• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

What is the Indoor 500m WR?

You are here: Home / 400 meters / What is the Indoor 500m WR?
32
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

February 6, 2012 by Jimson Lee 6 Comments

Last Updated on February 17, 2015

LaShawn Merrit will be running the 500 meters at the new and improved Millrose Games.  The meet will be held at the NYC Armory, which offers a fast 200m banked track, opposed to the Madison Square Garden 11 laps to the mile (145 meters) wooden boards!

Can he break the world record?

What is the indoor 500m world record?

The official 500 meters world record was set by Ken Lowery of United States in 1:00.17, back on January 16, 1987 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Whoa, but That’s not the Fastest!

View image | gettyimages.com

There’s some controversy in that WR, and I’ll explain why.  Pull a chair…

On January 27, 1986, my Canadian buddy Doug Consiglio set a NCAA Record in the 1000m (2:19.64) on a 200m FLAT track in Fayetteville, AR.  The very next race, Roddie Haley set a WR (at that time) for the 500 meters in (1:01.18).   A World Record!  Who cares about that NCAA record 5 minutes earlier!

But the story continues…

On March 15, 1986, Roddie Haley lowered the WR for the 500 meters with a 59.82 clocking in Oklahoma City at the NCAA championship, being the first man to break the magic 1 minute barrier.  Screw the 4 minute mile.   The race was held on a 10 lap to the mile board track, so technically it’s slower than a 8 lap per mile 200m banked track on a synthetic surface and 7mm Christmas tree spikes!  Doug Consiglio ran 2:19.36 for the 1000m on that same meet, another NCAA record.

However, the performances for record purposes were later considered void because the track had no rail or curb on the inside lane.   This is a farce, because if you stepped outside the line, you would fall off the track, so no one ran close to the line!   Today, along with the 59.82WR, Doug’s 2:19.36 would still be the NCAA Division 1 record if somebody would have installed rails.  Ironically, the Division II record was set by another Canuck, Freddie Williams, from Abilene Christian with a faster time of 2:18.84, set on the same race as a special guest invite.

READ  Top 5 Lessons from IAAF World Championships (so far)

To make things more confusing, at the 1987 NCAA  Championships, Roddie Haley ran 59.90, the same race where Kevin Robinzine, Butch Reynolds and Raymond Pierre all ran major personal bests. The controversy stems from the heats where the staggers were not measured properly. so this too was deemed null and void.

So with BOTH of Haley’s time wiped from the books, Lowery’s 1:00.17 just beat Haley’s 1:00.18 as the WR.

So to answer the original question:

The official WR for 500 meters is Ken Lowery’s 60.17, but the fastest times belong to Roddie Haley with 2 sub 60 second performances (59.82 & 59.90).

  • Bio
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Latest Posts
Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee

Coach & Founder at SpeedEndurance.com
I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.
Jimson Lee

@speedendurance

Jimson Lee
Jimson Lee
Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee

Latest posts by Jimson Lee (see all)

  • Jana Pittman – 400mH World Champion, Bobsleigh, and now Doctor - December 8, 2020
  • Autogenic/Parasympathetic Breathing Techniques for Recovery & Regeneration – Episode 3 - May 22, 2020
  • PART 2: Viewing the Bio-Motor Abilities of 400m Hurdlers Relative to 800m Runners - May 13, 2020
Jimson Lee

Category icon400 meters,  Featured Story,  Track & Field

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nathaniel says

    February 6, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    I think Merritt will get a sub 60, and possibly even eclipse the 59.82

    Reply
  2. Zen says

    February 7, 2012 at 8:25 am

    Merritt should break 60, that’d be great to see! Shame MJ didn’t have a go at this in 1995 when he was in WIR shape… Jimson, do you think MJ could’ve gone through 400m in 45.9 and had enough gas left to break 59?

    Reply
    • Jimson Lee says

      February 7, 2012 at 8:35 am

      These guys can easily go through in 46 and the last 100m in 13 sec. For example, LaShawn ran the last 100m in 11.68 in a 400m. A good person for me it interview next is Chip Jenkins, the AR holder for the 600m. (Chip ran in the heats of the 4x400m in Barcelona 1992.)

      Reply
  3. hugh says

    February 29, 2012 at 11:40 am

    who really cares what merritt has done, still considered a cheat here in europe.

    Reply
    • Jimson Lee says

      February 29, 2012 at 12:17 pm

      Then I guess you don’t care for this interview:

      https://speedendurance.com/2012/01/31/lashawn-merritt-400m-training-race-plan-world-record/

      Reply
  4. hugh says

    February 29, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    well then again , everyone deserves a second chance!!, thats what the swedish teach us!! and i promise to be more positive!!! in the future { smiley}

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (5)
  • Jimson Lee (3)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • SpeedEndurance Products Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99
  • Globus SprintCoach LE Electrical Muscle Stimulation Globus Electrical Muscle Stimulation SprintCoach SPORT $849.00
  • Globus SprintCoach LE Electrical Muscle Stimulation Globus Electrical Muscle Stimulation SprintCoach SPORT Limited Edition (LE) $949.00

RECENT POSTS

  • Jana Pittman – 400mH World Champion, Bobsleigh, and now Doctor
  • Autogenic/Parasympathetic Breathing Techniques for Recovery & Regeneration – Episode 3
  • PART 2: Viewing the Bio-Motor Abilities of 400m Hurdlers Relative to 800m Runners
  • Remembering Mike Agostini (1935 – 2016)
  • Remembering CharlieFrancis Forum (10 Years later)
  • Microstretching vs PNF vs ELDOA: Live Zoom Chat (Episode 2)
  • Viewing the Bio-Motor Abilities of 400m Hurdlers Relative to 800m Runners (Part 1)
  • A Systematic Approach To Developing Individual Success Within A Dynamic Team Culture
  • How to do Repeat 100m Strides with No Marks or Measurements
  • Testing for Speed, Power, Strength, & Endurance [VIDEO]

Copyright © 2021. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy