• EXCLUSIVE 2018 WORLD RANKINGS • ATHLETES OF THE YEAR •

DECEMBER 2018

www.trackandfieldnews.com Year No. 72: Exclusive World & U.S. Rankings Complete Seasons For All Top 10 World Rankers Our Athletes Of The Year: & Caster Semenya Top Americans: & 2018 Man Of The Year Eliud Kipchoge Table Of Contents

From The Editor — After 50 Years, My Favorite Annual 2018 Women’s 5000 World Rankings...... 43 Edition Ever...... 3 2018 Women’s 10,000 World Rankings ...... 44 The 2018 T&FN World Rankings Explained...... 5 2018 Women’s 100 Hurdles World Rankings...... 45 2018 Women’s 400 Hurdles World Rankings...... 46 World Men’s Athlete Of The Year — Eliud Kipchoge. . . . . 7 2018 Women’s World Rankings...... 47 2018 Men’s 100 World Rankings ...... 9 2018 Women’s 20K Walk World Rankings...... 48 2018 Men’s 200 World Rankings ...... 10 2018 Women’s 50K Walk World Rankings...... 49 2018 Men’s 400 World Rankings ...... 11 2018 Women’s World Rankings...... 50 2018 Men’s 800 World Rankings ...... 12 2018 Women’s World Rankings...... 51 2018 Men’s 1500/Mile World Rankings ...... 13 2018 Women’s World Rankings ...... 52 2018 Men’s Steeplechase World Rankings ...... 14 2018 Women’s World Rankings...... 53 2018 Men’s 5000 World Rankings ...... 15 2018 Women’s Shot World Rankings...... 54 2018 Men’s 10,000 World Rankings...... 16 2018 Women’s Discus World Rankings...... 55 2018 Men’s 110 Hurdles World Rankings...... 17 2018 Women’s Hammer World Rankings...... 56 2018 Men’s 400 Hurdles World Rankings...... 18 2018 Women’s Javelin World Rankings...... 57 2018 Men’s Marathon World Rankings ...... 19 2018 Women’s World Rankings...... 58 2018 Men’s 20K Walk World Rankings...... 20 Women’s Performance Of The Year...... 59 2018 Men’s 50K Walk World Rankings...... 21 U .S . Women’s Athlete Of The Year — Shelby Houlihan. . . 60 2018 Men’s High Jump World Rankings ...... 22 2018 Men’s Pole Vault World Rankings...... 23 Analyzing The 2018 T&FN Rankings...... 62 2018 Men’s Long Jump World Rankings...... 24 Course Records In Both NXN Races...... 64 2018 Men’s Triple Jump World Rankings...... 25 Foot Locker’s Pair Of Unassuming Champions...... 66 2018 Men’s Shot World Rankings...... 26 Emma Bates Breaks Through At USATF Marathon Champs 2018 Men’s Discus World Rankings...... 27 ...... 68 2018 Men’s Hammer World Rankings ...... 28 Cold & Wet At The Euro XC Champs...... 71 2018 Men’s Javelin World Rankings...... 29 Meet Willie Banks, IAAF Candidate...... 72 2018 Men’s World Rankings...... 30 USATF Hall Of Fame Class Of 2018...... 74 Men’s Performance Of The Year...... 31 Book Review — Ralph Doubell: Do Not Worry, It Is Only U .S . Men’s Athlete Of The Year — Noah Lyles...... 32 Pain ...... 77

World Women’s Athlete Of The Year — Caster Semenya.35 ON YOUR MARKS — December ...... 78 2018 Women’s 100 World Rankings...... 37 LANDMARKS — December ...... 79 2018 Women’s 200 World Rankings...... 38 STATUS QUO — December ...... 80 2018 Women’s 400 World Rankings...... 39 LAST LAP — December...... 80 2018 Women’s 800 World Rankings...... 40 FOR THE RECORD — December...... 85 2018 Women’s 1500/Mile World Rankings...... 41 CALENDAR — December...... 86 2018 Women’s Steeplechase World Rankings...... 42

December 2018 PDF — Page 2 From The Editor — After 50 Years, My Favorite Annual Edition Ever by E . Garry Hill

WHAT A YEAR 2018 turned out to be. Conventional wisdom had it posi- tioned as one of those off-years with no Olympics or World Championships to brighten our lives—at least that’s what glass-half-full types think—but as is always the case, the athletes came through big-time anyway. Kipchoge, Semenya, Mayer, Duplantis—the list of high-end performers was boundless. They made it easy for us to produce my favorite issue of every year, the An- nual Edition, what with all its Rankings and lists. And this is probably my favorite of all the 50 (yes, 50!) Annuals of which I’ve played a part. It shouldn’t take much time for veteran subscribers to notice the marked upgrade in the World Rankings in this, our first Annual of the digital age. In years past we laid out the complete season for the No. 1s in each event, with most of the others in the Top 10 having their seasons pared down in order for us to be able to squeeze an event onto a single print page. But as a wise trackwriter once said, “Electrons are free,” and that means there’s no more squeezing required: not only have we laid out for you the complete season for each member of the top 10, we’ve also added 2 more columns to the mix. In the recent past, the Rankings have given you just the mark/place/meet. Now you also get the date of the meet and—and this is a big one—a column detailing all those who beat the athlete in the meet in question. That should go a long way towards making our Ranking decisions easier to figure out. And as another adjunct to the whole increase-your-pleasure dynamic, each event has a link to yearly Top 50 lists instead of Top 40. And best of all, you’re going to get the whole shebang—for the first time ever—before the end-of-year holidays. Such is the wonder of digital publishing. Push a button and it’s done. No waiting at a printing plant, no disappearance down the rabbit hole that is the postal system. Direct from us to you at the speed of light. Unlike , however, we realize that speed isn’t everything in the entertainment biz. There’s something to be said about the look and feel of an ink & paper product. That’s why while we’re completely committed by the realities of the modern marketplace to making a go of the digital enterprise, we’ve also been trying to bring some satisfaction to those faithful readers who simply can’t live without some tree product. Our first stab in that direction was the PDF version, which allows you to print out a “copy” of the online magazine either at home or your local Kinko’s. The early PDFs were, to be honest, a fairly feeble product as we struggled with a formidable transition from decades of ingrained hard-copy methodologies. Ugly huge blocks of white space, bad breaks between articles, ultra-wide columns. As the year went on, we refined the process, so if you got turned off back in April, try ones from later in the year to see how much we improved the product.

The New Print Version We’ve not given up trying to improve your ability to get to a style of T&FN you can live with, so we’re happy to announce that starting with Janu- ary ’19 we’ll be able to offer you something in the ink & paper realm that’s closer to the old days. Make no mistake: this is not T&FN as you once knew it, but it’ll be pretty darn close. In essence we’ll be taking the PDF version

December 2018 PDF — Page 3 and turning that into a printed version that we can mail to some 200pp. That’s just a non-starter, so all that wonderful you. There are some cautions: in the printing industry to detail that’s in the Rankings will have to disappear (as it make it an economic possibility we’re required to produce will from the PDF version, but note that if you’re reading the pages in multiples of 8, meaning that when the PDFs are PDF version onscreen, it includes links to the fully detailed converted, there will almost surely be some copy that gets Rankings on our website). eliminated/truncated to make it fit. Or perhaps a photo or Hopefully we’ve now struck upon a mix of options that two will disappear. will please everybody and you’ll hang with us long enough In addition to the multiples-of-8 wrinkle there’s also to see many more great years of field & track. We’ve derived the matter of our having to produce a product that isn’t so great pleasure through the years in serving the world’s long it decimates an entire Canadian forest. For example, hardcore fans and we plan on continuing to do so. a “replica” print version of this Annual would stretch to

TRACK & FIELD NEWS A New Print-Subscription Option As you well know, T&FN discontinued its ink & paper version with the January 2018 edition. We did offer an option for subscribers to print out a PDF version of each issue at home, but that methodology hasn’t met with widespread acceptance. Fortunately, technological advancements over the last 12 months have made it feasible for us to once again offer a print product that we can mail to you every month. It won’t look quite the same as the old print versions, and some mate- rial that will be found in the digital version will be condensed, but all the essential data will still be there. Our pricing structure (see below) will allow you to get just the print version, or you can simpy add it on to your existing digital account and have the best of both worlds. Note: a print-only magazine subscription does not include the eTrack newslet- ter or allow online access to the digital version.

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December 2018 PDF — Page 4 The 2018 T&FN World Rankings Explained by T&FN

Our eager-beaver first attempt at World Rankings many decades ago featured a 1-time experiment with a 20-deep format.

WELCOME TO EDITION No. 72 of the Track & Field 1. Honors won News World Rankings. Our Rankings made their debut by This means scoring high placings (with emphasis on chronicling the 1947 season in the magazine’s first-ever edi- actually winning) in major international competitions. For tion, February ’48. The whole purpose of our Top 10 ratings ’18, with no Olympics or World Championships, major em- since their inception has been to establish relative merit for phasis was placed on the 14 meets of the IAAF’s Diamond the entire calendar year in question. The Rankings are not League (DL). The IAAF World Challenge (IWC) meets were reflective of how the compilers feel athletes would finish in generally on a lower scale. In the non-DL events—hammer, any kind of idealized competition. Ergo, the “best” athlete walks and multis—the IAAF Challenge Series meets are isn’t always No. 1. given extra consideration. In field-event disciplines where it A frequently asked question we get is, “How did the vot- is relevant, the World Indoor packs some major weight. For ing go in the World Rankings this year?” Unlike the process the , the WMM series races are of prime import. for choosing the Athletes Of The Year, there is no “voting.” The only road performances which carry any weight are the Our Rankers use an involved process of argu­mentation to marathon and 20 & 50K walks. Note that we decided—even arrive at their decisions, so it’s not possible to say that Usain before the meet was held—that the Continental Cup, with its Bolt beat by some specific point total, like 103–78. abnormal setup in some events, wouldn’t be counted in the win-loss records of athletes in the steeplechase, horizontal jumps or throws. Our 3 Ranking Criteria It should also be noted that the importance of a meet is Under our system, athletes are judged on 3 weighted relative to who competes in it, not how much stock an ath- criteria. The all-encompassing factors, in order of importance: lete or their fans might place in it, so not every DL meet is

December 2018 PDF — Page 5 given equal weighting. And all events are not created equal their birthdate/height/weight. In a major upgrade from the within a given meet. As important as major meets are, we handling of seasonal records in the print version, where space should also note that no competition, not even the Olympic constraints allowed us, generally speaking, to give the full Games, is the be-all, end-all. We’re looking for people who seasonal record for just the winner, now that we’re in the maintain high standards over a whole year. electrons-are-free digital world you get complete seasons for 2. Win-Loss Record everyone. And that’s not all! Note that 2 more columns have Simply put, this an analysis of how athletes fared in head- been added, providing not only the dates of the marks but to-head competition with their peers. But a win in a major also data on to whom the athlete lost in non-winning efforts. competition might outweigh losses to the same person in a The Top 10 in the U.S. follow, with those who are also in multiple number of minor ones. Overall win-loss sequence the World Rankings indicated by an asterisk. It is important against all Ranking contenders is also factored in. to note that the U.S. Rankings follow the order of the World 3. Sequence Of Marks where they overlap. More concisely, performances. How fast you ran or how And another upgrade for digital! Instead of Top 40 lists, high or far you jumped or how far you threw something. there are now links with each event to the Top 50s for both Typically, the compilers weigh athletes based on the aver- the World and U.S. age of their 5 best performances. It’s very easy for the casual observer—and most athletes and coaches—to place the most consideration on this last factor, when in fact our methodol- Who Done It? ogy says it should be the opposite. Thus, in our system marks Our World Rankings Panel—a wide-ranging bunch are worth much less than either of the other two categories. representing four different nationalities—likes to maintain And Honors alone can outweigh the other two criteria. We a low profile, but credit (blame?) should be given where it is reward people who have proven them­selves against other due. The team is Garry Hill, Richard Hymans, Dave Johnson, people, not against themselves. Nejat Kök & Jonathan Berenbom. Shawn Price & Glen McMicken tackled the U.S. Rankings with special help from Sieg Lindstrom, and Bob Bowman Nothing But The Facts coordinated the walk-event ordering with assistance from A quickie guide to the actual Rankings material: Jack Mortland & Pierce O’Callaghan. The Top 10 in the World are listed in each event, with

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December 2018 PDF — Page 6 World Men’s Athlete Of The Year — Eliud Kipchoge by T&FN

Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge was money indeed in 2018. (MARK SHEARMAN)

Voting by our 31-member international panel in this an- voting aft https://trackandfieldnews.com/wp-content/up- nual exercise—our 60th year of choosing a Men’s Athlete Of loads/2018/12/Kenya200px.svg.png er winning the ’03 WC The Year—was scored on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Voters 5000 gold in … This year he set the World Record in are required to respect the order of our World Rankings in (2:01:39), of course, after earlier having won the year’s casting their votes. Any ballot that doesn’t follow the norms most competitive race, (2:04:17). That was his entire as established by their peers (for example, one as obvious as racing season, but it was enough. skipping Eliud Kipchoge entirely) is discarded. Only 2 of last year’s Top 10 were able to score again. The Top 10: 2. Abderrahmane Samba (Qatar) When set the World Record 1. Eliud Kipchoge () in the 400H at the ’92 Olympics, Samba was In a year where Kipchoge achieved all still 3 years away from being born. Now the kinds of firsts, add another one: the first 23-year-old Qatari has become the second man ever to break marathoner ever to become AOY (Khalid 47, his 46.98 in Paris leaving him just 0.20 shy of the all-time Khannouchi was No. 2 in ’02). This is the best. The voters responded by giving him the second-best fifth year in a row in the Top 10 for the tireless 33-year-old, collection of votes for No. 1 (8) as he was a solid runner-up… who in ’14 through ’17 rated 9-9-4-8. He collected 21 of the Undefeated in 9 races (the slowest of them at 47.90), he domi- votes for No. 1. Back in his track days, he was No. 14 in the nated the yearly list, producing performances 1, 3–6, 8 & =9.

December 2018 PDF — Page 7 3. () 7. Sergey Shubenkov () If the decathlon’s WR holder is the “Great- The first Russian hurdler ever to end up est Athlete On Earth,” meet the great Kevin in the Top 10, the 27-year-old Shubenkov was Mayer, who at 26 took down ’s dominant. He ended up with the year’s 7 fast- global standard for the 10-eventer, his 9126 est times, his list-leading 12.92 moving him to making him the first to crack the 9100-point barrier… Mayer, =No. 8 on the all-time list, with all-time performance =12… who earned the other 2 votes for No. 1, may well have chal- The only hurdler to break 13 on the year, he did it 4 times, lenged for the runner-up spot had he not DNFed in the running 12.95, 12.97 and 12.99 in addition to his list leader. European Championships. His having only a single result on the year caused some voters to downgrade him, or—in 2 8. Juan Miguel Echevarría (Cuba) instances—even leave him off their ballots altogether. Adding almost 2-feet to your long jump PR can go a long way towards garnering you 4. Noah Lyles (US) AOY votes, particularly when you were a The year’s best combination sprinter was 27-footer to begin with. Still a teenager when rated No. 1 in the 200 and No. 3 in the 100. his season was ended prematurely by injury, his farthest jump His reward in his Top 10 debut was the No. was 28-11¾w (8.83), a mark only 5 others have ever bettered 4 spot overall and selection as U.S. Athlete Of The Year… In under all conditions. His legal best, 28-5¾ (8.68), lifted him the half-lapper, his undefeated 5-race sequence of 19.83, 19.69, to No. 11 on the all-time list. 19.69, 19.65, 19.67 put him in territory only had pre- viously matched for consistency. The 21-year-old Virginian 9. (Kenya) had the year’s 4 fastest times and the best of them lifted him Cheruiyot, just 22, emerged as the world’s to =No. 8 on the all-time world list… He wasn’t as brilliant top miler, going undefeated in Diamond in the century, but did join the sub-10 and sub-9.9 clubs and League competition. Twice he broke 3:30 in won the USATF title with his PR of 9.88. the 1500, his yearly leader of 3:28.41 moving him to No. 7 on the all-time world list. He also had the fastest outdoor mile 5. (New Zealand) of the year, 3:49.87. His series of DL-race times was quite The world’s top putter moved into the spectacular: 3:31.48, 3:49.87y, 3:31.22, 3:29.71, 3:28.41, 3:30.27. Kiwi elite when he joined and (both of whom claimed AOY titles 10. Mutaz Barshim (Qatar) back in the day) as the only ones from their nation to make The reigning AOY was another who had the Top 10… Walsh’s list-leading 74-4½ (22.67) moved him to his season cut short by injury (in the first week No. 5 on the all-time world list (with the No. 9 performance of July), but he was so good before that that he ever) and overall he had 3 of the year’s 5 farthest throws… was an easy No. 1 and a solid choice here. Twice he jumped The powerful 26-year-old is the first putter to crack the top a world-leading 7-10½ (2.40) and he had 4 of the 5 highest 5 since Adam Nelson did it with a No. 5 in ’02. jumps of the year… The 27-year-old Qatari has now made the Top 10 on 3 occasions, with his first being a No. 4 in ’14. 6. Emmanuel Korir (Kenya) The apparent suc- The Voting Chart cessor to WR holder as the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Tot. % world’s top 2-lapper, 1 . Eliud Kipchoge 21 9 1 — — — — — — — 299 96 .5% the 23-year-old UTEP alum earned his first 800 No. 1 and his first Top 2 . Abderrahmane Samba 8 15 7 1 — — — — — — 278 89 .7% 10 position… Korir suffered only 3 . Kevin Mayer 2 6 10 4 4 1 — 1 — 1 215 69 .4% one controversial loss all year and 4 . Noah Lyles — 1 7 11 4 2 3 1 2 — 195 62 .9% his list-leading 1:42.05 moved him to 5 . Tom Walsh — — 3 6 8 3 4 1 1 2 152 49 .0% No. 6 on the all-time world list… He also displayed amazing speed for an 6 . Emmanuel Korir — — — 1 6 8 2 2 1 4 103 33 .2% 800 specialist, running 44.21 at high 7 . Sergey Shubenkov — — 2 1 1 3 6 5 4 5 96 31 .0% altitude and 44.52 at sea-level in his 8 . Juan Miguel Echevarría — — — 2 4 3 6 1 5 4 94 30 .3% only two tries at the event. 9 . Timothy Cheruiyot — — 1 — 2 4 4 9 2 3 90 29 .0% 10 . Mutaz Barshim — — — 3 1 3 2 2 5 2 68 21 .9% 11. 31; 12. Fedrick Dacres 24; 13. Wojciech Nowicki 14; 14. Conseslus Kipruto 13; 15. tie, Andreas Hofmann & 10; 17. 9; 18. Rai Benjamin 4.

December 2018 PDF — Page 8 2018 Men’s 100 World Rankings

Ronnie Baker beat Christian Coleman in their first meeting of the year, but Coleman came on strong at the end of the season to earn No. 1 in a tight decision. (VICTOR SAILER/PHOTO RUN)

THIS WAS A TOUGH ONE! Christian Coleman or ? Our selectors really were torn after the year’s two fastest men split their 4 meetings 2–2. Indoor sensation Coleman was injured in the early outdoor going and that’s when Baker beat him twice. Coleman came back to win both of their summer meets, the last one an all-important DL Final win in the year’s fastest time, 9.79. That victory turned out to be the deciding factor in a split- decision that could have gone either way… USATF CHAMP Noah Lyles made it a U.S. 1-2-3, clearly being the best of the rest despite limited DL exposure in his first rating in this event. His 5-race average of 9.934 was better than Coleman’s 9.956 and trailed only Baker’s sparkling 9.890… The last time any nation went 1-2-3 was Jamaica in ’11 (, Usain Bolt & ). The last U.S. triplet came from , & way back in ’92… WITH at No. 10, the U.S. claimed by-nation scoring honors with 28, its best total since ’96. Recent powerhouse Jamaica, conversely, had only a single Ranker, Blake at No. 8. The last time the Islanders were that low was ’03, when they got shut out… British rookies and were very close in filling out spots 4 & 5.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. CHRISTIAN COLEMAN (US) (3/06/96, 5-8¾/161) (1.75/73) 1. *Christian Coleman (Nike) 6. (Georgia) 2. RONNIE BAKER (US) (10/15/93, 5-10/161) (1.78/73) [2)Eugene DL, 1) DL, 1) DL] [1)SEC, 4sf)NCAA, 3)USATF] 3. NOAH LYLES (US) (7/18/97, 5-10¾/154) (1.80/70) 2. *Ronnie Baker (Nike) 7. Cameron Burrell (Houston) 4. REECE PRESCOD (Great Britain) (2/29/96, 6-½/150) (1.84/68) [1)Eugene DL, 2)USATF, 1)Paris DL] [1)NCAA, 5)USATF, 3)NACAC] 5. ZHARNEL HUGHES (Great Britain) (7/13/95, 6-2¾/174) (1.90/79) 3. *Noah Lyles (adidas) 8. (adidas) 6. BINGTIAN SU () (8/29/89, 5-7¾/141) (1.72/64) [1)USATF, 3)Rabat DL, 3)Birmingham DL] [1)Cayman Invitational, 6)USATF, 8)Paris DL] 7. AKANI SIMBINE (South Africa) (9/21/93, 5-8½/148) (1.74/67) 4. *Mike Rodgers (Nike) 9. Justin Gatlin (Nike) 8. YOHAN BLAKE (Jamaica) (12/26/89, 5-11¼/174) (1.81/79) [dnc-sf)USATF, 4)Rabat DL, 5)London DL] [7)Shanghai DL, 1), 1)Ostrava IWC] 9. (France) (2/27/92, 6-2/183) (1.88/83) 5. (Nike) 10. Jaylen Bacon (Arkansas State) 10. MIKE RODGERS (US) (4/24/85, 5-10/161) (1.78/73) [5)Eugene DL, 4)USATF, 8)Brussels DL] [1)Sun Belt, 3sf)NCAA, 6)Lucerne]

December 2018 PDF — Page 9 2018 Men’s 200 World Rankings

Noah Lyles capped his half-lap season with his fourth straight 19.6 of the year. (GIANCARLO COLOMBO/PHOTO RUN)

U.S. ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Noah Lyles put up some historic 200 numbers in 2018. His 5-race half-lap sequence went like this: 19.83, 19.69, 19.69, 19.65, 19.67. Only one other man—some dude named Usain Bolt—has ever had 4 consecutive sub-19.70s in the same year. And even Bolt never produced 5 straight sub-19.90s in the same year (although he did have 7 straight 2009–11 and 6 straight in 2012–13) as Lyles did this year… REIGNING NO. 1 drops down a slot in a close battle for the runner-up spot with Jereem Richards. They split their 4 meetings 3–3, but most of the Turk’s wins came in the more important second half of the season, whereas the Jamaican notched his early… COLLEGIATE STAR Michael Norman was only a light presence on the DL Circuit, but he lost only to Lyles all season and did pick up a pair of wins over each of Nos. 5 & 6, Alex Quiñonez and … Rai Benjamin and Akeem Bloomfield, the Nos. 8 & 9 choices running in a secondary event, each had only a pair of races, but that was enough. They also each scored in their prime events, Benjamin taking No. 5 in the 400H, Bloomfield No. 10 in the 400.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. NOAH LYLES (US) (7/18/97, 5-10¾/154) (1.80/70) 1. *Noah Lyles (adidas) 6. Jaron Flournoy (LSU) 2. RAMIL GULIYEV () (5/29/90, 6-1½/161) (1.87/73) [1)Eugene DL, 1) DL, 1) DL] [1)LSU, 5)SEC, 4)NCAA] 3. JEREEM RICHARDS (Trinidad) (1/13/94, 6-0/146) (1.83/66) 2. *Michael Norman (USC) 7. Rodney Rowe (North Carolina A&T) 4. MICHAEL NORMAN (US) (12/03/97, 6-0/161) (1.83/73) [1)Pac-12, 1)Paris DL, 1)Lausanne DL] [1)Florida Relays, 1)MEAC, 5)NCAA] 5. ALEX QUIÑÓNEZ (Ecuador) (8/11/89, 5-9¼/143) (1.76/65) 3. Isiah Young (Nike) 8. Mustaqeem Williams (Tennessee) 6. ALONSO EDWARD (Panama) (12/08/89, 6-0/161) (1.83/73) [1)Montverde, 6)Lausanne DL] [4)Florida Relays, 2)SEC, 6)NCAA] 7. AARON BROWN (Canada) (5/27/92, 6-¾/174) (1.85/79) 4. (Nike) 9. Dedric Dukes (Nike) 8. RAI BENJAMIN (Antigua) (7/27/97, 6-3¼/170) (1.91/77) [6)Eugene DL, 4) DL, 1)USATF] [2), 3)Osaka IWC, dnf-sf)USATF] 9. AKEEM BLOOMFIELD (Jamaica) (11/10/97, 6-2/170) (1.88/77) 5. Kendal Williams (Georgia) 10. Fred Kerley (Nike) 10. KYLE GREAUX (Trinidad) (4/26/88, 6-2¾/176) (1.90/80) [2)Mt . SAC Relays, 1)SEC, 3)NCAA] [1)Mt . SAC Relays, 3)Hengelo IWC, 7) IWC]

December 2018 PDF — Page 10 2018 Men’s 400 World Rankings

Fred Kerley sewed up No. 1 with a win at the Final. (GIANCARLO COLOMBO/PHOTO RUN)

THE RANKINGS TEAM went back and forth on this one as many of the mainstream characters had limited seasons. The big battle, of course, was for No. 1, and in the final analysis the nod narrowly went to Fred Kerley over Abdalelah Haroun, who split their 2 meetings 1–1. Each complicated things somewhat: the American by having only 5 meets, with a big gap between June 09 and August 18; the Qatari by not running in the DL Final. WHAT KERLEY DID DO was win 3 DL races (including the Final), whereas Haroun could claim only 1. Kerley was only 4th in his other DL race, while Haroun had solid finishes of 2-2-2-3… A telling stat: between them they won 9 races (Kerley 3, Haroun 6). In his 3 wins, Kerley racked up 13 wins against rankers; In his 6 wins, Haroun got only 9. As much as Haroun may have had more wins, he wasn’t running in the toughest races but Kerley was… KERLEY WAS JOINED by a pair of debuting Americans, Paul Dedewo in 3 and Michael Norman in 6. Collegiate star Norman was undefeated and had not only the year’s fastest time, but also the best 5-race average. He didn’t race outside the U.S., however… CONSPICUOUS BY THEIR absences were the last 7 No. 1s—Kirani James (’11, ’12), LaShawn Merritt (’13, ’14), and Wayde van Niekerk (’156, ’16, ’17). James is recovering from Graves’ Disease, Merritt ran only 200s early in the year before being felled by plantar fasciitis and van Niekerk was rehabbing a rugby-induced knee injury…

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. FRED KERLEY (US) (5/07/95, 6-3¼/205) (1.91/93) 1. *Fred Kerley (Nike) 6. (Nike) 2. ABDALELAH HAROUN (Qatar) (1/1/97, 5-10/161) (1.78/73) [1) DL, 1)Birmingham DL, 1)Zürich DL] [4)Rome DL, 3)USATF, 6)Rabat DL] 3. PAUL DEDEWO (US) (6/05/91, 6-¾/161) (1.85/73) 2. *Paul Dedewo (unattached) 7. Obi Igbokwe (Arkansas) 4. MATTHEW HUDSON-SMITH (Great Britain) (10/26/94, 6-3½/174) [2)USATF, 2)London DL, 4)Zürich DL] [7)SEC, 6)NCAA, 5)USATF] (1.92/79) 3. *Michael Norman (USC) 8. Mar’yea Harris (Iowa) 5. STEVEN GARDINER (Bahamas) (9/12/95, 6-2/165) (1.88/75) [1)Mt . SAC, 1)Pac-12, 1)NCAA] [1)Big 10, 4)NCAA, dq-h)USATF] 6. MICHAEL NORMAN (US) (12/03/97, 6-0/161) (1.83/73) 4. Nathan Strother (Tennessee) 9. Christian Taylor (Nike) 7. (Botswana) (9/29/86, 6-0/174) (1.83/79) [2)SEC, 5sf)NCAA, 4)USATF] [5)Shanghai DL, 5sf)USATF, 4)Birmingham DL] 8. BABOLOKI THEBE (Botswana) (3/18/97, 5-10/150) (1.78/68) 5. Kahmari Montgomery (Houston) 10. Josephus Lyles (adidas) 9. LUGUELÍN SANTOS (Dominican Republic) (11/12/92, 5-8/134) [4)Mt . SAC, 7)NCAA, 1)USATF] [1)Jones Mem, 6)USATF, 4)Gyulai Mem] (1.73/61) 10. AKEEM BLOOMFIELD (Jamaica) (11/10/97, 6-2/170) (1.88/77)

December 2018 PDF — Page 11 2018 Men’s 800 World Rankings

Birmingham was just 1 of 5 DL meets won by Emmanuel Korir. (MARK SHEARMAN)

SECOND-YEAR PRO Emmanuel Korir was an easy choice for the top spot, losing only one race and winning all 5 DL contests he entered, including the Final. His world-leading 1:42.05 win in London moved him to No. 7 on the all-time list. The UTEP alum’s only loss was controversial, as there were problems with the start at the African Championships, won by Nijel Amos. Said Korir, “The race should have been recalled.” But it wasn’t, and his per- fect season was no more. He also showed thrilling 400 speed, winning the Kenyan title with an altitude-aided 44.21 and timing 44.52 at low altitude… REIGNING NO. 1 AMOS had a decent claim for the runner-up spot but Wycliffe Kinyamal, a newcomer to the Rankings, had a better one. Amos was superior on the watch, but the Kenyan had a 2–1 head-to-head advantage and forged DL placings of 1-1-3-3-6 compared to 1-2-4 for Amos… LAST YEAR’S only ranked American, , set an indoor PR in winning this year’s USATF Indoor but never ran outdoors, sidelined by Achilles problems. He was replaced as top American by No. 8-ranked .

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. EMMANUEL KORIR (Kenya) (6/15/95, 5-9¾/141) (1.77/64) 1. *Clayton Murphy () 6. Brandon Lasater ( TC) 2. WYCLIFFE KINYAMAL (Kenya) (7/02/97, 6-1¼/165) (1.86/75) [1)USATF, 2)London DL, 5)Brussels DL] [4)USATF, 2), 6)NACAC] 3. NIJEL AMOS (Botswana) (3/15/94, 5-10½/132) (1.79/60) 2. Isaiah Harris (Penn State) 7. Drew Piazza (unattached) 4. FERGUSON CHERUIYOT (Kenya) (11/30/89, 6-0/161) (1.83/73) [1)NCAA, 2)USATF, 4)Paris DL] [5)USATF, 6)Lignano, 1)Heusden-Z] 5. JONATHAN KITILIT (Kenya) (4/24/94, 5-7¼/134) (1.71/61) 3. Erik Sowinski (Nike) 8. Robert Ford (USC) 6. MARCIN LEWANDOWSKI () (6/13/87, 5-10¾/141) (1.80/64) [8)Eugene DL, 3)USATF, 8)Paris DL] [1)Pac-12, 7)NCAA, 6)USATF] 7. BRANDON MCBRIDE (Canada) (6/15/94, 6-4¾/165) (1.95/75) 4. Devin Dixon (Texas A&M) 9. Jesse Garn (Hoka/NJNY) 8. CLAYTON MURPHY (US) (2/26/95, 5-11½/150) (1.82/68) [1)LSU, 1)SEC, 5)NCAA] [7)USATF, 3)Kortrijk, 5)Heusden-Z] 9. ADAM KSZCZOT (Poland) (9/02/89, 5-10/141) (1.78/64) 5. Bryce Hoppel (Kansas) 10. (New Balance) 10. JAKE WIGHTMAN (Great Britain) (7/11/94, 5-8/132) (1.73/60) [1)National R, 4)NCAA, 7h)USATF] [5h)USATF, 1)Dublin, 5)Ninove]

December 2018 PDF — Page 12 2018 Men’s 1500/Mile World Rankings

Timothy Cheruiyot wrapped up his first No. 1 with a convincing winning margin of almost a second in the DL Final. (MARK SHEARMAN)

SINCE WR HOLDER picked up his seventh title back in ’03 the 1500/mile leadership has gone to a Kenyan, with Timothy Cheruiyot becoming the eighth in the sequence as he moved up a slot from ’17. Cheruiyot and reigning No. 1 clashed 7 times, with Cheruiyot winning 5 of them. His 2 losses to Manangoi were his only defeats of the year, while Manangoi’s only loss other than to Cheruiyot came at the hands of No. 8 … CHERUIYOT WAS UNDEFEATED in DL meets, claiming 6 titles. He broke 3:30 twice, his list-leading 3:28.41 in Monaco moving him to No. 7 on the all-time world list. Manangoi was the year’s only other sub-3:30 runner… The year’s fastest mile was an indoor 3:49.44 by unranked Kenyan Edward Cheserek; the fastest outdoor mile was 3:49.87 by Cheruiyot to win Pre… YOUNGSTERS MADE their presence well known. Tefera was only 18 during the season and No. 7-rated was just 17.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. TIMOTHY CHERUIYOT (Kenya) (11/20/95, 5-10/141) (1.78/64) 1. Matthew Centrowitz (Nike Oregon Project) 6 . (Nike Oregon Project) 2. ELIJAH MANANGOI (Kenya) (1/05/93, 5-11¼/143) (1.81/65) [6)Eugene DL, 1)USATF, 1)London DL] [3)Jordan, 3)USATF] 3. () (12/03/92, 5-7¾/132) (1.72/60) 2. (adidas) 7. Robert Domanic (Mississippi) 4. BRAHIM KAAZOUZI () (6/15/90, 5-10½/137) (1.79/62) [2)Drake R, 6)USATF, 7)London DL] [1)SEC, 4)NCAA, 5)USATF] 5. (Norway) (4/20/93, 6-1½/165) (1.87/75) 3. (Brooks) 8. Sam Prakel (Oregon) 6. ABDELAATI IGUIDER (Morocco) (3/25/87, 5-7/115) (1.70/52) [2)USATF, 4)World Cup, 12)London DL] [1)Pac-12, 6)NCAA, 7)USATF] 7. JAKOB INGEBRIGTSEN (Norway) (9/19/00, 5-11¼/143) (1.81/65) 4. Pat Casey (Under Armour) 9. Johnny Gregorek (Asics) 8. SAMUEL TEFERA () (10/23/99, 5-7¼//115) (1.71/52) [5) DL, 4)USATF, 4)Sir Walter Miler] [1)USATF Distance Cl, 9)USATF, 2)Sir Walter 9. AMAN WOTE (Ethiopia) (4/18/84, 5-11¼/141) (1.81/64) 5. Clayton Murphy (Nike Oregon Project) Miler] 10. CHARLES SIMOTWO (Kenya) (5/06/95, 5-10/132) (1.78/60) [5)Eugene DL, 1)Portland] 10. (Nike Oregon Project) [12)Eugene DL, 10)USATF, 2)Heusden-Zolder]

December 2018 PDF — Page 13 2018 Men’s Steeplechase World Rankings

Conseslus Kipruto won the Diamond League Final despite losing a shoe. (GIANCARLO COLOMBO/PHOTO RUN)

IN HIS SEVENTH appearance in the Top 10, Conseslus Kipruto claimed his fourth No. 1 and third in a row. He also moved into the No. 9 position on the all-time scoring list… Kipruto and yearly list leader Soufiane El Bakkali split their 4 meetings, but the Kenyan’s wins were of higher quality and he had the year’s best overall sequence of marks. The Moroccan repeated as No. 2… KENYA’S OVERALL DOMINATION of the event continued, with Kipruto being joined by 4 of his countrymen. Not since Poland in ’85 has any other country claimed the nation-scoring title; not since ’88 has the East African powerhouse failed to claim at least half the ranking spots and nobody but a Kenyan has been No. 1 in the last dozen years… NO. 3 WENT to U.S. leader , who appeared for the seventh year in a row. Only Henry Marsh, with 12 years 1977–88 has captured more places among Americans, but Jager has now equaled Marsh’s total of 5 in the top 5.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. CONSESLUS KIPRUTO (Kenya) (12/8/94, 5-7¼/121) (1.71/55) 1. *Evan Jager (Bowerman TC) 6. Haron Lagat (US Army) 2. SOUFIANE EL BAKKALI (Morocco) (1/7/96, 6-1¼/161) (1.86/73) [1)USATF, 2)Monaco DL, 3)Zürich DL] [6)USATF] 3. EVAN JAGER (US) (3/8/89, 6-1¼/146) (1.86/66) 2. * (US Army) 7. MJ Erb (Saucony Freedom) 4. BENJAMIN KIGEN (Kenya) (7/5/93, 5-8/125) (1.73/57) [2)USATF, 4)Rabat DL, 5)Monaco DL] [1)USATF Distance Cl, 7)USATF] 5. CHALA BEYO (Ethiopia) (1/18/96, 5-8½/126) (1.74/57) 3. Andy Bayer (Nike) 8. Travis Mahoney (Hoka NJNY) 6. NICHOLAS BETT (Kenya) (12/20/96, 5-7¾/115) (1.72/52) [9)Eugene DL, 13)Rome DL, 3)USATF] [1), 2)USATF Distance Cl, 9) 7. ABRAHAM KIBIWOT (Kenya) (6/4/96, 5-8¾/121) (1.75/55) 4. Stanley Kebenei (Nike) USATF] 8. HILLARY BOR (US) (11/22/89, 5-6/126) (1.68/57) [4)USATF, 14)Monaco DL] 9. Dylan Blankenbaker (adidas) 9. LEONARD BETT (Kenya) (11/3/00) 5. Jordan Mann (New Balance) [3)Jordan, 2)Portland, 8)USATF] 10. MATT HUGHES (Canada) (8/3/89, 5-10¾/141) (1.80/64) [5)Jordan, 4)USATF Distance Cl, 5)USATF] 10. Isaac Updike (Team Run Eugene) [5)USATF Distance Cl, 14)USATF, 1)Kortrijk]

December 2018 PDF — Page 14 2018 Men’s 5000 World Rankings

18-year-old set a World Junior Record in winning the Diamond League Final. (JIRO MOCHIZUKI/IMAGE OF SPORT)

THE FIRST SUB-12:50 race since Paris ’12 (and first sub-12:45 since Paris ’05) proved to be the key to unlocking a nasty puzzle: did No. 1 belong to Sele- mon Barega or Birhanu Yemataw? While marks are only the third category of our Rankings protocol, there was no denying the fact that Barega moved to No. 4 on the all-time list with his brilliant 12:43.02 at the DL Final in Brussels. In the process, he took down most of the contenders and that combined with his earlier Stockholm win and Lausanne 2nd were enough to raise him up from the No. 5 he earned last year… YEMATAW ALSO HAD a strong case, having won a pair of DL races (Shanghai & Lausanne) to go with a 2nd in Stockholm and 4th in London. He and Barega split their two head-to-head meetings… Barega wasn’t the only Junior of note. He lost twice to World Junior champ Edward Zakayo, who sneaks into the No. 10 position despite not appearing on the DL Circuit. He was only 16 over the summer… WAS the top American for the third year in a row, moving up a spot from last year to the No. 3 position. In the process he sailed past some very big names—, & Maree—in moving from =No. 6 to No. 3 among U.S. all-time scorers.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. SELEMON BAREGA (Ethiopia) (1/20/00, 5-8/130) (1.73/59) 1. *Paul Chelimo (US Army) 6. Emmanuel Bor (US Army) 2. BIRHANU YEMATAW (Bahrain) (2/27/96, 5-5¾/119) (1.67/54) [1)USATF, 1)London DL, 6)Brussels DL] [5)Portland, 5)USATF, 14)London DL] 3. PAUL CHELIMO (US) (10/27/90, 5-7¼/126) (1.71/57) 2. Ben True (Saucony) 7. (unattached) 4. (Ethiopia) (1/14/94, 5-7¾/126) (1.72/57) [5)Stockholm DL, 10)London DL, 10)Brussels DL] [13)London DL] 5. ABADI HADIS (Ethiopia) (11/06/97, 5-7/139) (1.70/63) 3. (Oregon TC) 8. Eric Jenkins (Nike Oregon Project) 6. (Ethiopia) (8/01/97, 6-1¼/128) (1.86/58) [3)USATF, 9)London DL, 1)NACAC] [1)Portland, 19)London DL] 7. (Ethiopia) (5/11/94, 5-5¾/143) (1.67/65) 4. (Bowerman TC) 9. (Stanford) 8. GETANEH TAMIRE (Ethiopia) (1/10/94, 5-7¼/121) (1.71/55) [2)USATF, 17)London DL] [1)Card, 3)NCAA, 6)USATF] 9. MO AHMED (Canada) (1/05/91, 5-8¾/134) (1.75/61) 5. Riley Masters (Nike) 10. Sean McGorty (Stanford) 10. EDWARD ZAKAYO (Kenya) (11/25/01) [2)Jordan, 4)USATF, 18)London DL] [5)Card, 1)NCAA, 10)Heusden-Zolder]

December 2018 PDF — Page 15 2018 Men’s 10,000 World Rankings

Joshua Cheptegei first appeared on the international scene with his win at the World Juniors in ’14.(ERROL ANDERSON/THE SPORTING IMAGE) AS OUR SPORT MOVES towards tighter presentation, the 10K has all but disappeared from the European Circuit. Indeed, not a single mark from a European invitational meet appears in this year’s ratings. Instead, the served as the year’s most important race, with some late- year races by Kenyans in the Japanese corporate season also playing an important role. Half of our Rankers had only a single race… edged Mo Ahmed for the Commonwealth title, and those solo races gave them Nos. 1 & 2. Cheptegei was No. 2 last year, behind , now retired from track… Young Rhonex Kipruto twice set World Junior Records on the road, but those don’t count here. Nonetheless, he gets No. 3 after a pair of sub-28:00 races, one of them at high-altitude Nairobi… Then come the two Japanese-based Kenyans with the year’s fastest times, Stanley Waithaka (27:13.01) and Richard Yator (27:14.70)… The U.S. went without a scorer for the first time since ’09.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. JOSHUA CHEPTEGEI (Uganda) (9/12/96, 5-10½/134) (1.79/61) 1. Shadrack Kipchirchir (unattached) 6. Elkanah Kibet (US Army) 2. MO AHMED (Canada) (1/5/91, 5-8¾/134) (1.75/61) [1)Jordan, 2)USATF] [3)USATF, 2)NACAC] 3. RHONEX KIPRUTO (Kenya) (10/12/99) 2. (Bowerman TC) 7. Reed Fischer (Tinman Elite) 4. STANLEY WAITHAKA (Kenya) (4/09/00) [2)Stanford Inv, 1)USATF, 1)NACAC] [8)Stanford Inv 4)USATF, 3)NACAC] 5. RICHARD YATOR (Kenya) (406/98, 5-8/103) (1.73/47) 3. (Brooks Beasts) 8. Dillon Maggard (Utah State) 6. RODGERS CHUMO (Kenya) (3/03/97, 5-5/108) (1.65/49) [4)Jordan, 5)USATF] [15)Stanford Inv 3)NCAA] 7. JACOB KIPLIMO (Uganda) (11/14/00, 5-6/121) (1.68/55) 4. Tyler Day (Northern Arizona) 9. Scott Fauble (Hoka NAZ Elite) 8. (France) (1/21/88, 5-8¾/132) (1.75/60) [5)Jordan, 4)NCAA] [10)Jordan] 9. (New Zealand) (11/14/89, 5-10¾/143) (1.80/65) 5. Noah Droddy (Saucony Roots Running Project) 10. Jacob Thomson (Kentucky) 10. HASSAN CHANI (Bahrain) (10/08/91, 5-7¼/121) (1.71/55) [6)Jordan] [4)Raleigh Relays, 4)SEC, 6)NCAA]

December 2018 PDF — Page 16 2018 Men’s 110 Hurdles World Rankings

Sergey Shubenkov returned to the No. 1 position he had claimed back in ’15. (GLADYS CHAI/ASVOM AGENCY)

2-TIME REIGNING NO. 1 Omar McLeod started his season in fine fashion, winning the Shanghai and Eugene DL titles in May. But ongoing abductor and ankle problems did him in: he didn’t race in June and had only a pair of poor races in July before calling it quits. He ended up as No. 7… MEANWHILE, SERGEY SHUBENKOV was having the season of his life, producing his 3 fastest times ever and 7 of 10. He ended up with the year’s 7 fastest times, his list-leading 12.92 moving him to =No. 8 on the all-time list. After finishing 3rd and 2nd in McLeod’s wins, the Russian ace won 11 of his next 13 races—including 3 DL tilts—to be an easy No. 1 over Orlando Ortega, whom he beat 5–2… ORTEGA DIDN’T WIN MUCH (only 6 of 14 races), but had a solid win-loss record, including 5–1 over No. 3 Ronald Levy and 7–1 over No. 4 Pascal Martinot-Lagarde… U.S. fortunes continued at a low ebb in an event it dominated like few others for so many years. ’s position as the top American at No. 6 matches the lowest U.S. high ever in the event.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. SERGEY SHUBENKOV (Russia) (10/04/90, 6-2¾/165) (1.90/75) 1. *Devon Allen (Nike) 6. Aleec Harris (adidas) 2. ORLANDO ORTEGA (Spain) (7/29/91, 6-¾/154) (1.85/70) [1)USATF, 2)Lausanne DL, 2)London DL] [4)Drake R, 8)Eugene DL, 7)USATF] 3. RONALD LEVY (Jamaica) (10/30/92, 5-11¼/161) (1.81/73) 2. * (Florida) 7. David Kendziera (Illinois) 4. PASCAL MARTINOT-LAGARDE (France) (9/22/91, 6-2¾/176) (1.90/80) [1)SEC, 1)NCAA, 2)USATF] [1)Mt . SAC, 2)NCAA, dnf)USATF] 5. (Jamaica) (6/17/90, 6-5/198) (1.96/90) 3 . * (unattached) 8. Trey Cunningham (Florida State) 6. DEVON ALLEN (US) (12/12/94, 6-0/181) (1.83/82) [3)London DL, 4)Birmingham DL, 5)Brussels DL] [3)ACC, 4)NCAA, 5)USATF] 7. OMAR MCLEOD (Jamaica) (4/25/94, 5-10¾/161) (1.80/73) 4. Jarret Eaton (unattached) 9. Antoine Lloyd (Nebraska) 8. GRANT HOLLOWAY (US) (11/19/97, 6-2/181) (1.88/82) [2)adidas, 3)USATF, 5)Paris DL] [1)Big 10, 5)NCAA, 6)USATF] 9. FREDDIE CRITTENDEN (US) (8/03/94, 6-0/161) (1.83/73) 5. (Nike) 10. Ryan Fontenot (unattached) 10. (Brazil) (2/09/95, 6-1¼/170) (1.86/77) [2)Drake R, 6)Eugene DL, 4)USATF] [3)Montverde, 5sf)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 17 2018 Men’s 400 Hurdles World Rankings

Abderrahmane Samba turned back high-end competition to win the Oslo DL over reigning No. 1 . (MARK SHEARMAN)

2018 ISN’T EVEN OVER YET but already anticipation runs high for next year’s meetings (how many? where?) between Abderrahmane Samba and Rai Benjamin. All of a sudden this young pair (Samba 23, Benjamin 21) trail only WR holder Kevin Young on the event’s all-time list… BOTH WERE UNDEFEATED, but the Qatari—No. 7 in his debut last year—was a slam-dunk No. 1 even without running in the DL final, instead point- ing towards the Continental Cup as his wrapup. His win there made him 9/9 on a spectacular season which saw him go sub-48 in all his finals. And best of all, he even broke 47 in one of them, something only Young had previously done… KARSTEN WARHOLM, Kyron McMaster & Yasmani Copello finished in the same order as last year, except that the emergence of Samba moved them from 1-2-3 down to 2-3-4… THEN IT’S BENJAMIN’S turn at No. 5. Even though he can now claim to be the fastest man ever not to lead the yearly list, his minimalist 3-race season meant he could claim nothing higher than that in his final year representing Antigua. Next year he’ll be running as an American. He comes along at just the right time, as overall, the U.S. failed to lead by-nation scoring for the first time since ’03, and with TJ Holmes at No. 6 and Kenny Selmon at No. 8 put up only 9 points, its lowest total since the record low of 8 way back in ’54, when the event wasn’t yet run at the NCAA level.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. ABDERRAHMANE SAMBA (Qatar) (9/5/95, 6-1½/165) (1.87/75) 1. *TJ Holmes (Nike) 6. (Nike) 2. KARSTEN WARHOLM (Norway) (2/28/96, 6-1½/176) (1.87/80) [4)Oslo DL, 2)USATF, 4)Paris DL] [5)Oslo DL, 5)Paris DL, 6)London DL] 3. KYRON MCMASTER (British Virgin Islands) (1/3/97, 6-1½/174) (1.87/79) 2. *Kenny Selmon (North Carolina) 7. CJ Allen (unattached) 4. YASMANI COPELLO (Turkey) (4/15/87, 6-5/190) (1.96/86) [2)NCAA, 1)USATF, 4)Lucerne] [1)Bush, 6)USATF, 4)Heusden-Zolder] 5. RAI BENJAMIN (Antigua) (7/27/97, 6-3¼/170) (1.91/77) 3. Khallifah Rosser (Cal State LA) 8. (adidas) 6. TJ HOLMES (US) (7/2/95, 5-11½/161) (1.82/73) [3)Mt . SAC Relays, 3)USATF, 3)NACAC] [4)Montverde, 7)USATF] 7. ANNSERT WHYTE (Jamaica) (4/10/87, 6-¾/165) (1.85/75) 4. (Nike) 9. Taylor McLaughlin (Michigan) 8. KENNY SELMON (US) (8/27/96, 6-2/181) (1.88/82) [2)Doha DL, 4)USATF, 6)Paris DL] [1)Big 10, 5)NCAA, dnc-f)USATF] 9. THOMAS BARR (Ireland) (7/24/92, 6-0/161) (1.83/73) 5. David Kendziera (Illinois) 10. Quincy Downing (unattached) 10. LUDVY VAILLANT (France) (3/15/95, 5-10¾/141) (1.80/64) [3)NCAA, 5)USATF, 4)London DL] [1), 1)Heusden-Zolder, 3h)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 18 2018 Men’s Marathon World Rankings

Eliud Kipchoge didn’t want for pace help in his World Record race in Berlin. (VICTOR SAILER/PHOTO RUN)

TICKING OFF THE BOXES: yearly leader, check; World Record, check; undefeated, check; win 2 (it’s basically impossible to win 3) races, check. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget, Athlete Of The Year: CHECK! ALL-TIME RANKING STATS only bolster Kipchoge’s credentials. Not only is he the first to win 5 times (as he was last year at 4), he’s also soaring up the all-time scoring list, which leads us to a trivia quiz: what do Juma Ikangaa, , , Bill Rodgers & Rob de Castella have in common? All of them dropped a spot on the event’s all-time scoring list as the Kenyan great soared from No. 9 to No. 4. He now has 52 points. Ahead of him? Veikko Karvonen 65, Wilson Kipsang 56, 55… THE RUNNER-UP SPOT went to Mo Farah in his first real season of marathoning, which produced a WMM win () and 3rd. That was rated just ahead of Mosinet Geremew’s Dubai win and Chicago 2nd, since the Briton won their head-to-head match… The first 5 is rounded out by Tola Shura with a pair of WMM runner-up finishes and Leul Gebrselassie, who didn’t run any of the WMMs, but did have a pair of 2:04 finishes.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. ELIUD KIPCHOGE (Kenya) (11/5/84, 5-5¾/115) (1.67/52) 1. (Nike Oregon Project) 6. Elkanah Kibet (American Distance Project) 2. MO FARAH (Great Britain) (3/23/83, 5-8¾/143) (1.75/65) [dnf), 1)Prague, 5)Chicago] [8)Boston, 13)Chicago] 3. MOSINET GEREMEW (Ethiopia) (2/12/92, 5-8½/126) (1.74/57) 2. (Saucony) 7. Aaron Braun (Hoka Northern Arizona) 4. TOLA SHURA (Ethiopia) (6/9/96) [6)New York] [dnf)Rotterdam, 14)Chicago] 5. LEUL GEBRSELASSIE (Ethiopia) (9/20/93, 5-7/121) (1.70/55) 3. Shadrack Biwott (Hanson’s Brooks) 8. Brogan Austin (rabbit) 6. LELISA DESISA (Ethiopia) (1/14/90, 5-7/115) (1.70/52) [3)Boston, 9)New York] [1)USATF Champs] 7. KENNETH KIPKEMOI (Kenya) (8/2/84, 5-5/119) (1.65/54) 4. Scott Fauble (Hoka Northern Arizona) 9. Matt Llano (Hoka Northern Arizona) 8. SISAY LEMMA (Ethiopia) (12/12/90, 5-7/125) (1.70/57) [dnf)Chicago, 7)New York] [2)USATF Champs] 9. TAMIRAT TOLA (Ethiopia) (8/11/91, 5-11/130) (1.80/59) 5. () 10. Josh Izewski (Zap Fitness) 10. (Kenya) (8/7/88, 5-7/121) (1.70/55) [10)New York] [3)USATF Champs]

December 2018 PDF — Page 19 2018 Men’s 20K Walk World Rankings

Koki Ikeda became a world-beater once he made his international debut. (JAAF)

ONLY 19 AT THE TIME, made his first race outside of Japan a successful one when he beat a pair of former World Rankers in . Two months later, just 3 days past his 20th birthday, he beat the best the world had to offer as he strolled to a convincing 9-second win at the World Team Championships in Taicang, China. That made him the first Japanese No. 1 ever… JAPAN’S CONTINUING EMERGENCE as a walk force was solidified when Ikeda was joined by Toshikazu Yamanishi (No. 4), (No. 7) and (No. 10) to win the by-nation scoring title. That made them the first nation with a quartet of scorers here since Russia in ’96… Speaking of Russia, list leader (1:17:25) also had the year’s No. 5 time (1:18:53) but wasn’t considered for the Rankings because he wasn’t cleared to compete outside of home… THE WORLD TEAM CHAMPS was obviously the most important race of the year and places 1–4 came directly from that finish before Euro Champ Álvaro Martín slipped in at No. 5… Defending No. 1 Eider Arévalo was only 12th in Taicang and ended up at No. 8… The U.S. hasn’t had a Ranker here since ’73. WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. KOKI IKEDA (Japan) (5/03/98) 1. Nick Christie (unattached) 6. Anthony Peters (St. Ambrose) 2. KAIHUA WANG (China) (2/16/94, 5-10¾/143) (1.80/65) [1)USATF, 1)World Team Tr] [6)USATF] 3. MASSIMO STANO (Italy) (2/27/92, 5-10¾/132) (1.80/60) 2. Emmanuel Corvera (New York AC) 7. Anthony Gruttadauro (Shore AC) 4. TOSHIKAZU YAMANISHI (Japan) (2/15/96, 5-4½/112) (1.64/51) [2)USATF, 2)World Team Tr, 42)World Team Ch] [7)USATF, 4)World Team Tr] 5. ÁLVARO MARTÍN (Spain) (6/18/94, 5-11¼/137) (1.81/62) 3. John Cody Risch (Q Elite) 8. Steve Smith (West Virginia Tech) 6. XIANGQIAN JIN (China) (3/18/97) [3)USATF, 3)World Team Tr, 66)World Team Ch] [5)World Team Tr] 7. ISAMU FUJISAWA (Japan) (10/12/87, 5-5/117) (1.65/53) 4. Matt Forgues (unattached) 9. Mike Mannozzi (Shore AC) 8. EIDER ARÉVALO (Colombia) (3/09/93, 5-5/128) (1.65/58) [4)USATF] [8)USATF] 9. DIEGO GARCÍA CARRERA (Spain) (1/19/96, 5-8½/132) (1.74/60) 5. Alexander Bellavance (unattached) 10. Dave Swarts (Pegasus AC) 10. EIKI TAKAHASHI (Japan) (11/19/92, 5-8¾/123) (1.75/56) [5)USATF] [9)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 20 2018 Men’s 50K Walk World Rankings

A World Champs runner-up in ’17, Hiroki Arai moved up win the World Team title this year. (JIRO MOCHIZUKI/IMAGE OF SPORT)

AS IN THE 20, Japan had its first-ever No. 1, this time in the form of Hiroki Arai, a top-3 Ranker the last 3 years (2-3-2). Hayato Katsuki & Satoshi Maruo followed him across the line in the all-important World Team Champs, giving their nation only the second 1-2-3 sweep in Rank- ings history (the other was by Mexico in ’79)… THE BEST OF the non-Japanese was Ukraine’s European Champ Maryan Zakalnytskyy, who took No. 4 over 2-time No. 1 Matej Tóth, return- ing to competition after sitting out ’17 after a “positive” test for which he was subsequently acquitted… Reigning No. 1 Yohann Diniz picked up a pelvic stress fracture and didn’t compete after May, with none of his early races being 50s… The U.S. hasn’t scored here since Curt Clausen was No. 4 in ’99.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. HIROKI ARAI (Japan) (5/18/88, 5-10½/134) (1.79/61) 1 . Nick Christie (unattached) 4 . Pablo Gomez (Chicago RW) 2. HAYATO KATSUKI (Japan) (11/28/90, 5-6/128) (1.68/58) [1)USATF, dnf)World Team] [4)USATF] 3. SATOSHI MARUO (Japan) (11/28/91, 5-8¾/132) (1.75/60) 2 . Matt Forgues (unattached) 5 . Ian Whatley (Warriors TC) 4. MARYAN ZAKALNYTSKYY (Ukraine) (8/19/94, 5-10¾/143) (1.80/65) [2)USATF, 46)World Team] [5)USATF) 5. MATEJ TÓTH () (2/10/83, 6-¾/159) (1.85/72) 3 . Anthony Gruttadauro (Shore AC) 6 . Dave Talcott (Shore AC) 6. QIN WANG (China) (5/8/94) [3)USATF, 44)World Team] [6)USATF] 7. RAFAŁ AUGUSTYN (Poland) (5/14/84, 5-10/157) (1.78/71) 8. DZMITRY DZIUBIN (Belarus) (7/12/90) 9. HÅVARD HAUKENES (Norway) (4/22/90, 5-10¾/150) (1.80/68) 10. RUI WANG (China) (1/06/96)

December 2018 PDF — Page 21 2018 Men’s High Jump World Rankings

Mutaz Barshim collected 3 Diamond League wins before an early end to his season. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

IF YOUR SEASON is going to end prematurely, as Mutaz Barshim’s did on July 02, you might as well go out in notable fashion. The springy Qatari did just that, equaling the yearly world lead of 7-10½ (2.40) at the Gyulai Memorial, then badly spraining an ankle attempting a World Record 8-¾ (2.46). But he already had 3 DL wins at that point (to go with World Indoor silver) and that was enough to give him his fourth No. 1 in a row. Only legendary , with 5, ever had more. And only Brumel (5) and WR holder (8) have more than his 4 total, which ties him with . In terms of total Ranking points, Barshim moved past Brumel and Stig Pettersson into No. 7 on the all-time list… BARSHIM LOST A PAIR, but that could end up being halved if the pending doping violation for No. 2 Danil Lysenko of Russia holds up. In Barshim’s absence, World Indoor gold medalist Lysenko—who never lost to anyone but Barshim all year—won the next two DL meets before his enforced sit- down… Aussie Brandon Starc was the hottest jumper in the late-season absence of the big 2, winning 2 DLs (including the Final) plus Eberstadt… After being shut out of the Rankings last year, the U.S. returned with rookie Jeron Robinson claiming the No. 8 spot.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. MUTAZ BARSHIM (Qatar) (6/24/91, 6-3½/154) (1.92/70) 1. *Jeron Robinson (Nike) 6. Shelby McEwen (Alabama) 2. DANIL LYSENKO (Russia) (5/19/97, 6-3½/161) (1.92/73) [2)USATF Indoor, 1)USATF, 3)Lausanne DL] [3)NCAA Indoor, 2)NCAA, 5)USATF] (¶ has a pending doping positive) 2. (Jordan) 7. Keenon Laine (Georgia) 3. BRANDON STARC () (11/24/93, 6-2/161) (1.88/73) [4)World Indoor, 4)Eugene DL, 2)USATF] [6)NCAA Indoor, 1)Mt . SAC Relays, 3)NCAA] 4. MATEUSZ PRZYBYLKO () (3/09/92, 6-4¼/159) (1.94/72) 3. Trey Culver (Texas Tech) 8. Vernon Turner (Oklahoma) 5. YU WANG (China) (8/18/91, 6-3½/161) (1.92/73) [2)NCAA Indoor, 4)NCAA, 3)USATF] [1)Penn Relays, 1)Big 12, 6)NCAA] 6. DONALD THOMAS (Bahamas) (7/01/84, 6-2¾/165) (1.90/75) 4. Randall Cunningham (USC) 9. Bryan McBride (unattached) 7. MAKSIM NEDASEKAU (Belarus) (1/21/98) [1)Razorback Indoor, 1)Mountain Pacific Indoor, [1)SDi, 9)USATF, 4)Lausanne DL] 8. JERON ROBINSON (US) (4/30/91, 6-4/161) (1.93/73) 1)NCAA Indoor] 10. Jonathan Wells (Illinois) 9. MAJED EL DEIN GHAZAL (Syria) (4/21/87, 6-4/154) (1.93/70) 5. (unattached) [1)Big 10, =13)NCAA, 6)USATF] 10. GIANMARCO TAMBERI (Italy) (6/01/92, 6-3½/170) (1.92/77) [3)USATF Indoor, 4)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 22 2018 Men’s Pole Vault World Rankings

Sam Kendricks’ support group includes mom Marni and dad Scott. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

NO. 1 WAS EASY. Then things got hard. Sam Kendricks repeated at the top of the heap, the first American to do so since—wait for it—Bob Seagren in ’69… He dominated the DL circuit with 5 wins, winning 2 and Timur Morgunov just 1. Overall, Kendricks scored a 7–4 margin over Lavillenie and 7–1 against Mondo Duplantis. Morgunov held him to 2–2, which went a long way towards his earning the No. 2 spot. GIVING MORGUNOV the runner-up spot wasn’t an easy decision, because he wasn’t really part of the big-leagues of vaulting until he broke through to 2nd to Duplantis at the Euros (where each joined the elite 6-meter club). But he finished with a rush, winning at both Zürich (not an actual DL com- petition) and Brussels, making his 1 DL win at the biggest DL meet. Overall, he was 4–2 over Lavillenie, so he sneaks in ahead of the World Indoor gold medalist, who beat Duplantis 6–4… DUPLANTIS CERTAINLY WON the making-headlines competition. His exploits as an 18-year-old, topped by a 3-PR day to win the European title are now the stuff of legend. But so good was the competition that he can’t be placed any higher than No. 4.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. SAM KENDRICKS (US) (9/07/92, 6-2¼/174) (1.89/79) 1. *Sam Kendricks (Nike) 6. Matthew Ludwig (Akron) 2. TIMUR MORGUNOV (Russia) (10/12/96, 6-2/170) (1.88/77) [2)World In, 1)USATF, 1)London DL] [4)NCAA In, 2)NCAA, 6)USATF] 3. RENAUD LAVILLENIE (France) (9/18/86, 5-9¾/152) (1.77/69) 2. (South Dakota) 7. Tray Oates (Samford) 4. MONDO DUPLANTIS () (11/10/99, 5-11¼/150) (1.81/68) [2)NCAA In, 1)NCAA, 2)USATF] [=4)USATF In, =5)NCAA, =9)USATF] 5. PIOTR LISEK (Poland) (8/16/92, 6-4¼/187) (1.94/85) 3. Scott Houston (Shore AC) 8. Devin King (Southeastern Louisiana) 6. KURTIS MARSCHALL (Australia) (4/25/97, 6-2/172) (1.88/78) [1)USATF In, 3)Drake R, 4)USATF] [=6)USATF In, 2)Texas R, nh)NCAA] 7. PAWEŁ WOJCIECHOWSKI (Poland) (6/06/89, 6-2¾/179) (1.90/81) 4. Andrew Irwin (Arkansas Vault Club) 9. Mike Arnold (unattached) 8. SHAWN BARBER (Canada) (5/27/94, 6-2¾/181) (1.90/82) [=4)USATF In, 1)Drake R, 5)USATF] [3)USATF In, 4)Drake R, nh)USATF] 9. KONSTADÍNOS FILIPPÍDIS () (11/26/86, 6-2/161) (1.88/73) 5. Cole Walsh (unattached) 10. Jake Albright (unattached) 10. RAPHAEL HOLZDEPPE (Germany) (9/28/89, 5-11¼/172) (1.81/78) [=10)USATF In, 6)Mt . SAC, 3)USATF] [2)National R, 2)Kansas R, 7)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 23 2018 Men’s Long Jump World Rankings

Juan Miguel Echevarría improved all the way from 27-2 (8.28) to scaring 29-feet. (JIRO MOCHIZUKI/IMAGE OF SPORT)

STILL A TEENAGER when he did his jumping this year, Juan Miguel Echevarría was a narrow choice for No. 1 after not jumping after July 5 following an undisclosed injury. The young Cuban lost only twice, both times to reigning No. 1 Luvo Manyonga, whom he beat 4 times. That head-to-head edge combined with World Indoor gold and superior marks for a squeaker of a victory… ECHEVARRÍA’S MARKS were indeed notable, his farthest jump being a wind-aided 28-11¾w (8.83), a mark only 5 others have ever bettered under all conditions. His legal best, 28-5¾ (8.68), lifted him to No. 11 on the all-time legal list as he had a quartet of 28-foot meets… Manyonga was no slouch in the marks department himself, also having a quartet of 28-footers, plus no fewer than 13 meets at 8.40 (27-6¾) or better… must like even-numbered years. For the third straight one of those he’s the top-rated American, at No. 6… Right behind Hender- son—at least for now—is last year’s U.S. leader, , whose season was cut short by an adverse test result which he insisted came from food contamination… Former world leader Aleksandr Menkov put up marks good enough for consideration somewhere in the middle of the pack, but he falls afoul of our decision not to rank Russians who haven’t had any out-of-country exposure… With no Menkov, that means that Europe doesn’t have a scorer for the first time since ’50.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. JUAN MIGUEL ECHEVARRÍA (Cuba) (8/11/98, 6-¾/156) (1.85/71) 1. *Jeff Henderson (adidas) 6. Mike Hartfield (unattached) 2. LUVO MANYONGA (South Africa) (11/18/91, 6-¾/143) (1.85/65) [2)Stockholm DL, 1)USATF, 5)Zürich DL] [3)USATF Ind, 2)adidas, 6)USATF] 3. RUSWAHL SAMAAI (South Africa) (9/25/91, 5-10/161) (1.78/73) 2. *Jarrion Lawson (Asics) 7. Jarvis Gotch (unattached) 4. HENRY FRAYNE (Australia) (4/14/90, 6-1½/159) (1.87/72) [1)USATF Ind, 4)World Ind, 3)London DL] [4)USATF Ind, 1)Mt . SAC, 13)USATF] 5. JEFF HENDERSON (US) (2/19/89, 5-10/181) (1.78/82) 3. * (Nike) 8. Will Williams (Texas A&M) 6. (Jamaica) (8/02/96) [3)World Ind, 3)USATF, 6)Zürich DL] [1)SEC Ind, 1)NCAA Ind, 2)SEC] 7. JARRION LAWSON (US) (5/06/94, 6-2/165) (1.88/75) 4. *Zack Bazile (Ohio State) 9. Damarcus Simpson (Oregon) (¶ pending doping positive) [4)NCAA Ind, 1)NCAA, 2)USATF] [1)Pac-12, 10)NCAA, 4)USATF] 8. MARQUIS DENDY (US) (11/17/92, 6-2¾/165) (1.90/75) 5. Charles Brown (Texas Tech) 10. Grant Holloway (Florida) 9. YUHAO SHI (China) (9/26/98) [3)NCAA Ind, 5)NCAA, 5)USATF] [2)NCAA Ind, 1)SEC, 9)NCAA] 10. ZACK BAZILE (US) (1/07/96) 11. JIANAN WANG (China) (8/27/96, 5-10/134) (1.78/61)

December 2018 PDF — Page 24 2018 Men’s Triple Jump World Rankings

Former collegiate teammates Christian Taylor & got to do the Gator Chomp after going 1-2 at Pre. (JEFF COHEN)

CHRISTIAN TAYLOR & Pedro Pablo Pichardo have waged some great wars over the last half-dozen seasons. This year was close to a draw, but in the final analysis the American prevailed. They met in 4 DL meets, splitting them 2–2. Taylor’s edge came from losing only those 2 meets (we’re not counting his no-marking at USATF in which he wasn’t really competing), finishing 2nd both times, whereas Pichardo lost 4 times and twice finished 3rd. Their lifetime head-to-head now stands at 10–7 for Taylor… WITH HIS SEVENTH No. 1, Taylor is now tied with WR holder Jonathan Edwards in that department, with the event record being 9 by legend . Taylor also climbed from No. 9 to No. 7 on the event’s overall scoring list, passing big names and Willie Banks. He has a good shot at climbing to No. 5 next year… Taylor didn’t quite achieve his goal of joining the 400’s sub-45 club, but put up an amazing string of times for a triple jumper: 45.48, 45.44, 45.24, 45.07, 45.58, 45.95, 45.78, 45.34… LIKE TAYLOR, No. 3 Will Claye scored for the eighth straight year, a string that includes 3 No. 2s. The World Indoor champ, he had an abbreviated 4-meet season that ended in May… For only the second time ever (’77 was the other) the U.S. claimed half the Ranking places in getting its highest score ever, 33 points. Taylor and Claye were joined by (5), Donald Scott (6) & (7)…

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. CHRISTIAN TAYLOR (US) (6/18/90, 6-2¾/165) (1.90/75) 1. *Christian Taylor (Nike) 6. Chris Carter (unattached) 2. PEDRO PABLO PICHARDO (Cuba) (6/30/93, 6-¾/157) (1.85/71) [1)Eugene DL, 1)Lausanne DL, 1)Monaco DL] [2)USATF Ind, 5)World Ind, 4)USATF] 3. WILL CLAYE (US) (6/13/91, 5-10¾/150) (1.80/68) 2. *Will Claye (Puma) 7. KeAndre Bates (Florida) 4. ALMIR DOS SANTOS (Brazil) (9/04/93, 6-2/174) (1.88/79) [1)USATF Ind, 1)World Ind, 2)Eugene DL] [2)NCAA Ind, 3)NCAA, 3)USATF] 5. OMAR CRADDOCK (US) (4/26/91, 5-10/174) (1.78/79) 3. *Omar Craddock (unattached) 8. Matthew O’Neal (unattached) 6. DONALD SCOTT (US) (2/23/92, 6-0/185) (1.83/84) [3)USATF Ind, 6)USATF, 3)Monaco DL] [6)USATF Ind, 4)King, 5)USATF] 7. CHRIS BENARD (US) (4/04/90, 6-2¾/174) (1.90/79) 4. *Donald Scott (unattached) 9. John Warren (Southern Mississippi) 8. ALEXIS COPELLO (Azerbaijan) (8/12/85, 6-¾/176) (1.85/80) [5)USATF Ind, 1)USATF, 3)Brussels DL] [6)NCAA Ind, 15)NCAA, 7)USATF] 9. NELSON ÉVORA (Portugal) (4/20/84, 5-11¼/154) (1.81/70) 5. *Chris Benard (Nike Chula Vista Elite) 10. Scotty Newton (TCU) 10. JORDAN DÍAZ (Cuba) (2/23/01, 6-3½/161) (1.92/73) [4)USATF Ind, 2)USATF, 3)Lausanne DL] [7)NCAA Ind, 4)NCAA, 9)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 25 2018 Men’s Shot World Rankings

Tom Walsh joined the 73-foot club in early March and 3 weeks later became a 74-footer. (VICTOR SAILER/PHOTO RUN)

BACK IN ’14 Tom Walsh became the first New Zealander ever to garner a shot ranking, debuting at No. 5. In the next 3 years he climbed first to No. 3, then to a pair of No. 2s. And now he’s finally No. 1… The Kiwi star actually had a 3-5 losing record to 2-time reigning No. 1 , but the quality of his wins—including World Indoor Gold and the DL final—combined with his mark superiority to give him the edge. Walsh, who moved to No. 5 on the all-time list and joined the 74-foot club, won 3 of the year’s 5 DL meets, Crouser the other 2. The American missed the entire indoor season with an injury to the index finger on his throwing hand… THE BATTLE FOR No. 3 between Darlan Romani and Darrell Hill was a tight one, with the former having a narrow 3–2 head-to-head margin and slightly better marks. Romani thus became the first Brazilian ever to earn a spot in this event… THE U.S. WAS the top-scoring nation for the 27th straight year (the leading back in ’91), but its total of 19 points was the lowest since the streak began. Joining Crouser and Hill was at No. 8.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. TOM WALSH (New Zealand) (3/1/92, 6-1¼/271) (1.86/123) 1. *Ryan Crouser (Nike) 6. (South Carolina) 2. RYAN CROUSER (US) (12/18/92, 6-7/265) (2.01/120) [1)Eugene DL, 2)USATF, 1)Monaco DL] [3)NCAA Indoor, 2)NCAA, 7)USATF] 3. DARLAN ROMANI (Brazil) (4/9/91, 6-0/280) (1.83/127) 2. *Darrell Hill (Nike) 7. Josh Freeman (Iron Wood TC) 4. DARRELL HILL (US) (8/17/93, 6-3½/331) (1.92/150) [6)World Indoor, 1)USATF, 2)Zürich DL] [7)Drake Relays, 2)Iron Wood, 6)USATF] 5. MICHAŁ HARATYK (Poland) (4/10/92, 6-4¼/300) (1.94/136) 3. *Ryan Whiting (Nike) 8. Jon Jones (unattached) 6. DAVID STORL (Germany) (7/27/90, 6-6¼/269) (1.99/122) [1)USATF Indoor, 7)World Indoor, 4)USATF] [3)USATF Indoor, 3)Tucson, 9)USATF] 7. TOMÁŠ STANĚK () (6/13/91, 6-2¾/280) (1.90/127) 4. Curt Jensen (Velaasa) 9. Garrett Appier (unattached) 8. RYAN WHITING (US) (11/24/86, 6-3¼/295) (1.91/134) [4)USATF Indoor, 3)Drake Relays, 3)USATF] [10)USATF Indoor, 3)Iron Wood, 8)USATF] 9. KONRAD BUKOWIECKI (Poland) (3/17/97, 6-3¼/284) (1.91/129) 5. (Velaasa/New York AC) 10. David Pless (Iron Wood TC) 10. ALEKSANDR LESNOY (Russia) (7/28/88, 6-4¼/256) (1.94/116) [8)Eugene DL, 7)Oslo DL, 5)USATF] [7)USATF Indoor, 4)Iron Wood, 10)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 26 2018 Men’s Discus World Rankings

Rome gave Fedrick Dacres the first of his 4 Diamond League wins on the year. (GIANCARLO COLOMBO/PHOTO RUN)

LAST YEAR Fedrick Dacres became the first Jamaican ever to earn a Top 10 spot in the discus, reaching No. 3 in his debut; this year he ascended to the very top… It was a rather easy decision, since he had a winning record against all comers, most notably 6–3 over defending No. 1 Andreas Gudžius, 5–1 against Ehsan Hadadi and 5-–4 over Daniel Ståhl, who ended up 2-3-4. Gudžius, in turn, was 6–1 over Hadadi and 7–1 over Ståhl. And with Hadadi being 7–2 over Ståhl, the ordering of the top 4 was rather obvious. Dacres also won 4 of the DL meets, including the Final, with Gudžius claiming the other… LAST YEAR ended a 6-year U.S. drought with no U.S. rankers; this year he combined with Reggie Jagers to provide the U.S. with a pair of rankers for the first time since Ian Waltz and turned the trick in ’06. It’s a major feat for the left-handed Jagers to score, given that so many facilities are set up with general wind conditions that greatly benefit righties…

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. FEDRICK DACRES (Jamaica) (2/28/94, 6-3¼/214) (1.91/97) 1. *Mason Finley (Nike) 6. Luke Vaughn (Memphis) 2. ANDRIUS GUDŽIUS () (2/14/91, 6-6¾/287) (2.00/130) [5)Oslo DL, 2)USATF, 4)Brussels DLs] [1)Mt . SAC, 1)NCAA, 6)USATF] 3. EHSAN HADADI (Iran) (1/21/85, 6-4/276) (1.93/125) 2. *Reggie Jagers (Iron Wood TC) 7. Jason Harrell (Arete) 4. DANIEL STÅHL (Sweden) (8/27/92, 6-6¾/320) (2.00/145) [1)Drake R, 1)Tucson II, 1)USATF] [4)Tucson I, 8)USATF] 5. LUKAS WEIßHAIDINGER (Austria) (2/20/92, 6-3½/254) (1.92/115) 3. (New York AC) 8. Rodney Brown (Raise The Bar) 6. CHRISTOPH HARTING (Germany) (4/10/90, 6-8¾/258) (2.05/117) [1)Tucson I, 3)USATF, 1)Lignanon] [2)Texas R, 2)Iron Wood, 16)USATF] 7. MASON FINLEY (US) (10/07/90, 6-7¾/331) (2.03/150) 4. Andrew Evans (unattached) 9. Philip Jagers (Akron) 8. ROBERT HARTING (Germany) (10/18/84, 6-7/278) (2.01/126) [3)Tucson I, 1)Iron Wood, 4)USATF] [7)Tucson II, 4)Iron Wood, 7)USATF] 9. ROBERT URBANEK (Poland) (4/29/87, 6-6¾/265) (2.00/120) 5. Jared Schuurmans (unattached) 10. Brian Williams (Mississippi) 10. REGGIE JAGERS (US) (8/13/94, 6-¾/220) (1.85/100) [3)Drake R, 5)Tucson I, 5)USATF] [1)SEC, 3)NCAA, 9)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 27 2018 Men’s Hammer World Rankings

Wojciech Nowicki (r) turned the tables on countryman Paweł Fajdek in claiming No. 1. (VICTOR SAILER/PHOTO RUN)

POLAND WENT 1-2 AGAIN, but the order was reversed from last year, Wojciech Nowicki taking the top spot from 3-time defender Paweł Fajdek. That marks the first time a nation has gone 1-2 in back-to-back years since the Soviet Union in ’90 & ’91… THERE WAS PLENTY of evidence for sorting the two Poles out, as they met no fewer than 12 times. Nowicki came out on top 7–5 and won the im- portant European Champs title to solidify his claim to the top spot. Nowicki had one other loss, to No. 3 Bence Halász of Hungary and Fajdek had no other losses… If Fajdek had been able to claim No. 1, it would have made him only the third man ever to notch 4 in a row… THE U.S. DROUGHT in the event now stretches all the way back to ’98, when Lance Deal last scored as No. 10. Deal also picked off the last U.S. win, in ’96.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. WOJCIECH NOWICKI (Poland) (2/22/89, 6-5/247) (1.96/112) 1. Alex Young (Velaasa) 6. Daniel Haugh (Alabama) 2. PAWEŁ FAJDEK (Poland) (6/04/89, 6-1¼/260) (1.86/118) [1)Mt . SAC, 2)USATF, 2)Lucerne] [3)SEC, 5)NCAA, 7)USATF] 3. BENCE HALÁSZ (Hungary) (8/04/97, 6-2/190) (1.88/86) 2. Sean Donnelly (Iron Wood TC) 7. Morgan Shigo (Penn State) 4. ASHRAF AMJAD AL-SAIFI (Qatar) (2/20/95, 6-0/220) (1.83/100) [1)Iron Wood, 3)USATF, 1)Lucerne] [2)Penn R, 6)NCAA, 6)USATF] 5. DILSHOD NAZAROV (Tajikistan) (5/006/82, 6-1½/254) (1.87/115) 3. (Rutgers) 8. Colin Dunbar (Iron Wood TC) 6. PAVEL BAREISHA (Belarus) (2/16/91, 6-4/231) (1.93/105) [4)NCAA, 1)USATF, 4)Lucerne] [2)Drake R, 3)Tucson, 8)USATF] 7. EIVIND HENRIKSEN (Norway) (9/14/90, 6-3¼/256) (1.91/116) 4. Daniel Roberts (unattached) 9. Adam Kelly (Princeton) 8. SERGHEI MARGHIEV (Moldova) (11/06/92, 6-4¼/212) (1.94/96) [1)Ashland, 4)USATF] [1)Penn R, 9)NCAA, 10)USATF] 9. MARCEL LOMNICKÝ (Slovakia) (7/06/87, 5-9¾/234) (1.77/106) 5. Conor McCullough (New York AC) 10. Jordan Crayon (Velaasa) 10. NICK MILLER (Great Britain) (5/01/93, 6-2/247) (1.88/112) [2)Iron Wood, 5)USATF, 5)Lucerne] [1)Owens, 2)Ashland, 9)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 28 20182018 Men’s Men’s Javelin Javelin WorldWorld Rankings Rankings

GermanyGermany scored the the most most points points in inthe the event’s event’s history, history, led ledby Andreas by Andreas Hofmann Hofmann (No. 1),(No. Thomas 1), Thomas Röhler Röhler (No. 2) & (No. 2) & JohannesJohannes Vetter (No. Vetter 4). (No.Additionally, 4). Additionally, Julian Julian Weber Weber took tookNo. 7.No. (JEFF 7. (JEFF COHEN) COHEN)

FORFOR THE THE SECOND SECOND YEAR YEAR in in a rowa row Germany Germany put put up aup 1–2 a in1–2 the in javelin, the javelin, Andreas Andreas Hoffman Hoffman & Thomas & Thomas Röhler Röhler following following up last year’sup last finish year’s by finish Johannes by VetterJohannes (No. Vetter 4 this (No.time) 4 andthis Röhler.time) and Add Röhler. in Julian Add Weber in Julian at No. Weber 7 and at Germany—which No. 7 and Germany—which became the first became nation the ever first to nationhave 4 evermembers to have of the4 members300-foot club—totaledof the 300-foot a recordclub—totaled 30 points, a recordeclipsing 30 thepoints, former eclipsing best of the27 by former best in of ’75… 27 by Finland in ’75… THETHE CHOICECHOICE between between Hoffman Hoffman and and Röhler Röhler for for the the top top spot spot was was a tight a tight one, asone, there as therewas conflicting was conflicting evidence. evidence. Not ones Not to onesduck tocompetition, duck competition, they met athey full metdozen a full times, dozen splitting times, things splitting right things down right the middle, down the 6-6. middle, Röhler 6-6.won Röhler the important won the European important title, European but his title,record but in hisDL recordmeets (1,in DL1, 3, meets 4, 4) was (1, inferior1, 3, 4, 4)to wasHoffman’s inferior (1, to 1, Hoffman’s2, 3, 3), with (1, the 1, latter 2, 3, winning3), with the cruciallatter winning DL Final… the Hofmann’s crucial DL top Final… 5 meets Hofmann’s averaged atop spectacular 5 meets averaged 298-5 (90.97)… a spectacular Estonia’s Magnus298-5 (90.97)… Kirt was Estonia’s a very strong Magnus No. Kirt 3, forging was a avery 6-4 strongrecord againstNo. 3, forging Röhler, a but 6-4 having record anagainst inferior Röhler, DL string but having of 1, 2, an3, 5, inferior 6… DL string of 1, 2, 3, 5, 6… THETHE U.S.U.S. DROUGHT DROUGHT stretched stretched to to 10 10 years, years, the the last last American American score score coming coming from from Breaux Breaux Greer Greer at No. at 3 No. in ’07… 3 in Traditional’07… Traditional powerhouse powerhouse Finland Finland missed formissed only forthe onlyfifth thetime fifth in 72 time years in of72 the years Rankings, of the joiningRankings, ’11, join ’85,ing ’62 ’11, & ’60. ’85, ’62 & ’60. Link To World Top 50 List (Web) Link To U.S. Top 50 List (Web)

WEB LINKS: WORLDWorld RANKINGS Top 50 List World Ranker SeasonalU.S. RANKINGS Records U.S. Top 50 List 1. ANDREAS HOFMANN (Germany) (12/16/91, 6-4¾/238) (1.95/108) 1. Curtis Thompson (unattached) 6. Tim VanLiew (Iron Wood) WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 2. THOMAS RÖHLER (Germany) (9/30/91, 6-4¾/190) (1.95/86) [1)USATF, 3)World Cup, 2)NACAC] [4)Beach Inv, 5)USATF] 3. 1. MAGNUSANDREAS KIRT HOFMANN (Estonia) (Germany) (4/10/90, (12/16/91, 6-3½/196) 6-4¾/238) (1.92/89) (1.95/108) 2. Capers1. Curtis Williamson Thompson (unattached) (unattached) 7. 6.Chris Tim CarperVanLiew (unattached) (Iron Wood) [1)USATF, 3)World Cup, 2)NACAC] [4)Beach Inv, 5)USATF] 4. 2. JOHANNESTHOMAS RÖHLER VETTER (Germany) (Germany) (9/30/91, (3/26/93, 6-4¾/190) 6-2/231) (1.95/86)(1.88/105) [2)USATF, 5), 4)NACAC] [1)Shippensburg, 1)JavFest] 5. 3. JAKUBMAGNUS VADLEJCH KIRT (Estonia) (Czech (4/10/90, Republic) 6-3½/196) (10/10/90, (1.92/89) 6-2¾/205) (1.90/93) 3. Michael2. Capers Shuey Williamson (Velaasa) (unattached) 8. 7.Mike Chris Brazzel Carper (Shore (unattached) AC) [2)USATF, 5)Jena, 4)NACAC] [1)Shippensburg, 1)JavFest] 6. 4. NEERAJJOHANNES CHOPRA VETTER (India) (Germany) (12/24/97, (3/26/93, 6-½/176) 6-2/231) (1.84/80) (1.88/105) [1)Drake Relays, 4)USATF, 6)Jena] [1)Ewing, 1)Lakew, 7)USATF] 7. 5. JULIANJAKUB WEBERVADLEJCH (Germany) (Czech Republic) (8/29/94, (10/10/90, 6-2¾/207) 6-2¾/205) (1.90/94) (1.90/93) 4. Riley3. Michael Dolezal Shuey (unattached) (Velaasa) 9. 8.Trevor Mike Danielson Brazzel (Shore (Stanford) AC) 8. 6. MARCINNEERAJ KRUKOWSKI CHOPRA (India) (Poland) (12/24/97, (6/14/92, 6-½/176) 5-11½/203) (1.84/80) (1.82/92) [3)Iron[1)Drake Wood, Relays, 3)USATF] 4)USATF, 6)Jena] [2)Pac-12,[1)Ewing, 1)Lakew, 4)NCAA, 7)USATF] 10)USATF] 9. 7. KESHORNJULIAN WEBER WALCOTT (Germany) (Trinidad) (8/29/94, (4/02/93, 6-2¾/207) 6-2/198) (1.90/94) (1.88/90) 5. Aaron4. Riley True Dolezal (Wichita (unattached) State) 10.9. Sam Trevor Hardin Danielson (Texas (Stanford) A&M) 10.8. ANDRIANMARCIN KRUKOWSKIMARDARE (Moldova) (Poland) (6/14/92, (6/20/95, 5-11½/203) 6-4¼/203) (1.82/92)(1.94/92) [1)American,[3)Iron Wood, 8)NCAA, 3)USATF] 6)USATF] [1)Castillo[2)Pac-12, Inv, 4)NCAA, 4)Texas 10)USATF] Relays] 9. (Trinidad) (4/02/93, 6-2/198) (1.88/90) 5. Aaron True (Wichita State) 10. Sam Hardin (Texas A&M) 10. ANDRIAN MARDARE (Moldova) (6/20/95, 6-4¼/203) (1.94/92) [1)American, 8)NCAA, 6)USATF] [1)Castillo Inv, 4)Texas Relays]

12 — December 2017 December 2018 PDF — Page 29 Track & Field News 2018 Men’s Decathlon World Rankings

Among his many and varied skills, Kevin Mayer lowered his 110H PR to 13.71. (JIRO MOCHIZUKI/IMAGE OF SPORT)

WHAT DO YOU GET when you combine marks of 10.55, 25-7¼ (7.80), 52-6 (16.00), 6-8¾ (2.05), 48.42, 13.75, 165-10 (50.54), 17-10½ (5.45), 235-11 (71.90) & 4:36.11? A stunning decathlon World Record of 9126, which is exactly what Kevin Mayer did to finish off his season. The 26-year-old Frenchman thus made Ashton Eaton’s reign as the WR holder far shorter than most would have imagined… A HIGH SCORE was expected for the reigning No. 1 this year, but it was supposed to come at the European Championships, and it seemed to be in the cards after a PR 100, but then disaster struck: 3 fouls in the long jump. “This is a black day for me. I do not have an excuse,” he said after eschewing a safety jump and going all-out on all three. “I am very sorry for those who expected a lot of me, for all my fans. I was in great shape. I wanted to show much more than this. This was a big mistake. I took a high risk, but I do not regret the risk. I know that many people were expecting a lot from me and it hurts to disappoint them. This is really frustrating for me. I am quite disgusted, but this is sport.”… FOR THE SECOND YEAR in a row the U.S. failed to have a scorer. The last time that happened was ’83 & ’84, but that was actually part of a 4-year drought that started in ’81.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. KEVIN MAYER (France) (2/10/92, 6-1¼/170) (1.86/77) 1. (adidas) 6. Scott Filip (Rice) 2. DAMIAN WARNER (Canada) (11/4/89, 6-¾/183) (1.85/83) [1)Clay, 10)Götzis, 1)USATF] [3)Texas R, 5)NCAA, 1)Pan-Am Cup] 3. ARTHUR ABELE (Germany) (7/30/86, 6-½/176) (1.84/80) 2. Solomon Simmons (unattached) 7. Joe Delgado (Louisville) 4. MAICEL UIBO (Estonia) (12/27/92, 6-2/190) (1.88/86) [2)Texas R, 2)USATF, 3)Thorpe] [5)Texas R, 3)ACC, 4)NCAA] 5. PIETER BRAUN () (1/21/93, 5-11½/176) (1.82/80) 3. Harrison Williams (Stanford) 8. Tim Ehrhardt (Michigan State) 6. ILYA SHKURENYOV (Russia) (1/11/91, 6-3¼/181) (1.91/82) [1)Pac-12, dnf)NCAA, 3)USATF] [6)NCAA, 13)USATF] 7. VITALI ZHUK (Belarus) (9/10/96) 4. Daniel Golubovic (unattached) 9. Markus Ballengee (Liberty) 8. KAI KAZMIREK (Germany) (1/28/91, 6-2¼/201) (1.89/91) [6)Clay, 4)USATF] [6)Texas R, 7)NCAA, 5)USATF] 9. LINDON VICTOR (Grenada) (2/28/93, 6-3¼/196) (1.91/89) 5. Hunter Veith (Wichita State) 10. Gabe Moore (Arkansas) 10. TIM DUCKWORTH (Great Britain) (6/18/96, 6-¾/176) (1.85/80) [1)Texas R, dnf)USATF] [2)SEC, 9)NCAA]

December 2018 PDF — Page 30 Men’s Performance Of The Year by T&FN

Eliud Kipchoge crept ever closer to the 2:00 barrier with his WR run in Berlin. (VICTOR SAILER/PHOTO RUN)

OUR 23-MEMBER international voting panel had little a lot of years. They were wrong. After an embarrassing trouble in choosing a marathon as the Men’s Performance Of long jump at the Euro Champs killed the Frenchman’s The Year for the first time since Haile Gebrselassie’s 2:04:26 chances for a big score there, he traveled to Talence in WR back in ’07. The subsequent breakings of the 2:04 and 2:03 late September and over the course of 2 days put up these barriers didn’t earn POY status, but Eliud Kipchoge’s crack- WR-breaking marks: 10.55, 25-7¼ (7.80), 52-6 (16.00), 6-8¾ ing of the 2:02 level did, getting 16 of 22 votes for No. 1. The (2.05), 48.42, 13.75, 165-10 (50.54), 17-10½ (5.45), 235-11 (71.90) other 6 voters called it No. 2. The other votes for No. 1 went to & 4:36.11. Amazingly enough, his total for each of the two decathlete Kevin Mayer (6) and 5000 runner Selemon Barega days was the same, 4563. (1)… Only 14 different performances received recognition in our 5-4-3-2-1 scoring system (WR = World Record; WL = 3. Abderrahmane Samba’s 46.98 WL, 56 yearly World Leader): Samba’s place in No. 3 was pretty much ordained when 15 of the voters put him in that position. In becoming only 1. Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:01:39 WR, 104 points the second man in history to break 400 ’s 47-second With most modern high-end marathoners just running barrier, the young Qatari gave Kevin Young’s venerable WR a pair of races, opportunities for hyper-fast times have to from ’92 its biggest scare yet. be maximized, and that’s just what the tireless Kenyan did on Berlin’s speedway of a course, whacking a hefty 1:18 4. Mondo Duplantis’s 19-10¼ (6.05) WL, 30 off Dennis Kimetto’s WR. It was also a PR by 1:26 as he Like fellow wunderkind Sydney McLaughlin on the cracked both the 2:03 and 2:02 barriers in the same race. women’s side, Duplantis didn’t end high in POY voting be- 2. Kevin Mayer’s 9126 WR, 96 cause he set a WJR; he ended up here because he put together When Ashton Eaton rang up his 9045 WR—a mark a memorable 3-PR vault sequence to win European Cham- which was the POY in ’15—many thought it would last for pionships gold. That raised him to a share of No. 4 on the

December 2018 PDF — Page 31 all-time world list. He preceded that big mark with lifetime Other Vote-Getters bests of 19-6¼ (5.95) and 19-8¼ (6.00). 6. tie, Selemon Barega’s 12:43.02 WL (#4 performer ever, 5. Rai Benjamin’s 47.02, 11 with the #6 performance) & Tom Walsh’s 74‑4½ (22.67) WL Just 22 days before Samba moved to No. 2 on the all-time (#5 performer ever, with the #9 performance), 9; 400H list, Benjamin had moved to =No. 2 with his spectacular 8. Abraham Kiptum’s 58:18 WR, 8; time at the NCAA Championships. One wonders how fast he 9. tie, Christian Coleman’s 9.79 & Juan Miguel Echevarría’s might have run had it not been cold and wet. Said USC assistant 28-11¾w (8.83), 6; coach Quincy Watts, “Rai Benjamin tying the great Edwin 11. Michael Norman’s 43.61 WL (#6 performer ever), 4; Moses. I mean just to even be mentioned in the same breath 12. tie, Coleman’s 6.34 iWR & Norman’s 90-minute with is just a tremendous feat and tremendous 43.61/43.62 NCAA double, 2; compliment.” Historical note: Kevin Young’s 46.78 was the 14. tie, Norman’s 44.52 iWR & Sergey Shubenkov’s 12.97 ’92 POY; No. 4 in the voting that year was a 43.50 by Watts. DL Final win, 1.

U.S. Men’s Athlete Of The Year — Noah Lyles by T&FN

A 19.69 win for Noah Lyles at Pre was the first of his 4 straight 19.6 performances.(KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

Track & Field News has been choosing a U.S. Men’s Athlete If this year’s Top 10 names look familiar it’s because 6 Of The Year since 1959. This year’s winner, sprinter Noah of them are repeaters from last year: Kendricks was No. 1, Lyles, was a runaway choice, garnering 22 of the 26 votes for Christian Taylor No. 2, Ryan Crouser No. 4, Coleman No. 6, No. 1 from our international panel and had no votes lower Evan Jager No. 7 and Fred Kerley No. 10. Taylor and Jager are than No. 3. The other votes for the top spot went to Christian on 5-year rolls, with Taylor’s positions since ’14 being 4-2-2-2-4 Coleman (3) and reigning No. 1 Sam Kendricks (1)… and Jager’s being 4-6-5-7-9. Crouser (3) and Kendricks (9) also scored in ’16, for 3-year streaks.

December 2018 PDF — Page 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Tot. 1 . Noah Lyles 22 3 1 — — — — — — — 255 98 1%. 2 . Christian Coleman 3 12 2 5 3 — 1 — — — 211 81 .2% 3 . Sam Kendricks 1 5 13 5 — 2 — — — — 204 78 .5% 4 . Christian Taylor — 3 6 11 4 — 1 — — 1 181 69 .6% 5 . Ryan Crouser — 3 1 1 6 6 5 2 — 2 136 52 .3% 6 . Ronnie Baker — — — 2 3 10 7 1 2 1 118 45 .4% 7 . Michael Norman — — 3 1 — 2 3 6 5 4 85 32 .7% 8 . Fred Kerley — — — 1 4 3 4 3 3 3 80 30 .8% 9 . Evan Jager — — — — 4 3 2 6 4 5 78 30 .0% 10 . Paul Chelimo — — — — 1 — 2 7 5 4 49 18 .8% 11. Darrell Hill 18; 12. Will Claye 11; 13. Jeff Henderson 4.

December 2018 PDF — Page 33 • EXCLUSIVE 2018 WORLD RANKINGS • ATHLETES OF THE YEAR •

www.trackandfieldnews.com

DECEMBER 2018

2018 Triple Threat Woman Caster Semenya Scores In The Of The 400, 800 & 1500 Year

December 2018 PDF — Page 34 JIRO MOCHIZUKI/IMAGE OF SPORT World Women’s Athlete Of The Year — Caster Semenya by T&FN

A typical ’18 finish found Caster Semenya finishing far ahead of her rivals in the 800. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

Voting by our 31-member international panel in this an- ’80)… Undefeated in the 800, she ran 1:54.25 to move to No. nual exercise—our 45th year of choosing a Women’s Athlete Of 4 on the all-time list (and produced all-time performances The Year—was scored on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis…Caster 4, 6 and 8). She also joined the sub-50 (49.62) and sub-4:00 Semenya had a comfortable margin of victory, collecting 17 (3:59.92) clubs… She was a clear No. 1, but her relatively low of the votes for No. 1. The other nods for the top spot went approval rating of 87.7% (most winners have historically to Beatrice Chepkoech (7), Shaunae Miller-Uibo (4), Mariya been in the 90s) may well be chalked up to skeptics who Lasitskene (2) & Caterine Ibargüen (1), who finished as Nos. think the pending IAAF legislation on testosterone could 2–5 in that order… change the path of her career. Voters are required to respect the order of our World Rankings in casting their votes. Any ballot that doesn’t follow 2. Beatrice Chepkoech (Kenya) the norms as established by their peers (for example, one as A crushing of the steeplechase World obvious as skipping Semenya entirely) is discarded. Half of Record with the Performance Of The Year, last year’s Top 10 were able to score again. This year’s Top 10: 8:44.32, earned Chepkoech the second-biggest haul of votes for the top spot and clear status 1. Caster Semenya (South Africa) as No. 2 in her first appearance in the Top 10. The 27-year-old A rare triple came Semenya’s way this Kenyan won 6 of her 7 races in dominating the yearly list, year. Not only did she rate No. 1 in her spe- putting up performances 1, 2, 3 & 5. She also impacted the cialty, the 800, she also picked off spots in the all-time performances list significantly, with marks 1, 3 & 7 400 (No. 6) and 1500 (No. 7). The 27-year-old in becoming the first ever to have 4 sub-9:00s in a year (not South African is only the second ever to rate in all three to mention also being the first with 3). events (Soviet Nadezhda Olizarenko turned the trick in

December 2018 PDF — Page 35 3. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas) The reigning The Voting Chart Olympic 1-lap gold 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total % medalist went unde- 1 . Caster Semenya 17 5 3 4 — — 1 — — 1 272 87 7%. feated, joined the sub- 49 club at 48.97 and moved to No. 10 2 . Beatrice Chepkoech 7 9 9 2 2 1 — 1 — — 257 82 .9% on the all-time list. But the 24-year-old 3 . Shaunae Miller-Uibo 4 10 6 1 2 3 2 1 — 2 225 72 .6% Bahamian only rated No. 2 there, as she 4 . 2 4 5 9 5 2 1 2 — — 209 67 .4% didn’t have enough races to earn the 5 . Caterine Ibargüen 1 2 4 4 5 5 1 6 — 1 166 53 .5% top spot. She did, however, have plenty of exposure in going undefeated in the 6 . Salwa Eid Naser — — — 2 3 5 3 7 4 4 102 32 .9% half-lapper where she ran 22.06 and 7. Nafi Thiam — — — 3 3 3 4 3 5 1 90 29 .0% did claim No. 1 there… This is the 8. Sandra Perković — — — — 1 6 6 4 6 4 88 28 .4% Georgia alum’s second appearance in the Top 10: she was No. 8 in ’16. 9. Anita Włodarczyk — — 2 1 1 2 2 2 5 7 70 22 .6% 10 . Marie-Josée Ta Lou — — — 1 5 1 3 1 3 4 67 21 .6% 4. Mariya Lasitskene (Russia) 11 . Lijiao Gong 51; 12 . Vivian Cheruiyot 46; 13 . Hellen Obiri 33; 14 . 13; 15 . “I had no problem, Shelby Houlihan 8; 16 . 5; 17 . Keni Harrison 3 . no injuries; it was just a bad day. These things happen,” said an easy No. 1 in her event… Thiam also showed off her high Lasitskene when her 45-meet high jump jump skills, raising the heptathlon WR in that event to 6-7 win streak was snapped in Rabat in mid-July. But that was (2.01) at Götzis and also claiming 2nd at the Paris DL. the only competition in a busy season of 24 meets that the 25-year-old Russian lost. She easily led her event and like 8. Sandra Perković (Croatia) last year (when as runner-up she was only a few votes shy Only one other face—see No. 9—has been of being AOY) she got some recognition in the No. 1 position as familiar in the Top 10 this decade as that here… She dominated the yearly list, three times putting up of the Croatian discus great, who appears for the world leader of 6-8¼ (2.04). Overall, she had 11 of the 13 the 6th time in the last 7 years (the record for highest clearances. most appearances is 10 by German long jump legend , but Perković shows no signs of slowing down at 5. Caterine Ibargüen (Colombia) age 28)… Perković won 9 of her 10 meets and produced 9 of The world’s top triple jumper had a bad the year’s 10 longest throws (missing only No. 8). She opened ’17, not only losing her Rankings leadership, her season with what would prove to be the best of the year but also seeing her string of appearances in 234-2 (71.38), missing her own “New Millennium World the Top 10 stopped at 4. But the 34-year-old Record” by an inch (3cm). Colombian bounced back in a big way this year, going unde- feated and putting up 8 of the year’s 9 longest jumps, topped 9. Anita Włodarczyk (Poland) by a 49-1 (14.96) that made her the year’s only 49-footer… For Obviously, making the Top 10 is no good measure she branched out into the long jump in a seri- easy task. One can understand, however, if ous way, upping her PR to 22-9 (6.93) and earning the No. 3 Włodarczyk might be disappointed with her spot in the World Rankings. position this year, given that this is the lowest of her 6 Top 10s all-time, topped by AOY crowns in ’14, ’16 & ’17 6. Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain) (she was also No. 4 in ’09 and No. 2 in ’15)… At 33, the Polish A 49.08 by the 20-year-old Bahraini that star continues to dominate the hammer despite a pair of out-of- moved her to No. 13 on the all-time list was character losses to open the year. She ended up with the year’s just 1 of 6 performances she put into the yearly 4 farthest throws, the best of them, 261‑1 (79.59), being the No. top 10. She broke the 50-second barrier in 7 of 12 performance ever (the dozen all owned by her, of course). her 10 races, losing only once. The overall Diamond League champion won 6 DL races… She makes her debut in the Top 10. Marie-Josée Ta Lou (Côte d’Ivoire) 10 as this year’s youngest member of the class. At a compact 5-2½/126 (1.59/57) Ta Lou may not have the size of her fellow sprinters, 7. Nafi Thiam () but at age 30 she’s certainly emerging with Last year Thiam became the first Belgian ever to crack the the speed, PRing at 10.85 to share the yearly Top 10, entering at No. 4. The 24-year-old heptathlete dropped world lead. She also ran 10.88 and 10.89 in winning 10 of 11 3 notches this year as a truly big score (like ’17’s 7000-pointer) races and reaching No. 1 in the 100 Rankings… She also ran eluded her. But she still put up the year’s 2 highest scores, 22.34 in the half-lapper and picked up a DL win in getting showing remarkable consistency at 6816 and 6806 in earning the No. 7 spot.

December 2018 PDF — Page 36 2018 Women’s 100 World Rankings

Marie-Josée Ta Lou (4) beat Murielle Ahouré 4-1 on the year. (GIANCARLO COLOMBO/PHOTO RUN)

AND THEN THERE WERE 6. A half-dozen nations, that is, that have gone 1–2 in the 100 in the 63-year history of the women’s Rankings. Australia first did it in ’57, the U.S. in ’64, Poland in ’65, in ’83, Jamaica in ’08 (that one an unparalleled 1-2-3-4) and now Côte d’Ivoire in ’18, powered by Marie-Josée Ta Lou & Murielle Ahouré… TA LOU WAS an easy choice for the top spot, even though she was just 3rd in the DL Final. That was her only loss in 13 races on the year, whereas Zürich winner Ahouré managed to win only 3 of 8 races all season. Overall, Ta Lou, last year’s No. 3, beat her fellow Ivoirian 4–1… European champ Dina Asher- Smith also claimed a win over Ta Lou in Zürich, but in a close decision, she falls to 4th behind reigning No. 1 Elaine Thompson, whose season was cut short by injury, but before that had a good sequence of DL finishes and went 2–2 against Ahouré… THE U.S. HAD A relatively down year, with its 3 rookie scorers (Aleia Hobbs, & Ashley Henderson) finishing in the 5-6-9 slots… , the U.S. No. 1 the last 4 seasons (with World Ranking spots of 2-3-2-2), pulled up with an injury at Pre and that was the end of her season.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. MARIE-JOSÉE TA LOU (Côte d’Ivoire) (11/18/88, 5-2½/126) (1.59/57) 1. *Aleia Hobbs (LSU) 6. Shaina Collins (Tennessee) 2. MURIELLE AHOURÉ (Côte d’Ivoire) (8/23/87, 5-5¾/126) (1.67/57) [1)SEC, 1)NCAA, 1)USATF] [2)SEC, 5)NCAA, 7)USATF] 3. ELAINE THOMPSON (Jamaica) (6/28/92, 5-6½/126) (1.69/57) 2. *Jenna Prandini (Puma) 7. (USC) 4. DINA ASHER-SMITH (Great Britain) (12/04/95, 5-5/121) (1.65/55) [3)USATF, 3)Lausanne DL, 1)NACAC] [3)NCAA, 1)USATF Jr, 2)World Jr] 5. ALEIA HOBBS (US) (2/24/96, 5-7¾/130) (1.72/59) 3. *Ashley Henderson () 8. Mikiah Brisco (LSU) 6. JENNA PRANDINI (US) (11/20/92, 5-7¾/130) (1.72/59) [4sf)NCAA, 2)USATF, 1)World Cup] [5)SEC, 6)NCAA, 4)USATF] 7. (Netherlands) (6/15/92, 5-10½/150) (1.79/68) 4. Tori Bowie (adidas) 9. (Nike) 8. MUJINGA KAMBUNDJI (Switzerland) (6/17/92, 5-6/130) (1.68/59) [1)Jones Mem, 1)adidas, 5)Eugene DL] [1)Roverto, 1)Padua] 9. ASHLEY HENDERSON (US) (12/4/95) 5. (Nike) 10. Aaliyah Brown (unattached) 10. MICHELLE-LEE AHYE (Trinidad) (4/10/92, 5-6/130) (1.68/59) [6)USATF, 2)London DL, 4)NACAC] [4)Mt . SAC, 3)Cayman Inv, 5)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 37 2018 Women’s 200 World Rankings

Shaunae Miller-Uibo turned back a field chock-full of Rankers-to-be at the Birmingham DL. (MARK SHEARMAN)

SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO’s successful defense of her crown was the first since in ’10. It was an easy decision as the Bahamian star went undefeated in winning all 7 of her races, including 4 DL tilts… THE CHOICE FOR No. 2 was also easy, with Euro Champ Dina Asher-Smith—the year’s only sub-22 performer—going 3–0 against Dafne Schippers. Schippers has now scored 5 straight years, the longest ongoing streak. Her consistently high finishes: 2-1-2-3-3… THE U.S. RAN its streak of being the leading by-nation scorer to 14 years, but did it with only 12 points (Jenna Prandini 5, Gabby Thomas 6, 10; the two last in their first appearances ever), its lowest total since 10 in ’95… Felix, who last year had a 14-year streak of her own snapped, didn’t run a half-lapper all year and one wonders if at 33 her days in the event are over and ’19 will see her as a 400 runner.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO (Bahamas) (4/15/94, 6-¾/152) (1.85/69) 1. *Jenna Prandini (Puma) 6. Shakima Wimbley (adidas) 2. DINA ASHER-SMITH (Great Britain) (12/04/95, 5-5/121) (1.65/55) [1)USATF, 1)London DL, 5)Brussels DL] [1)Clermont] 3. DAFNE SCHIPPERS (Netherlands) (6/15/92, 5-10½/150) (1.79/68) 2. *Gabby Thomas (Harvard) 7. Sydney McLaughlin (Kentucky) 4. SHERICKA JACKSON (Jamaica) (7/15/94, 5-8½/130) (1.74/59) [2)NCAA, 1)Lausanne DL, 6)Brussels DL] [1)Florida Relays] 5. JENNA PRANDINI (US) (11/20/92, 5-7¾/130) (1.72/59) 3. (Lynna Irby (Georgia) 8. (Tennessee) 6. GABBY THOMAS (US) (12/07/96) [1)Towns, 1)SEC, 3)NCAA] [2)SEC, 8)NCAA, 4)USATF] 7. MARIE-JOSÉE TA LOU (Côte d’Ivoire) (11/18/88, 5-2½/126) (1.59/57) 4. (Nike) 9. Kimberly Duncan (Nike) 8. JAMILE SAMUEL (Netherlands) (4/24/92, 5-6/126) (1.68/57) [3)King, 2)USATF, 1)Naimette-Xhov] [6)USATF, 5)Lausanne DL, 4)Lucerne] 9. MUJINGA KAMBUNDJI (Switzerland) (6/17/92, 5-6/130) (1.68/59) 5. Kyra Jefferson (Nike) 10. Angie Annelus (USC) 10. LYNNA IRBY (US) (12/06/98, 5-6/121) (1.68/55) [4)Rome DL, 3)USATF, 5)Paris DL] [1)vs . UCLA, 3)Pac-12), 1)NCAA]

December 2018 PDF — Page 38 2018 Women’s 400 World Rankings

Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the battle of Monaco, but Salwa Eid Naser won the war of the overall ratings. (GIANCARLO COLOMBO/PHOTO RUN)

REIGNING NO. 1 Shaunae Miller-Uibo was undefeated but nonetheless lost the top spot to Salwa Eid Naser, No. 3 a year ago. The selectors were torn over which should be on top, but in the final analysis it was decided that 3 races, 2 of them DL wins, weren’t enough for the top spot in a year when the once-beaten Naser was so busy, and so successful other than in her loss to SMU. Overall, Naser won 6 DL races (including the final), SMU just 2… Miller- Uibo’s list leading 48.97 at Monaco moved her to No. 10 on the all-time list, with Naser’s following 49.08 lifting her to No. 13… THE U.S. FEATURED prominently, with Phyllis Francis at No. 3 leading a record 6 Americans into the Top 10. The last time any nation had a half-dozen spots was the Soviet Union way-way back in ’59… Francis was joined by Shakima Wimbley (4), (5), Lynna Irby (8), Kendall Ellis (9) & Jaide Stepter (10)…

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. SALWA EID NASER (Bahrain) (5/23/98, 5-5¾/110) (1.67/50) 1. *Phyllis Francis (Nike) 6. *Jaide Stepter (Nike) 2. SHAUNAE MILLER-UIBO (Bahamas) (4/15/94, 6-¾/152) (1.85/69) [2)Eugene DL, 3)Paris DL, 2)Brussels DL] [6)Eugene DL, 4)Lausanne DL, 4)Brussels DL] 3. PHYLLIS FRANCIS (US) (5/04/92, 5-10/134) (1.78/61) 2. *Shakima Wimbley (adidas) 7. (Nike) 4. SHAKIMA WIMBLEY (US) (4/23/95, 5-10/134) (1.78/61) [3)Eugene DL, 1)USATF, 3)Brussels DL] [7)Eugene DL, 4)USATF, 3)London DL] 5. JESSICA BEARD (US) (1/08/89, 5-6/126) (1.68/57) 3. *Jessica Beard (adidas) 8. Brionna Thomas (Purdue) 6. CASTER SEMENYA (South Africa) (1/07/91, 5-7/141) (1.70/64) [4)Eugene DL, 2)USATF, 2)Lausanne DL] [1)Big 10, 3)NCAA, 5)USATF] 7. STEPHENIE ANN MCPHERSON (Jamaica) (11/25/88, 5-6/121) 4. *Lynna Irby (Georgia) 9. Sharrika Barnett (Florida) (1.68/55) [1)Mt . SAC, 1)NCAA] [2)Florida R, 1)SEC, 4)NCAA] 8. LYNNA IRBY (US) (12/06/98, 5-6/121) (1.68/55) 5. *Kendall Ellis (USC) 10. Sydney McLaughlin (Kentucky) 9. KENDALL ELLIS (US) (3/08/96, 5-8/130) (1.73/59) [1)Pac-12, 2)NCAA, 3)USATF] [1)Florida Relays] 10. JAIDE STEPTER (US) (4/25/94, 5-8/141) (1.73/64)

December 2018 PDF — Page 39 2018 Women’s 800 World Rankings

It took Caster Semenya only 1:54.25 to cover 2 laps in Paris. (JIRO MOCHIZUKI/IMAGE OF SPORT)

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Caster Semenya was a lock for her third straight No. 1 in the 2-lapper. She hasn’t lost since late in the ’15 campaign, with this year’s 9/9 meaning she has a of 29. And she has never been faster, as her PR 1:54.25 in Paris boosted her to No. 4 on the all-time list. Overall, she had the year’s 4 fastest performances and 6 of 8… AS CLEAR AS SEMENYA was for No. 1, Francine Niyonsaba and Ajee’ Wilson were murky for 2-3, the same as their order of last year. Niyonsaba had a 3–2 edge over the American and had slightly better marks. That meant Wilson needed a clear edge in honors-won, and she didn’t have it. Hanging our hats on their DL sequences, Niyonsaba’s 1-1-2-2-2-3-6 trumped Wilson’s 2-2-2-3-4, even though the Burundian’s out-of-character 6th came in the DL Final… WILSON MOVES from =No. 4 on the all-time U.S. scorers list to No. 2, now trailing only . She broke her tie with Alysia Montaño and slipped past sisters-in-law Joetta Clark-Diggs and Jearl Miles Clark… The U.S. topped by-nation scoring for the second year in a row, Wilson being joined by rookie in 6 and Charlene Lipsey in 8.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. CASTER SEMENYA (South Africa) (1/07/91, 5-7/141) (1.70/64) 1. *Ajee’ Wilson (adidas) 6. Sammy Watson (Texas A&M) 2. FRANCINE NIYONSABA (Burundi) (5/05/93, 5-3¼/123) (1.61/56) [2)Eugene DL, 1)USATF, 2)Zürich DL] [1)SEC, 1)NCAA, 1)USATF Jr] 3. AJEE’ WILSON (US) (5/08/94, 5-6½/121) (1.69/55) 2. *Raevyn Rogers (Nike) 7. Olivia Baker (Stanford) 4. NATOYA GOULE (Jamaica) (3/30/91, 5-3/110) (1.60/50) [7)Eugene DL, 2)USATF, 5)Zürich DL] [3)Pac-12, 5)NCAA, 6)USATF] 5. HABITAM ALEMU (Ethiopia) (7/09/97, 5-5¾/115) (1.67/52) 3. *Charlene Lipsey (adidas) 8. Hanna Green (Oregon TC) 6. RAEVYN ROGERS (US) (9/07/96, 5-7¼/141) (1.71/64) [5)Eugene DL, 5)USATF, 9)Zürich DL] [2)USATF Distance Cl, 7)USATF, 1)Dublin] 7. RABAB ARRAFI (Morocco) (1/12/91, 5-9¾/141) (1.77/64) 4. Ce’Aira Brown (Hoka/NJNY) 9. Sabrina Southerland (Oregon) 8. CHARLENE LIPSEY (US) (7/16/91, 5-6/126) (1.68/57) [3)USATF, 1)London DL, 1)Karlstad] [1)Pac-12, 7)NCAA, 8)USATF] 9. MARGARET WAMBUI (Kenya) (9/15/95, 5-7¼/126) (1.71/57) 5. (adidas) 10. Laura Roesler (Nike) 10. EMILY JEROTICH (Kenya) (5/13/86, 5-1/97) (1.55/44) [1)Mt . SAC, 4)USATF, 3)Lucerne] [5sf)USATF, 4)London DL, 2)Karlstad]

December 2018 PDF — Page 40 2018 Women’s 1500/Mile World Rankings

U.S. Athlete Of The Year Shelby Houlihan scored the first of her 2 DL wins over Laura Muir at the . (VICTOR SAILER/PHOTO RUN)

A TALE OF 2 SEASONS. Shelby Houlihan started her campaign with 4 wins and finished with 2 losses. Conversely, Laura Muir started with 4 losses and finished with 2 wins. Along the way, they met 3 times, all in DL competition, the American winning Eugene by 0.24 and Lausanne by 0.84, Muir winning Brussels by 0.45. Houlihan was 2nd in both her losses, while Muir had a trio of 2nds and a damning 5th in hers. Outside the DL sequence, Houlihan had to beat No. 6 for the USATF title and Muir had to beat No. 10 Ennaoui for the Euro crown. All of which added up to a narrow win for Houlihan in her debut year in the Rankings… SIMPSON RATES for the seventh straight year, the best string ever by an American (overall, has the highest overall total at 8). Simpson picked up enough points to tie Rowbury as the event’s highest American scorer ever, at 47. That puts them at =No. 6 in all-time world scoring. Rowbury was out on maternity leave this year.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. SHELBY HOULIHAN (US) (2/08/93, 5-3/119) (1.60/54) 1. *Shelby Houlihan (Bowerman TC) 6. Rachel Schneider (Under Armour) 2. LAURA MUIR (Great Britain) (5/09/93, 5-3¾/119) (1.62/54) [1)Eugene DL, 1)USATF, 2)Brussels DL] [4)USATF, 2)World Cup, 1)Falmouth] 3. SIFAN HASSAN (Netherlands) (1/01/93, 5-7/108) (1.70/49) 2. *Jenny Simpson (New Balance) 7. Dani Jones (unattached) 4. GUDAF TSEGAY (Ethiopia) (1/23/97, 5-2½/99) (1.59/45) [3)Eugene DL, 2)USATF, 4)London DL] [1B)Eugene DL, 3)Portland, 5)USATF] 5. RABAB ARRAFI (Morocco) (1/12/91, 5-9¾/141) (1.77/64) 3. (Bowerman TC) 8. Ajee’ Wilson (adidas) 6. JENNY SIMPSON (US) (8/23/86, 5-5/110) (1.65/50) [11)Eugene DL, 3)USATF, 8)London DL] [1)Temple, 3)Penn R, 1)Swarthmore] 7. CASTER SEMENYA (South Africa) (1/07/91, 5-7/141) (1.70/64) 4. (Bowerman TC) 9. Charlene Lipsey (adidas) 8. WINNY CHEBET (Kenya) (12/20/90, 5-5/110) (1.65/50) [2)Clay Inv, 1)Chorzów] [1)Penn R, 2) Swarthmore, 1)Sir Walter Miler] 9. AXUMAWIT EMBAYE (Ethiopia) (10/18/94, 5-3/110) (1.60/50) 5. (New Balance) 10. Elinor Purrier (New Hampshire) 10. SOFIA ENNAOUI (Poland) (8/30/95, 5-2¼/88) (1.58/40) [7)Eugene DL, 11)Stockholm DL, dnf)USATF] [7)NCAA, 6)USATF, 1)Lignano]

December 2018 PDF — Page 41 2018 Women’s Steeplechase World Rankings

Beatrice Chepkoech crushed the World Record in Monaco with our Women’s Performance Of The Year. (GIANCARLO COLOMBO/PHOTO RUN)

SLOWLY BUT SURELY the steeplechase’s 9:00 barrier is becoming almost commonplace. Well, at least for a select few. When the year began there had been 12 sub-9:00s all-time; now there are 17, with 4 of the new ones coming from Beatrice Chepkoech, who duplicated her No. 1 position of last year. The WR-setting Kenyan became the first ever to crack the barrier 3 times in one year—and then for good measure she added a fourth one… THE ONE RACE Chepkoech lost, an anomalous 5th in Rome, was won by Hyvin Jepkemoi, who also won in Oslo and ended up No. 2. That’s also Je- pkemoi’s position in all-time scoring as she makes the Top 10 (first 9, to be precise) for the seventh straight year… The No. 3 position goes to the year’s other sub-9:00 runner, Norah Tanui… IN 4 scores for the fifth year in a row (2-7-3-3-4) and rates as the best American for the eight straight year… took the American Record away from Coburn, but lost to her 3–1 overall.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. BEATRICE CHEPKOECH (Kenya) (7/06/91, 5-7¼/126) (1.71/57) 1. *Emma Coburn (New Balance) 6. (unattached) 2. HYVIN JEPKEMOI (Kenya) (1/13/92, 5-1¼/99) (1.56/45) [2)Oslo DL, 1)USATF, 4)Brussels DL] [1)USATF Distance Cl, 4)USATF] 3. NORAH TANUI (Kenya) (10/02/95, 5-3/97) (1.60/44) 2. *Courtney Frerichs (Bowerman TC) 7. Emily Oren (Oiselle) 4. EMMA COBURN (US) (10/19/90, 5-8/121) (1.73/55) [2)USATF, 2)Monaco DL, 6)Brussels DL] [3)Portland, 5)USATF, 2)NACAC] 5. CELLIPHINE CHESPOL (Kenya) (3/23/99, 5-5/108) (1.65/49) 3. Colleen Quigley (Bowerman TC) 8. Paige Stoner (Syracuse) 6. COURTNEY FRERICHS (US) (1/18/93, 5-5¾/115) (1.67/52) [12)Monaco DL, 1)Berlin] [1)ACC, 3)NCAA] 7. PERUTH CHEMUTAI (Uganda) (7/10/99, 5-5/110) (1.65/50) 4. Mel Lawrence (Oiselle) 9. Megan Rolland (Oiselle) 8. DAISY JEPKEMEI (Kenya) (2/13/96, 5-5¾/110) (1.67/50) [3)USATF, 3)Lucerne, 1)NACAC] [2)Music City, 6)USATF, 3)NACAC] 9. WINFRED YAVI (Bahrain) (12/31/99, 5-1¾/106) (1.57/48) 5. (Boise State) 10. Claire Borchers (Michigan) 10. ROSELINE CHEPNGETICH (Kenya) (6/17/97, 5-5¼/121) (1.66/55) [1)Stanford, 1)NCAA] [1)Battle Of Blues, 1)Big 10, 4)NCAA]

December 2018 PDF — Page 42 2018 Women’s 5000 World Rankings

Hellen Obiri sewed up No. 1 with a win in the DL Final. (MARK SHEARMAN)

THE FIRST KENYAN ever to win 2 years in a row, Hellen Obiri was an easy choice. She lost once, at Pre, but more than avenged that, going a combined 7–0 against Nos. 2-3-4 (Sifan Hassan, Senbere Teferi & Agnes Tirop)… Euro champ Hassan was an easy No. 2, losing only to Obiri (twice)… CONSPICUOUS IN HER absence was Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana, twice a No. 1 and twice a No. 2 in the last 4 years. She picked up a knee problem and didn’t race all year… U.S. leader Shelby Houlihan didn’t race on the DL Circuit, but earned No. 8 based on an impressive outing at Heusden-Zolder.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. HELLEN OBIRI (Kenya) (12/13/89, 5-3/110) (1.60/50) 1. *Shelby Houlihan (Bowerman TC) 6. Lauren Paquette (Brooks) 2. SIFAN HASSAN (Netherlands) (1/01/93, 5-7/108) (1.70/49) [1)USATF, 1)Heusden-Zolder] [1)USATF Distance Cl, 11)Eugene DL, 4) 3. SENBERE TEFERI (Ethiopia) (5/03/95, 5-2½/99) (1.59/45) 2. (Saucony) USATF] 4. AGNES TIROP (Kenya) (10/23/95, 5-2½/97) (1.59/44) [10)Rabat DL, 2)USATF] 7. Vanessa Fraser (Stanford) 5. (Ethiopia) (3/20/98, 5-4¼/106) (1.63/48) 3. (Missouri) [4)NCAA, 5)NCAA, 7)USATF] 6. (Ethiopia) (2/08/91, 5-6/115) (1.68/52) [1)NCAA, 3)USATF, 3) Heusden-Z] 8. Katie Mackey (Brooks Beasts) 7. CAROLINE KIPKIRUI (Kenya) (5/26/94, 5-3¾/103) (1.62/47) 4. Rachel Schneider (Under Armour) [5)Jordan, 6)USATF] 8. SHELBY HOULIHAN (US) (20/8/93, 5-3/119) (1.60/54) [2)Jordan, 2)USATF, 1)NACAC] 9. (Boston AA) 9. GUDAF TSEGAY (Ethiopia) (1/23/97, 5-2½/99) (1.59/45) 5. (Bowerman TC) [8)USATF Distance Cl, 8)USATF] 10. LILIAN RENGERUK (Kenya) (5/03/97, 5-3¼/97) (1.61/44) [1)Clay Inv, 1)Portland, 6)USATF] 10. Emily Sisson (New Balance) [1)Boston U LC, 9)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 43 2018 Women’s 10,000 World Rankings

Stella Chesang won the Commonwealth race, but Stacy Ndiwa bounced back for No. 1 after winning the African Champs gold. (MARK SHEARMAN)

LIKE THE MEN, the women had no European Circuit meets to run in, leaving the African Championships as the year’s biggest race, followed by the Commonwealth Games. Stacy Ndiwa was edged by Stella Chesang at the Commonwealth, but came back in fine fashion to win the African title and claim No. 1… Chesang, just 4th in the Africans, ends up at No. 3, as undefeated Pauline Korikwiang slips into the No. 2 position… THERE WAS ONLY a single sub-31:00 runner on the year, Kenyan Pauline Kamulu, who actually did it twice, winning Japanese corporate races at 30:41.85 and 30:56.94. Despite not meeting any of the other Rankers, that was enough to give her No. 7… WR holder Almaz Ayana, No. 1 the last 2 years, was troubled by a knee injury and didn’t race all year.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. STACY NDIWA (Kenya) (12/06/92) 1. Molly Huddle (Saucony) 6. Rochelle Kanuho (unattached) 2. PAULINE KORIKWIANG (Kenya) (3/01/88, 5-4¼/86) (1.63/39) [1)USATF] [1)Portland, 6)USATF, 2)NACAC] 3. STELLA CHESANG (Uganda) (12/01/96, 5-3¼/104) (1.61/47) 2. Marielle Hall (Bowerman TC) 7. (Bowerman TC) 4. ALICE NAWOWUNA (Kenya) (1/02/94, 5-8½/121) (1.74/55) [2)USATF, 1)NACAC] [1)Stanford, 7)USATF] 5. GETE ALEMAYEHU (Ethiopia) (/90/) 3. (Hoka NAZ Elite) 8. Karissa Schweizer (Missouri) 6. PAULINE KAMULU (Kenya) (4/16/95, 5-½/121) (1.54/55) [3)USATF] [3)Stanford, 3)NCAA] 7. MERCYLINE CHELANGAT (Uganda) (12/17/97, 5-3/99) (1.60/45) 4. Emily Sisson (New Balance) 9. Molly Seidel (Saucony Freedom) 8. LONAH CHEMTAI SALPETER (Israel) (12/12/88) [4)USATF] [2)Portland, 8)USATF] 9. SANDRA TUEI (Kenya) (1/20/98, 5-3/99) (1.60/45) 5. Sarah Pagano (Boston AA) 10. Chelsea Blaase (Hansons Brooks) 10. GLORIA KITE (Kenya) (12/29/98) [2)Jordan, 5)USATF, 4)NACAC] [4)Jordan, 9)USATF

December 2018 PDF — Page 44 2018 Women’s 100 Hurdles World Rankings

WR holder Keni Harrison ventured north of the border to win the NACAC title. (CLAUS ANDERSEN)

KENI HARRISON’S THIRD No. 1 in a row puts her in elite territory. Only (8) and Karin Balzer (4) have ever had more in an event where longevity at the top isn’t all that easy to come by… IT WAS A CLOSE-CLOSE-CLOSE decision between Harrison, winner the last two years, and Brianna McNeal (née Rollins), the ’13 No. 1. They were the only ones to have a 5-race average in the 12.4s (McNeal 12.426 Harrison 12.460), with McNeal also winning the DL Final. In fact, McNeal had an overall better set of high DL placings, but in the final analysis, a couple of really bad races (an 8th and a 9th, while Harrison was only once lower than 2nd) did her in. Just barely. An excellent case can certainly be made for McNeal as No. 1… THE U.S. DOMINATED things overall, claiming at least half the 10 Ranking positions for the tenth year in a row, claiming 5. And for the fourth time in the last 5 years Americans pulled off a 1-2-3, getting the No. 3 position. The other 2 Americans were Christina Manning in 5 and Queen Harrison in 10. WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. KENI HARRISON (US) (9/18/92, 5-4¼/115) (1.63/52) 1. *Keni Harrison (adidas) 6. Dawn Harper Nelson (Nike) 2. BRIANNA MCNEAL (US) (8/18/91, 5-4½/121) (1.64/55) [1)Doha DL, 1)USATF, 1)London DL] [5)USATF, 4)Rabat DL, 8)Brussels DL] 3. SHARIKA NELVIS (US) (5/10/90, 5-10/141) (1.78/64) 2. *Brianna McNeal (Nike) 7. (Jordan) 4. (Jamaica) (9/14/92, 5-6/130) (1.68/59) [1)Shanghai DL, 1)Stockholm DL, 1)Rabat DL] [1)Cayman Inv, 3)Drake R, 6)USATF] 5. CHRISTINA MANNING (US) (5/29/90, 5-4¼/119) (1.63/54) 3. *Sharika Nelvis (adidas) 8. (unattached) 6. TOBI AMUSAN (Nigeria) (4/23/97) [1)Rome DL, 3)USATF, 5)Brussels DL] [4)Doha DL, 4)Shanghai DL, dnc-f)USATF] 7. (Belarus) (1/9/97) 4. *Christina Manning (adidas) 9. Erica Bougard (Nike) 8. (Belarus) (5/14/89, 5-4½/119) (1.64/54) [2)USATF, 3)Gyulai Mem, 1)Berlin IWC] [1)Oxy, 1), 1)Sotteville] 9. JASMINE CAMACHO-QUINN (Puerto Rico) (8/21/96) 5. *Queen Harrison (Asics) 10. Tia Jones (Georgia HS) 10. QUEEN HARRISON (US) (9/10/88, 5-7/132) (1.70/60) [3)Oslo DL, 4)USATF, 1)Monaco DL] [1)Georgia State HS, 1)USATF Jr, 1)World Jr]

December 2018 PDF — Page 45 2018 Women’s 400 Hurdles World Rankings

Lausanne was the first of a pair of DL wins for .(GLADYS CHAIR/ASVOM AGENCY)

LOTS OF CONFLICTING evidence in this one, with winning the DL Final, and having a narrow 3–2 winning record against Shamier Little, but being crushed by Russell 6–2. But Little was a solid 4–2 over Russell, setting up a triangle. In the final analysis, Little—who had the year’s best 5-race average of times—was given the edge over Russell, with 2 wins and a pair of 2nds in DL races, compared to Russell’s 1 win and a trio of 2nds. IN BASKETBALL PARLANCE, Sydney McLaughlin did her requisite one-and-done, having a spectacular frosh season at Kentucky—including the world’s fastest time and yet another World Junior Record—before announcing that she was turning pro. Her minimalist 3-race-all-college season was still good enough to get her No. 5… Reigning world No. 1 Kori Carter used the off year to work on her speed, never running the full-lap hurdles… Early in the year, more than 2 years after her final race, all-time great , a 3-time No. 1, announced her retirement.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. SHAMIER LITTLE (US) (3/20/95, 5-4¼/115) (1.63/52) 1. *Shamier Little (adidas) 6. (adidas) 2. JANIEVE RUSSELL (Jamaica) (11/14/93, 5-8¾/139) (1.75/63) [1)USATF, 1)Lausanne DL, 2)Zürich DL] [8)Eugene DL, 3)USATF, 7)Lausanne DL] 3. DALILAH MUHAMMAD (US) (2/07/90, 5-7/137) (1.70/62) 2. *Dalilah Muhammad (Nike) 7. Kymber Payne (LSU) 4. (US) (3/06/90, 5-10/130) (1.78/59) [1)Shanghai DL, 1)Oslo DL, 1)Zürich DL] [2)SEC, 3)NCAA, 4)USATF] 5. SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN (US) (8/07/99, 5-8½/134) (1.74/61) 3. *Georganne Moline (Xendurance) 8. Anna Cockrell (USC) 6. LÉA SPRUNGER (Switzerland) (3/05/90, 6-0/152) (1.83/69) [1)Rome DL, 2)USATF, 4)Zürich DL] [1)Pac-12, 2)NCAA, 5)USATF] 7. EILIDH DOYLE (Great Britain) (2/20/87, 5-7¾/130) (1.72/59) 4. *Sydney McLaughlin (Kentucky) 9. Symone Black (Purdue) 8. SAGE WATSON (Canada) (6/20/94, 5-8¾/137) (1.75/62) [1)National Relays, 1)SEC, 1)NCAA] [7)Drake Relays, 1)Big 10, 4)NCAA] 9. (US) (6/08/93, 5-6/119) (1.68/54) 5. *Ashley Spencer (Nike) 10. Kiah Seymour (Glenarden TC) 10. ANNA RYZHYKOVA (Ukraine) (11/24/89, 5-9¼/130) (1.76/59) [7)Eugene DL, dnf)USATF, 5)Lausanne DL] [1)Clermont, 7)Cayman Inv, 6)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 46 2018 Women’s Marathon World Rankings

Vivian Cheruiyot joined as the only women ever to add a marathon No. 1 to a World Championships on the track. (MARK SHEARMAN)

THE DEEPEST YEAR EVER found no fewer than 11 women breaking the 2:20 barrier in 6 different races. And 6 of them broke 2:19. But the Rankings are about more than just fast times, so it was that list leader Gladys Cherono (2:18:11 in Berlin) only ended up as No. 3. As has nearly always been the case, no woman was able to win more than one World Marathon Major, even though most of the leading lights tried, and what happened in one’s “backup” race became very important… VIVIAN CHERUIYOT was second on the yearly list, winning the all-important London 26-miler at 2:18:31, moving to No. 5 on the all-time list. Her second race was a 2nd in … won Chicago at 2:18:35; her backup was a 2nd at London, where she was convincingly beaten by Cheruiyot, establishing their relative order. As for Cherono, her backup was only 4th in London, hence her No. 3 position… REIGNING NO. 1 Mary Keitany gets No. 4 on the strength of a London 5th followed by a New York City win… Meskerem Assefa didn’t run a WMM race, but rounds out the top 5 after fastish wins in Nagoya and … No Americans made the grade.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. VIVIAN CHERUIYOT (Kenya) (9/11/83, 5-1/84) (1.55/38) 1. (Bowerman TC) 6. Emma Bates (Idaho Distance Project) 2. BRIGID KOSGEI (Kenya) (2/20/94, 5-4¼/101) (1.63/46) [3)] [1)USATF Champs] 3. GLADYS CHERONO (Kenya) (5/12/83, 5-3¼/99) (1.61/45) 2. (Brooks) 7. Allie Kieffer (Oiselle/New York AC) 4. MARY KEITANY (Kenya) (1/18/82, 5-2¼/99) (1.58/45) [1)Boston, 6)New York] [7)New York] 5. MESKEREM ASSEFA (Ethiopia) (9/20/85, 5-1/95) (1.55/43) 3. (Bowerman TC) 8. (Asics) 6. ROZA DEREJE (Ethiopia) (5/6/97, 5-6/114) (1.68/52) [6)Boston, 3)New York] [3)Ottawa, dnf)Frankfurt] 7. TADELECH BEKELE (Ethiopia) (4/11/91, 5-½/88) (1.54/40) 4. Molly Huddle (Saucony) 9. Stephanie Bruce (Hoka Northern Arizona) 8. BERHANE DIBABA (Ethiopia) (9/11/93, 5-2½/97) (1.59/44) [13)Boston, 4)New York] [10)London, 11)New York, 2)USATF Ch] 9. RUTI AGA (Ethiopia) (1/16/94, 5-2½/99) (1.59/45) 5. Kellyn Taylor (Hoka Northern Arizona) 10. Sarah Crouch (361 USA) 10. RUTH CHEPNGETICH (Kenya) (8/8/94, 5-3/97) (1.60/44) [dnf)Boston, 1)Grandma’s] [7)Houston, 6)Chicago]

December 2018 PDF — Page 47 2018 Women’s 20K Walk World Rankings

Lupita González went from 2nd in the biggest race of ’17 to 1st in the biggest of ’18. (MARK SHEARMAN)

AFTER 2 STRAIGHT YEARS as the runner-up, Lupita González ascended to the No. 1 position. The Mexican star had a compact 2-race season, but it was enough when she scored a convincing win at the World Team Championships. The WTC race provided the main template for this year’s ordering, the 2-3 finishers there, Shenjie Qieyang and Jiayu Yang, earning spots Nos. 2 & 3 after overall seasons in which each lost more times than she won… THE EUROPEAN LEADERS, Mária Pérez of Spain and Anežka Drahotová of the Czech Republic, claim the 4 & 5 positions… Yearly list leader Yelena Lashmanova, like several of her quick Russian compatriots, wasn’t considered for a spot after not being cleared for competition outside her home borders… The U.S. has still never had a Top 10er in this event. Maria Michta-Coffey is rated as the best American for the ninth year in a row. (NOTE: After this copy was written came news that González has been provisionally suspended for a doping violation.)

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. LUPITA GONZÁLEZ (Mexico) (1/09/89, 5-4/104) (1.62/47) 1. Maria Michta-Coffey (Oiselle/Walk USA) 6. Amberly Melendez (Northwest U) (¶ has a pending doping positive) [1)USATF, 1)World Team Tr, 29)World Team] [7)USATF, 4)World Team Tr, 79)World Team] 2. SHENJIE QIEYANG (China) (11/11/90, 5-3/110) (1.60/50) 2. (Skechers/NYAC) 7. Melissa Moeller (unattached) 3. JIAYU YANG (China) (2/18/96, 5-4/106) (1.63/48) [2)World Team Tr, 56)World Team] [5)USATF, 6)World Team Tr] 4. MÁRIA PÉREZ (Spain) (4/29/96) 3. Katie Burnett (unattached) 8. Lydia McGranahan (Racewalkers 5. ANEŽKA DRAHOTOVÁ (Czech Republic) (7/22/95, 5-11/126) (1.80/57) [2)USATF] Northwest) 6. ERICA DE SENA (Brazil) (5/03/85, 5-6/121) (1.68/55) 4. Robyn Stevens (Skechers) [6)USATF] 7. ELEONORA GIORGI (Italy) (9/14/89, 5-4/115) (1.63/52) [3)USATF, 3)World Team Tr, 65)World Team] 9. Katie Michta (Walk USA) 8. BRIGITA VIRBALYTĖ-DIMŠIENĖ (Lithuania) (2/1/85, 5-5/110) (1.65/50) 5. Anali Cisneros (Judson) [7)World Team Tr] 9. KIMBERLEY GARCÍA (Peru) (10/19/93, 5-4¾/97) (1.67/44) [4)USATF, 5)World Team Tr] 10. Meaghan Podlaski (unattached) 10. INNA KASHYNA (Ukraine) (9/27/91, 5-3¾/108) (1.62/49) [8)World Team Tr] 11. ANTONELLA PALMISANO (Italy) (8/6/91, 5-5¼) (166/49)

December 2018 PDF — Page 48 2018 Women’s 50K Walk World Rankings

LONDON ’17 SAW the debut of the women’s 50 at a very late date, and there were so few competitors that we didn’t feel it quite right to give full World Ranking status to such a poorly-thought-out introduction. But with a year’s notice, the event crept another step closer to real parity. As we did when the women’s pole vault, triple jump and hammer came on the scene, we’ve restricted the Rankings to a Top 5 instead of 10… THE WORLD TEAM CHAMPS race was key to the ordering, with the first three from that competition taking the top 3 spots, headed by Rui Liang with her World Record time… Reigning world champ Inês Henriques DNFed at that race, but bounced back with a European gold to take the No. 4 spot before a return to the Taicang order… U.S. walkers were not a factor.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. RUI LIANG (China) (6/18/94) 1. Katie Burnett (unattached) 3. Susan Randall (Shore AC) 2. HANG YIN (China) (2/07/97, 5-3¼/110) (1.61/50) [1)USATF, dnf)World Team Ch] [29)World Team Ch] 3. CLAIRE TALLENT (Australia) (6/07/81, 5-4¼/110) (1.63/50) 2. Erin Taylor-Talcott (Shore AC) 4. Teresa Vaill (Pegasus AC) 4. INÊS HENRIQUES (Portugal) (5/01/80, 5-2¼/101) (1.58/46) [2)USATF, 28)World Team Ch] [3)USATF] 5. PAOLA PÉREZ (Ecuador) (12/21/89, 4-10¼/121) (1.48/55)

ATTEND THE 2019 NATIONALS WITH TRACK & FIELD NEWS TOURS

The 2019 USATF Outdoor National Championships will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday July 25 through Sunday, AC Hotel by Marriott Des July 28. The venue is Drake University’s stadium, host of the Moines East Village annual Drake Relays. These championships will determine the U.S. team for the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, so expect edge-of-the-seat drama, excitement, and superlative performances.

T&FN tour members have the choice of 3, 4, or 5 nights stay. Our hotel is the AC Hotel by Marriott Des Moines East Village, in the lively East Village area of town, and we’ll bus to/from the stadium for all sessions. The tour package includes hotel, daily breakfast, prime tickets to the meet, busing, airport transfers, tour din- ner party Saturday evening, and more.

For full information: www.trackandfieldnews.com, or phone 650/948-8188.

Tour dates: August 23 - September 7 For information: www.trackandfieldnews.com/tours

Go with Track & Field News Tours

Can’t go to Doha for the Worlds next year? Here’s an option for a two-week track holiday that will take you to four (plus) magnificent cities and four of Europe’s best track meets next summer. We start in Paris for the DL meet at Charlety Stadium, then to Zurich for the Weltklasse, then to Berlin for the IAAF World Challenge ISTAF meeting at the Olympic Stadium, and finally to Brussels for the Van Damme and the DL Final. Three nights each each city (though we stay in beautiful lakeside Lucerne for the Zurich meet). Motorcoach transport throughout, with overnights in Dijon, Hannover, and Nuremburg. Es- timated cost is $3995/person, double occupancy. $100 deposit per person now required.

December 2018 PDF — Page 49 2018 Women’s High Jump World Rankings

Mariya Lasitskene bent over backwards in her efforts to earn her fourth No. 1.(MARK SHEARMAN)

AFTER FINISHING UP the ’16 season with 3 straight wins, Mariya Lasitskene added 24 more last year, then tacked on yet another 17 this year for a streak of 44. Then and Yuliya Levchenko somehow both took her down at the Rabat DL, where she could manage only 6-2¾ (1.90). She quickly began another streak, of course, and will enter ’19 working on 7 straight. THIS WAS HER fourth No. 1 (following ’14, ’15 & ’17). Only legends (6) and Iolanda Balaș (9) have ever had more… Demireva and Levchenko are obvious choices for the 2-3 spots, then it’s the turn of newcomer , who erupted to being a 6-7½ (2.02) performer at age 26 after coming into the year with a PR of just 6-3¼ (1.91), set way back in ’10… STILL JUST 20, repeated as the top American and also reprised her presence in the No. 5 position. She started the season well with World Indoor silver but then jumped in only a pair of DL meets, wrapping up her season on July 22. She’s now the =No. 5 U.S. scorer, passing Jan Wohlschlag, Colleen Sommer, Joni Huntley and .

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. MARIYA LASITSKENE (Russia) (1/14/93, 5-11½/132) (1.82/60) 1. *Vashti Cunningham (Nike) 6. Loretta Blaut (Cincinnati) 2. MIRELA DEMIREVA () (9/28/89, 5-10¾/110) (1.80/50) [1)USATF Ind, 2)World Ind, 1)USATF] [2)NCAA Ind, =2)NCAA, 6)USATF] 3. YULIYA LEVCHENKO (Ukraine) (11/28/97, 5-10½/132) (1.79/60) 2. Inika McPherson (unattached) 7. Erica Bougard (Nike) 4. ELENA VALLORTIGARA (Italy) (9/21/91, 5-10½/123) (1.79/56) [2)USATF Ind, =7)World Ind, 2)USATF] [P)USATF Ind, P)World Ind, H)Götzis] 5. VASHTI CUNNINGHAM (US) (1/18/98, 6-¾/146) (1.85/66) 3. Liz Patterson (unattached) 8. Zarriea Willis (Texas Tech) 6. MARIE-LAURENCE JUNGFLEISCH (Germany) (10/07/90, 5-11¼/150) [4)USATF Ind, 3)USATF, 1)Dublin] [4)NCAA Ind, 6)NCAA, 5)USATF] (1.81/68) 4. Logan Boss (Mississippi State) 9. Alexus Henry (UT Arlington) 7. KATERYNA TABASHNYK (Ukraine) (6/15/94, 5-10/137) (1.78/62) [1)SEC Ind, 3)NCAA Ind, 4)USATF] [=10)NCAA Ind, 3)Drake R, 1)NCAA] 8. MORGAN LAKE (Great Britain) (5/12/97, 5-10/141) (1.78/64) 5. Nicole Greene (North Carolina) 10. Amina Smith (New Balance/Garden State TC) 9. ERIKA KINSEY (Sweden) (3/10/88, 6-¾/150) (1.85/68) [3)USATF Ind, 1)ACCi, 1)NCAA Ind] [4)USATF Ind, 7)Drake R, 7)USATF] 10. (Italy) (3/08/93, 6-2/150) (1.88/68)

December 2018 PDF — Page 50 2018 Women’s Pole Vault World Rankings

Vault advice at Pre for the likes of Rankers Eliza McCartney, Sandi Morris & comes out of the East Grandstand. Bonus points if you see Mondo Duplantis’s dad. (JEFF COHEN)

WITH A WINNING RECORD against all other vaulters, the most DL wins (3) and the best sequence of marks, Sandi Morris was an easy choice for the top spot. That returned her to the preeminent position she had in ’16 before being demoted to No. 2 last year by Katerína Stefanídi, who assumes that position this time around. European champ Stefanídi also won the DL Final, but had losing records against both Morris (4–5) and Anzhelika Sidorova (3–5) so couldn’t move up… 2-TIME NO. 1 SUHR had a 2–1 record over the Russian, but she ended her season early when groin/pelvis pain led to an MRI that showed swelling, a cyst and a mass in her pelvis. As a result, her DL credit line of 1-2-=5 couldn’t compare with Sidorova’s 1-2-3-3-6. So World Indoor silver medalist Sidorova gets 3, Suhr 4. MORRIS & SUHR led the way as the U.S. racked up its highest point total ever in the event, 22, with Katie Nageotte checking in at No. 6. It’s also only the second time the U.S. has had 3 Rankers, the previous incidence coming in ’01 (Stacy Dragila, Kellie Suttle & Mary Vincent).

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. SANDI MORRIS (US) (7/08/92, 5-8½/143) (1.74/65) 1. *Sandi Morris (Nike) 6. Lexi Jacobus (Arkansas) 2. KATERÍNA STEFANÍDI (Greece) (2/04/90, 5-7¾/139) (1.72/63) [1)World Ind, 1)USATF, 2)Zürich DL] [1)NCAA Ind, 2)NCAA, 9)USATF] 3. ANZHELIKA SIDOROVA (Russia) (6/28/91, 5-7/115) (1.70/52) 2. * (adidas) 7. Annie Rhodes-Johnigan (unattached) 4. JENN SUHR (US) (2/05/82, 5-10¾/141) (1.80/64) [3)USATF Ind, 3)USATF, 2)Lausanne DL] [8)USATF Ind, =4)Drake R, 5)USATF] 5. ELIZA MCCARTNEY (New Zealand) (12/11/96, 5-10½/146) (1.79/66) 3. *Katie Nageotte (Nike) 8. Morgann LeLeux (unattached) 6. KATIE NAGEOTTE (US) (6/30/91, 5-6/130) (1.68/59) [1)USATF Ind, 5)World Ind, 3)USATF] [4)USATF Ind, 6)Texas R, =7)USATF] 7. HOLLY BRADSHAW (Great Britain) (11/02/91, 5-8¾/150) (1.75/68) 4. Kristen Hixson (unattached) 9. Tori Hoggard (Arkansas) 8. YARISLEY SILVA (Cuba) (6/01/87, 5-6½/150) (1.69/68) [6)USATF Ind, 1)Mt . SAC, 4)USATF] [2)NCAA Ind, =12)NCAA, =7)USATF] 9. NIKOLÉTA KIRIAKOPOÚLOU (Greece) (3/21/86, 5-5¾/123) (1.67/56) 5. (Kentucky) 10. Emily Grove (unattached) 10. NINON GUILLON-ROMARIN (France) (4/15/95, 5-4¼/117) (1.63/53) [1)SEC Ind, 3)NCAA Ind, 1)NCAA] [=4)Drake R, 9)Doha DL, =10)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 51 2018 Women’s Long Jump World Rankings

Birmingham was the site of one of ’s pair of DL wins. (MARK SHEARMAN)

WITH THE LONG JUMP being one of those DL events which now has only 4 meets before the final instead of 7, seasonal records frequently end up looking rather thin, with dominance hard to establish. Particularly in a non-OG/WC year like this one. Malaika Mihambo ended up with a season of some good highs (Euro gold plus being the only double-DL winner), but also had some clunkers (5th at the World Indoor, 4th in the DL Final). Overall, though, she had the best season of all and gets her first No. 1 (previous high No. 6 in ’16)… FOR IVANA ŠPANOVIĆ it ended up being another year of oh-so-close as she claimed the runner-up spot for the third year in a row (after finishing 3-2-4 in the years before that). She started in fine form, winning World Indoor gold, but was down 3–2 to Mihambo when the Euros rolled around. The Serb launched what would prove to be the longest jump of the Q-round on her first jump, but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the process… scored for the eleventh time, leaving her behind only Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s dozen among Americans ever (Heike Drechsler holds an apparently unassailable lead at the world level with 21). But she also passed JJK for most points by an American ever. Reese terminated her season early to begin preparation for the ’19 Worlds.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. MALAIKA MIHAMBO (Germany) (2/03/94, 5-7/114) (1.70/52) 1. *Sha’Keela Saunders (adidas) 6. (Nike) 2. IVANA ŠPANOVIĆ (Serbia) (5/10/90, 5-9¼/143) (1.76/65) [1)USATF, 4)London DL, 3)Brussels DL] [6)Kingston, 1)Prague, 1)Padua] 3. CATERINE IBARGÜEN (Colombia) (2/12/84, 6-¾/154) (1.85/70) 2. *Brittany Reese (Nike) 7. Jasmine Todd (Nike) 4. SHARA PROCTOR (Great Britain) (9/16/88, 5-5/132) (1.65/60) [1)USATF Ind, 2)World Ind, 2)Chorzów] [5)USATF Ind, 8)Kingston, 4)USATF] 5. BROOKE STRATTON (Australia) (7/12/93, 5-5¼/128) (1.66.58) 3. (unattached) 8. Kate Hall (Georgia) 6. LORRAINE UGEN (Great Britain) (8/22/91, 5-10/143) (1.65/60) [2)USATF Ind, 4)World Ind, 2)USATF] [1)SEC Ind, 1)NCAA Ind, 16)NCAA] 7. SHA’KEELA SAUNDERS (US) (12/18/93, 5-6/130) (1.68/59) 4. (Georgia) 9. Tara Davis (Georgia) 8. CHRISTABEL NETTEY (Canada) (6/02/91, 5-3¾/130) (1.62/59) [2)NCAA Ind, 1)SEC, 1)NCAA] [3)NCAA Ind, 5)NCAA, 3)World Jr] 9. ESE BRUME (Nigeria) (1/20/96, 5-5¾/128) (1.67/58) 5. (unattached) 10. Malaina Payton (unattached) 10. BRITTNEY REESE (US) (9/09/86, 5-7/134) (1.70/61) [3)USATF, 3)Gyulai Memorial] [8)USATF Ind, 5)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 52 2018 Women’s Triple Jump World Rankings

Caterine Ibargüen bounded to her fifth No. 1 in 6 years. (JIRO MOCHIZUKI/IMAGE OF SPORT)

AFTER A RECORD 4 straight No. 1s, 2013–16, Caterine Ibargüen had an off-year in ’17, slipping to No. 2. She bounced back (pun intended) this year by going undefeated and dominating the performance lists. She’s now tied with for most No. 1s ever at 5… Last year’s No. 1, Yulimar Rojas, opened on a long note, winning the World Indoor gold, but she no-marked in her only other meet and sat out the season with a right-ankle injury. She slips in at No. 7… AMERICANS MADE BIG NEWS (no, really), having a pair of scorers for the first time ever. Keturah Orji ended up at No. 4, Tori Franklin at No. 5. Franklin took the AR away from Orji, but Orji beat her 3–0 in head-to-head meetings. Orji, who was No. 5 in ’16, became only the second American ever to score twice, Sheila Hudson turning the trick in ’92 and ’96.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. CATERINE IBARGÜEN (Colombia) (2/12/84, 6-¾/154) (1.85/70) 1. *Keturah Orji (Georgia) 6. Jasmine Moore (Texas HS) 2. KIM WILLIAMS (Jamaica) (11/03/88, 5-6½/146) (169/66) [5)World Ind, 1)NCAA, 1)USATF] [1)NBal Ind N, 1)USATF Jr, 10)World Jr] 3. SHANIEKA RICKETTS (Jamaica) (2/02/92, 5-10¾/141) (180/64) 2. *Tori Franklin (NYAC) 7. Toni Smith (unattached) 4. KETURAH ORJI (US) (30/5/96, 5-5/115) (165/52) [8)World Ind, 2)USATF, 4)Zürich DL] [6)USATF Ind, 7)USATF] 5. TORI FRANKLIN (US) (10/07/92, 5-8/121) (1.73/55) 3. Imani Oliver (unattached) 8. LaChyna Roe (Tennessee) 6. PARASKEVÍ PAPAHRÍSTOU (Greece) (4/17/89, 5-7/117) (1.70/53) [1)Tiger, 4)Kingston, 3)USATF] [4)SEC, 6)USATF] 7. YULIMAR ROJAS (Venezuela) (10/21/95, 6-2¼/165) (189/75) 4. (unattached) 9. Viershanie Latham (unattached) 8. KRISTIN GIERISCH (Germany) (8/20/90, 5-10/130) (178/59) [2)USATF Ind, 5)USATF] [3)USATF Ind, 9)USATF] 9. ANA PELETEIRO (Spain) (12/02/95, 5-7¼/114) (1.71/52) 5. Lynnika Pitts (unattached) 10. Keri Emanuel (unattached) 10. ELENA ANDREEA PANȚUROIU (Romania) (2/24/95, 5-7/125) (1.70/57) [4)USATF Ind, 4)USATF, 5)NACAC] [1)Mt . Olive, 8)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 53 2018 Women’s Shot World Rankings

One of Lijiao Gong’s dozen wins was the World Cup title. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

REIGNING NO. 1 GONG got off to a losing start, capturing “only” bronze at the World Indoor. That was the last time she would fail to occupy the top spot on the podium, racking up a dozen straight wins to score an easy repeat. It’s appearance No. 12 for Gong, all of them in a row… THE BABY DEPARTMENT: Christina Schwanitz was an easy No. 2, returning to the Rankings after missing the entire ’17 outdoor season to child- birth… 9-time leader returned from having a baby as well (and may miss some/all of ’19 for the same reason), sneaking in at the No. 9 position. It’s appearance No. 15 for the Kiwi, leaving her just 1 behind all-time leader Helena Fibingerová. She’s also just 4 points away from passing the Czech for the all-time scoring leadership… left school early and responded with her best finish yet, a No. 3 that made her the leading American for the first time… Missing from the show after 8 straight appearances is Michelle Carter, whose No. 6 is her lowest status among Americans since that same placing in ’07.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. LIJIAO GONG (China) (1/24/89, 5-8½/243) (1.74/110) 1. *Raven Saunders (Nike) 6. Michelle Carter (Nike NYAC) 2. CHRISTINA SCHWANITZ (Germany) (12/24/85, 5-10¾/227) (1.80/103) [3)USATF, 2)Monaco DL, 2)Brussels DL] [5)Kingston, 6)USATF, 7)Monaco DL] 3. RAVEN SAUNDERS (US) (5/15/96, 5-5/240) (165/109) 2. *Maggie Ewen (Arizona State) 7. Dani Hill (Nike) 4. PAULINA GUBA (Poland) (5/14/91, 5-10¾/198) (1.80/90) [1)NCAA, 1)USATF, 5)Monaco DL] [1)USATF Ind, 12)World Ind, 11)USATF] 5. ANITA MÁRTON (Hungary) (1/15/89, 5-7¼/185) (171/84) 3. (unattached) 8. Rachel Fatherly (Velaasa) 6. DANNIEL THOMAS-DODD (Jamaica) (11/11/92, 5-5/196) (165/89) [3)USATF Ind, 8)World Ind, 7)USATF] [7)USATF Ind, 2)Tucson, 8)USATF] 7. ALIONA DUBITSKAYA (Belarus) (1/25/90, 5-11½/170) (182/77) 4. (unattached) 9. Jessica Woodard (Oklahoma) 8. MAGGIE EWEN (US) (9/23/94, 5-10/174) (1.78/79) [9)USATF Ind, 2)USATF, 6)Rabat DL] [3)NCAA Ind, 2)NCAA, 9)USATF] 9. VALERIE ADAMS (New Zealand) (10/06/84, 6-4/265) (1.93/120) 5. Monique Riddick (unattached) 10. Jeneah Stewart (Mississippi) 10. YANG GAO (China) (3/01/93, 5-10/243) (178/110) [1)Tucson, 3)Kingston, 4)USATF] [15)NCAA Ind, 5)NCAA, 5)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 54 2018 Women’s Discus World Rankings

The last year that Sandra Perković wasn’t No. 1 was back in ’11. (MARK SHEARMAN)

IS SHE HARD TO BEAT OR WHAT? Sandra Perković has now been No. 1 for a record-tieing 7 years in a row, starting in ’12. She lost just once each in ’12 & ’13, then twice each in ’14 & ’15 before going undefeated in ’16. Then came a 2-loss season last year and now a single defeat this year: the grand total during that span being just 7 losses measured against 73 wins (a batting average of .913). But longevity being what it is in the women’s discus, even with all those great seasons she’s still only No. 8 on the all-time scoring list, 23 points out of the lead… PERKOVIĆ’S ONLY LOSS came at the DL Final, where she couldn’t catch No. 2 Yaimé Pérez and No. 4 Andressa de Morais on her final throw. “Stupid things sometimes happen, but this is sports,” Perković said, adding that she’d been ill with the flu and thought she wouldn’t even be able to compete… Pérez moved up a spot from last year, as did fellow Cuban Denia Caballero at No. 3. WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. LIJIAO GONG (China) (1/24/89, 5-8½/243) (1.74/110) 1. *Raven Saunders (Nike) 6. Michelle Carter (Nike NYAC) 2. CHRISTINA SCHWANITZ (Germany) (12/24/85, 5-10¾/227) (1.80/103) [3)USATF, 2)Monaco DL, 2)Brussels DL] [5)Kingston, 6)USATF, 7)Monaco DL] 3. RAVEN SAUNDERS (US) (5/15/96, 5-5/240) (165/109) 2. *Maggie Ewen (Arizona State) 7. Dani Hill (Nike) 4. PAULINA GUBA (Poland) (5/14/91, 5-10¾/198) (1.80/90) [1)NCAA, 1)USATF, 5)Monaco DL] [1)USATF Ind, 12)World Ind, 11)USATF] 5. ANITA MÁRTON (Hungary) (1/15/89, 5-7¼/185) (171/84) 3. Jeneva Stevens (unattached) 8. Rachel Fatherly (Velaasa) 6. DANNIEL THOMAS-DODD (Jamaica) (11/11/92, 5-5/196) (165/89) [3)USATF Ind, 8)World Ind, 7)USATF] [7)USATF Ind, 2)Tucson, 8)USATF] 7. ALIONA DUBITSKAYA (Belarus) (1/25/90, 5-11½/170) (182/77) 4. Jessica Ramsey (unattached) 9. Jessica Woodard (Oklahoma) 8. MAGGIE EWEN (US) (9/23/94, 5-10/174) (1.78/79) [9)USATF Ind, 2)USATF, 6)Rabat DL] [3)NCAA Ind, 2)NCAA, 9)USATF] 9. VALERIE ADAMS (New Zealand) (10/06/84, 6-4/265) (1.93/120) 5. Monique Riddick (unattached) 10. Jeneah Stewart (Mississippi) 10. YANG GAO (China) (3/01/93, 5-10/243) (178/110) [1)Tucson, 3)Kingston, 4)USATF] [15)NCAA Ind, 5)NCAA, 5)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 55 2018 Women’s Hammer World Rankings

Anita Włodarczyk started the season with uncharacteristic losses, but then went on a winning streak. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT)

ALTHOUGH NOT AN AOY-CALIBER season like those she had in ’14, ’16 & ’17, Anita Włodarczyk’s latest campaign was chock-full of goodies as she ran her record strings to 7 titles overall and 6 in a row. In terms of points scored, she’s now at 98, trailing only Yipsi Moreno (100) and (103), both now among the roster of the retired… Włodarczyk’s list-leading mark rates as “only” the No. 12 performance of all-time, but since she owns the 11 marks ahead of it, it’s pretty significant stuff. She came into the year riding a 42-meet win streak dating back to early ’14 but promptly opened with an uncharacteristic pair of losses. The second of those came at the hands of , who became the first American ever to beat her. BERRY PUT AN EXCLAMATION POINT on her win by raising the American Record to 255-2 (77.78) in the process. That broke the mark of 254-9 (77.65) set just 6 days earlier by DeAnna Price (erasing a ’17 Berry mark). The recordsetting wasn’t over, however, as another 15 days down the line Price won the USATF crown at 256-3 (78.12). Price went on to lose only a single meet all year and ended up at No. 2, the highest U.S. finish ever. Berry earned No. 4, behind Wlodarczyk’s teammate Joanna Fiodorow..

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. ANITA WŁODARCZYK (Poland) (8/08/85, 5-10/207) (1.78/94) 1. *DeAnna Price (NYAC) 6. Jessica Ramsey (unattached) 2. DEANNA PRICE (US) (6/08/93, 5-7¾/240) (1.72/109) [1)USATF, 6)World Cup, 1)NACAC] [2)LSU, 7)Kingston, 5)USATF] 3. JOANNA FIODOROW (Poland) (3/04/89, 5-6/170) (1.68/77) 2. *Gwen Berry (Nike NYAC) 7. Jeneva Stevens (unattached) 4. GWEN BERRY (US) (6/29/89, 5-10/194) (1.78/88) [1)Chorzów, 2)Ostrava IWC, 2)USATF] [5)Kingston, 6)USATF] 5. ALEXANDRA TAVERNIER (France) (12/13/93, 5-7/180) (1.70/82) 3. Brooke Andersen (Northern Arizona) 8. Heavin Warner (unattached) 6. NA LUO (China) (10/8/93, 5-8/165) (1.73/75) [1)Mt . SAC, 2)NCAA, 3)USATF] [2)Tucson, 2)Iron Wood, 7)USATF] 7. (Poland) (11/16/94, 5-7/139) (1.70/63) 4. Janeah Stewart (Mississippi) 9. (Nike NYAC) 8. HANNA MALYSHIK (Belarus) (2/04/94, 5-9/198) (1.75/90) [2)SEC, 1)NCAA, 4)USATF] [3)Kingston, 3)Iron Wood] 9. ZHENG WANG (China) (12/14/87, 5-8½/192) (1.74/87) 5. Maggie Ewen (Arizona State) 10. Alyssa Wilson (UCLA) 10. HANNA SKYDAN (Azerbaijan) (5/14/92, 6-0/251) (1.83/114) [1)Sun Angel, 1)Pac-12, 3f)NCAA] [4)NCAA, 1)USATF Jr, 2)World Jr]

December 2018 PDF — Page 56 2018 Women’s Javelin World Rankings

Huihui Lu (we like our transliteration better) became China’s first-ever No. 1. (MARK SHEARMAN)

THIS WAS A DANDY, featuring all kinds of circular data from multiple candidates for the top spot. The best 2 proved to be Huihui Lu and Tatsiana Khaladovich, who each won 2 DLs. But they weren’t without flaws, as each lost more than she won in what could be called “circuit” meets. We went with Lu at No. 1, for superior consistency. Looking at head-to-head records against those in the Top 10 finds Lu at a solid 21–8 and Khaladovich at an edgy 15–13… Lu becomes China’s first spear winner ever… CHRISTIN HUSSONG won the important European title but was an abject failure on the DL Circuit, claiming only a pair of 7th-place finishes, so she ends up at No. 3 ahead of Nikola Ogrodníková, who had a DL win and Euro 2nd but was generally at a lower level… 9-time No. 1 (including the last 4 years in a row) Barbora Špotáková of the Czech Republic was out on maternity leave… THE U.S. WENT from ’82 through ’09 without a Ranker. Then broke through with a No. 6. But then it was another 7 years of drought until this time around, with Winger cracking the code again in taking No. 8…

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. HUIHUI LU (China) (6/26/89, 5-6/132) (1.68/60) 1. *Kara Winger (unattached) 6. Bethany Drake (Oiselle) 2. TATSIANA KHALADOVICH (Belarus) (6/21/91, 5-11¼/179) (1.81/81) [1)USATF, 4)Lausanne DL, 3)Zürich DL] [2)Iron Wood, 4)USATF, 2)NACAC] 3. CHRISTIN HUSSONG (Germany) (3/17/94, 6-1½/180) (1.87/82) 2. (Velaasa) 7. Kristen Clark (Texas A&M) 4. NIKOLA OGRODNÍKOVÁ (Czech Republic) (8/18/90, 5-8¾/161) (1.75/73) [1)Iron Wood, 3)USATF, 1)NACAC] [3)SEC, 8)NCAA, 7)USATF] 5. KATHRYN MITCHELL (Australia) (7/10/82, 5-5/165) (1.68/75) 3. Avione Allgood (Florida) 8. Nika Ouelette (unattached) 6. SHIYING LIU (China) (9/24/93, 5-10½/167) (1.79/76) [1)SEC, 6)NCAA, 2)USATF] [1)Howell Inv, 1)Ellis Inv, 6)USATF] 7. KELSEY BARBER (Australia) (9/21/91, 5-9/154) (1.75/70) 4. Jenna Gray (Stanford) 9. Rebekah Wales (unattached) 8. KARA WINGER (US) (4/10/86, 6-0/190) (1.83/86) [1)Cardinal, 2)Pac-12, 2)NCAA] [2)LSU Inv, 2)Tucson, 8)USATF] 9. MARTINA RATEJ (Slovenia) (11/02/81, 5-10/152) (1.78/69) 5. Alyssa Olin (North Dakota State) 10. Dana Baker (Kansas HS) 10. SUNETTE VILJOEN (South Africa) (1/06/83, 5-6/139) (1.68/63) [1)Beach Inv, 5)NCAA, 5)USATF] [1)USATF Jr, 13)USATF, 3)World Jr]

December 2018 PDF — Page 57 2018 Women’s Heptathlon World Rankings

The only Belgian ever to rate in the 7-eventer, Nafi Thiam has now claimed 3 No. 1s in a row. (JIRO MOCHIZUKI/IMAGE OF SPORT)

HER FIRST TITLE of 3 in a row was close, but last year’s wasn’t, and neither was this one. Nafi Thiam twice topped 6800 in a campaign where only 3 others topped 6700. The margins of victory in her two wins—by 64 at Götzis over Yorgelis Rodríguez; by 57 over Katarina Johnson-Thompson at the Euros—weren’t spectacular, but they were definitely comfortable… RODRÍGUEZ AND KJT duked it out for No. 2, with the Cuban getting the edge based on a far superior (181 points) secondary competition… Erica Bougard debuts in the Rankings at No. 4. She’s only the eleventh American ever to score in the event.

WEB LINKS: World Top 50 List World Ranker Seasonal Records U.S. Top 50 List

WORLD RANKINGS U.S. RANKINGS 1. NAFI THIAM (Belgium) (8/19/94, 6-½/152) (1.84/69) 1. *Erica Bougard (Nike) 6. Alissa Brooks-Johnson (Washing- 2. YORGELIS RODRÍGUEZ (Cuba) (1/25/95, 5-8/132) (1.73/60) [1), 3)Götzis, 1)USATF] ton State) 3. KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON (Great Britain) (1/09/93, 6-0/154) 2. Alex Gochenour (unattached) [1)Pac-12, 6)NCAA, 7)USATF] (1.83/70) [2)Florence, 13)Götzis, 2)USATF] 7. Madeline Holmberg (Penn State) 4. ERICA BOUGARD (US) (7/26/93, 5-6/126) (1.68/57) 3 . Chari Hawkins (Santa Barbara TC) [2)Big 10, 3)NCAA, 9)USATF] 5. CAROLIN SCHÄFER (Germany) (12/05/91, 5-9¼/146) (1.76/66) [1)Bedford, 2)Pan-Am Cup] 8. Taliyah Brooks (Arkansas) 6. IVONA DADIC (Austria) (12/29/93, 6-0/132) (1.83/60) 4. Lindsay Schwartz (ABEO/Santa [1)Texas Relays] 7. ANOUK VETTER (Netherlands) (2/4/93, 5-9¾/137) (1.77/62) Barbara TC) 9. Annie Kunz (Chula Vista Elite) 8. KATEŘINA CACHOVÁ (Czech Republic) (2/26/90, 5-8/139) (1.73/63) [3)USATF, 4)Pan-Am Cup, 2)Thorpe Cup] [9)Florence, 20)Götzis, 5)USATF] 9. XÉNIA KRIZSÁN (Hungary) (1/13/93, 5-7¼/136) (1.71/62) 5. Allison Reaser (Arete) 10. Kendall Gustafson (UCLA) 10. VERENA PREINER (Austria) (2/01/95, 5-9¾/141) (1.77/64) [11)Götzis, 4)USATF, 3)Thorpe Cup] [2)Pac-12, 4)NCAA, dnf)USATF]

December 2018 PDF — Page 58 Women’s Performance Of The Year by T&FN

The Monaco DL result gave Beatrice Chepkoech the chance at the ultimate result-sign pose. (GIANCARLO COLOMBO/PHOTO RUN)

OUR 24-MEMBER international voting panel had no 2. Caster Semenya’s 1:54.25 WL, 73 trouble in finding its 2018 winner as Women’s Performance In any other year, Semenya’s 1:54.25 in Paris would have Of The Year. Beatrice Chepkoech’s crushing of the World had a real shot at earning POY honors, but it didn’t stand a Record was all that it took for her to become the first steepler chance against Chepkoech. Still she moved to No. 4 on the ever to earn the top spot. She received 21 of the votes for No. 800’s all-time list and was a clear runner-up. 1, 2 for No. 2 and her other at No. 3. The remaining 3 No. 1s all went to runner-up Caster Semenya, who had 3 different 3. Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s 48.97 WL, 35 800s (all-time performances 4, 6 & 8) all receive votes. The POY voters like records, but if you can’t score one of 24 different performances which received recognition in our those, barrier-cracking marks also garner attention. Thus it 5-4-3-2-1 scoring system (WR = World Record; WL = yearly was that when SMU ran 48.97 to win in Monaco, joining the World Leader): sub-49 club, she got high marks. 1. Beatrice Chepkoech’s 8:44.43 WR, 116 points 4. Sydney McLaughlin’s 52.75 WL, 24 After 3 rather pedestrian performances to open her year, Our POY instructions include the caveat that age-related Chepkoech cracked the 9:00 barrier in Paris, but her PR 8:59.36, performances shouldn’t be considered, but even when one while moving her to No. 4 on the all-time list, didn’t really ignore’s McLaughlin’s 52.75 as the World Junior (U20) Record suggest what she would do in her next outing, in Monaco. that it was, it was still good enough to jump her into the No. Her 8:44.43 became the first sub-8:50 ever, clipping 8.46 off 4 position. Only 8 other women have ever run faster. The the old WR. mark, made on May 13, rates as the fastest sub-53 ever run so early in the year; the previous fastest was a 52.82 on June 10.

December 2018 PDF — Page 59 5. Sandra Perković’s 234-2 (71.38) WL, 22 Cheruiyot’s London 2:18:31 (5, 8 W) & Semenya’s 1:54.60 (#6 performance ever), 8; If not for a discus thrower named Sandra Perković, this 11. Sandi Morris’s 16-2¾i (4.95) WL to win WIC, 6; would have been the farthest throw of the new millennium. 12. Chepkoech’s 8:55.10 (#3 performance ever), 5; Last year the Croatian great threw an inch (3cm) farther. Her 13. tie, Dina Asher-Smith’s 21.89 WL, Mary Keitany’s nearest competition on this year’s list was more than 10ft 66:58, Rui Liang’s 4:04:36 WR, Hellen Obiri’s 14:21.75 & Anita behind at 223-11 (68.26). Włodarczyk’s 261-1 (79.59) WL, 4; Other Vote-Getters 18. tie, Semenya’s 1:54.77 (#8 performance ever), Nafi Thiam’s 6816 WL & Keni Harrison’s 12.36 WL, 3; 6. Gladys Cherono’s 2:18:11 WL, 11; 21. tie, Mary Keitany’s 64:55 in NYC, DeAnna Price’s 256-3 7. Sifan Hassan’s 4:14.71y WL, 10; (78.12) AR, Marie-Josée Ta Lou’s 10.85 =WL & Nafi Thiam’s 8. tie, Fancy Chemutai’s 64:52 WL (2, =3 W), Vivian 190-0 (57.91) JT in Euro Champs hept, 1.

U.S. Women’s Athlete Of The Year — Shelby Houlihan by T&FN

Shelby Houlihan’s punishing brought her national titles in both the 1500 & 5000. (MIKE SCOTT)

Track & Field News has been choosing a U.S. Women’s 43 makes her the first 1500 runner not named Mary Slaney Athlete Of The Year since 1976. This year our international ever to be No. 1. A 4-time USAOY, Slaney took her titles in panel, as always, voted for athletes on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 ’80, ’82, ’83 & ’84… Only 4 of this year’s Top 10 are repeaters basis. Taking 18 of the 27 votes for No. 1, 1500/5000 star Shelby from last year: Emma Coburn was No. 2, Sandi Morris 4, Houlihan scored a convincing win over vaulter Sandi Mor- Ajee’ Wilson 6 & Keni Harrison 7. Harrison (1 in ’16), Morris ris, who was named No. 1 on 8 ballots, with the remaining (4) & Coburn (8) all have 3-year streaks in the Top 10… Last top-choice vote going to hurdler Keni Harrison. year’s No. 1, Tori Bowie, was injured most of the season and Amazingly enough, the choice of Houlihan as winner No. received no votes.

December 2018 PDF — Page 60 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Tot. % 1 . Shelby Houlihan 18 7 2 — — — — — — — 259 95 .9%

2 . Sandi Morris 8 10 4 4 1 — — — — — 236 87 .4%

3 . Keni Harrison 1 4 12 5 2 1 — — 1 — 196 72 .6%

4 . DeAnna Price — 5 3 6 1 6 2 2 1 — 163 60 .4%

5 . Ajee’ Wilson — — 5 2 5 6 7 1 1 — 147 54 .4%

6 . Shamier Little — 1 1 5 6 4 — 1 3 1 118 43 .7%

7 . Brianna McNeal — — — 3 8 2 5 3 1 — 110 40 .7%

8 . Keturah Orji — — — 1 2 3 2 4 1 2 58 21 .5%

9 . Erica Bougard — — — — — 3 3 3 3 3 45 16 7%.

10 . Emma Coburn — — — 1 1 — 1 4 4 7 44 16 .3%

11 . Raven Saunders 30; 12 . Tori Franklin 21; 13 . Phyllis Francis 17; 14 . tie, Vashti Cunningham & Courtney Frerichs 12; 16 . Jenna Prandini 7; 17 . Gwen Berry 5; 18 . Dalilah Muhammad 3; 19 . Sharika Nelvis 2 .

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December 2018 PDF — Page 61 Analyzing The 2018 T&FN Rankings by T&FN

Christian Taylor’s streak of U.S. Ranking leaderships in the triple jump is now at 9. (JEFF COHEN)

LONGTIME READERS of the Track & Field News Rank- DT (7), Anita Włodarczyk HT (6), Nafi Thiam heptathlon. ings undoubtedly noticed that something was missing in the The U.S. Rankings Defenders Annual Edition. Oops! Our overall look at the year’s stats Successful-defense U.S. men rose by 2 to 11, with women was missing from December’s issue, but here it is now. Our dropping from 12 to 9. The longest men’s and women’s streaks apologies for the glitch. are both at 9 years: in the TJ for Christian Taylor, in the 20K The World Rankings Defenders Walk for Maria Michta-Coffey. No. 1 defenders of both sexes had a slightly harder time in keeping their top spots than they did in ’17. Combined, 16 The 11 U.S. men’s repeaters: of 43 did (6 men, 10 women), compared to 18 last year. The Noah Lyles 200, Fred Kerley 400, Evan Jager steeple (7), longest men’s streak is 5 for Eliud Kipchoge in the marathon; Paul Chelimo 5000 (3), Shadrack Kipchirchir 10K, Galen Rupp for the women it’s 7 years by discus thrower Sandra Perković. marathon, Sam Kendricks PV (4), Christian Taylor TJ (9), Ryan Crouser SP (3), Mason Finley DT (3), Alex Young HT. The 6 world men’s repeaters (number in parentheses is streak if more than 2): The 9 U.S. women’s repeaters: Conseslus Kipruto steeple, Eliud Kipchoge marathon (5), Phyllis Francis 400, Ajee’ Wilson 800, Emma Coburn Mutaz Barshim HJ (4), Sam Kendricks PV, Christian Taylor steeple (8), Keni Harrison 100H (3), Maria Michta-Coffey 20W TJ (4), Kevin Mayer decathlon. (9), Vashti Cunningham HJ, Sandi Morris PV (3), Keturah Orji TJ (3), Kara Winger JT. The 10 world women’s repeaters: The World Doublers Shaunae Miller-Uibo 200, Caster Semenya 800 (3), Beatrice Scoring in 1 event is tough, scoring in 2 is tougher: only Chepkoech steeple, Hellen Obiri 5000, Keni Harrison 100H 15 pointed-up twice or more (compared to 20 last year). Even (3), Mariya Lasitskene HJ, Lijiao Gong SP, Sandra Perković December 2018 PDF — Page 62 The 11 U.S. men’s doublers: U.S. Men Still Lead By-Nation Scoring 100/200—Noah Lyles (3/1), Kendal Williams (6/5) 200/400—Michael Norman (2/3), Fred Kerley (10/1) Only twice in the history of our men’s Rankings has Team USA 400/TJ—Christian Taylor (9/1) not racked up the most points (scoring each event 10-9-8-7- 800/1500—Clayton Murphy (1/5) 6-5-4-3-2-1). Those anomalous years were ’11 & ’14, when 5000/10,000—Shadrack Kipchirchir (7/1) Kenya slipped into the top spot. But in all 70 other campaigns 110H/400H—David Kendziera (7/5) it has been the American squad coming out on top. The ’11 110H/LJ—Grant Holloway (2/10) total, 180, was the lowest ever. The highest ever was 458, in the inaugural year, ’47. The ’18 total of 192 was a rise of 6 over 20W/50W—Nick Christie (1/1), Anthony Gruttadauro the previous year’s winning score. (7/3)

The U.S. placed performers in the Top 10s of 14 of 22 events, The 4 U.S. women’s triplers: down 1 from last year (the all-time high was 20, in ’72). This 200/400/400H—Sydney McLaughlin (7/10/4) year’s shutouts came in these 8 disciplines (year listed is the 5000/10,000/marathon—Molly Huddle (2/1/4) last in which the U.S. scored): 1500 (’16), 10K (’17), Marathon 100H/HJ/Heptathlon—Erica Bougard (9/7/1) (’17), 20W (’73), 50W (’01), HT (’98), JT (’07) & Decathlon (’16). SP/DT/HT—Maggie Ewen (2/2/5)

The 55 men’s scoring nations for ’18: The 15 U.S. women’s doublers: 1. US 192; 2. Kenya 122; 3. Ethiopia 77; 4. Germany 62; 5. 100/200—Jenna Prandini (2/1) Poland 53; 6. Japan 49; 7. Jamaica 43; 8. Qatar 36; 9. Russia 200/400—Lynna Irby (3/4), Phyllis Francis (4/1), Shakima 34; 10. China 33; Wimbley (6/2) 11. tie, Canada & Great Britain 32; 13. France 31; 14. Norway 800/1500—Ajee’ Wilson (1/8), Charlene Lipsey (3/9) 25; 15. tie, Morocco & South Africa 21; 17. tie, Australia & Cuba 1500/St—Colleen Quigley (4/3) 20; 19. Spain 17; 20. tie, Belarus, Brazil & Turkey 16; 1500/5000—Shelby Houlihan (1/1) 23. tie, Botswana & Estonia 15; 25. tie, Sweden & Uganda 14; 5000/10,000—Molly Huddle (2/1), Karissa Schweizer 27. New Zealand 12; 28. tie, Bahamas & Trinidad 11; 30. tie, (3/8), Sara Pagano (9/5), Emily Sisson (10/4) Bahrain & Czech Republic 10; 32. tie, Antigua, Italy & Lithu- 20W/50W—Katie Burnett (3/1) ania 9; 35. tie, British Virgin Islands, Djibouti, Hungary, Iran & LJ/TJ—Keturah Orji (4/1) Slovakia 8; SP/HT—Janeah Stewart (10/4) □ 40. Ukraine 7; 41. tie, Austria, Ecuador, Netherlands & Tajikistan 6; 45. tie, India & Panama 5; 47. Moldova 4; 48. tie, Azerbaijan & Colombia 3; 50. tie, Dominican Republic, Greece, Grenada, U.S. Women Set Record For Most Points Ireland, Portugal & Syria 2. While U.S. men struggle to maintain the dominance they long enjoyed in by-nation scoring of the World Rankings, the women tougher, of course, is scoring in 3 events, and AOY Caster continue to operate at all-time highs. Team USA first cracked Semenya (6/1/7) did that in the 400/800/1500. the 200-point barrier in ’12 by hitting 208 and followed up with years of 205, 217, 219, 247 & 242. And now the total is a hefty The 5 world men’s doublers: 248, by 1 the highest ever. 100/200—Noah Lyles (3/1) Team USA also scored in 17 of 22 events, tieing the record 200/400—Michael Norman (4/6), Akeem Bloomfield set in ’14. The 5 shutouts (with year last scored): 10K (’17), (9/10) Marathon (’17), 20W (never), 50W (never) & DT (’17). 200/400H—Rai Benjamin (8/5) 5000/10,000—Mo Ahmed (9/2) The 51 women’s scoring nations for ’18:

The 9 world women’s doublers: 1. US 248; 2. Kenya 134; 3. China 85; 4. Jamaica 64; 5. Ethiopia 62; 6. Great Britain 56; 7. Germany 47; 8. Netherlands 36; 9. 100/200—Marie-Josée Ta Lou (1/7), Jenna Prandini (6/5), Poland 30; 10. Cuba 29; Dafne Schippers (7/3), Mujinga Kambundji (8/9) 200/400—Shaunae Miller-Uibo (1/2) 11. tie, Australia, Belarus & Côte d’Ivoire 23; 14. Czech Republic 22; 15. tie, Mexico & South Africa 20; 17. tie, Bahamas & Brazil 800/1500—Rabab Arrafi (7/5) 19; 19. tie, Colombia & Russia 18; 1500/5000—Shelby Houlihan (1/8), Sifan Hassan (3/2) LJ/TJ—Caterine Ibargüen (3/1) 21. Burundi 17; 22. tie, Greece, Italy, Spain & Uganda 16; 26. Ukraine 15; 27. Bahrain 12; 28. tie, Belgium, Croatia, Morocco & Switzerland 10; 32. tie, Bulgaria & Serbia 9; The U.S. Doublers Doubling is a lot easier at the national level than it is at 34. tie, Hungary & New Zealand 8; 36. tie, France & Nigeria 7; the international. Not only did 26 Americans score U.S. Rank- 38. tie, Austria, Canada & Lithuania 6; 41. tie, Peru & Venezu- ela 4; 43. Israel 3; 44. tie, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Slovenia & ings doubles in ’18, another 4 (all women) also scored triples. Sweden 2; 48. tie, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Romania & Trinidad 1.

December 2018 PDF — Page 63 Course Records In Both NXN Races by T&FN

Indianapolis) sprinted ef- fectively to nab Sprout for 2nd, 15:00.9–15:02.7. Coach Joan Hunter’s Loudoun Valley (Pur- cellville, Virginia) team became the first squad to capture back-to-back titles, topping Temecula (Great Oak, California) by 37, 77–114, with Littleton, Colo- rado, another point back. This despite lead run- ner Sam Affolder running into trouble near the end. Teammate Carlos Schultz caught him before the final hill and turned around to encourage him. The two finished 30th and 31st but scored only 8 and 9 points once the individual run- Liam Anderson became the first ever to break 15:00 over the 5K course. ners were removed from (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT) the tabulation. Portland, Oregon, December 01—The weather may have been damp and cool, and the ground a little muddy, NXN BOYS RESULTS but that didn’t keep the top high school runners at the 14th Teams NXN Nationals from running the fastest times ever on the 1. Purcellville 77; 2. Temecula 114; 3. Littleton 115; 4. Warwick course at Portland’s Glendoveer Golf Course, where it has 206; 5. Manlius 209; 6. Newbury Park 236; 7. American Fork been held the last 5 years. 247; 8. Stevenson Ranch 283; 9. Duval 287; 10. Central Spokane 288; 11. La Costa 289; 12. Denver 296; 13. Wheaton South 307; 14. Burnt Hills 323; 15. West Kennewick 330; 16. Veradale 346; Boys: Liam Anderson 14:57.6 17. Mounds View 366; 18. Lincroft 371; 19. Arlington 387; 20. The boys race looked like an anybody-can-win affair Carroll 410; 21. Middleton 474; 22. Eastwood 477. for the first mile as the leaders ran up to 10 abreast on the Individuals (5K) gentle curves of the course and no one seemed to want to 1. Liam Anderson (California-1) 14:57.6 (course record—old, surge away from the crowd. Instead, a battle for attrition 15:03.2 Casey Clinger [Utah] ’15); 2. (Midwest-5) played out. At 1M (4:43) about 21 runners crossed before the 15:00.9; 3. *Cole Sprout (Southwest-5) 15:02.7; 4. *Nico Young clock read 4:44. By 2M (9:44), Nico Young (Newbury Park, (Newbury Park) 15:04.7; 5. *Easton Allred (Denver) 15:05.2; 6. California) led a pack of 15, with Liam Anderson (Redwood, Austin Vancil (Littleton) 15:08.8; 7. Alex Maier (South-6) 15:10.3; Larkspur, California) on his shoulder. 8. *Matt Strangio (California-5) 15:10.5; 9. Corey Gorgas (Mid- At 1K to go, Young and crosstown rivals Easton Allred west-4) 15:10.7; 10. *Connor Ohlson (Littleton) 15:11.5; (Mountain Vista, Highlands Ranch, Colorado) and Cole 11. *Stetson Moss (Northwest-4) 15:13.1; 12. Ryan Oosting Sprout (Valor, Highlands Ranch, Colorado) moved hard. (Northeast-5) 15:14.4; 13. Nick Foster (Midwest-3) 15:15.7; 14. Anderson smoothly bridged the gap and moved ahead with Charles Hicks (Duval) 15:16.3; 15. *Josh Methner (Arlington) a quarter to go. The contrast in styles made all the difference. 15:16.4; 16. *Evan Holland (Northwest-3) 15:17.6; 17. Ares Read- While the others visibly showed their effort, the Stanford- ing (Southwest-3) 15:19.1; 18. **Nathan Green (Northwest-2) bound Anderson maintained a smooth, machine-like stride 15:20.0; 19. Jack Stanley (Northeast-6) 15:20.8; 20. *Evan Bishop that gave him an edge on the final hills. (Midwest-2) 15:20.9; The margin between Anderson—the top returnee at 3rd 21. Rowen Ellenberg (Heartland-3) 15:22.0; 22. Parker Stokes last year—and his pursuers continued to grow. At the finish, (New York-3) 15:22.3; 23. Drew Bosley (Heartland-1) 15:22.9; Anderson broke the course record in 14:57.6 to become the 24. Garrett Brennan (Manlius) 15:24.9; 25. Shea Weilbaker (New first-ever California boy to win. Cole Hocker (Cathedral, York-5) 15:27.7; 26. *Anthony Monte (South-7) 15:28.3; 27. Carter

December 2018 PDF — Page 64 jitters, but those concerns faded away as the precocious junior Cheeseman (South-1) 15:28.8; 28. *Ethan Kern (Midwest-6) barreled out from the start, building a 60m lead by the mile 15:29.0; 29. Vincent Mauri (Midwest-7) 15:31.5; 30. *Carlos (5:04). She covered the tougher middle mile in 5:26.8, but put Shultz (Purcellville) 15:32.0; together a strong finish to shatter her own course record by 31. Sam Affolder (Purcellville) 15:33.2; 32. Tyler Berg (Burnt- nearly 7 seconds with a 16:37.8.“I’m just so happy I can relax Hills) 15:33.6; 33. Joe Waskom (Northwest-5) 15:34.7; 34. Matt now,” she said. The only previous successful defender was Meinke (Heartland-5) 15:35.4; 35. *Dylan Schubert (Southwest-4) Sarah Baxter in ’11. Now Tuohy can go for the first three-peat. 15:36.3; 36. Ryan Adkins (Midwest-1) 15:37.4; 37. Jacob Stanford The battle for the podium was lacking in the drama (LaCosta) 15:38.2; 38. Eldad Mulugeta (Southeast-5) 15:38.7; 39. Jacob Hunter (Purcellville) 15:38.9; 40. Luke Grundvig department, as runner-up Kelsey Chmiel (Saratoga Springs, (AmericanFork) 15:39.2; New York) held steady in 2nd virtually the entire way, and 3rd-placer Taylor Ewert, the walks star from Beavercreek, 41. Zane Fodge (Northwest-1) 15:39.3; 42. Kevin Ramos (Cali- fornia-3) 15:40.5; 43. **Mateo Joseph (Temecula) 15:40.8; 44. Ohio, stayed in place as well. Chmiel, last year’s runner-up Acer Iverson (Heartland-4) 15:41.7; 45. Jack Mcmahon (War- wick) 15:42.0; 46. *Lisandro Berry-Gaviria (Northeast-1) 15:42.7; NXN GIRLS RESULTS 47. *Wil Smith (Central Spokane) 15:43.3; 48. Isaiah Seidman Teams (Stevenson Ranch) 15:43.5; 49. Andrew Brandt (Heartland-2) 1. Central Oregon 120; 2. North Naperville 186; 3. Wayzata 207; 15:43.9; 50. *Caleb Niednagel (LaCosta) 15:45.1. (203 finished). 4. Manlius 212; 5. Niwot 219; 6. Kinetic 228; 7. Murrieta 231; 8. Temecula 249; 9. Vail Valley 253; 10. Boise 273; 11. Portland 278; 12. Claremont 280; 13. Yorkville 284; 14. Denver 290; 15. Girls: Katelyn Tuohy 16:37.8 Liverpool 297; 16. Hunterdon 315; 17. Edina 358; 18. Flower On the girls side, few doubted that Katelyn Tuohy (North Mound 401; 19. Hinesburg 421; 20. Prosper 450; 21. Blacksburg Rockland, Thiells, New York) would be the one to beat. There 451; 22. Tallahassee 469. were stories of the New York star having to fend off prerace Individuals (5K) 1. *Katelyn Tuohy (New York-1) 16:37.8 (course record—old, 16:44.7 Tuohy ’17); 2. Kelsey Chmiel (Kinetic) 16:54.8; 3. *Taylor Ewert (Midwest-1) 17:06.7; 4. Emily Covert (Heartland-1) 17:10.2; 5. *Claire Walters (Manlius) 17:13.3; 6. **Brooke Rauber (New York-4) 17:19.2; 7. Alexis Morris (NorthNaperville) 17:25.3; 8. Ericka Vanderlende (Midwest-5) 17:27.7; 9. *Mattie Geddes (Northwest-3) 17:28.3; 10. Abi Archer (Southwest-1) 17:28.5; 11. *Fiona Max (Central Oregon) 17:29.0; 12. ***Charlotte Bednar (Northeast-1) 17:29.0; 13. **Sydney Thorvaldson (Northwest-6) 17:29.1; 14. Lauren Ping (Heartland-4) 17:29.5; 15. *Sasha Neglia (Southeast-3) 17:29.8; 16. *Katelynne Hart (Midwest-2) 17:30.6; 17. Allison Wilson (South-5) 17:33.0; 18. *Tori Gaitan (Temecula) 17:33.3; 19. Tiahna Vladic (Northwest-7) 17:33.6; 20. Samantha Schadler (Southwest-5) 17:35.3; 21. Ember Stratton (Northwest-5) 17:37.7; 22. *Jenna Schulz (Liverpool) 17:37.7; 23. *Tsion Yared (Southeast-5) 17:39.4; 24. ***Lianna Surtz (Midwest-4) 17:40.6; 25. Ashlyn Hillyard (South-3) 17:41.1; 26. **Heidi Nielson (South-4) 17:42.0; 27. ***Katrina Schlenker (Midwest-3) 17:42.8; 28. **Julia David-Smith (North- west-2) 17:43.1; 29. Mikaela Ramirez (California-4) 17:44.2; 30. *Sarah Connelly (New York-3) 17:45.1; 31. Quinn Mcconnell (Southwest-3) 17:45.5; 32. Emma Wilson (Midwest-6) 17:47.0; 33. Lexi Westley (Northeast-5) 17:47.2; 34. Meagen Lowe (California-3) 17:47.5; 35. **Taylor James (Niwot) 17:48.5; 36. Carly Mcnatt (Southeast-2) 17:49.0; 37. ***Riley Stewart (Southwest-6) 17:55.1; 38. Madison Neuner (Liverpool) 17:55.4; 39. Emily Eberhart (Yorkville) 17:57.8; 40. Isabell Sagar (Northeast-4) 17:58.8; 41. ***Aubrey O’Connell (Prosper) 17:59.3; 42. ***Teaghan Knox (Central Oregon) 18:00.7; 43. ***Madeline Coles (Claremont) 18:00.9; 44. ***Jenna Mulhern (Northeast-3) 18:01.3; 45. ***Ella Kurto (Kinetic) 18:01.9; 46. Emily Nugent (Hunterdon) 18:02.7; Katelyn Tuohy became only the second ever to 47. *Ashley Lajoices (Northwest-4) 18:03.0; 48. **Grace Ping successfully defend the girls title. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE (Heartland-3) 18:03.4; 49. *London Culbreath (South-2) 18:03.9; 50. **Brynn Brown (South-1) 18:05.7 (202 finished). OF SPORT)

December 2018 PDF — Page 65 finished much closer to Tuohy this time around when she won the team battle handily, scoring 120 to the 186 for repeat finished 40 seconds behind in 2nd. “About 2K I knew I was runner-up North, Naperville (Illinois), with Wayzata in 3rd feeling good so I wanted to pick it up a little bit,” she said. at 207. Summit became the first team from the West ever to Coach Jim McLatchie’s Summit (Bend, Oregon) squad win the title.

Foot Locker’s Pair Of Unassuming Champions by Rich Gonzalez now her chief pursuer. Over the final mile, Hart was clearly the more labored of the two, with Masciarelli darting into the lead entering the final turn. Hart, the 16th-place finisher at NXN a week earlier, summoned a final burst to briefly regain the lead only to have the move covered as they were matched stride for stride. Yet another Hart-to-Masciarelli lead change in the final few seconds capped the battle. “This was incredible,” said Masciarelli, a 3-sport standout (along with soccer and basket- ball) who was hoping for a Top 15 finish in recent weeks but had a windfall of confidence after winning the Northeast Regional. “I wanted to make a statement. I wanted to prove to “I wanted to make a statement. I wanted to prove to some people who didn’t some people who didn’t think I think I was this level,” said Sydney Mascarelli. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT) was this level.” San Diego, California, December 08—Literally, the script ran true to form at edition No. 40 of the Foot Locker Cross FOOT LOCKER GIRLS RESULTS Country Championships. Twice. Temperatures in the low 60s Teams enveloped the final meet on the prep hill-and-dale calendar, 1. Midwest 20; 2. Northeast 40; 3. South 72; 4. West 112. which saw the boys’ prerace favorite and the girls’ co-fave Individuals (5K) emerge successful. Interestingly enough, as recently as 10 days earlier, neither of the champions viewed themselves as 1. **Sydney Masciarelli (Northbridge, MA) 17:00.3; 2. the one to beat. *Katelynne Hart (Glen Ellyn, IL) 17:01.0; 3. ***Abby VanderKooi (Fremont, MI) 17:14.0; 4. *Taylor Ewert (Beavercreek, OH) 17:20.1; 5. Emily Covert (, MN) 17:29.6; 6. *Jaden Girls: Sydney Masciarelli 17:00.3 Theis (Lansing, MI) 17:30.0; 7. **Kate Wiser (Southbury, CT) 17:32.2; 8. Grace Connolly (Natick, MA) 17:42.0; 9. ***Jenna For a relative running neophyte with loads of aerobic Hutchins (Johnson City, TN) 17:43.4; 10. Ericka VanderLende promise, Massachusetts’ Sydney Masciarelli (a soph at Mari- (Rockford, MI) 17:43.9; anapolis Prep in the neighboring state of Connecticut) received 11. Abby Loveys (Mendham, NJ) 17:48.4; 12. Allison Wilson an early Christmas gift: Facing an experienced talent who (Montgomery, TX) 17:50.9; 13. *Marlee Starliper (Wellsville, loves to take out the pace. PA) 17:54.9; 14. **Sofie Matson (Falmouth, ME) 18:01.4; 15. With junior Katelynne Hart (Glen Ellyn, Illinois) char- Alex Morris (Naperville, IL) 18:02.2; 16. Adelyn Ackley (Mears, acteristically undertaking the up-front rigors, Masciarelli MI) 18:05.7; 17. *Alyssa Hendrix (Riverview, FL) 18:06.3; 18. bided her time to be just inside the Top 10 at the mile but close **Brynn Brown (Denton, TX) 18:08.7; 19. Ava Peeples (Dallas, behind Hart’s 5:13 opener. Hart pressed the issue during the TX) 18:12.4; 20. Adoette Vaughan (Dallas, TX) 18:14.0; arduous middle-mile layout (crossing in a very impressive 21. ***Riley Stewart (Englewood, CO) 18:14.0; 22. **Allie Janke 10:50.3), extending her lead to 5 seconds but with Masciarelli (Spokane, WA) 18:15.0; 23. Gabrielle Peterson (Healdsburg,

December 2018 PDF — Page 66 “This really changes my outlook for San Diego,” said CA) 18:16.4; 24. *Lexy Halladay (Kuna, ID) 18:18.7; 25. Kristin Hocker at the time, knowing that 7 of the top 8 finishers at Fahy (Carlsbad, CA) 18:20.7; 26. *Valerie Lastra (Hialeah, FL) NXN had now wrapped up their seasons and were “out of the 18:22.8; 27. *Taryn Parks (Greencastle, PA) 18:27.2; 28. **Heidi way”. His Foot Locker win was made to order, a controlled Nielson (Katy, TX) 18:29.8; 29. *Mary Hennelly (Suffern, NY) 18:31.8; 30. **Audrey Suarez (Pasadena, CA) 18:31.9; 4:47 clip for the opening mile followed up with a 9:55 clock- ing at the 2M checkpoint, in the lead for each. 31. **Grace Ping (Winona, MN) 18:49.8; 32. *Nicole Vanasse It was on the second circuit of the pivotal climb entering (Martinsville, NJ) 18:54.5; 33. *Erinn Hill (Spokane, WA) 18:56.2; the final kilometer that Hocker and Jake Renfree (Knoxville 34. *Anna Martin (Lehi, UT) 19:00.6; 35. Sarah Roffman (Littleton, MA) 19:08.0; 36. Olivia Markezich (Woodinville, WA) Catholic) pulled away from the rest of the 40-runner field. 19:15.2; 37. Colleen McCandless (Livermore, CA) 19:18.1; 38. Hocker impressively crested the hill to take over the race, *Hana Catsimanes (San Clemente, CA) 19:34.3; 39. *London then aggressively glided through the ensuing downhill as Culbreath (McKinney, TX) 21:33.2;… dnf—*Victoria Patterson Renfree wearied in trying to keep pace. (Greenville, SC). Hocker’s true superiority was evident on the final straight, bursting away in full command to cross unchallenged for first in 15:13.7. His combined gold/silver placings at NXN/FL Boys: Cole Hocker 15:13.7 ranks No. 2 all time to ’10 double champion Lukas Verzbicas. Despite a sparkling ledger over the course of the fall that “I don’t think it could have played out any better,” said Hocker. saw him arrive at the Thanksgiving break unbeaten, Cole “When it was time to go, I felt totally in control.” Hocker ( Cathedral) admittedly saw himself as only “a Top 10 runner” nationally. But a runner-up finish against an uber-loaded loaded field at NXN changed all of that. FOOT LOCKER BOYS Teams 1. Midwest 25; 2. South 35; 3. West 69; 4. Northeast 98. Individuals (5K) 1. Cole Hocker (Indianapolis, IN) 15:13.7; 2. Jake Renfree (Knoxville, TN) 15:19.5; 3. *Graydon Morris (Aledo, TX) 15:25.1; 4. *Carter Solomon (Canton, MI) 15:25.3; 5. Drew Bosley (Thiensville, WI) 15:25.4; 6. *Joshua Methner (Mount Prospect, IL) 15:27.4; 7. Jack Stanley (Mendham, NJ) 15:30.1; 8. Colin Baker (Mt. Pleasant, SC) 15:30.9; 9. *Evan Bishop (East Grand Rapids, MI) 15:31.5; 10. Carter Cheeseman (Keller, TX) 15:36.6; 11. Kashon Harrison (Fruitland, NM) 15:37.4; 12. *Daniel O’Brien (Lynchburg, VA) 15:45.9; 13. *Thomas Boyden (Salt Lake City, UT) 15:46.1; 14. William Frankenfeld (Long Beach, CA) 15:52.4; 15. Connor Livingston (Livermore, CA) 15:53.8; 16. Daniel Bausch (Chugiak, AK) 15:55.7; 17. *Zachary Stewart (Brighton, MI) 15:56.7; 18. Lucas Aramburu (Brookline, MA) 15:57.3; 19. Ares Reading (Niwot, CO) 16:00.2; 20. Jonathan Velasco (San Marcos, CA) 16:01.9; 21. Cole Bullock (Chattanooga, TN) 16:02.8; 22. Nicholas Russell (Boise, ID) 16:04.3; 23. *Matthew Farrell (Glastonbury, CT) 16:04.9; 24. Devin Hart (Point Pleasant, NJ) 16:06.3; 25. Camren Fischer (Fayetteville, AR) 16:07.1; 26. Noah Hibbard (Temple City, CA) 16:10.7; 27. *Brendan Favazza (Clarkston, MI) 16:11.1; 28. Zachary Erikson (Idaho Falls, ID) 16:14.8; 29. *Patrick Anderson (Pittsburgh, PA) 16:16.4; 30. Mustafe Dahir (Wallingford, CT) 16:18.3; 31. *Samuel Lawler (Pittsford, NY) 16:18.7; 32. Richard Sturtevant (Leyden, MA) 16:19.5; 33. *Liam Murphy (Millstone, NJ) 16:20.3; 34. Cruz Gomez (Alamo, TX) 16:23.8; 35. *Ethan Kern (Elmhurst, IL) 16:23.8; 36. David Ahlmeyer (Hendersonville, TN) 16:24.9; 37. David Vannucchi (Onalaska, WI) 16:38.6; 38. Connor Nisbet (Wilmington, DE) 16:54.1; 39. “I don’t think it could have played out any better,” said *Silas Winders (Mansfield, TN) 17:03.7; 40. *Anthony Grover Cole Hocker. “When it was time to go, I felt totally in (Laguna Niguel, CA) 17:29.8. control.” (DON GOSNEY)

December 2018 PDF — Page 67 Emma Bates Breaks Through At USATF Marathon Champs by Jeff Hollobaugh

Emma Bates scored one of the better U.S. women’s debuts with her 2:28:18. (SACRAMENTO RUNNING ASSOCIATION)

Sacramento, California, December 02—“I know that Bates crossed the line in 2:28:18, a time that makes her what we’re doing is the right thing for me,” said Emma Bates No. 8 among U.S. débutantes, right behind Molly Huddle’s in explaining why she was so confident she would win the 2:28:13. She finished more than a minute ahead of Stephanie California International Marathon in her debut at the 26-mile Bruce’s PR 2:29:21, which came a month after her NYC run. distance. Sam Roecker (2:30:25) took 3rd in an 8-minute PR. The ’14 NCAA 10K champ for Boise State has moved to On the men’s side, unheralded Brogan Austin, 27, slashed the roads over the past year and has done so well at various 12 minutes from his PR in his second marathon ever as he distances that she figured placing in the top 7 in Sacramento, chased down race leader Matt Llano in the later stages to win which also served as the USATF Marathon Championships, in 2:12:39, with Llano finishing in 2:13:00 and Josh Izewski 3rd would give her a $20,000 payday for winning the USATF in 2:13:16. Said Austin, who came back from 13th at halfway, Running Circuit. So she became a marathoner. That plus the of his fast finish, “I was so surprised I could do that.” $20,000 first-prize award (before bonuses) came in handy for It was a day for fast times on a point-to-point course that a runner without a sponsor. drops 340-feet from start to finish. An astonishing 99 women After going out fast—she led by 83 seconds at halfway— beat the OT’s B qualifying standard, while 53 men dipped Bates encountered problems in the later stages. “I couldn’t under their standard of 2:19:00. keep any of the fluids down,” she said. “I think I just overdid For Bates, the road to her breakout marathon debut it. I’m happy that I was able to pull things together and keep started at the other end of the Golden State, at the ’17 USATF everything down and keep going at a pretty good clip. I went Distance Classic at Occidental. There she struggled through out a little too aggressive. At the end of the day, I’m happy what would be her last track 5000, finishing more than a with how I ran. I ran tough. That was one of the hardest minute behind the winner and 40 seconds off her own PR, things I’ve ever done.” taking 16th in 16:12.74. “I just broke down,” she said. “I had

December 2018 PDF — Page 68 run so hard and I just had a mental breakdown and I was just bawling.” Her coach at the time, the Boston AA’s Terrence Mahon, struggled to console her. “He finally realized, ‘Oh, you really do care about running and you really do care about this.’ And I said, “Yeah.” So we sat down and were like, we need to make some changes.” After her NCAA career was over she moved to Boston to train with Mahon’s pro group, but managed to finish only 21st in the OT 10,000. In all she spent two years trying to make it as a pro track runner but she couldn’t get close to her col- legiate bests of 15:32.46 and 32:13.28. “In college,” she said, “I probably got a little overconfident. Once I wasn’t winning, I would go into races and I just thought I could, you know, run the NCAA Record. I just got way too ahead of myself and I didn’t have anybody to say, ‘Hey, slow down. This is a process.’ I just formed a bad relationship with track because of that. I could never get back to not worrying about every 400m split. I would focus too much on the time and I would just crumble in workouts every single time if I wasn’t right on. I just became a slave to the watch.” Of her time in Boston, she noted, “I could have done what I knew was good for myself, but I just didn’t know what that was at the time. I didn’t know who I was and I didn’t know who I wanted to be. So I was just really lost when I was there and I don’t know if it’s just the environment of being in a big city or that just wasn’t the right timing for me to pursue running professionally.” Mahon, said Bates, picked up on that: “He was the first person to say, ‘Well, maybe you just need to go back to Idaho. Maybe you need to go back into the mountains, and just kind of start over. Find what you really enjoy.’ That was a turn- ing point for me and I knew that I needed to make some big There’s no doubt that Bates—like all the other changes. I was so appreciative for the Boston AA to be so runners—got some nice help from the downhill course. supportive of that. They even kept me on until the end of the (SACRAMENTO RUNNING ASSOCIATION) year with my contract. So I’m very, very grateful for that.” Bates and her fiancé, Kameron Ulmer, himself a 2:21 for people that have a fulltime job, run everyday and have marathoner, packed up and headed west. They purchased a kids on top of that. That’s incredible to me.” place on 10 acres an hour’s drive outside of Boise, backed up Living at 5000-feet in a place where streaming video against a National Forest. Far enough out that her cell phone isn’t an option and the water needs to be brought in from a gets zero bars. Far enough out so that the grid isn’t happen- nearby spring, Bates once again found her happiness in run- ing. Far enough out that she sometimes worries about bears, ning. Coached by Ulmer, she started getting serious again. wolves and mountain lions on her runs. She met up with Canadian marathoner Kinsey Middleton: She got a job. Actually, two jobs at first: “Accidentally, “We decided to go on a couple of runs with each other and sort of. I was offered both and for some reason I couldn’t say then it just evolved into her doing workouts with us and no to either of them. So I ended up having to work many, then she asked Kameron to coach her. Then we asked if she many hours—many more than I had originally planned.” knew anyone else who needed a coach and she reached out to She would drive an hour into town to be a nanny for a while, people and then people actually started reaching out to us.” and then go to work at the Whole Foods store. “It was an Thus was born the Idaho Distance Project, which will hour commute in and then working 12-hour shifts and then be spiking up for the USATF Club XC Nationals in Spokane an hour back. So I was just basically run, eat, sleep and that the second weekend in December. Bates will be running on was it,” she said. “I ended up realizing just how much I love tired legs (“I’m not going to be at my best, but I’m going to running because it was the easy part of my day. It was my try my hardest to be up there for them”). outlet. I just kept running more and more and accumulating Said Bates, “Kameron as a coach is amazing, but also 100M a week and I just felt so strong. just the environment here. It’s very conducive to running “I was tired all the time because I was on my feet working well and it’s a relaxed environment—not too serious, but we 50-60 hours a week. It just made me realize how hard people have goals.” work that actually do this all the time. I have so much respect Most of the IDP workouts happen in and near Boise, in-

December 2018 PDF — Page 69 stead of in the mountains near their secluded house. “We’ve to plan events to raise more money for the foundation here. done a lot of runs in the summertime at our place, but there’s I also wanted to represent the Camp Fire relief fund during a lot of snow up there right now. It’s super fun running up the race and get the word out there via social media and just there—nice, flat dirt roads and trails and trails and trails,” she to people out on the course. explained. When she does run from the house, she gets some “Even if it’s just a little bit of difference, I wanted to do it peace of mind from the bears thanks to Nanuka (it means and I wanted to put my heart into it.” In the future, she said, “polar bear”), her Samoyed dog who can do 20-milers with she hopes to continue to use her platform this way. “It’s opened Bates when it’s not too warm: “I try to take her with me as my eyes to wanting to help others and making that more of much as I can if I’m running by myself. And pepper spray, a full-time thing. There’s so much that needs to be done.” definitely. You have to be aware.” It has been a long road to these mountains for Bates, who as a child in Elk River, Minnesota, was pushed into running by her parents as a mode of dealing with hyperactivity. Her USATF MARATHON CHAMPS MEN’S RESULTS middle school days as a sprinter/hurdler didn’t win her the California International Marathon, Sacramento, California, notoriety she hoped for: “I thought I was going to be an Olym- December 2 (downhill course, 105m drop; 40–50 degrees, pic star at that point in the hurdles, but it wasn’t pretty. And no wind)— so my mom suggested, “Oh, maybe you should try distance. Just do one year of cross country and if you don’t like it you 1. Brogan Austin (Ia) 2:12:38 PR ($21,500); 2. Matt Llano (Az) can go back to hurdling and doing the sprints.’ 2:12:59; 3. Josh Izewski (NC) 2:13:15 (debut); 4. Joe Stilin (NC) 2:13:20 (debut); 5. Brendan Gregg (Ca) 2:13:27 PR; ”So I joined cross country and I fell in love instantly and made long-lasting friends. It just was my nIche. It was amaz- 6. Brian Shrader (Ma) 2:13:30 (debut); 7. Anthony Costales ing and I couldn’t get away from it after that.” She competed (Ca) 3; 8. Mick Iacofano (Co) 2:13:47 PR; 9. Martin Hehir on the Nordic skiing team in the winter. On the track, she (Pa) 2:13:49 (debut); 10. Jarrett LeBlanc (La) 2:13:51 PR; had high school bests of 5:00.13 and 11:00.65—frustratingly 11. Matthew McDonald (Ga) 2:14:06 PR; 12. Ryan Miller close to getting under magic barriers and frustratingly close (Tx) 2:14:29 PR; 13. Nathan Martin (Mi) 2:14:34 PR; 14. to getting attention from D1 recruiters. Colin Leak (Pa) 2:14:44 PR; 15. Samuel Kosgei (Co) 2:15:04; Bates didn’t win any state titles for Elk River and was surprised when she eventually got an offer from Boise State, 16. Andrew Colley (NC) 2:15:27 (debut); 17. Tyler Pence (Il) 2:15:38 (debut); 18. Will Nation (Tx) 2:15:45 PR; 19. Julian courtesy of Brad Wick, the former cross country coach there Florez (NM) 2:16:12 (debut); 20. Charlie Lawrence (Mn) (now at San José State) who also hailed from Elk River. “He 2:16:12 (debut); knew the potential that I had and he took a chance on me. He knew I would love it here.” Bates was reminded by her 21. Nick Caprario (Mo) 2:16:17 PR; 22. Sergio Reyes (Ca) old high school coach that a long time ago on a goal sheet 2:16:18; 23. Austin Bogina (Ks) 2:16:20 (debut); 24. Jona- she had written that she hoped she would be a professional than Aziz (Co) 2:16:38 PR; 25. Ben Fletcher (NM) 2:16:47. runner someday. “I guess I did believe that running could take me to places like this,” she said. “But I took 71st at NXN USATF MARATHON CHAMPS WOMEN Nationals my senior year, so winning nationals was never a 1. Emma Bates (Id) 2:28:18 (debut) ($21,500); 2. Steph reality in my radar back then. I think I was a dreamer when Bruce (Az) 2:29:20 PR; 3. Samantha Roecker (NY) 2:30:25 I put down that I wanted to be a professional runner. I’m a PR; 4. Michele Lee (Wi) 2:30:31 PR; 5. Bridget Lyons (Ga) dreamer still, but for it to actually happen is very, very cool.” 2:31:00 PR; What’s next? Bates said she may return to the track a little 6. (Va) 2:31:20 PR; 7. Nell Rojas (unat) next year, partly to help training partner Middleton achieve 2:31:22 PR; 8. Maegan Krifchin (NY) 2:32:47 PR; 9. Hil- her goals on the oval. “If I make the World Championships ary Dionne (Ma) 2:33:02 PR; 10. Lauren Masterson (Co) team for the 10K, I won’t say no to that,” she explained. “But the 2:33:35 PR; [Doha marathon] is too close to the Olympic Trials marathon.” One thing she said she would like to achieve with her 11. Anna Long (unat) 2:34:14 (debut); 12. Pasca Myers (Ia) 2:34:22; 13. Kaitlyn James (Az) 2:34:41 (debut); 14. Brittney running has a lot to do with the singlet she wore in Sacra- Feivor (Az) 2:35:11 PR; 15. Kimi Reed (Mo) 2:35:29 PR; mento: RUN for CAMP FIRE RELIEF. She partnered with Sierra Nevada Brewing to raise awareness of the continuing 16. Maddie Van Beek (ND) 2:35:35 (debut); 17. Allison Cleaver needs of the communities devastated by NorCal’s massive (Tx) 2:36:15 PR; 18. Courtney Olsen (Wa) 2:36:21 PR; 19. Camp Fire. The brewers have reached out to other breweries Meghan Peyton (MN) 2:36:27; 20. Esther Atkins (SC) 2:36:32; around the nation to join them in producing a special beer, 21. Jocelyn Todd (Ut) 2:36:33 PR; 22. Julia Roman-Duval “Resilience IPA,” to raise funds for the victims. (Md) 2:36:33 PR; 23. Autumn Ray (Az) 2:37:15 PR; 24. Bria “I reached out to as many breweries as I could here. Wetsch (Co) 2:37:15 PR; 25. Rachel Hyland (Ca) 2:37:22 PR. And so many of them were so responsive and got back to me right away and want to do more. We’re still continuing

December 2018 PDF — Page 70 Cold & Wet At The Euro XC Champs by T&FN

Filip Ingebrigtsen’s debut in the Senior race proved to be a winning one. (MARK SHEARMAN)

Tilburg, Netherlands, December 09— Rain off-and-on leaving Ingebrigtsen behind. The breakaway didn’t last long, throughout the day at the tail end of a very rainy week Ingebrigtsen rejoining the leaders a few hundred meters later. saturated the course for the European Cross Country Cham- On the final lap, the Norwegian’s power could not be denied, pionships, which was lined with 8000 spectators. On a cold, as he increased his pace to string out his pursuers. wet and breezy day the men’s race was a 10.3K affair over a Confident enough to celebrate before the line, the 25-year- loop somewhat torn up by this sixth race of the day. In many old Ingebrigtsen had time to kiss both his biceps as he raised stretches, runners had to negotiate standing water, thick mud, his arms in victory before crossing in 28:49. Kimeli took second and of course, the logs and undulating hills. in 28:52 with Kaya (28:56) and Özbilen (29:04) nailing down a team win for the Turks. With 14 points and a 3-4-7 finish, Turkey demolished Britain’s 34 (9-12-13) and Italy’s 37 (6-11-20). Men’s Title To Filip Ingebrigtsen Said the victor, who had competed in the younger cat- Spain’s , last year’s runner-up, did much egories in previous years and had never broken into the top of the early pace work in the large front-end pack. It wasn’t 20, “To come here and win the Senior race with this level of until after the third kilo that Filip Ingebrigtsen made his way athletes is something that I didn’t dream of before. I stayed to the front. The Norwegian, in his first harrier race of the with the lead group and one-by-one they started to drop.” season, battled with Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli, Mechaal and Third-placer Kaya, who admitted he struggled with the the Turkish pair of and Kaan Kigen Özbilen, the mud, quipped, “The race was not that bad, but it was not defending champion. that good.” Around 7K, Ingebrigtsen slipped and while he didn’t It would be a double gold day for the Ingebrigtsens, as fall, he dropped out of the lead pack. Özbilen took over and younger brother Jakob handily won the Junior (U20) race, tried to run away from Kaya and Mechaal. Soon the Span- passing through 5K in 14:25 before kicking to a 9-second win iard dropped and Kimeli made his way back to the leaders, in 18:00 for the 6.3K course.

December 2018 PDF — Page 71 EURO XC MEN’S RESULTS EURO XC WOMEN’S RESULTS Teams Teams 1. Turkey 14; 2. Great Britain 34; 3. Italy 37; 4. Spain 38; 5. 1. The Netherlands 20; 2. Great Britain 24; 3. Germany 50; 4. Belgium 38. France 70; 5. Sweden 80. Individuals (10,300m) Individuals (8300m) 1. Filip Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 28:49; 2. Isaac Kimeli (Bel) 28:52; 1. Yasemin Can (Tur) 26:05; 2. Fabienne Schlumpf (Swi) 26:06; 3. Aras Kaya (Tur) 28:56; 4. Kaan Kigen Özbilen (Tur) 29:04; 5. 3. Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal (Nor) 26:07; 4. Susan Krumins (Neth) Napoleon Solomon (Swe) 29:12; 6. Yemaneberhan Crippa (Ita) 26:16; 5. Jip Vastenburg (Neth) 26:45; 6. Elena Burkard (Ger) 29:14; 7. Polat Kemboi Arikan (Tur) 29:14; 8. Adel Mechaal (Spa) 26:53; 7. Charlotte Arter (GB) 26:57; 8. Melissa Courtney (GB) 29:20; 9. (GB) 29:21; 10. Seán Tobin (Ire) 29:22; 11. 26:59; 9. Pippa Woolven (GB) 27:02; 10. Jess Piasecki (GB) (Ita) 29:26; 12. Kristian Jones (GB) 29:28; 13. 27:03; 11. Maureen Koster (Neth) 27:08; 12. Trihas Gebre (Spa) Dewi Griffiths (GB) 29:31; 14. Antonio Abadía (Spa) 29:35; 15. 27:16; 13. Charlotta Fougberg (Swe) 27:17; 14. Anna Gosk (Pol) Robin Hendrix (Bel) 29:36; 16. Daniel Mateo (Spa) 29:40; 17. 27:20; 15. Kate Avery (GB) 27:20; 16. Liv Westphal (Fra) 27:20; 17. Charlie Hulson (GB) 29:43; 18. Henrik Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 29:45; Marie Bouchard (Fra) 27:21; 18. Maja Moller Alm (Den) 27:22; 19. 19. Ole Hesselbjerg (Den) 29:46; 20. Nekagenet Crippa (Ita) 29:47. Fabienne Amrhein (Ger) 27:26; 20. Verity Ockenden (GB) 27:30.

behind. The Swiss pulled ahead of Can before the 6K mark. Threepeat for Yasemin Can That initiated a see-saw battle with the two trading the lead Yasemin Can captured her third straight title, but this five more times over the final circuit. Near the end, a fast- time the 21-year-old Turk, a Kenyan by birth, had to closing Karoline Grøvdal of Norway joined the two leaders. to the wire to stay ahead of surprising Fabienne Schlumpf The three sprinted for the finish, with Can pulling ahead, of Switzerland. Schlumpf got out fast and for the first kilo her arms flailing as she successfully defended her crown in led alongside Germany’s Elena Burkard and Susan Krumins 26:05. Schlumpf (26:06) and Grøvdal (26:07) followed, the of the Netherlands. Can took her time working her way up Norwegian placing 3rd for the second-straight year. Said to the leaders and finally took over just after that first kilo. Can, “The race wasn’t very easy, mostly because of the wind. Throughout the next few laps, Can laid down surges that I wasn’t 100% this season, but now I think I’m coming back.” would bring her up to a 15-20m lead at times over the chase In the team contest—with the top 3 athletes on each squad pack, led by Krumins. At 5K, Schlumpf, the Euro runner-up scoring—Netherlands scored 20 on a 4-5-11 finish, beating in the steeplechase, began a long drive that left Krumins Britain’s 24 (7-8-9) and Germany’s 50 (6-19-25).

Meet Willie Banks, IAAF Candidate by Jeff Hollobaugh

When triple jump legend Willie Banks topped the election to be the USATF rep to the IAAF, he wasn’t sur- prised that he won; he was surprised by how much. “I thought it would be much closer,” he says of the 391–217 tally over incumbent . “I know that there are people in USATF that really wanted to see a woman in that position and I understand that. I do be- lieve that women should be represented on an equal standing with men in the movement. I just don’t believe that there isn’t a way to do that without restricting it to just women.” The 62-year-old California native says that his decision to wade into the fray was months in the making: “People asked me if I would be interested and it “I felt it was time to get involved,” says the former World Record holder. took me a good little while to come up (USATF PHOTO) December 2018 PDF — Page 72 Banks has also reached out to the defeated Hightower, Banks One Of The Great All-Time who had been working to position herself to be elected as the IAAF’s first woman VP. As of this writing, they have not Triple Jumpers yet connected. He says, “I think it’s going to take a while for It has now been 26 years since Willie Banks hung Stephanie to get over this election. She’s a huge competitor up his spikes after failing to make his third straight and a very strong individual who I respect tremendously. I U.S. Olympic squad, but his hope that she’ll be able to help guide me with her experience name still figures prominently over the last 4 years and help me move into this transition.” in the TJ’s statistics, as you’d “It’s going to be a challenge, of course,” he says. “I believe expect from somebody who I do have friends internationally that I can rely on to help set World Records indoors and me extend that network of friends. I hope to convince [the out. In ’82 he became the first IAAF delegates] that I would be a good Council member.” undercover 57-footer, reaching Since the formation of the IAAF in 1912, the U.S. has always 57-1½ (17.41). Three years later had a member, with Hersh being the only one ever to hold he came oh-so-close to becom- the rank of Senior VP. ing the event’s first 59-footer, Looking forward, Banks says that on the case for the missing by just a half-inch reinstatement of Russia to full participation in the IAAF, with his 58-11½ (17.97) at the ’85 USATF Championships. “I’m in lockstep [with IAAF head Seb Coe]. We should be The mark stood up as history’s best until Jonathan Ed- the No. 1 anti-doping country in the world and I think we wards broke it 10 years later. And it was the all-time should support what Seb is trying to do to make sure that the U.S. best until broke it in ’96. spread of doping is reversed. We need to institute programs Even today, only 5 other men (2 of them Americans) that make sure that every country in the world has the same have ever jumped farther. Although he was never an testing regimen that we have in the and the NCAA champion while at UCLA, he was a 3-time Na- UK and Norway and other countries that truly believe in tionals scorer (twice the runner-up) and also scored drugs out of the sport.” in the long jump, where he had a PR of 26-7 ¼ (8.11). On the IAAF rank- He went on to win 4 USATF triple jump titles. The ’83 ings—which are currently World Championships delivered a silver medal and he on hold as a means to finished 6th in the Olympics of ’84 and ’88. qualify athletes to the Overall, he World Ranked 11 times (only 3 have Worlds and Olympics: more) between ’77 and ’78 and can claim the No. 8 “There’s nothing wrong points total overall (No. 2 among Americans, behind with having rankings. It’s Mike Conley). He twice ranked No. 1, in ’81 and ’85. He a good thing. The problem made the U.S. top 10 no fewer than 17 times between is when it affects processes ’75 and ’92, with 5 No. 1s. and qualifications. If you provide rankings, they should be a guide to per- with the reasons why and the reasons why not. You know, formance, not a guide to you make your lists. “I felt it was time to get involved because qualification.” of all the issues that were starting to mount up, including But where Banks—the the whole Russia probe, the new [IAAF] ranking system that consummate showman as an athlete—gets truly excited is tends to hurt the U.S.’s ability to have team certainty, the is- when the conversation shifts to promoting the sport. “If sues surrounding doping and WADA, as well as my concern athletics is to grow, we need to have big ideas,” he says. “We that the participation of young people in track & field seems need to try something new. We need to try and stay with the to be waning because of a lack of big ideas to help raise the idea of entertainment. Because if we lose the idea that sport sport back to a level that will be sustainable.” is entertainment, we lose the fans. In the United States, ours To have an impact on any of those issues, Banks will is one of the few sports that a woman can actually make a have to learn to navigate his way through the IAAF structure living doing and be famous and make a change in the lives and win the support of enough of the voting membership to of young women who aspire to be like them. When you join the IAAF Council, the most powerful force in the sport. talk about athletes who can make millions of dollars being More so if he hopes to make it all the way to vice-president on the cover of magazines, being on television, you have to of the organization at next fall’s IAAF Congress in Doha. look to track & field. To that end he has consulted with the United States’ “For men, it’s harder. A lot of your best athletes are play- most recent VP, saying, “Bob Hersh has been amazing. He ing [ball] year-round and cannot go out for track & field to has guided me for years and years and he’s been very help- show how fast they are, how high they can jump, how far ful recently in helping me understand the ins and outs of they can throw. We’re losing our male heroes to other sports the IAAF.” and so to me it’s becoming a female sport. We need to catch

December 2018 PDF — Page 73 that and massage it and grow it. With the ’21 World Championships—the first ever to “We’re going to find things that work and things that be hosted by the United States—moving ever closer, Banks don’t work. The things that don’t work, we won’t use, but if we feels that the IAAF needs to work effectively to maximize don’t start thinking outside the box, we’re just going to lose.” the sport’s promotion in the U.S. “The United States is the One of the innovations Banks is willing to support is the No. 1 track & field team in the world and the market in the inclusion of a women’s decathlon. “I don’t see why not,” he United States is huge,” he says. “Every sport looks to the U.S. says, noting that he was one of the people pushing decades as a major area of exploration and growth. I will work to let ago for women to compete in his own event, the triple jump. the IAAF know that USA Track & Field is a great partner “I understand people are working hard to be heptathletes and will help make 2021 into something that people will and it’s always hard to make a change, but if we’re going never forget. This will be a time where the U,S, will finally to be to continue to say that we want equality for the sexes, get an opportunity to show just how important track & field we need to move to the decathlon.” is to our nation.”

USATF Hall Of Fame Class Of 2018 by T&FN

When his college coach tried to convert into a long jumper he said, “I’m a quarter horse. I run the 400. The jumping is cute, but I’m a 400 runner.” (JIRO MOCHIZUKI/PHOTO RUN)

At the Night Of Legends celebration staged as part impact far beyond their competition days.” of the national governing body’s Annual Meeting, the 3 USATF’s Hall Of Fame has 4 categories. Modern Ath- members of the Class of 2018 were inducted into the USATF letes are eligible after they have been retired for 3 years. Hall Of Fame: Dwight Phillips (modern athlete), Kathy Veteran Athletes are eligible after being retired for 25 Hammond (veteran athlete) & Bob Hersh (contributor). years. An athlete (or athletes) is inducted from each cat- Said CEO Max Siegel, “Dwight, Bob and Kathy represent egory every year. The Contributor and Coach categories excellence in each of their respective pursuits, spanning alternate years. Meet this year’s 3 inductees: decades in the sport. Their contributions have made an

December 2018 PDF — Page 74 Dwight Phillips—Modern Athlete —Veteran Athlete Phillips, the ’04 Olympic long jump gold medalist, also Hammond, double Olympic medal winner in ’72, recalled won 4 World Championships golds outdoors to go with 1 that it wasn’t love at first sight with the event that made her indoors. A 9-time T&FN World Ranker, he was 5 times No. famous, the 400: “My coach told me when I was going to turn 1 (’03, ’04, ’05, ’09 ’10). 14 that I was going to run the 400. I ran one, and I go, ‘Oh, gosh, Phillips didn’t originally see himself as a long jumper. I’m never going to run this again.’ ” A year later, in ’67, she He was recruited to Kentucky for his 400 skills (he has a PR won her first national Senior title— the AAU Indoor 440—at of 46.80 from his frosh year) and the triple jump. Then-UK age 15. That summer, while still a soph at Sacramento’s Mira assistant Edrick Floréal told him he could be an Olympic Loma High, she placed 2nd outdoors in 52.6. She ended up champion if he focused on the long jump but Phillips de- ranked No. 5 in the world. murred: “I said, ‘No disrespect, coach, but I’m a quarter horse. In ’68, with strong early season performances in both I run the 400. The jumping is cute, but I’m a 400 runner.’ ” long sprints, Hammond decided to go for a double in Mexico But after not making progress in the 1-lapper, he trans- City, but a hamstring injury hit just before nationals, where ferred to Arizona State, where coach Greg Kraft gave him an she was unable to finish the 400. “For a 16-year-old, that was ultimatum. “He said I could jump or go home,” recounted pretty devastating to me,” she said. “Even to this day I think, Phillips. “Every day I dreaded going to practice, but I gave oh gosh, I could have gone to Mexico at 16.” it all I had.” He won the Pac-10 title at 26-10 (8.18) that year. The following season, he was NCAA runner-up indoors and out, took 2nd in the Olympic Trials and placed 7th in the Olympics. “I found a new confidence,” he said. He added that his experience in Syd- ney shaped the rest of his career. “In 2000, I was immature. I was excited about seeing my teammates perform well and spent a lot of energy supporting everybody else instead of staying in my zone. It was a huge learning experience. I learned to put the focus on Kathy Hammond, here destroying the field in the ’72 AAU 400, says that after her first ever myself, and it paid off 1-lapper she said, “Oh, gosh, I’m never going to run this again.” (JEFF JOHNSON) very well.” In 2011, the year of his final WC gold, he lost every competition all year except The next year, healthy again as a high school senior, she for the one in . His tale: “I believed in myself so much, won the AAU title outdoors and broke the American Record all the studying and technique that I had executed over and in the 400 twice, ranking No. 2 in the world. over and over again. To not have to rely on my athletic ability, In ’72 she won the AAU title and set another AR (51.8) but my knowledge of the sport, I was able to beat athletes in capturing the Olympic Trials. At the Games she who were far superior to me at the time. I would say that claimed bronze with an AR 51.64, breaking her own record was probably the most memorable moment of my career.” of 51.92 from the heats. Then she anchored the U.S. 4×4 with Phillips has been active with USATF’s Athletes Advisory a blazing 50.2, grabbing silver behind an East German World committee and since his retirement from competition has Record. “I had been a little disappointed in my time in the started a company called The Winners Circle that offers open 400 and I was just going all out,” she said. “I’ve always training and other services to athletes. been a really good anchor leg making up distance. Once I get that baton I just go after the person that’s in front of me.” Hammond, though she had hoped to qualify for the ’76

December 2018 PDF — Page 75 Olympics, was forced by financial constraints In the ’80s, Hersh—affec- to leave the sport at age 21. In the course of her tionately called “The Commish” too-brief career at 400, she had World Ranked 5 by track insiders—designed the times and set 5 American Records. Mobil Indoor GP that brought order and prize money to the indoor circuit. The concept was Bob Hersh—Contributor a forerunner of the IAAF GP and Hersh has been active for decades under a the later Diamond League. variety of hats. So many, in fact, that HOF track- At age 78 Hersh is still among writer Jim Dunaway dubbed him “Hats Hersh.” the sport’s most diehard fans. He A long-time T&FN correspondent (writing news, has seen countless World Records features and opinion pieces), the New Yorker and attended the last 50 NCAA became a track official after his time at Harvard Outdoors, and every IAAF World Law School. He was chair of USATF’s Records Championship indoors and out, Committee 1981–88, Rules Committee chair along with every World and Con- 1989–01, General Counsel 1989–97 and a member tinental Cup. of the Board Of Directors 1981–15. It all started innocently At the international level, Hersh was a mem- enough: “When I was 12 years ber of the IAAF’s Technical Committee 1984–99 old, a good friend suggested that and an IAAF Council member 1999–15. In ’11 he After his first experience I might like track & field, so my was elected as senior VP—the only American ever watching a track meet, father took me to a track meet at with that standing in the international governing Bob Hersh said, “This is the Madison Square Garden, and I body. A legendary meet announcer as well, he greatest sport in the world.” just went nuts. I couldn’t believe was the voice of 6 and 9 World (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT) it. I really thought, ‘This is the Championships, as well as many Nationals. greatest sport in the world.’ ” □

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December 2018 PDF — Page 76 Book Review — Ralph Doubell: Do Not Worry, It Is Only Pain by Ed Fox

The 50th anniversary of the speculated they might have run ’68 Olympics in has even faster at sea level. Now, 50 been a springboard for a number years on, T&FN considers it a of books focusing on the stars of wash, and doesn’t attach an (A) to that Games, like 800 times made at altitude. and . Here’s an- This biography of Doubell other one—a biography of the 800 was written by Australian jour- champion from Australia, Ralph nalist Michael Sharp. It is compre- Doubell. hensive, almost mind-numbingly Doubell, coached by the leg- so for this American reader. But endary (one-time the important thing: Doubell’s mentor to Bannister, Chataway, transformation from a very ordi- Brasher, among others), had had nary scholastic runner to world- some impressive campaigns, class middle distance runner most notably the ’68 U.S. indoor under the tutelage of Stampfl is season. Still, T&FN’s interna- well documented. How Stampfl tional panel of experts was not got to Australia in the first place convinced and only Bert Nelson is a story in itself. And the stars had Doubell for a medal (bronze). certainly aligned to produce an The predictors favored either ’64 Olympic champion. Kenyan bronze medalist Wilson Doubell had some reasonably Kiprugut or American . good seasons after ’68, but his Bell (1:45.5) and Kiprugut (1:45.7) hopes to defend his title in Munich had the year’s fastest times, while were ruined by injury, and he then the Aussie’s best was only 1:47.2. made the decision to get serious Stomach illness put paid to about his business career, getting Bell’s chances and he did not an MBA at Harvard. He spent his make it past the first round. The way should have been working life working for large corporate entities like Citibank clear for Kiprugut, but in the final Doubell was able to and Goldman Sachs in New York, Chicago, London, Sydney maintain reasonable contact—the elastic thread—with the and . But he also was the chairman of two tech frontrunning Kenyan, and with an irresistible accelerating startups and returned somewhat to the public eye in Australia burst sprinted past Kiprugut for the gold. You can see it in as chairman of Athletics NSW (New South Wales), 1995–04. the sequence photographs in the book—Kiprugut’s stride He was also a founding director of Stadium 2000, as Sydney is lengthening as he tried to hold on, and Doubell in classic prepared for the 2000 Olympics. middle distance sprinting form. Doubell’s time tied Peter All in all, a good read, though I found some sections a Snell’s World Record of 1:44.3. bit tedious, like the recounting of Australian success and When informed by third-placer Tom Farrell that he’d failure at each Olympics and what’s wrong with contem- equaled the WR, Doubell said “Well, that’s nice.” He had won porary Australian male runners. You don’t hear names his semifinal (over Kiprugut) in an Australian Record 1:45.7, like Merv Lincoln and and Raelene Boyle and a big PR, and then lowered his PR nearly another second much these days, especially in the USA—a and a half in the final. But the time was not that important reminder that Australia was once a major force in our sport, to Ralph; it was the winning that counted. His systematic and we miss you. training with Stampfl enabled him to run as fast as was nec- RALPH DOUBELL: Do Not Worry, It Is Only Pain, by Mi- essary to win the gold, even though it was territory where chael Sharp. 325pp. Paperbound. Well illustrated. Available almost no one had gone before. Doubell gives full credit to from Stoke Hill Press. www.stokehillpress.com. his years with the Austrian coach. Actually, I’d forgotten this, but I did the T&FN Olympic issue writeup for the event at Mexico and came to no conclu- The longest tenured employee of Track & Field sion about altitude help or hindrance for the 800 meters. The News, hardcore fan Ed Fox has been at it with the magazine and its tours since August of 1965. common wisdom then was that events of duration of two For many years the enterprise’s Publisher, he now minutes or less would not be affected negatively by altitude. serves as Publisher Emeritus. Thin-air sprints were certainly aided, but Farrell and Doubell

December 2018 PDF — Page 77 ON YOUR MARKS — December

With a World Champs 100 Wild Card, look for super-vet sprinter Justin Gatlin to run more 200s next year. (GIANCARLO COLOMBO/PHOTO RUN)

Young German distance star Gatlin’s Plan For 2019 has moved to Oregon where she is being coached by Pete We might be seeing more of Justin Gatlin in the 200 next Julian of the Nike Oregon Project… season, according to his new coach Gary Evans, who also Not following Kentucky coach Edrick Floréal to Texas, works with Bahamian 400 star Steven Gardiner and Jamai- Sydney McLaughlin has announced she will be coached by can hurdler Omar McLeod. “We have the golden ticket, the Olympic 100H gold medalist . Hayes has stepped automatic bid for the 100 so we are going to focus mostly on down as an assistant coach at USC, although she will remain 200s outdoors to get him stronger for the top end of his 100,” with the Trojans as a volunteer coach as she embarks on a says Evans. “We’ll be off and on with races. We are not going career of working with pros. to go out there and chase everybody that is out there, like he was 28.” Gatlin will turn 37 in February… You know the competition is tough when you set an Fewer Medals For The Home Team? American Record and don’t rank No. 1 in your even—or make The IAAF has decided to eliminate the men’s 10,000 for the Top 10 in AOY voting—and that’s just what happened to the next World Juniors (U20), scheduled for ’20 in Nairobi. 3 U.S. women in ’18: Tori Franklin (triple jump), Courtney Instead, they’ll run the 3000 & 5000, as the women do. Some Frerichs (steeple) & Gwen Berry (hammer)… distance fans are concerned that this is just a step in eliminat- is another who feels he can outsprint ing the 25-lapper at the Senior level… Father Time. Now 34, the Dutch sprinter says, “People think In the adding-events department, The IAAF has submit- I’m getting older, but I just feel very young, I’m 29 forever. I ted a request to the IOC to include the women’s 50K walk in know I can go even faster.”… the Tokyo Olympics… Russia’s , silver medalist in the WC long Sprinter/long jumper Tianna Bartoletta will not compete jump last year, is now being coached by new Hall Of Famer this indoor season… Dwight Phillips… Stanford’s NCAA javelin runner-up, Jenna Gray, has

December 2018 PDF — Page 78 been named a first team All-America in volleyball, another A proposal to change IAAF Rule 163.4—the rule that was national title just won by the Cardinal… cited in the many lane-infringement DQs at last year’s World Katie Mackey was happy with her win at the USATF Na- Indoor—has not been accepted. Instead the IAAF Council tional Club XC Champs, the second national title of her career is asking for more information, leaving the rule unchanged (the first was the ’17 road mile), saying, “Cross country is all for now… about racing. Today was like a game. After all, sport is play.”… With Zürich getting a dedicated soccer stadium for its Hurdle king Sergey Shubenkov is preparing for his next two most prominent clubs,the legendary Letzigrund—home career already. He recently defended his masters thesis on of the Weltklasse meet—will face fewer scheduling conflicts planning training cycles for world-class hurdlers. He says, and be able to host more grassroots track events… “It’s too early for me to work with high-class athletes. First I The December death of legendary jazz singer Nancy have to start with children as a coach.”… Wilson has a track connection. She was the older sister of Oregon’s athletic department has been placed on 2 years high jumper Tony Wilson, who was an SEC champion for probation after violations were investigated in several sports. Tennessee. He died at 21 of a brain hemorrhage in ’73. The The track program has to vacate any records set while an Vols named their annual team MVP awards after him… athlete competed though ineligible. The Ducks are appealing The president of the Latvian federation, former Olympic the track penalty. 4th-place long jumper Ineta Radēviča, resigned after it was announced that she has failed a doping retest of London ’12 Bid Catching samples. Munich is hoping to host the ’22 European Champion- ships… Braveheart Redux Poland is putting forth a bid to host the ’24 Euros in Political strife at UK Athletics has apparently led to Scot- Chorzów. Other candidate nations are Belarus (Minsk), Fin- tish officials writing to European Athletics to ask for athletic land () & Sweden (). The decision will independence… be made in ’20… The IAAF has hired London-based agency Fifty Digital Australia is bidding to host the ’21 World Cross Country to fire up its digital and social media offerings. The firm re- Championships… places Haymarket, the originator of SPIKES, whose contract expired last year… Nevada will be adding men’s cross country in the 2019–20 Morris Unhappy With Censorship Of Poster school year, while discontinuing support of its rifle program… An image of vaulter Sandi Morris that was being The IAAF got its Athletes Of The Year half right: Eliud used on promotional posters for the Düsseldorf stop on Kipchoge (also our No. 1) and Caterine Ibargüen (our No. 5). the World Indoor Tour has been replaced after complaints Our women’s AOY, Caster Semenya, made the IAAF’s original that it was sexist. Morris responded on , “I would list of 10 nominees, but wasn’t included in the 5 finalists… love to live in a world where one could see an image of On December 13, Italian half-beard jumper Gianmarco a woman’s body and not sexualize it in their minds. The Tamberi flew over a “World Record” 8-¾ (2.46) in Verona— photo was of me competing—in a uniform I chose—stand- with the help of a gymnastics jumping board. It happened as ing ready. A woman has the right to be seen, just as men part of the entertainment for a company that manufactures do, without always being sexualized.” socks and leggings… France’s Jimmy Gressier took finishline theatrics in an interesting new direction with his victory in the European Victoria, British Columbia, is bidding on hosting the ’20 U23 XC. Planning to slide across the muddy finishline on his Pan-Am Cross Country Cup with an eye toward hosting the knees, he dropped to his knees just before the tape, proudly World XC in ’23… holding a flag in each hand, and slid for a short way before Russia’s Anna Alminova, who tested positive and lost hitting a snag that caused him to flop forward, taking down her ’09 Euro Indoor gold in the 1500, has been appointed a the finish banner with his face. He came up smiling and said, regional minister of sport & youth policy… “I’m very happy to win for a second time.”

LANDMARKS — December Elected: Willie Banks, 62 The former international hurdle star has been hired to The former World Record holder in the triple jump has be the IAAF’s new CEO, starting in March. been chosen as the USATF candidate for election to the IAAF Enshrined: USATF Hall Of Fame Class of ’18 Council. The trio of Kathy Hammond, Bob Hersh & Dwight Phil- Hired: Jon Ridgeon, 51 lips take their places among the sport’s greats.

December 2018 PDF — Page 79 Resigned: Jill Geer of 17 national shot records, he World Ranked No. 7 in ’70. He USATF’s Chief Marketing Officer is leaving after 18 years had earlier placed 9th at the ’68 Olympics. with the national governing body to become CMO of the Died: Saida Gunba, 59 American College of Education. On November 24, in Tbilisi, Georgia. The javelin silver Died: Pierre Colnard, 89 medalist from the ’80 Olympics for the Soviet Union was twice On March 30, in Sermaize-les-Baines, France. The setter World Ranked, No. 8 in ’79 and No. 4 in ’80.

STATUS QUO — December

The latest in the aches, pains & eligibility departments: ’16 NCAA 1500 champ for Mississippi State—out of the Euro XC. Sweden’s Abeba Aregawi has ended her career. Cleared of charges related to a positive Meldonium test, the ’13 World Former Cuban sprinter Yunier Pérez (10.00 PR) will 1500 champ has no plans to resume competing. now represent Spain.

James Dasaolu, Britain’s ’14 Euro 100 champ, has suc- A non-retirement announcement came from Tero Pit- cessfully crowdfunded the $32,000 he needs to have Achilles kämäki, Finland’s ’07 world javelin champ. Now 35, he says surgery. he aims to compete next summer despite all of his injury problems. Healthy again after a serious knee injury in the summer of ’17, U.S. Olympian English Gardner plans to run indoors Jared Tallent, a 9-time World Ranker in the event, missed to test her progress. the Aussie 50K Walk championships due to injury.

No homecourt advantage for Sifan Hassan at the Euro Graduating early, Georgia sprinter Kendal Williams will XC Champs; the Dutch star was forced out of the race by turn pro and not use his final year of collegiate eligibility. illness.

Joyciline Jepkosgei, World Record holder in the half- Doping bans: marathon, twisted her ankle in training and had to withdraw 4 years—Kipyegon Bett (Kenya, 800), Nigel Levine from her planned marathon debut in Honolulu. (Great Britain, 100). 3 years, 7 months—Alina Fodorova (Ukraine, heptath- An Achilles injury knocked Portugal’s Marta Pen—the lon).

LAST LAP — December

Here’s this month’s collection of generally off-track activities that have gone a long way towards shaping the way the sport is headed:

athletes up close and see how fast they move, it really is Stadium? Who Needs A Stadium? something.” Coming soon to a street near you, expect to see more track & field action on the macadam. As part of the IAAF’s push to bring more innovation to the sport, Monaco is U.S. To Tackle Europe In A Dual Meet embracing the notion of more outside-the-stadium compe- In the lead-in to next fall’s World Championships, tition, telling Gene Cherry of , “There is currently which start on September 28, the U.S. will take on Europe a working group looking at the possibility of creating a in a head-to-head match set for Minsk, Belarus, on Sep- street athletics circuit.” tember 9–10. “We are proud to announce there will be a In addition to Boston’s adidas Boost meet organized by match for the first time since the 1960s,” said European agent Mark Wetmore, 2019 will see the debut of an Ameri- Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen. “We are going to can Track League street circuit, with events planned for include every track discipline up to the 3000m for men Atlanta (July 02–03), Greenville (July 06), Charlotte (July and women (excluding 4 x 400m). We will have all the 13) and Omaha (August 01). ATL founder Paul Doyle tells throws, jumps and a 4 x 100m relay, and there will be a Cherry, “Street meets are great for promoting the sport mixed medley relay.” and featuring events that get lost in the stadium.” Said USATF CEO Max Siegel, “We welcome the op- Says Wetmore, whose Boston street event will be portunity for our athletes to compete in a team match June 16, “It’s the best way to reach people who have never leading up to the 2019 World Championships.” been to a track meet, especially kids. When you see these Prize money in Minsk will be awarded to the top 8 in

December 2018 PDF — Page 80 Boston’s adidas Boost meet (Katie Nageotte vaulting here) has had good success with its street-events component. (MIKE SCOTT) each individual event, with winners getting 7000€ (c$8000). Relay winners will win 6000€ (c$6900). It’s not known at To Host ’23 World this time how either of the teams will be chosen, but they Championships may be shy on high-end athletes who have competed in The IAAF has chosen Hungary’s capital city of Budapest the DL Final in Brussels just 3 days earlier. as the site for World Championships XIX. There were no other candidates, as the IAAF now chooses its hosts based on a new consultation process. The meet will be staged August 12–20. A new 40,000-seat stadium will be constructed on the banks Athletes Want More Say In WADA of the Danube, but 25,000 seats of that capacity are temporary Following a package of governance reforms and will be removed after the meet is over. It was certainly that were approved at WADA’s November meeting, no shock that the meet ended up in a European city. With ’19 members of the organization’s Athlete Committee in Doha and ’21 in Eugene, this was the first time the meet have rallied to generate support for a missing item: had ever been held outside Europe twice in a row. increased athlete representation. The omission was In announcing the decision, IAAF head Seb Coe said the criticized by Athlete Committee chair Beckie Scott international governing body was “delighted” to award the of Canada—a former cross-country skier—and now meet to “a country of extraordinary athletic tradition and the committee has set up a working group to increase great experience in organizing world-class sports events.” athlete representation. Budapest previously hosted the ’89 and ’04 World Indoor The WADA Executive Committee did grant athletes Championships. The ’23 bid was launched in ’17 after Buda- a minimum of 1 seat on each standing committee, a pest’s hopes for formulating a ’24 Olympic bid evaporated. move hailed by steepler Emma Coburn as a “positive step.” However, noted Scott, of 38 seats on the Founda- Jamaica Possible Host For ’21 World tion Board, only 5 are held by athletes. She called it a “regrettable and missed opportunity.” Relays? After 3 World Relays hostings by the Bahamas (’14, ’15

December 2018 PDF — Page 81 & ’17), followed by next year’s staging in Yokohama, Japan, its commitment. This comes after Governor Kate Brown com- could the big baton meet be headed back to the greater Ca- mitted a total of $25 million in tax money to the event. Her ribbean in ’21? chief of staff, Nik Blosser, says that the financial guarantee “The IAAF had written to us and given us really a first from the Foundation was instrumental in the state deciding offer on 2021 because they have not decided on the full bid- to support the event. ding process, but I suspect—based on the tone of the letter Also reportedly displeased is the IAAF, which insists that I received and I replied to—that it has not yet been put “The Foundation guarantee is part of the event contract.” The to member federations,” Jamaican federation head Warren IAAF’s Jackie Brock-Doyle produced a September ’14 letter Blake told the Jamaica Gleaner at the end of November. “If from Weinhold addressed to then-IAAF President Lamine Jamaica wants it, Jamaica will have first choice.” Diack in which Weinhold stated, “Please accept this letter as With work to upgrade the National Stadium set to begin our written guarantee that the Founda- in January, Blake has signaled his nation’s interest in the tion will unconditionally cover any potential shortfall deficit meet: “I have replied to them to say that yes, the federation of the future organizing committee budget of the IAAF World is interested.” One of the key requirements is a financial Championships in Eugene in 2019.” It was written before the guarantee amounting to close to $7 million. ’19 edition was awarded to Doha and Eugene accepted ’21. Concluded Blake, “I’m fairly certain the event will be ours Now the state, through Blosser, says that USATF will because the IAAF wants to have those relays in the Caribbean be assuming the financial guarantee. That has not been because they see it as a more Calypso-type event—brings confirmed; so far USATF has publicly committed $6 million. more excitement—and we have very strong relays in the Eugene organizers are saying the state government will Caribbean as well, so it will have a home crowd.” have to kick in an additional $15 million to make the event fly, bringing the taxpayer total to $40 million, a figure that will likely create more public opposition to the event. The IAAF’s 2019 World Indoor Tour The financing mess is not directly connected to Eugene’s Details have been announced for the fourth edition of the other major headache, the ongoing Federal investigation into IAAF’s World Indoor Tour. The series will include 6 meets: the winning bid. It has been revealed that USATF President Boston, Massachusetts (January 26), Karlsruhe, Germany —now on forced leave from that position—was (February 02), Toruń, Poland (February 06), , Spain subpoenaed and questioned by the FBI in 2017. Lananna (February 08), Birmingham, (February 16) & Düs- has since resigned his positions with Oregon ’21 and Track seldorf, Germany (February 20). Five of the six meets are Town to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest with his holdovers from last year, the British switch being Birmingham USATF post. back in and out. The newly-hired CEO of Oregon ’21, Niels de Vos, insists There will be 5 Tour events for men (400 & 1500 in all 5 that USATF will come through with the financial guarantee. meets, 60H in all meets but Karlsruhe, HJ in all but Boston Until then, count on lawyers on all sides to generate signifi- & Madrid and LJ in all but Boston & Düsseldorf) and 6 for cant billable hours. women (60 in all 5 meets, 800 in all but Karlsruhe & Madrid, 3000 in Karlsruhe, Madrid & Birmingham, 5000 in Boston, PV in all but Toruń, TJ in Karlsruhe, Madrid & Düsseldorf Tara Davis In Limbo After Deciding To and SP in Boston, Toruń & Düsseldorf). Transfer The total prize purse of $570,350 will find the winner of One of this year’s most brilliant frosh, Tara Davis—a each event at each meet receiving $3000. The winner of the hurdler/jumper scored at the NCAA both indoors and out— overall title in each event—calculated off the athlete’s 3 best has left Georgia and has gone public with her efforts to get a results—will receive $20,000. And as a bonus, each of the release from the Bulldogs. overall winners will be eligible for Wild Card status for the “I’m in the process of looking for a new school to attend,” ’20 World Indoor, to be staged in Nanjing. Davis said in a video she tweeted. “Last week while I was visiting the University of Texas, a tweet went out saying Who Will Pay For Eugene’s World that I had signed and committed to the University of Texas, which is completely false. This hurt my chances in talking Championships? to other schools I’m interested in… Georgia has blocked me Jeff Manning of oregonlive.com has raised major ques- from competing in the 2018-19 season. I am hoping to be able tions about the financing of the ’21 World Championships to get released.” in Eugene after the revelation that the University of Oregon Davis initially announced her departure on Foundation—which earlier had publicly declared itself will- on December 7. The tweet she referred to was sent out by ing to cover any deficits—says it is off the hook. Georgia coach Petros Kyprianou on December 13. While not In an early-December report, Manning wrote that Paul specifically saying that Davis had signed at Texas, it is implied Weinhold, President and CEO of the Foundation, says that in the last sentence: “Best of luck at the University of Texas!” his organization was not asked to sign the IAAF’s event Details are unclear as to how the NCAA’s new transfer contract and therefore is not required to follow through on rules—which took effect October 15 and in theory were sup-

December 2018 PDF — Page 82 posed to offer athletes more flexibility to transfer at will—affect this case. Georgia is remaining mum on the subject.

The IAAF Gets A New CEO Former world-class high hurdler Jon Ridgeon has a new role in the sport 31 years after winning silver at the ’87 World Championships. The IAAF Council has approved the Briton’s appointment as the organization’s new CEO. The 2-time Olympian—and NCAA scorer for SMU as a frosh in ’86—has been active in a number of sports-related businesses and is noted for helping transform British Athletics in the late ‘90s into a financial success. Ridgeon, 51, is also cited as one of the architects of the IAAF’s Diamond League. “Having spent my life in sport, this is a dream job for me and I am absolutely thrilled,” said Ridgeon, who starts in March. “Athletics is my passion and I have devoted the vast majority of the past 20 years to creating successful commercial partnerships, developing new events that drive participation at both elite and grassroots levels, as well as leading organiza- tions that deliver significant projects across the globe. “I am delighted to be joining at this exciting time and look forward to working with Seb [Coe], a strong team and all our member federations across the globe.” Said Coe, “I, and a number of the IAAF Council members, have known Jon for many years and admired his passion, energy and innovation in sport, particularly athletics. His experience in putting together great teams, running large suc- cessful companies, delivering top-class events and bringing strong commercial partners into sport makes him the right choice for this role.”

Allyson Felix’s Truncated Season Now the mother of her first child, Allyson Felix may Explained have to wait a bit before she adds any more medals to her huge collection. (KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT) Mega-medaled sprinter Allyson Felix has revealed that she gave birth to a daughter, Camryn, on November 28, with husband Kenneth Ferguson, himself a former world-class She didn’t address any potential plans for the ’19 campaign. 400 hurdler. “I was 8 weeks pregnant at the race in Poland and 9 weeks The Russian Ban Is Extended at the race in France,” she said in telling ESPN W about the There will probably be no Russian team, as such, at the pair of June 400s that ended her season. “I thought I could European Indoor Champs in February as the IAAF extended keep the news to myself and my husband, Kenneth, for a little the nation’s ban for the ninth time at its December Council longer, that I’d still be winning races as long as I trained hard. meeting. Removing this latest extension is contingent on “I mean, Serena Williams won the Australian Open early whether the samples and data from the Laboratory in her pregnancy. If I had enough willpower, I should be able are made available before the December 31 WADA deadline. to do the same. Then I could shut it down midway through In addition, the IAAF is waiting for Russia to pay off its $2.76 the season—which is what I’d planned to do in the off-year million legal debt, something they have agreed to in principle. when there’s no Olympics or outdoor world championships A 5-member WADA team arrived in Moscow in mid- regardless—and be back by early 2019 without anyone no- December to collect data and samples. The data extraction was ticing I was gone.” Now she says, “And, hold up: why was I expected to take 3 days. Even with the Russians apparently trying to do all this without anyone noticing I was gone?” meeting the deadline, the IAAF will need several months to Now focused on parenthood and dealing with a prema- review the data before agreeing to reinstatement. There are ture birth as well preparing a bid to make her fifth Olympic concerns that the data may have been tampered with. team, Felix said, “If I come back and I’m just not the same, if I The IAAF also announced new guidelines for Russian can’t make a fifth Olympic team, I’m gonna know that I fought, athletes to participate with neutral status in international that I was determined, and that I gave it my absolute all.”

December 2018 PDF — Page 83 events. In addition to streamlining the process for athletes who have been approved in the past, it also requires that each Historic Track Sites To Be Tagged athlete submit a letter from the Russian Federation verifying their eligibility. Athletes must have been in a WADA testing In a move to memorialize the iconic sites of the sport, pool for 12 months prior to the competition in question. For the IAAF has announced the development of the World U20 (Junior) athletes, that period is 6 months. Athletics Heritage Plaque. The plaques—inspired in The IAAF has also reserved the right to postpone the part by London’s celebrated blue plaques for historical approval of any neutral athletes until it has had time for an sites—will be displayed at key track locations around authorized lab to recheck their samples that come from the the world. Moscow lab. Seb Coe describes the markers as “a location-based recognition which highlights, celebrates and links to- gether iconic and historic athletics competitions, careers, USATF’s 2019 Live-Event Coverage performances, cities, venues, landmarks and culture Once again, USATF will be working with the NBC Sports around the world.” Group to televise/stream track coverage. Planned is more In explaining the sites, Coe said, “There would be no than 50 hours of live-event coverage during the ’19 season. point in us placing plaques on the wall of every Olympic The breakdown: stadium as, while they have been the scene of countless epic competitions at the pinnacle of our sport’s history, January 26—Sander Invitational; USATF.tv these are already well-known landmarks. Instead we are January 26—New Balance Boston GP; NBCSN looking to highlight lesser known locations associated February 09—; NBC with equally outstanding performances.” February 23-24—USATF Indoor; NBCSN Two sites in the U.S. were among the 12 chosen to April 26-27—Penn Relays; NBCSN begin the program: Michigan’s Ferry Field, where Jesse April 27—Drake Relays; NBCSN Owens had his 6-WR day in ’35, and the Babe Didrikson May 16—USATF Distance Classic; NBC Sports Gold Zaharias Museum in Beaumont, Texas. The other 10 June 16—adidas Boost Boston; NBC international athletes who will be commemorated: Emil June 30—Prefontaine Classic; NBC Voigt (Manchester, England), Eric Lemming (Stockholm, July 04—Peachtree 10K; NBCSN Sweden), (, Finland), Chuhei Nambu July 25-28—USATF Championships; NBC, NBCSN (Tokyo, Japan), Fanny Blankers-Koen (Hengelo, Neth- September 08—5th Ave. Mile; NBC erlands), (São Paulo, Brazil), Betty Cuthbert (Sydney, Australia), (Addis Ababa, All televised coverage will also be available through the Ethiopia), Irena Szewińska (Poland). NBC Sports Gold streaming service. The IAAF has announced a design competition for the plaques, with the first placements expected next year. American Records You Didn’t Know About the 1500 best from… ! Lagat held the AR with his 3:29.30 from ’05, but it turns out that while representing USATF has moved to close a gap in the records department Kenya in ’04 he already had his U.S. citizenship so his 3:27.40 that for long went basically unnoticed. Specifically, the rules from that year becomes the AR. said that to set an American Record you needed to be a U.S. citizen. Nothing was said about people with dual-citizen status who weren’t eligible to represent the U.S. internationally, so Radical Change Coming For The they were eligible all along. USATF has now moved to close Multis? that loophole, but the new rule won’t be applied retroactively, so any marks made in 2018 or earlier are eligible. The “Gundersen Method” may be coming to a multi- That means that Mondo Duplantis not only set a rash of event near you in the coming years. The IAAF says that it American Junior Records in the vault in ’17 and ’18, he also wants to try it out in the decathlon and heptathlon at the ’20 claimed the American Record, period. His 19-10¼ (6.05) at the World Junior (U20) Championships. The protocol—which European Championships this year—made while represent- originated in the world of Nordic skiing and is also used ing Sweden—replaces Brad Walker’s ’08 mark of 19-9¾ (6.04). in Modern Pentathlon—staggers the starts of contestants in Another Swede who was born in the U.S., Susanna Kal- the final event so that the finish order of that race is also the lur, now claims the indoor 60H AR at 7.68 (which is also the finish order of the event proper. WR), set in ’08. That means that the accepted AR of 7.72 set The problem is in the execution. Under Gundersen, the by was never really the AR. And a 7.72 by Keni points leader after 9 events in a decathlon starts first, and Harrison—and 7.70s by Harrison and Sharika Nelvis—earlier may well run alone the entire way, ideally crossing the finish this year won’t get any recognition either. before anyone else has a chance to catch up to him. (The other There’s one other AR change, with Bernard Lagat swiping contestants start at intervals behind him, based on how far

December 2018 PDF — Page 84 behind their 9-event point totals are.) laps… not very exciting. Also, the 1500 does not become a The challenges of such a radical retooling are evident. In competitive event… not a contest, but just a time trial. They fact, the IAAF Technical Committee rejected the idea several did it because they wanted to inject some excitement into years ago as unfeasible. Says Frank Zarnowski, one of the [combined events] but this only works if the point totals are world’s leading experts on the multis, “Suppose the leader very, very close after 6 or 9 events.” has a VERY large point lead after 9… he runs alone for several We’ll dig into this concept in depth in the January edition.

FOR THE RECORD — December This is a listing of all the Absolute (indoor and outdoor combined) records set during calendar 2018. + = event not of- ficially recognized by governing body; ¶ = not under ratifiable conditions. For a listing of these records including site & date information, go here.

WORLD RECORDS 5.92/19-5 Mondo Duplantis (Sweden), 5.93/19‑5½ Duplantis, 5.95/19-6¼ Duplantis, 6.00/19-8¼ Duplantis, 6.05/19-10¼ Du- Men plantis; 10K+—Rhonex Kipruto (Kenya); 26:46 Kipruto Decathlon—9126 Kevin Mayer (France); 15K+—41:05 Joshua Women Cheptegei (Uganda); 20K+—55:18 Abraham Kiptum (Kenya); Half- Marathon—58:18 Kiptum; 30K+—1:26:45 Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya); 53.60 Sydney McLaughlin (US), 52.75 McLaughlin Marathon+—2:01:39 Kipchoge; 100K—Nao Kazami (Japan) AMERICAN JUNIOR RECORDS Women Men Steeplechase—8:44.32 Beatrice Chepkoech (Kenya); Half-Mara- 5.92/19-5 Mondo Duplantis (Louisiana HS), 5.93/19-5½ Duplantis, thon (women-only)—66:11 Netsanet Gudeta (Ethiopia); 800 Med- 5.95/19-6¼ Duplantis, 6.00/19-8¼ Duplantis, 6.05/19-10¼ Duplan- ley+—1:35.20 Team USA Penn Red (US); 20W—1:23:39¶ Yelena tis; SP—22.06/72-4½ Tripp Piperi (Texas) Lashmanova (Russia); 50W—Rui Liang (China) Women AMERICAN RECORDS 53.60 Sydney McLaughlin (Kentucky), 52.75 McLaughlin; Men 3000W—13:31.79 Taylor Ewert (Ohio HS); 5000W—22:38.16 Ewert; PV—6.05/19-10¼ Mondo Duplantis (Louisiana HS) 10,000W—49:07.52 Ewert, 45:57.81 Ewert; 5KW—Ewert 23:08 Women WORLD YOUTH RECORDS Steeplechase—9:00.85 Courtney Frerichs (Bowerman TC); 5000— Boys 14:34.45 Shelby Houlihan (Bowerman TC); 10M—50:52 Molly HT—87.82/288-1 Myhaylo Kokhan (Ukraine) Huddle (Saucony); 20K—63:48 Huddle; Half-Marathon—67:25 Huddle. 800 Medley—1:35.20 Team USA Penn Red; TJ—14.84/48- Girls 8¼ Tori Franklin (Oiselle); HT—77.65/254-9 DeAnna Price (New York Heptathlon—5221 Maria Vicente (Spain) AC), 77.78/255-2 Gwen Berry (Nike), 78.12/256-3 Price AMERICAN YOUTH RECORDS COLLEGIATE RECORDS Boys Men none 400—43.61 Michael Norman (USC); 800—Michael Saruni (UTEP); Girls 1500—3:35.01 Josh Kerr (New Mexico); 400H—47.02 Rai Benjamin (USC); 4×1—38.17 Houston; 4×4—2:59.00 USC Heptathlon—5798(A) Anna Hall (Colorado HS), 5660 (lo-alt) Hall Women HIGH SCHOOL RECORDS 3000—8:41.60i Karissa Schweizer (Missouri); 400H—52.75 Sydney Boys McLaughlin (Kentucky); 4×1—42.05 LSU; TJ—14.53/47-8i= Keturah 4×2—1:23.25 The Woodlands, Texas; PV—5.92/19-5 Mondo Du- Orji (Georgia), 14.62/47-11¾ Orji; SP—19.46/63‑10¼ Maggie Ewen plantis (Lafayette, Louisiana), 5.93/19-5½ Duplantis, 5.95/19-6¼ (Arizona State); HT—73.61/241-6 Ewen, 74.53/244-6 Ewen Duplantis, 6.00/19-8¼ Duplantis, 6.05/19-10¼ Duplantis JUNIOR COLLEGE RECORDS Girls none 5000—15:37.12i Katelyn Tuohy (North Rockland, Thiells, New York); MileW—6:45.68i Taylor Ewert (Beavercreek, Ohio); 3000W— WORLD JUNIOR RECORDS 13:31.79 Ewert; 5000W—22:38.16 Ewert; 10,000W—49:07.52 Men Ewert, 45:57.81 Ewert; 4x100H—Western Branch, Chesapeake, Virginia; Heptathlon—5798(A) Anna Hall (Valor, Highlands Ranch, 5000—12:43.02 Selemon Barega (Ethiopia); 110H—12.99= Damion Colorado), 5660 (l-a) Hall; 5KW(r)—Ewert. Thomas (Jamaica); 20W—1:17:25¶ Sergey Shirobokov (Russia);

December 2018 PDF — Page 85 CALENDAR — December

U.S. Indoor Invitationals Spire Invitational; Geneva, Ohio January Tiger Paw Invitational, Clemson, South Carolina 11–12 Green Invitational; Lexington, Kentucky 09 Great Southwest HS; Albuquerque, New Mexico Nelson Invitational; College Station, Texas Millrose Games; New York, New York Orange & Purple Elite, Clemson, South Carolina New Balance Indoor GP; Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts 12 Blazer Invitational, Birmingham, Alabama 14–16 Simplot HS; Pocatello, Idaho Dempsey Indoor Preview; , Washington 15 LSU Twilight, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 18 Red Raider Invite, Lubbock, Texas Ohio State Invitational, Columbus, Ohio 18–19 Gladstein Invitational, Bloomington, Indiana 15–16 JML DMR Invitational, Winston-Salem, North New Balance Games; New York, New York Carolina Pole Vault Summit; Reno, Nevada 16 Wilson Invitational, Notre Dame, Indiana Samford Invitational, Birmingham, Alabama Aggie Twilight, College Station, Texas 19 Simmons-Harvey Big 10 Invite, Ann Arbor, Wilson Invitational; Notre Dame, Indiana Michigan 20 GBTC Invitational; Allston, Massachusetts Collegiate Conference Indoor Champs 24–26 Texas Tech Invitational, Lubbock, Texas February 25–26 Houston Invitational, Houston, Texas 01–02 New Englands; Boston, Massachusetts Indiana Relays; Bloomington, Indiana 15–16 Patriot League; Annapolis, Maryland National Open; University Park, Pennsylvania 16–17 Conference USA; Birmingham, Alabama Pollock Invitational, Clemson, South Carolina Mets, New York, New York Razorback Invitational; Fayetteville, Arkansas 18–19 Sun Belt; Birmingham, Alabama Terrier Invitational; Boston, Massachusetts 20–21 Ohio Valley; Birmingham, Alabama Washington Invitational; Seattle, Washington 21–23 ACC; Blacksburg, Virginia 31–01 Bayou Bengal Invitational, Baton Rouge, Big Sky; Bozeman, Montana Louisiana WAC; Nampa, Idaho February 22–23 American; Birmingham, Alabama 01–02 Husker Invitational; Lincoln, Nebraska Big East; Geneva, Ohio McCravy Memorial; Lexington, Kentucky Big 10; Ann Arbor, Michigan Meyo Invitational; Notre Dame, Indiana Big 12; Lubbock, Texas Power 5 Invitational, Ann Arbor, Michigan Mid-American; Kent, Ohio Texas Tech Open, Lubbock, Texas Mountain Pacific; Seattle, Washington Thomas Invitational, College Station, Texas SEC; Fayetteville, Arkansas 02 Camel City Elite, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 22–24 Mountain West; Albuquerque, New Mexico Sykes–Sabock Cup; University Park, Penn- 23–24 America East, Boston, Massachusetts sylvania Ivy League; Cambridge, Massachusetts 08 ; Fayetteville, Arkansas 23–24 Missouri Valley; Cedar Falls, Iowa 08–09 Hemery Invitational; Allston, Massachusetts Southern; Lexington, Virginia Husky Classic; Seattle, Washington 24–25 Horizon, Youngstown, Ohio Iowa State Classic; Ames, Iowa Southland; Birmingham, Alabama Kirby Elite Invitational; Albuquerque, New Mexico March 01–03 IC4A/ECAC; Boston, Massachusetts Music City Challenge, Nashville, Tennessee

December 2018 PDF — Page 86 National Indoor Championships Major 2019 Track Championships February February 22–24 USATF; Staten Island, New York 22-24 USATF Indoor; Staten Island, New York 28–02 NAIA; Brookings, South Dakota March March 08-09 NCAA Indoor; Birmingham, Alabama 01–02 JUCO; Pittsburg, Kansas May 08–09 NCAA; Birmingham, Alabama 11-12 World Relays; Yokohama, Japan NCAA II; Pittsburg, Kansas June NCAA III; Boston, Massachusetts 05-08 NCAA; Austin, Texas 08–10 New Balance Indoor Nationals HS; NYC, New July York 25-28 USATF/World Championships Trials; Des IAAF Cross Country Permit Series Moines, Iowa January 2019 August 06 , Italy 29 Weltklasse Diamond League Final; Zürich, Switzerland 13 Elgóibar, Spain 19 Belfast, Northern Ireland September 20 Seville, Spain 06 Van Damme Memorial Diamond League Final; Brussels, Belgium 27 San Vittore Olona, Italy 09–10 U .S . vs . Europe; Minsk, Belarus February 28- October World Championships XVII; Doha, Qatar 03 Albufeira, Portugal 06 March 30 World Championships; ,

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