WIC Kujawy Pomorze 26 facts and figures: women's 3000m

Last three sets of world indoor medallists

2022 - 1. Lemlem Hailu (ETH) 8:41.82; 2. Elinor Purrier St. Pierre (USA) 8:42.04; 3. Ejgayehu Taye (ETH) 8:42.23
2024 - 1. Elle St. Pierre (USA) 8:20.87; 2. Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) 8:21.13; 3. Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN) 8:22.68
2025 - 1. Freweyni Hailu (ETH) 8:37.21; 2. Shelby Houlihan (USA) 8:38.26; 3. Jessica Hull (AUS) 8:38.28

Fastest winning times

Elle St. Pierre (USA) - 8:20.87 (2024)
Elly van Hulst (NED) — 8:33.82 (1989)
Gabriela Szabo (ROU) — 8:36.42 (1999)

Slowest winning time

Meseret Defar (ETH) — 9:11.22 (2004)

Biggest winning margin

12.34s - 1993: Yvonne Murray (GBR) 8:50.55, Margareta Keszeg (ROU) 9:02.89

Smallest winning margin

0.21s - 2004: Meseret Defar (ETH) 9:11.22, Berhane Adere (ETH) 9:11.43

Fastest times on Polish soil

8:31.42 1 Lemlem Hailu (ETH) - Torun 17.02.2021
8:31.72 2 Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN) - Torun 17.02.2021
8:40.04 3 Fantu Worku (ETH) - Torun 17.02.2021

Repeat winners

4 - Meseret Defar (ETH) 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010
3 - Gabriela Szabo (ROU) 1995, 1997, 1999
3 - Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 2014, 2016, 2018

By country

10 - Ethiopia 
3 - Romania
1 - United States
1 - Netherlands
1 - Kenya
1 - Russia
1 - Soviet Union
1 - Great Britain
1 - France
1 - Canada

Top eight entrants (based on final entries)

Freweyni Hailu (ETH) 8:24.59
Aleshign Baweke (ETH) 8:26.29
Nadia Battocletti (ITA) 8:26.44
Linden Hall (AUS) 8:27.03
Emily Mackay (USA) 8:30.01
Hannah Nuttall (GBR) 8:32.94
Marta García (ESP) 8:34.28
Jessica Hull (AUS) 8:36.03

Historic facts

• Ethiopia has won 10 of the last 12 3000m finals stretching back to 2003. The only non-Ethiopian winners in this timespan are Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2012 and Elle St. Pierre (USA) 2024
• The 3000m in 2024  was by far the fastest 3000m en masse at the World Indoor Championships. Elle St. Pierre (USA) won in a championship record of 8:20.87, leading the top six under the previous championship record (Elly van Hulst - 8:33.82, 1989)
• Elly Van Hulst’s winning time of 8:33.82 was a world record and stood as a world record from 1989 to 2001
• Only two athletes have won a 1500/3000m double at the World Indoor Championships: Gabriela Szabo (ROU) in 1999 and Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) in 2018

Potential storylines and notes

• Can Freweyni Hailu (ETH) become the fourth athlete to defend their world indoor 3000m title?
• Can Nadia Battocletti (ITA) become the first Italian winner of the women’s 3000m? Italy’s only medal in the event dates back to 1985 when Agnese Possamai won silver. "This month was a little bit tough to prepare for these championships with these conditions. But I have a superb team that supports me and understands what is best for me," said Battocletti who has been observing Ramadan
• Can Linden Hall (AUS) or Jessica Hull (AUS) become the first Australian medallist in the women’s 3000m? Hull has finished 6-4-3 in the last three editions and is the only athlete entered for both the 1500m and 3000m
• Elle St Pierre, who finished second at the US Indoor Championships and won gold in 2024, has chosen not to compete “due to personal circumstances” according to her coach Mark Coogan.