The 3000 metres steeplechase or 3000-meter steeplechase is the most common distance for the steeplechase in track and field. It is an obstacle race over the distance of the 3000 metres, which derives its name from the horse racing steeplechase.
The official world records in the 3000 metres steeplechase are held by Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia at 7:52.11 minutes for men and Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya at 8:44.32 for women.
The steeplechase at the Summer Olympics has been held over several distances and is the longest track event with obstacles held at the multi-sport event. The men's 3000 metres steeplechase has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1920. The women's event is the most recent addition to the programme, having been added at the 2008 Olympics. It is the most prestigious steeplechase track race at elite level.
The Women's 3000 metres steeplechase competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics took place between 13–15 August at the Olympic Stadium. The winning margin was 7.37 seconds.
Courtney Frerichs is an American middle-distance runner and steeplechase specialist from Nixa, Missouri, She is a three-time silver medalist in the 3000 meters steeplechase capturing silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the 2017 World Championships in London and at the 2018 World (Continental) Cup in Ostrava. In 2021, she became the first American woman to run under nine-minutes in a women’s 3000-meters steeplechase event with a time of 8:57.77; establishing an American and Area record. She is a two-time Olympian making the US team in 2016 and 2020. In both of her Olympic Trials she finished second to US National Champion, Emma Coburn.
Beatrice Chepkoech Sitonik is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She won gold medals at the 2019 World Championships and 2018 African Championships and silver medal at the 2023 World Championships. In the 1500 metres, Chepkoech took silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2015 African Games. She is the world record holder for the 3000 m steeplechase with a time of 8:44.32 set in 2018 in Monaco. With that mark she became the first woman to break the 8:50 and 8:45 barriers in the event.
Peruth Chemutai is a Ugandan steeplechase runner. She won the gold medal in the women's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, becoming the first Ugandan woman ever to win an Olympic medal. She added a silver medal in this event at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The men's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics was held at the London Olympic Stadium on 6 and 8 August.
The women's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics was held at the London Olympic Stadium on 9 and 11 August.
Winfred Mutile Yavi is a Kenyan-born Bahraini female athlete who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, setting the new Olympic record. Mutile hails from Ukia, Makueni County. She won the gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships beating Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya and finished fourth at both the 2019 and 2022 World Athletics Championships. Yavi won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games. She took bronze in the 1500 metres, gold in the 5000 metres and gold for the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships.
The men's 3000 metres steeplechase event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place on 30 July and 2 August 2021 at the Japan National Stadium. 45 athletes competed.
The women's 3000 metres steeplechase event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place on 1 and 4 August 2021 at the Japan National Stadium. 41 athletes competed.
The women's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2019 World Athletics Championships was held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, from 27 to 30 September 2019.
Jackline Chepkoech is a Kenyan athlete who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase. At the age of 18, she won the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, setting the Games record in the process.
The women's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2022 World Athletics Championships was held at the Hayward Field in Eugene on 16 and 20 July 2022.
Faith Cherotich is a Kenyan athlete who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase. At the age of 17, she won the bronze medal at the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships held in Nairobi. Cherotich upgraded her bronze to gold a year later, winning the title at the World U20 Championships in Cali.
Sembo Almayew Welteji is an Ethiopian track and field athlete. She was a silver medalist at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships in the Women's 3000 metres steeplechase.
The men's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2023 World Athletics Championships was held at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest from 19 to 22 August 2023.
The men's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held in four rounds at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on 5 and 7 August 2024. This was 24th time that the men's 3000 metres steeplechase was contested at the Summer Olympics. A total of 36 athletes were able to qualify for the event by entry standard or ranking.
The women's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held in two rounds at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on 4 and 6 August 2024. This was fifth time that the women's 3000 metres steeplechase was contested at the Summer Olympics. A total of 36 athletes qualified for the event by entry standard or ranking.
