The obvious answer is to compete in running races and compare them to other children in a similar age group. There are a few reasons this might not give you as clear an answer. Winning or placing in local races is a good start but not a guaranteed answer. If competition is low in your town/city, winning local races may not be a clear indicator that your child is quick. At the same time, running local races and losing doesn’t mean your child isn’t a fast runner. There are lots of factors to consider. I mentioned age groups above but gender and race distance must be considered too. Some children are better suited to short distance sprints and others perform better over a longer sustained distance.
Below I break down how to tell if your child is a fast runner into age categories and further break those into gender and distances. I include the current age records for each age group and the distances each record covers. The age records is a compilation of best performances recorded from the age of 5 to 19 across 51 countries using fully automatic timing devices. The countries recorded include United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand. The full list is available in the references link below. I have also researched many state, regional and local race competition times to work out what I consider a strong competitive athlete’s time. This time is an estimate based on an average of times and doesn’t mean a child is slower than average if they’re not reaching the times yet. In fact if your child is even close to the competitive athlete times, they are a fast runner.
How to measure how fast your child can run?
There are many ways to measure your child’s times. I would recommend joining a track or athletics club. A team will help keep track of running times, help improve running form and be full of helpful tips and advice. Running clubs often use professional training systems to time all training runs.
However if you want to measure times yourself at home, I’d recommend either a good watch like this Garmin available on Amazon, if your child tracks their own runs. It’s cheap, accurate and has great battery life, I purchased the Garmin Forerunner 35 for myself to track my runs and wrote this review of it’s features, pros and cons. For longer distances, watches like the Garmin on Amazon is ideal. Alternatively a stopwatch like this will do if you are responsible for recording times, especially in sprint runs.
In all of the sprint distance record times below, fully automatic timing devices were used.
Difference between short distance sprint and long distance running in children
When discussing the record fastest times and competitive times for each age group below, I break it into short distance runs or sprints and long distance runs. The sprints range between 50 meter and 400 meter races. Whereas the long distance is counted as anything above 800 meters. I tried to gather as much information on 800m, 1000m, 1500m, 1 mile, 3000m, 5K and 10K races but some age categories weren’t available in the records. I also left out 5K and 10K runs from some of the younger age groups.
The distance I would recommend also depends on the end goal and the sport a child is training for. Some sports suit the quick burst sprints and acceleration over short distances. While others are ideal for the endurance and stamina filled long distance runner. Below we go further into what sports does running training help with and the type of running training that suits.
Is running safe for children?
Running is a fantastic form of exercise. It’s healthy, promotes fitness and is essential for so many different sports. In general, running is safe. However, I think young children shouldn’t be pushed or trained to hard. Parents and coaches need to be mindful and ensure children are never running past their comfort level. Overtraining and not allowing rest can lead to injuries. The injuries in children can particularly be damaging as their muscles are still growing. They can develop knee injuries with poor running form and the wrong running shoes.
An area often overlooked is for road running training and listening to music. Here I researched if music helps while training and some of the dangers that comes with headphones while running. In particular being aware of surroundings, watch out for cars, bikes and other runners. When I run long distances, some days I need music motivation and found normal headphones too finicky, so I picked up these cheap sports headphones on Amazon.
When training hard for running, it’s essential to keep nutrition and hydration in mind. Especially over long distances, make sure your child is well hydrated, drinking water before, after and sometimes during runs. For some nutrition tips and make sure your child has the energy needed for exercise check out my nutrition tips for fussy eaters.I include tips for longer distance runners of using energy gels andchews like theseand when to use them.
How long should a child run?
There are some runners that say you should avoid pushing children under 10 years old to run over 1 mile. This is just to reduce the chances of injury and overexertion while they learn proper running form. There are exceptions for athletically gifted children and those who have the desire to continue running longer distances.With good running form, young children running 10K+ have the same injury risks as adults running the same distance. I have included some competition and record times below for these cases.
The biggest hurdle affecting children running long distances is desire. Boredom creeps in and it’s difficult to keep focus. While we need to avoid overtraining and over exertion, we often think distance running is bad for children. However there are several studies (reference below) suggesting longer mileage doesn’t cause growth damage. If your child enjoys running distances, as long as they are happy, let them run.
Why does age matter to see if your child can run fast?
If your child is currently below the average speed of their age, it doesn’t mean they can’t develop into a fast running athlete. Each child develops at different rates. It’s much more important to practice good running form than focus only on time, especially at a young age.
At a very young age, children often don’t yet know how to sprint. A year to practice running form will be a big advantage to any child running competitively. Comparing a 7 year old with an 8 year old can be unfair as children can develop a lot in the space of a year.
While some children can run as fast as many adults, you can never expect a child to run as fast as a peak athlete adult. As children grow and become teenagers, you may see massive strides in improvement.
Is there a difference in running times between boys and girls?
Age isn’t the only determining factor, gender also comes into comparing record times. I break each age group below into sprint and long distances as well as into male and female. Generally the average girl athlete tends to run slower than their male counterpart from a young age but as you will see in some of the records set below, that’s not always guaranteed.
The difference is related to body composition. Boys tend to have slightly more muscle mass than girls. More fast twitch muscles in an athletes legs can lead to faster running times. However over longer distances in non elite athletes, women often outperform men according to a study linked below.
What sports does running fast help with?
The obvious one is track and athletics, but I wanted to go into detail of how running can help improve performance in other sports. There are tons more sports running helps with but I wanted to highlight a small few.
Football
Sprint and explosive acceleration training is essential to become a successful footballer, in particular for positions like wide receivers and cornerbacks. Their jobs are to outsmart and outrun each other to open and close passing routes. Footballers must run short distances throughout the game. They need to stay warm, recover quickly between plays and be agile enough to change directions while running at speed.
Basketball
Being a quick paced game, running up and down the court from offence to defense not only requires quick burst acceleration. Sprint training is ideal for basketball with additional focus on changing direction. Basketball training also helps with quicker recovery between short sprints.
Baseball
Some positions in baseball need more running than others. The batter must sprint between the bases to avoid being tagged out. The outfielders need to run as quick as possible to catch or retrieve the ball and get the opposition out.
Soccer
Outfield players tend to average around 10k per game. Midfielders often run 12k+ in a game. These runs may be a jog to keep up with play, a run to track back in defence or even a sprint race to the ball or dribble past a defender. Generally soccer players shouldn’t run more than 5-10k continuously in regular training and focus more on the start stop sprints to jog intervals.
Tennis
Tennis focuses very heavily on slight sprints and quick changes in direction with little time to react. However many Tennis coaches encourage longer distance training to build up the stamina.
Boxing
Running plays a major part in practically all professional boxer’s training. Boxers run 5 miles per day to keep up the cardio stamina and endurance. Running long distance at a considerable speed prepares boxers for the physical effects of the latter rounds. Many boxers run before sparring sessions as a result.
Rugby
Rugby requires constant movement to keep up with the team line, avoid straying into offside positions or leave a gap in your team’s defence. Players cover an average of under 7k per game.
5 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 9 seconds | 15 seconds |
60 Meters | 9.97 seconds | 16 seconds |
100 Meters | 16.19 seconds | 23 seconds |
200 Meters | 31.53 seconds | 42 seconds |
400 Meters | 1 minute 18.88 seconds | 1 minute 45 seconds |
5 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
60 Meters | 9.96 seconds | 17 seconds |
100 Meters | 16.12 seconds | 25 seconds |
200 Meters | 34.43 seconds | 44 seconds |
400 Meters | 1 minute 22.83 seconds | 1 minute 55 seconds |
5 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 54 seconds | 3 minutes 55 seconds |
1500 Meters | 5 minutes 46 seconds | 7 minutes 30 seconds |
1 mile | 6 minutes 33 seconds | 7 minutes 55 seconds |
3000 Meters | 13 minutes 55 seconds | 16 minutes |
5 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 3 minutes 4 seconds | 4 minutes 15 seconds |
1000 Meters | 4 minutes 13 seconds | 5 minutes 20 seconds |
1500 Meters | 5 minutes 57 seconds | 8 minutes 5 seconds |
3000 Meters | 14 minutes 8 seconds | 17 minutes |
I found it difficult to find resources around competitive race times for 5 year olds. This is because at 5 years old, there are not many children that have the interest or focus to compete in races. At 5, if your child is anywhere even close to the competitive times, they are indeed fast for their age. However if they are still a bit off the pace, there are plenty of ways to improve as they grow.
In my experience, getting a 5 year old to take running seriously is as big an accomplishment as getting a fast time, especially in the longer distances. A 5 year old completing a mile in under 10 minutes may not be a race winning time but is still fast for someone so young. The same can be said for a 5 year old running 100 meters in under 35 seconds.
6 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 8.03 seconds | 14.5 seconds |
60 Meters | 9.39 seconds | 15.5 seconds |
100 Meters | 14.3 seconds | 22 seconds |
200 Meters | 29.16 seconds | 42 seconds |
400 Meters | 1 minute 7.64 seconds | 1 minute 41 seconds |
6 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
60 Meters | 9.32 seconds | 16.5 seconds |
100 Meters | 14.89 seconds | 24 seconds |
200 Meters | 31.78 seconds | 44 seconds |
400 Meters | 1 minute 11 seconds | 1 minute 52 seconds |
6 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 32 seconds | 3 minutes 50 seconds |
1000 Meters | 3 minutes 35 seconds | 4 minutes 30 seconds |
1500 Meters | 5 minutes 21 seconds | 7 minutes 30 seconds |
1 mile | 5 minutes 44 seconds | 7 minutes 50 seconds |
3000 Meters | 11 minutes 36 seconds | 15 minutes 50 seconds |
5K | 19 minutes 48 seconds | 27 minutes |
6 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 43 seconds | 4 minutes 5 seconds |
1000 Meters | 3 minutes 55 seconds | 5 minutes 10 seconds |
1500 Meters | 5 minutes 29 seconds | 7 mins 55 seconds |
3000 Meters | 14 minutes 8 seconds | 17 minutes |
Similar to children aged 5, there isn’t much information on race times for 6 year olds. This is because there aren’t as many children officially competing from a very young age. Managing to focus on running consistently is a huge achievement at 6 years old.
At 6 years old, a child running 100 meters in under 35 seconds is quicker than average. Or for a longer distance, a 6 year old running a mile in under 10 minutes is an above average pace.
7 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 7.74 seconds | 14 seconds |
60 Meters | 8.97 seconds | 15 seconds |
100 Meters | 13.46 seconds | 21 seconds |
200 Meters | 27.98 seconds | 40 seconds |
400 Meters | 1 minute 4 seconds | 1 minute 38 seconds |
7 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 7.9 seconds | 15 seconds |
60 Meters | 9.22 seconds | 16 seconds |
100 Meters | 13.97 seconds | 22.5 seconds |
200 Meters | 28.49 seconds | 43 seconds |
400 Meters | 1 minute 6 seconds | 1 minute 48 seconds |
7 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 26 seconds | 3 minutes 45 seconds |
1000 Meters | 3 minutes 18 seconds | 4 minutes 22 seconds |
1500 Meters | 5 minutes | 7 minutes 20 seconds |
1 mile | 5 minutes 20 seconds | 7 minutes 40 seconds |
3000 Meters | 10 minutes 43 seconds | 15 minutes 35 seconds |
5K | 18 minutes 4 seconds | 26 minutes 30 seconds |
7 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 36 seconds | 4 minutes |
1000 Meters | 3 minutes 41 seconds | 5 minutes |
1500 Meters | 5 minutes 14 seconds | 7 minutes 45 seconds |
1 Mile | 6 minutes 5 seconds | 8 minutes |
3000 Meters | 13 minutes 3 seconds | 16 minutes 40 seconds |
At 7 years old, it starts to get easier to find athletic or track clubs to join and train with. Children have more competitive options starting to open up. 7 is still very young in terms of development and correct form should be more important than running great times.
A 7 year old running 100 meters in under 35 seconds is quicker than average. Similarly, a 7 year old running a mile in under 10 minutes is considered a fast pace.
8 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 7.43 seconds | 13 seconds |
60 Meters | 8.37 seconds | 14 seconds |
100 Meters | 12.8 seconds | 18 seconds |
200 Meters | 25.97 seconds | 38 seconds |
400 Meters | 1 minute | 1 minute 30 seconds |
8 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 7.65 seconds | 14 seconds |
60 Meters | 8.75 seconds | 15 seconds |
100 Meters | 13.63 seconds | 20 seconds |
200 Meters | 27.98 seconds | 42 seconds |
400 Meters | 1 minute 3 seconds | 1 minute 40 seconds |
8 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 20 seconds | 3 minutes 40 seconds |
1000 Meters | 3 minutes 13 seconds | 4 minutes 17 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 51 seconds | 7 minutes 10 seconds |
1 mile | 5 minutes 12 seconds | 7 minutes 25 seconds |
3000 Meters | 10 minutes 27 seconds | 15 minutes 15 seconds |
5K | 17 minutes 29 seconds | 26 minutes 10 seconds |
8 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 29 seconds | 3 minutes 53 seconds |
1000 Meters | 3 minutes 12 seconds | 4 minutes 45 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 59 seconds | 7 minutes 25 seconds |
1 Mile | 5 minutes 43 seconds | 7 minutes 40 seconds |
3000 Meters | 10 minutes 52 seconds | 16 minutes 10 seconds |
By the age of 8, you can start to tell if a child is athletic and coordinated when running. It’s a good age to focus on running technique. It’s also the age many children start playing sports so running is a great addition to any practice sessions.
At 8 years old, a child running 100 meters in under 30 seconds is quicker than average. Over a mile, an 8 year old running finishing in under 9 minutes 30 seconds is a very quick.
9 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 7.37 seconds | 12 seconds |
60 Meters | 8.34 seconds | 13 seconds |
100 Meters | 12.45 seconds | 17 seconds |
200 Meters | 25.48 seconds | 36 seconds |
400 Meters | 58.92 seconds | 1 minute 27 seconds |
9 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 7.36 seconds | 13 seconds |
60 Meters | 8.42 seconds | 14 seconds |
100 Meters | 12.67 seconds | 18.5 seconds |
200 Meters | 26.38 seconds | 40 seconds |
400 Meters | 1 minute | 1 minute 34 seconds |
9 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 19 seconds | 3 minutes 30 seconds |
1000 Meters | 3 minutes 4 seconds | 4 minutes 5 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 38 seconds | 6 minutes 50 seconds |
1 mile | 5 minutes 2 seconds | 7 minutes 5 seconds |
3000 Meters | 9 minutes 43 seconds | 15 minutes |
5K | 16 minutes 42 seconds | 25 minutes 50 seconds |
9 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 23 seconds | 3 minutes 45 seconds |
1000 Meters | 3 minutes 12 seconds | 4 minutes 30 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 56 seconds | 7 minutes 5 seconds |
1 Mile | 5 minutes 18 seconds | 7 minutes 20 seconds |
3000 Meters | 10 minutes 38 seconds | 15 minutes 50 seconds |
At age 9, many children will be able to start running mid distances of between a kilometer and a mile. Sporty children are getting more coordination and will improve their running form.
At 9 years old, a child running 100 meters in under 27 seconds is quicker than average. Over a mile, a 9 year old finishing in under 9 minutes 15 seconds for boys and 10 minutes for a girl is a good time.
10 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 7 seconds | 11 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.98 seconds | 12 seconds |
100 Meters | 12.06 seconds | 16 seconds |
200 Meters | 24.69 seconds | 34 seconds |
400 Meters | 56.83 seconds | 1 minute 25 seconds |
10 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 7.1 seconds | 12 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.86 seconds | 13 seconds |
100 Meters | 12.15 seconds | 17 seconds |
200 Meters | 24.43 seconds | 38 seconds |
400 Meters | 57.07 seconds | 1 minute 31 seconds |
10 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 14 seconds | 3 minutes 20 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 54 seconds | 3 minutes 55 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 26 seconds | 6 minutes 30 seconds |
1 mile | 4 minutes 46 seconds | 6 minutes 45 seconds |
3000 Meters | 9 minutes 17 seconds | 14 minutes 40 seconds |
5K | 15 minutes 49 seconds | 25 minutes 30 seconds |
10 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 16 seconds | 3 minutes 45 seconds |
1000 Meters | 3 minutes 5 seconds | 4 minutes 30 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 36 seconds | 6 minutes 45 seconds |
1 Mile | 5 minutes 4 seconds | 7 minutes |
3000 Meters | 10 minutes 4 seconds | 15 minutes 30 seconds |
5K | 18 minutes 2 seconds | 26 minutes 15 seconds |
The average sporty 10 year old is getting to test the water with a variety of sports between school and their friends. Longer distances start getting easier and their stamina will increase.
100 meters in under 25 seconds is a great time for an athletic 10 year old. Boys running 9 minute mile and girls running 9 minutes 45 seconds are above the average for their age.
11 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.65 seconds | 10 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.54 seconds | 11 seconds |
100 Meters | 11.86 seconds | 15.5 seconds |
200 Meters | 23.57 seconds | 32 seconds |
400 Meters | 52.16 seconds | 1 minute 22 seconds |
11 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.86 seconds | 11 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.81 seconds | 12 seconds |
100 Meters | 12.15 seconds | 16.5 seconds |
200 Meters | 24.43 seconds | 36 seconds |
400 Meters | 55.01 seconds | 1 minute 28 seconds |
11 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 9 seconds | 3 minutes 10 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 49 seconds | 3 minutes 45 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 21 seconds | 6 minutes 15 seconds |
1 mile | 4 minutes 46 seconds | 6 minutes 30 seconds |
3000 Meters | 9 minutes 17 seconds | 14 minutes 20 seconds |
5K | 15 minutes 49 seconds | 25 minutes 15 seconds |
11 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 13 seconds | 3 minutes 35 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 58 seconds | 4 minutes 20 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 31 seconds | 6 minutes 30 seconds |
1 Mile | 4 minutes 56 seconds | 6 minutes 45 seconds |
3000 Meters | 9 minutes 47 seconds | 15 minutes 10 seconds |
5K | 17 minutes 59 seconds | 25 minutes 55 seconds |
11 years old is a great time to start considering athletic/track training if not already doing so. Children are more focused and often the competitive side starts to show.
At 11 years old, running 100 meters in under 23 seconds is fast. An 11 year old running a mile in under 8 minutes 50 seconds for boys and 9 minutes 30 for a girl is a great timing.
12 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.39 seconds | 9 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.22 seconds | 10 seconds |
100 Meters | 11.22 seconds | 14.5 seconds |
200 Meters | 22.54 seconds | 30 seconds |
400 Meters | 49.47 seconds | 1 minute 19 seconds |
12 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.76 seconds | 10 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.63 seconds | 11 seconds |
100 Meters | 11.77 seconds | 15.5 seconds |
200 Meters | 23.72 seconds | 34 seconds |
400 Meters | 53.36 seconds | 1 minute 25 seconds |
12 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 2 seconds | 3 minutes |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 38 seconds | 3 minutes 35 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 12 seconds | 5 minutes 55 seconds |
1 mile | 4 minutes 36 seconds | 6 minutes 10 seconds |
3000 Meters | 8 minutes 55 seconds | 14 minutes |
5K | 15 minutes 36 seconds | 24 minutes 55 seconds |
12 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 6 seconds | 3 minutes 25 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 52 seconds | 4 minutes 5 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 23 seconds | 6 minutes 15 seconds |
1 Mile | 4 minutes 46 seconds | 6 minutes 30 seconds |
3000 Meters | 9 minutes 19 seconds | 14 minutes 50 seconds |
5K | 16 minutes 44 seconds | 25 minutes 40 seconds |
The average 12 year old male athlete can run a mile in 8 minutes and 40 seconds, the ability to run a mile in under 8 minutes is very quick. For girls, running a mile in under 9 minutes 15 seconds is faster than average. Completing a 100 meter sprint in under 21 seconds is much quicker than the average 12 year old.
13 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.19 seconds | 8.5 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.04 seconds | 9.5 seconds |
100 Meters | 10.82 seconds | 14 seconds |
200 Meters | 21.73 seconds | 29 seconds |
400 Meters | 48.62 seconds | 1 minute 15 seconds |
13 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.63 seconds | 9.5 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.54 seconds | 10.5 seconds |
100 Meters | 11.56 seconds | 15 seconds |
200 Meters | 23.34 seconds | 32.5 seconds |
400 Meters | 52.54 seconds | 1 minute 22 seconds |
13 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 1 minute 56 seconds | 2 minutes 50 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 34 seconds | 3 minutes 20 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 1 second | 5 minutes 40 seconds |
1 mile | 4 minutes 26 seconds | 6 minutes |
3000 Meters | 8 minutes 40 seconds | 13 minutes 45 seconds |
5K | 15 minutes 33 seconds | 24 minutes 40 seconds |
10K | 33 minutes 39 seconds | 52 minutes |
13 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 6 seconds | 3 minutes 15 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 48 seconds | 3 minutes 50 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 17 seconds | 6 minutes 5 seconds |
1 Mile | 4 minutes 44 seconds | 6 minutes 20 seconds |
3000 Meters | 9 minutes 15 seconds | 14 minutes 30 seconds |
5K | 16 minutes 25 seconds | 25 minutes 20 seconds |
10K | 35 minutes 33 seconds | 53 minutes |
From the age of 13, children are usually after finding their favorite sports. At this point, you can look at the type of running needed for the sport and incorporate it into training sessions.
A 13 year old running a 100 meter sprint in under 20 seconds has potential to become a successful athlete with the right training. Boys running a mile in 8 minutes 25 and girls faster than 9 minutes 5 are above the average.
14 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 5.97 seconds | 7.5 seconds |
60 Meters | 6.86 seconds | 8.5 seconds |
100 Meters | 10.51 seconds | 13 seconds |
200 Meters | 20.89 seconds | 27 seconds |
400 Meters | 46.96 seconds | 1 minute 10 seconds |
14 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.38 seconds | 9 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.3 seconds | 10 seconds |
100 Meters | 11.27 seconds | 14.5 seconds |
200 Meters | 23.21 seconds | 31.5 seconds |
400 Meters | 52.54 seconds | 1 minute 19 seconds |
14 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 1 minute 51 seconds | 2 minutes 40 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 29 seconds | 3 minutes 10 seconds |
1500 Meters | 3 minutes 48 seconds | 5 minutes 30 seconds |
1 mile | 4 minutes 19 seconds | 5 minutes 50 seconds |
3000 Meters | 8 minutes 21 seconds | 13 minutes 25 seconds |
5K | 14 minutes 47 seconds | 24 minutes 25 seconds |
10K | 30 minutes 50 seconds | 51 minutes 30 seconds |
14 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 2 seconds | 3 minutes 5 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 45 seconds | 3 minutes 40 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 17 seconds | 5 minutes 50 seconds |
1 Mile | 4 minutes 40 seconds | 6 minutes 10 seconds |
3000 Meters | 9 minutes 10 seconds | 14 minutes 5 seconds |
5K | 16 minutes 24 seconds | 25 minutes |
10K | 35 minutes 24 seconds | 52 minutes 30 seconds |
The average 14 year old male athlete can run a mile in 8 minutes and 15 seconds, the ability to run a mile in under 7 minutes 20 is very quick. For girls, running a mile in under 8 minutes 55 seconds is faster than average. Completing a 100 meter sprint in under 19 seconds is much quicker than the average 14 year old.
15 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 5.89 seconds | 7 seconds |
60 Meters | 6.74 seconds | 8 seconds |
100 Meters | 10.2 seconds | 12.5 seconds |
200 Meters | 20.58 seconds | 26 seconds |
400 Meters | 45.27 seconds | 1 minute 2 seconds |
15 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.38 seconds | 8.5 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.25 seconds | 9.5 seconds |
100 Meters | 11.13 seconds | 14 seconds |
200 Meters | 22.48 seconds | 30.5 seconds |
400 Meters | 51.7 seconds | 1 minute 13 seconds |
15 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 1 minute 47 seconds | 2 minutes 30 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 26 seconds | 3 minutes |
1500 Meters | 3 minutes 42 seconds | 5 minutes 20 seconds |
1 mile | 4 minutes 8 seconds | 5 minutes 40 seconds |
3000 Meters | 8 minutes 13 seconds | 13 minutes |
5K | 14 minutes 10 seconds | 23 minutes 45 seconds |
10K | 30 minutes 50 seconds | 51 minutes |
15 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 2 minutes 1 second | 2 minutes 55 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 42 seconds | 3 minutes 30 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 6 seconds | 5 minutes 40 seconds |
1 Mile | 4 minutes 36 seconds | 6 minutes |
3000 Meters | 8 minutes 56 seconds | 13 minutes 30 seconds |
5K | 15 minutes 37 seconds | 24 minutes 30 seconds |
10K | 34 minutes 1 second | 52 minutes |
15 year olds will find it easier to build up the stamina in their legs to run the longer distances. Running 5 kilometers in 27 minutes is a good goal for those interested in training for longer runs.
At 15 years old, a child running 100 meters in under 18 seconds is quicker than average. Over a mile, a 15 year old finishing in under 7 minutes 50 seconds for boys and 8 minutes 35 for a girl is a good time.
16 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 5.81 seconds | 6.5 seconds |
60 Meters | 6.65 seconds | 7.5 seconds |
100 Meters | 10.15 seconds | 11.5 seconds |
200 Meters | 20.13 seconds | 24 seconds |
400 Meters | 45.14 seconds | 57 seconds |
16 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.38 seconds | 8 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.24 seconds | 9 seconds |
100 Meters | 10.98 seconds | 13 seconds |
200 Meters | 22.43 seconds | 29 seconds |
400 Meters | 51.14 seconds | 1 minute 8 seconds |
16 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 1 minute 47 seconds | 2 minutes 20 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 20 seconds | 2 minutes 50 seconds |
1500 Meters | 3 minutes 39 seconds | 5 minutes 5 seconds |
1 mile | 3 minutes 56 seconds | 5 minutes 30 seconds |
3000 Meters | 7 minutes 56 seconds | 12 minutes 20 seconds |
5K | 13 minutes 35 seconds | 23 minutes |
10K | 29 minutes 3 seconds | 50 minutes |
16 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 1 minute 59 seconds | 2 minutes 40 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 38 seconds | 3 minutes 20 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 6 seconds | 5 minutes 20 seconds |
1 Mile | 4 minutes 28 seconds | 5 minutes 55 seconds |
3000 Meters | 8 minutes 39 seconds | 13 minutes |
5K | 15 minutes 18 seconds | 24 minutes |
10K | 33 minutes 2 seconds | 51 minutes 10 seconds |
The average 16 year old male athlete can run a mile in 7 minutes and 35 seconds, the ability to run a mile in under 7 minutes is very quick. For girls, running a mile in under 8 minutes 20 seconds is faster than average. Completing a 100 meter sprint in under 17 seconds is much quicker than the average 16 year old.
17 Year Old Boys Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 5.69 seconds | 6.3 seconds |
60 Meters | 6.59 seconds | 7.3 seconds |
100 Meters | 10.01 seconds | 11.3 seconds |
200 Meters | 19.93 seconds | 23 seconds |
400 Meters | 44.71 seconds | 54 seconds |
17 Year Old Girls Sprint Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
50 Meters | 6.28 seconds | 7.5 seconds |
60 Meters | 7.2 seconds | 8.5 seconds |
100 Meters | 10.98 seconds | 12.3 seconds |
200 Meters | 22.11 seconds | 28 seconds |
400 Meters | 50.48 seconds | 1 minute 3 seconds |
17 Year Old Boys Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 1 minute 45 seconds | 2 minutes 10 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 18 seconds | 2 minutes 40 seconds |
1500 Meters | 3 minutes 31 seconds | 4 minutes 50 seconds |
1 mile | 3 minutes 52 seconds | 5 minutes 20 seconds |
3000 Meters | 7 minutes 56 seconds | 11 minutes 40 seconds |
5K | 13 minutes 17 seconds | 22 minutes |
10K | 28 minutes 50 seconds | 48 minutes 45 second |
17 Year Old Girls Long Distance Times
Running Distance | Record Time | Competitive Athlete Time |
800 Meters | 1 minute 59 seconds | 2 minutes 30 seconds |
1000 Meters | 2 minutes 35 seconds | 3 minutes 10 seconds |
1500 Meters | 4 minutes 1 second | 5 minutes 15 seconds |
1 Mile | 4 minutes 24 seconds | 5 minutes 50 seconds |
3000 Meters | 8 minutes 37 seconds | 12 minutes 30 seconds |
5K | 15 minutes 1 second | 23 minutes 15 seconds |
10K | 31 minutes 35 seconds | 50 minutes 15 seconds |
By the age of 17, young athletes usually have laser focus on their chosen sport. At this point, all running training should aim to supplement the current training regime.
A 17 year old running a 100 meter sprint in under 15 seconds is quick across most field sports. Males running a mile in 7 minutes and girls faster than 8 minutes are above the average.
References
Livestrong: Good mile time for a twelve year old
Healthline: Average mile time
Study: Men are More Likely than Women to Slow in the Marathon
Age Records: The best performances by 5- to 19-year-old athletes from 51 countries
Runnersworld: Should Kids Run Long?