The 3000 metres steeplechase or 3000-meter steeplechase (usually abbreviated as 3000m SC) 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.

Rules

It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and it is also an event recognized by World Athletics. The obstacles for men are 36 in high, and for women, they are 30 in high. The water jump consists of a barrier followed by a pit of water with a landing area defined as follows: The pit is 3.66 m (12 feet) square. The pit's forward-direction measurement starts from the approach edge of the barrier and ends at the point where the water jump slope reaches the flat surface of the steeple pathway. The rulebook simply but clearly states, "The water jump, including the hurdle, shall be 3.66 m in length." Pits have an upward slope; the water is deeper near the barrier and is within 2 cm of ground level at the departure end. That slope begins approximately 30 cm forward of the barrier, at which point the water is 70 cm deep. The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior and some masters events are 2000 m, as women's events used to be. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. During the race, each runner must clear a total of 28 ordinary barriers and seven water jumps. This entails seven complete laps after starting with a fraction of a lap run without barriers. The water jump is located on the back turn, either inside the inner lane or outside the outer lane. If it is on the outside, then each of the seven laps is longer than the standard 400 m, and the starting point is on the home straight. If the water jump is on the inside, each lap is shorter than 400 m, and the starting point is on the back straight, so the water jump and barrier in the home straight are bypassed in the first half lap at the start. Unlike those used in hurdling, steeplechase barriers do not fall over if hit, and the rules allow an athlete to negotiate the barrier by any means, so many runners step on top of them. Four barriers are spaced around the track on level ground, and a fifth barrier at the top of the second turn (fourth barrier in a complete lap from the finish line) is the water jump. The slope of the water jump rewards runners with more jumping ability, because a longer jump results in a shallower landing in the water.

All-time top 25

Men

Annulled marks

The following athletes had their performance (inside 7:55.00) annulled due to doping offences:

Women

Annulled marks

The following athletes had their performances (inside 9:06.50) annulled due to doping offences:

Olympic medalists

Men

Women

World Championships medalists

Men

Women

Season's bests

Men

Women

National records

Men

Equal or superior to 8:30.00 min:

Women

Equal or superior to 9:30.00 min: