held in Hobart on 13 and 14 February 2010.
The 2008–09 Australian Athletics Championships was the 87th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 19–21 March 2009 at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.
The 2007–08 Australian Athletics Championships was the 86th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 28 February to 1 March 2008 at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
The 2006–07 Australian Athletics Championships was the 85th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 9–11 March 2007 at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics. Long-distance events took place separately: the 10,000 metres events was held at the Zatopek 10K on 14 December 2006 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne while the 5000 metres events were held at the Melbourne Track Classic on 2 March 2007.
The 2000–01 Australian Athletics Championships was the 79th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 23–25 March 2001 at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics.
The 1999–2000 Australian Athletics Championships was the 78th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 24 to 27 February 2000 at the Stadium Australia in Sydney. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 2000 Summer Olympics. The 10,000 metres events took place separately at the Melbourne Track Classic on 2 March 2000 in Melbourne.
The 1998–99 Australian Athletics Championships was the 77th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 18–20 February 1999 at the Olympic Park Stadium in Melbourne. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics. The 10,000 metres event took place separately at the Zatopek 10K on 5 December 1998 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne. The combined events were also held separately at the Hobart Grand Prix on 25–26 February 1999.
The 1997–98 Australian Athletics Championships was the 76th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 13–15 March 1998 at the Olympic Park Stadium in Melbourne. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. The 10,000 metres event took place separately at the Zatopek 10K on 18 December 1997 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne. The combined track and field events were held at the Hobart Grand Prix from 20–22 February 1998.
The 1996–97 Australian Athletics Championships was the 75th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 27 February–2 March 1997 at the Olympic Park Stadium in Melbourne. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics. The men's 10,000 metres event took place separately at the Adelaide Grand Prix on 1 February 1997 while the women's 5000 metres took place at the Melbourne Nike Classic on 20 February 1997. The combined track and field events took place at the Hobart Grand Prix from 14–16 February 1997.
The 1995–96 Australian Athletics Championships was the 74th edition of the national championship in outdoor track and field for Australia. It was held from 7–10 March 1996 at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre in Sydney. It served as a selection meeting for Australia at the 1996 Summer Olympics. The 10,000 metres event took place separately at the Zatopek 10K on 14 December 1995 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne.
The main national championships for the 2019–20 season of outdoor track and field in Australia were not held due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but eight events were completed prior to the cancellation. The 10,000 metres took place at the Zatopek 10K on 14 December 2019 at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne, the mile run took place at the Albie Thomas meet at the Crest Athletic Centre in Bankstown on 21 December 2019, and the 5000 metres took place at the Melbourne Track Classic on 6 February 2020. The decathlon and heptathlon championships were held in Brisbane on 15 and 16 February 2020.
