Who are the top middle and long distance runners this year based on times, positions in major events and win-loss records against fellow athletes?

Once again Athletics International has been pleased to collaborate with Athletics Weekly in producing these annual statistics, writes Peter Matthews.

As always, our world top-10 merit rankings, compiled by an international panel of experts, will no doubt provoke discussion. There can be no definitive pecking order for 2021, but the panel has done its best by carefully applying the various criteria for judging athletes’ performances over the year.

In terms of world rankings. In 2016 and 2017 a total of 17 Britons ranked among the top 10 in their events; in 2018 there were 15 but in 2019 the number was down to 11. This year the figure was 15.

Josh Kerr, at 1500m, was the only British male to win an individual medal at the Olympic Games and he and Elliot Giles 800m were the highest ranked at 5th in their events. Four more British athletes were included: Nick Miller (7th hammer), Andrew Pozzi (9th 110m hurdles), Lawrence Okoye (9th discus) and Daniel Rowden (10th 800m).

As is becoming usual, women fared better with nine ranked (two at two events). They were headed by the remarkable Keely Hodgkinson (2nd 800m), then Laura Muir (3rd 1500m and 7th at 800m), Holly Bradshaw (3rd pole vault), Jemma Reekie (4th 800m), Dina Asher-Smith (6th 100m and 7th 200m), and 9th places for Daryll Neita (100m), Jodie Williams (400m), Cindy Sember (100m hurdles) and Jazmin Sawyers (long jump).

For our annual world merit rankings, the International selection panel comprised Mirko Jalava (FIN), Alfons Juck (SVK), A Lennart Julin (SWE), Stuart Mazdon UK) and Ed Gordon (USA) joined by Elliott Denman for the walks and this year by Mark Butler, with the editor of “Athletics International”, Peter Matthews.

After the extraordinary year in 2020 compilation there remained difficulties and cancellation of various meetings, particularly early on in 2021. However, the Olympic Games were held successfully as were most of the Diamond League fixtures and, vitally for depth of performance, US collegiate action returned.

Following each athlete’s name in these event-by-event rankings are: date of birth (day.month.year), and in brackets: number of years ranked and 2019 and 2020 top-10 rankings. Then their five/six best marks in 2021 and details of placings and performances in significant competitions. In these results marks in brackets were in qualifying, marks after w/ are best ‘wind legal’ marks in that competition.

800 METRES
1. Emmanuel Korir KEN
15.6.95 (4y, 19- 7)
1:43.04, 1:44.56, 1:44.62, 1:44.74, 1:45.05
3 Portland 1:45.74
3 KEN Ch 1:46.05A (1:45.46A)
2 Monaco 1:43.04
1 OG 1:45.06 (1:44.74, 1:45.33)
1 Zürich 1:44.56
2. Ferguson Rotich Cheruiyot KEN
30.11.89 (9y, 20- 2, 19- 4)
1:43.57, 1:43.75, 1:43.81, 1:43.84, 1:44.04
1 Nairobi 1:45.64A
2 Doha 1:44.45
2 Turku 1:44.59
2 KEN Ch 1:45.93A (1:45.78A)
1 Stockholm 1:43.84
5 Székesfehérvár 1:45.58
4 Monaco 1:43.57
2 OG 1:45.23 (1:43.75, 1:44.04)
2 Eugene 1:45.02
3 Lausanne 1:45.48
2 Paris 1:44.45
1 Brussels 1:43.81
2 Zürich 1:44.96
3 Zagreb 1:45.01
5 Nairobi 1:46.22A
3. Marco Arop CAN
20.9.98 (2y, 20- 6)
1:43.26, 1:44.00, 1:44.50, 1:44.51, 1:44.74
1 Starkville 1:44.76
1 Miramar 1:44.93
2 Stockholm 1:44.00
3 Monaco 1:43.26
7s2 OG 1:44.90 (1:45.26)
1 Eugene 1:44.51
1 Lausanne 1:44.50
3 Paris 1:44.74
4 Zürich 1:45.23
4. Wycliffe Kinyamal KEN
30.11.89 (3y, 19- 10)
1:43.91, 1:43.94, 1:44.63, 1:44.91, 1:45.61A
2 Nairobi 1:46.04A
1 Doha 1:43.91
4h2 KEN Ch 1:45 61A
2 Gateshead 1:44.91
1 Paris 1:43.94
1 Chorzów 1:44.63
8 Zürich 1:46.52
5. Elliot Giles GBR
26.5.94 (2y, 20- 3)
1:44.05, 1:44.07, 1:44.20, 1:44.49, 1:44.74; 1:43.63i
1 Karlsruhe 1:45.50i
1 Liévin 1:45.49i
1 Torun 1:43.63i
3 Hengelo 1:47.22
3 Nice 1:45.05
3 Chorzów 1:44.20
1 UK Ch 1:45.11
3 Stockholm 1:44.05
1 Székesfehérvár 1:44.89
5 Monaco 1:44.07
3s3 OG 1:44.74 (1:44.49)
4 Eugene 1:45.46
5 Paris 1:44.92
2 Rovereto 1:45.58
6 Chorzów 1:45.20
5 Zürich 1:45.25
3 Zagreb 1:45.01
6. Peter Bol AUS
22.2.94 (1y)
1:44.11, 1:44.13, 1:44.62, 1:44.88, 1:44.88
1 Canberra 1:45.23
1 Sydney 1:46.12
1 Brisbane 1:45.48
2 Melbourne 1:46.49
1 AUS Ch 1:49.27
1 Gold Coast 1:44.88/1:44.62
1 Tomblaine 1:44.89
3 Gateshead 1:45.22
4 OG 1:45.92 (1:44.11, 1:44.13)
1 Szczecin 1:45.49
9 Lausanne 1:47.49
4 Paris 1:44.88
4 Zagreb 1:45.31
7. Patryk Dobek POL
13.2.94 (1y)
1:43.73, 1:44.28, 1:44.60, 1:44.76, 1:44.80
1 Torun 1:47.23i
1 POL Ind Ch 1:47.12i
1 Eur Ind 1:46.81i
5 Ostrava 1:45.88
1 Montreuil 1:44.76
2 Marseille 1:44.80
1 Chorzów 1:43.73
1 POL Ch 1:48.21
6 Monaco 1:44.28
3 OG 1:45.39 (1:44.60)
8 Szczecin 1:47.24
10 Lausanne 1:50.60
10 Paris 1:48.37
12 Chorzów 1:46.65
2 Rome 1:51.15
8. Nijel Amos BOT
15.3.94 (7y, 19- 2)
1:42.91, 1:45.04, 1:45.26A, 1:46.41
1 Potchefstroom 1:45.26A
1 Monaco 1:42.91
8 OG 1:46.41 (1:45.04)
9. Clayton Murphy USA
26.2.95 (4y, 19- 9)
1:43.17, 1:44.18, 1:44.41, 1:45.20, 1:45.21
3 Fayetteville 1:48.40i
3 Walnut 1:45.31
1 USA Ch 1:43.17 (1:45.24)
3 Székesfehérvár 1:45.20
7 Monaco 1:44.41
6 Gateshead 1:45.72
9 OG 1:46.53 (1:44.18, 1:45.53)
5 Eugene 1:45.97
5 Lausanne 1:45.77
9 Paris 1:45.60
3 Zürich 1:45.21
10, Daniel Rowden GBR
9.9.97 (2y, 20- 4)
1:44.35, 1:44.60, 1:44.89, 1:44.98, 1:45.14
3 Doha 1:44.60
1 Gothenburg 1:45.64
4 Hengelo 1:47.24
3 UK Ch 1:45.14
5s2 OG 1:44.35 (1:45.78)
dnf Bern, Rovereto
3 Chorzów 1:44.89
2 Zagreb 1:44.98
Very hard to rank overall. Korir lost early races but won at Olympic and Diamond League final and was 3-1 versus Cherotich. Rowden just shades Adrian Ben.

1500 METRES
1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR
19.9.00 (4y, 20- 2, 19- 2)
3:28.32, 3:29.25, 3:47.24M (3:31.92), 3:31.45, 3:32.13; 3:31.80i
1 Liévin 3:31.80i
1 Eur Ind 3:37.56i
1 Gateshead 3:36.27
3 Monaco 3:29.25
1 OG 3:28.32 (3:32.13, 3:36.49)
1 Eugene 3:47.24M/3:31.92
2 Zürich 3:31.45
1 NOR Ch 3:33.26
2. Timothy Cheruiyot KEN
20.11.95 (6y, 20- 1, 19- 1)
3:28.28, 3:29.01, 3:30.48, 3:31.37, 3:32.30
1 Doha 3:30.48
4 KEN Ch 3:34.36A
1 Stockholm 3:32.30
1 Monaco 3:28.28
2 OG 3:29.01 (3:33.95, 3:36.01)
3 Eugene 3:51.17M/3:36,71
1 Zürich 3:31.37
3. Stewart McSweyn AUS
1.6.95 (2y, 20- 3)
3:29.51, 3:48.37M, 3:31.57, 3:48.40M, 3:31.91
2 AUS Ch 3:34.55
3 Gateshead 3:37.32
2 Doha 3:31.57
1 Oslo 3:48.37M/3:32.92
4 Monaco 3:29.51
7 OG 3:31.91 (3:32.54, 3:36.39)
2 Eugene 3:48.40M/3:32.98
1 Brussels 3:33.20
1 Padua 3:33.49
3 Zürich 3:32.14
4. Abel Kipsang KEN
22.11.96 (1y)
3:29.56, 3:31.65, 3:32.68, 3:33.96, 3:33.99
1 Nairobi 3:36.3A/3:37.7A
1 Rehlingen 3:36.62
1 Montreuil 3:33.99
2 Hengelo 3:35.63
1 Marseille 3:32.68
3 KEN Ch 3:34.62A
1 Heusden 3:33.96
4 OG 3:29.56 (3:31.65)
7 Eugene 3:52.20M/3:36.71
4 Brussels 3:34.08
5. Josh Kerr GBR
8.10.97 (1y)
3:29.05, 3:31.55, 3:32.18, 3:35.78, 3:36.29
1 San Juan C 3:35.78
1 Portland 3:31.55
1 UK Ch 3 40.72
3 OG 3:29.05 (3:32.18, 3:36.29)
6. Oliver Hoare AUS
29.1.97 (1y)
3:32.66, 3:33.19, 3:33.54, 3:33.79, 3:34.35; 3:32.35i
1 Staten Island 3:32.35i
1 Eugene 23/4 3:33.54
1 Walnut 3:33.19
2 Gateshead 3:36.58
11 OG 3:35.79 (3:34.35, 3:36.09)
5 Eugene 3:51.63M/3:36.96
2 Brussels 3:33.79
4 Zürich 3:32.66
7. Mohamed Katir ESP
17.2.98 (1y)
3:28.76, 3:32.77, 3:33.62, 3:34.50; 3:36.89i
3 Liévin 3:36.89i
4 Val-de-Reuil 3:37.77i
1 Nerja 3:33.62
2 Monaco 3:28.76
7 Brussels 3:34.50
5 Zürich 3:32.77
8. Charles Simotwo KEN
6.5.95 (3y)
3:30.30, 3:49.40M/3:33.85, 3:33.02A, 3:34.24, 3:34.37
6 Nijmegen 3:39.35
2 Montreuil 3:34.56
4 Hengelo 3:35.81
1 KEN Ch 3:33.02A
4 Oslo 3:49.49M/3:33.85
5 Monaco 3:30.30
6s1 OG 3:34.61 (3:37.26)
5 Brussels 3:34.37
7 Zürich 3:34.24
9. Cole Hocker USA
6.6.01 (1y)
3:31.40, 3:33.87, 3:35.28, 3:35.65, 3:36.16; 3:50.55M/3:35.63
2 Fayetteville 3:50.55M/3:35.63
1 Eugene 2/4 3:38.99
3 Eugene 7/5 3:36.47
1q1 NCAA-W 3:38.29
1 NCAA 3:35.35
1 US Ch/OT 3:35.28
6 OG 3:31.40 (3:33.86, 3:36.16)
10. Marcin Lewandowski POL
13.6.87 (2y, 19- 4)
3:30.42, 3:49.11M (3:34.27), 3:35.57; 3:35.71i, 3:36.83i
4 Metz 3:39.06i
2 Liévin 3:36.83i
2 Torun 3:35.71i
4 Madrid 3:39.36i
2 Eur Ind 3:38.06i
1 Ostrava 3:35.57
1 POL Ch 3:49.49
2 Oslo 3:49.11M/3:34.27
6 Monaco 3:30.42
dnf s1 OG
It was 2-2 between Ingebrigtsen and Cheruiyot, but the Olympic victory for the Norwegian means that they swap from 1-2 in 2019 and 2020. Kerr only had four competitions, Olympic bronze for 4th on the world list and three wins, but not enough to be ahead of the prolific McSweyn and Kipsang. Olympic 5th placer Adel Mechaal just misses out.

5000 METRES
1. Joshua Cheptegei UGA
12.9.96 (5y, 20- 1, 19- 5)
6 Florence 12:54.69
1 OG 12:58.15
2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR
19.9.00 (1y, 19- 9)
1 Florence 12:48.45
3. Mohammed Ahmed CAN
5.1.91 (6y, 20- 4, 19- 7)
1 Irvine 13:18.49
3 Florence 12:50.12
2 OG 12:58.61 (13:38.96)
4. Paul Chelimo USA
27.10.90 (5y, 19- 10)
2/1 Virginia B 13:12.51i/13:09.90i
1 USA Ch/OT 13:26.82
3 OG 12:59.05 (13:30.15)
5. Nicholas Kimeli KEN
29.9.98 (3y, 20- 2, 19- 6)
2 Gateshead 13:10.11
1 KEN Ch 13:02.87A
4 OG 12:59.17
4 Zürich 13:02.43x
2 Nairobi 13:23.99A
6. Jacob Kiplimo UGA
14.11..00 (2y, 20- 3)
1 Luzern 12:55.60
5 OG 13:02.40 (13:30.40)
7. Hagos Gebrhiwet ETH
11.5.94 (7y, 19- 4)
2 Florence 12:49.02
8. Justyn Knight CAN
19.7.96 (1y)
5 Florence 12:51.93
7 OG 13:04.38 (13:30.22)
9. Mohamed Katir ESP
17.2.98 (1y)
1 Gateshead 13:08.52
4 Florence 12:50.79
2 ESP Ch 14:08.53
8 OG 13:06.60 (13:30.10)
10. Birhanu Yemataw Balew BRN
27.2.96 (3y)
7 Florence 12:57.71
6 OG 13:03.20 (13:39.42)
2 Zürich 13:01.27x
(x = irregular track in Zürich)
There were surprisingly few major races. The panel was split between the top two; Ingebrigtsen raced 5000m just once but won in easily the year’s fastest race with 7 of the top 11 on the world lists from it, but while Cheptegei was ‘only’ 6th in Florence he went on to take the Olympic title. Zürich winner Berhihu Aregawi just misses a place.

10,000 METRES
1. Selemon Barega ETH
20.1.00 (2y, 19- 5)
1 Addis Ababa 27:58.5A
1 ETH Trial 26:49.51
1 OG 27:43.22
2. Joshua Cheptegei UGA
12.9.96 (6y, 20- 1, 19- 1)
2 OG 27:43.63
3. Jacob Kiplimo UGA
14.11.00 (2y)
1 Ostrava 26:33.93
3 OG 27:43.88
4. Berihu Aregawi ETH
28.2.01 (1y)
1 ETH Ch 28:20.2A
3 ETH Trial 26:50.37
4 OG 27:46.16
5. Yomif Kejelcha ETH
1.8.97 (2y, 19- 2)
4 ETH-Ch 28:23.7A
2 ETH Trial 26:49.73
8 OG 27:52.03
6. Rodgers Chumo KEN
3.3.97 (3y, 19- 7)
1r1 Kobe 27:54.03
1 Fukoroi 27:33.33
1 Miyoshi 28:09.99
2 KEN Ch 27:05.51A
7 OG 27:50.06
7. Geoffrey Kamworor KEN
22.11.92 (4y, 19- 9)
1 KEN Ch 27:01.06A
8. Hagos Gebrhiwet ETH
11.5.94 (2y, 19- 4)
2 ETH-Ch 28:22.3A
4 ETH Trial 26:57.16
9. Grant Fisher USA
22.4.97 (1y)
2 San Juan C 27:11.29
2 US Ch/OT 27:54.29
5 OG 27:46.39
10. Mohammed Ahmed CAN
5.1.91 (3+y, 19- 8)
6 OG 27:47.76
Two panellists preferred Kiplimo to Cheptegei for 2nd, and it is a mixed picture for 7th to 10th, weighing up limited top races, especial the Olympics and the fast Ethiopian trial in Hengelo. Opinions varied re Kamworor, and he only had one race but his time at Nairobi was intrinsically the best of the year.

MARATHON
1. Eliud Kipchoge KEN
5.11.84 (7y, 19- 1)
1 Enschede 2:04:30
1 OG 2:08:38
2. Bashir Abdi BEL
10.2.89 (2y, 20- 8)
3 OG 2:10:00
1 Rotterdam 2:03:36
3. Titus Ekiru KEN
2.1.92 (1y)
1 Milan 2:02:57
dnf London
1 Abu Dhabi 2:06:13
4. Seifu Tura ETH
17.6.97 (1y)
4 Milan 2:04:29
1 Chicago 2:06:12
5. Sisay Lemma ETH
12.12.90 (4y, 20- 4)
dnf OG
1 London 2:04:01
6. Tamirat Tola ETH
11.8.91 (3y)
1 Amsterdam 2:03:39
7. Leul Gebrselassie ETH
20.9.93 (2y)
5 Milan 2:04:31
3 Amsterdam 2:04:12
8. Lawrence Cherono KEN
7.8.88 (5y)
4 OG 2:10:02
1 Valencia 2:05:12
9. Abdi Nageeye NED
2.3.99 (1y)
2 OG 2:09:58
5 New York 2:11:39
10. Vincent Kipchumba Toroitich KEN
9.6.96 (2y, 20- 5)
2 London 2:04:28
Mosinet Geremew ETH
12.2.92 (2y, 19- 4)
3 London 2:04:41
Erick Kiptanui KEN
19.4.90 (0y)
1 Ampugnano 2:05:47
3 Chicago 2:06:51
Evans Chebet KEN
10.1.88 (2y, 20- 1)
4 London 2:05:43
Berhanu Legese ETH
11.9.94 (2y, 20- 2, 19- 6)
5 London 2:06:10
Kengo Suzuki JPN
11.6.95 (0y)
1 Lake Biwa 2:04:56
4 Chicago 2:08:50
Reuben Kipyego KEN
21.8.96 (0y
2 Milan 2:03:55
8 Chicago 2:14:24
3 Abu Dhabi 2:08:25
Marius Kipserem KEN
17.5.88 (0y)
2 Rotterdam 2:04:04
Bernard Koech KEN
31.1.88 (0y)
2 Amsterdam 2:04:09
Barnabas Kiptum KEN
8.12.86 (1y, 20- 9)
3 Milan 2:04:17
Guye Adola ETH
20.10.90 (1y)
1 Berlin 2:05:45
While Kipchoge was a clear and obvious top man, this was well nigh impossible to rank with little head-to-head competition, and it was a subjective matter as to how to rate times in very different conditions and to consider the quality of fields. Many top men contested just one marathon after so many were postponed or cancelled in the first part of the year. It helped to have at least two strong performances. How, for instance to rank Adel Nageeye, Olympic 2nd, but whose other run was only 5th in New York and there were multiple nominations for 9th-10th.

3000 METRES STEEPLECHASE
1. Soufiane El Bakkali MAR
7.1.96 (6y, 20- 1, 19- 1)
8:08.54, 8:08.90, 8:17.70, 8:19.00, 8:21.04A
1 Florence 8:08.54
1 OG 8:08.90 (8:19.00)
dnf Paris
2 Zürich 8:17.70
1 Nairobi 8:21.20A
2. Lemecha Girma ETH
26.11.00 (2y, 19- 3)
8:07.75, 8:09.63, 8:10.38
1 Monaco 8:07.75
2 OG 8:10.38 (8:09.83)
3. Benjamin Kigen KEN
5.7.93 (4y, 19- 4)
8:07.12, 8:10.80, 8:11.45, 8:15.09, 8:17.45
1 Nairobi 8:34.4A/8:31.96A
2 KEN Trials 8:26.93A
3 KEN Ch 8:21.32A
7 Monaco 8:15.09
3 OG 8:11.45 (8:10.80)
1 Paris 8:07.12
1 Zürich 8:17.45
6 Nairobi 8:40.26A
4. Abraham Kibiwot KEN
36.4.96 (5y, 20- 3, 19- 8)
8:07.81, 8:09.35, 8:12.25, 8:17.61, 8:18.16
7 Gateshead 8:35.14
2 KEN Ch 8:17.61A
2 Monaco 8:07.81
10 OG 8:19.41 (8:12.25)
2 Paris 8:09.35
3 Zürich 8:18.16
2 Nairobi 8:22.33A
5. Getnet Wale ETH
16.7.00 (3y, 19- 2)
8:09.47, 8:12.01, 8:12.55, 8:13.31, 8:14.97
2 Addis Ababa 8:42.3A
1 Ostrava 8:09.47
4 OG 8:14.97 (8:12.55)
4 Paris 8:13.31
5 Zürich 8:21.11
1 Zagreb 8:12.01
6. Yemane Hailesilassie ERI
21.2.98 (1y)
8:14.63, 8:15.24, 8:15.34, 8:16.75, 8:17.12
1 Asmara 8:47.1A/8:46.0A
3 Oordegem 8:21.80
1 Huelva 8:17.12
8 Florence 8:16.75
5 OG 8:15.34 (8:14.63)
6 Paris 8:15.24
7. Leonard Bett KEN
3.11.00 (3y, 20- 2, 19- 9)
8:10.21, 8:17.26A, 8:19.62, 8:20.20, 8:31.52
2 Gateshead 8:31.52
1 KEN Ch 8:17.26A
5h3 OG 8:19.62
3 Paris 8:10.21
4 Zürich 8:20.20
8. Matthew Hughes CAN
3.8.89 (3y, 20- 6)
8:13.56, 8:13.77, 8:16.03, 8:28.14, 8:38.11
11 Gateshead 8:38.11
4 Manchester 8:45.01
6 OG 8:16.03 (8:13.56)
5 Paris 8:13.77
5 Zagreb 8:28.14
9. Ryuji Miura JPN
11.2.02 (1y)
8:09.12, 8:15.19, 8:16.90, 8:17.46, 8:25.31
2 Hiroshima 8:25.31
1 Tokyo 8:17.46
1 JPN Ch 8:15.99
7 OG 8:16.90 (8:09.92)
10. Ahmed Abdelwahed ITA
26.5.96 (1y)
8:12.04, 8:12.71, 8:14.86, 8:19.14, 8:21.54
5 Ostrava 8:21.54
4 Florence 8:12.04
6 Monaco 8:14.86
14 OG 8:24.34 (8:12.71)
8 Paris 8:19.14
8 Zürich 8:25.06
Far from being a vintage year for the event but the ranking was fairly clear-cut, with Abdelwahad and Takele Bikila close for 10th.

Annual subscription: £75 or US$105 or 90 euros. Cash or cheques drawn on a UK bank, payable to Athletics International, or by bank transfer on request. Subs please to Athletics International, via Richard Hymans, 235 Lonsdale Road, Barnes, London SW13 9QN. Email: [email protected] For more general info about AI, email [email protected]