While quarantine in Melbourne has been capturing the headlines, players in Europe have become increasingly angry about the way self-isolation is being handled by the tennis authorities.

The story begins at the first ATP Challenger tournament of the year in Istanbul, a fortnight ago.

The day after the tournament got under way, players received a letter from the FFT which explained that anyone arriving in France from a country outside the European Union must now self-isolate for seven days.

Some players later received a phone call from the ATP to remind them of the rules.

The letter was very timely, as there was to be no exemption for elite athletes, and one of the two events on the schedule the following week was in the north-western French city of Quimper.

The French government's directive should have made it virtually impossible for anyone playing in Istanbul to compete in Quimper. At the very least for the five who reached the second round of the singles, and yet were still allowed to take their place in the draw in France.

Players, coaches and agents contacted by BBC Sport have spoken of their anger that members of the community may have been put at risk.

"I don't think it's the best look to be travelling throughout Europe with impunity and not abiding by the rules that governments put in place," one player said.

"If other governments caught wind of this, how are they to trust the ATP and the tournaments they put on?"

Some players are understood to have flown to Spain, as they felt it might be easier to cross into France from another EU country. One was even told a trip from the UK to France via Romania was an option worth considering.

Another source, who was sympathetic to the current challenges faced by the ATP, nonetheless felt they had handled it "horribly".

"While they were trying to help one professional, they were hurting another," he said, pointing out that players were effectively being asked to make an ethical decision.

Many abided by the new regulations - thus passing up the chance to make some money and vital ranking points. Seeing those who didn't play by the rules gain an unfair sporting advantage has caused a lot of frustration.

"The ATP have just absolved themselves of all guilt, and said it's not our job to enforce it. They've kind of turned a blind eye," was a common complaint.

In response, the ATP says it accepts the need for greater scrutiny, and is "making a concerted effort to address this to ensure that health and safety continues to be prioritised".

"National entry requirements relating to Covid-19 have been changing regularly, and often at very short notice. This represents an ongoing challenge for the global Tours, and we continue to remind players of their responsibility to adhere to local regulations," a spokesman told the BBC.

"Since the resumption of the Tours in August 2020, we have worked closely with local authorities and tournament organisers in order to ensure the safe operation of events. As a part of our processes, we continue to strive for clarity on any national entry rules, and the precise timing of new rules officially being in effect.

"To reflect the changing circumstances, the stringent health and safety measures implemented by the ATP across the Tours are continuously reviewed and updated. Following recent instances relating to player entry into the EU, we realise that greater scrutiny is required to determine player eligibility for events, as well as contingency planning to manage last-minute changes to immigration rules."

The French Federation, meanwhile, says it informed the WTA, the ATP and the ITF of the new quarantine regulations. It adds that in future it will only request travel permits from the Foreign Ministry on behalf of players who leave a "sufficient time between their arrival in France and the start of the tournament".

Plotting a path through Europe's Covid travel restrictions is particularly challenging for British players now the country has left the EU.

Andy Murray, who is back in full training after a positive Covid test denied him the opportunity to play in the Australian Open, has entered an ATP Challenger tournament in the Italian city of Biella in the middle of February.

But that will depend on an exemption being granted to players from outside the EU, who would otherwise have to spend 14 days in isolation. The rules are constantly evolving, and sometimes open to interpretation, making forward planning - for both players and the tours - a hazardous affair.

And at the same time, opportunities remain scarce for lower-ranked players. With some events unable to go ahead because of the pandemic, higher-ranked players have had to be creative with their own schedules.

As a result, very few players outside the world's top 200 have been able to gain direct entry into a Challenger tournament in the first three weeks of the new season.

Like so many others striving to earn a living in a pandemic, it is a struggle. And a far cry from Melbourne Park.

CONCORD, N.C. – Renowned Australian sprint car owner Sean Carren was close to putting his racing days behind him, after accomplishing a lot, but also losing a lot.

His driver, Darryl Krikke, and Krikke’s cousin were killed in a car crash on their way to the racetrack in 1997. Carren continued on but hadn’t put a car on track in a few years.

Then, rival car owner Geoff Kendrick and American-Aussie Lynton Jeffrey came with a proposition to field a car for the 2020-21 Western Australia Sprint Car Speedweek championship – a feat Carren had yet to accomplish.

The driver was Pennsylvania’s Brock Zearfoss – who was primed for his rookie season with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, starting at Volusia Speedway Park during the 50th DIRTcar Nationals Feb. 5-7.

Carren didn’t know Zearfoss, and Zearfoss didn’t know Carren. Zearfoss hadn’t even been to Australia before.

One day in November, Jeffrey texted Zearfoss to ask if he would be interested in running Down Under. Without hesitation, Zearfoss said, “yes!”

They got to work looking for a ride, only to have the first four deals fall through.

On Thanksgiving night, with about a week left to make a deal, Zearfoss and Carren were connected for the first time. They discussed the idea and its logistics, and while the conversation went well, Zearfoss said it still wasn’t a done deal by the end of the call.

Carren didn’t take long to make his decision, though. Two days later, he gave Zearfoss the green light.

“Hell, I left (on) Dec. 7,” Zearfoss said. “It was a pretty tight window.”

In that time frame, from when Carren gave him the good news, Zearfoss had to get a visa, get an exemption and get a letter from the Australian government to travel over.

“Everything leading up to the travel was pretty hectic,” he said. “Especially when we only had like two weeks to do it. Just not a lot of time. I didn’t think it was going to happen, to be honest.”

When he finally made the continental leap to Australia, he had to quarantine for two weeks. Speedweek started three days after his quarantine ended.

With those few days to spare, Carren picked up Zearfoss from his isolation, meeting each other face to face for the first time, and they immediately got to work.

Zearfoss found instant comfort in Carren’s car. He had his own seat, brought his own shocks and the two discussed ahead of time the bar package they should run to make the American feel at home in Australia.

The few differences with the car he had to adjust to were the dish wings and different tire package. Also, he faced a stiff group of drivers he’d never raced against and a new set of tracks he’d never seen.

Finding chemistry with Carren and his team helped with the learning curve.

“Everybody that helped on the car, they were really nice and made me feel welcomed,” Zearfoss said. “We just all worked together, which made life easier. We all had fun racing. We knew what we were there to do. That made the whole transition of coming over and racing easier, I would say. I had no clue who any of them were and they thought I was just some Yankee.

“Everybody’s personalities, they all mixed. We all enjoyed each other’s company. It was good to have that. When you go into a situation like that and you don’t know who anyone is, that could make or break the whole deal. We just all had open minds with everything and enjoyed the time we were actually there to race.”

As added pressure, or motivation, Carren decided to run the No. 95 on Zearfoss’s car – the number used by Krikke before he died.

Carren had only run the No. 95 a few times after Krikke’s death but felt it would be a nice way to honor the family by running it again.

“It was a very special deal,” Zearfoss said. “For the Carren family, it was really special to run the number 95 over there to honor the Krikke family and their son.”

To continue reading, advance to the next page.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Ten people, a 10-by-10-foot tent and a small set on top of the Keith Kunz Motorsports hauler. That was it.

That’s what we had during the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals to produce our first SPEED SPORT “LIVE From” production.

It was a one-hour pre-race show from inside the River Spirit Expo Center that aired on MAVTV.

SPEED SPORT began life 87 years ago as a small section inside the Bergen Herald newspaper. Now, we have produced our first live national television show.

It was a very proud moment for all of us at SPEED SPORT and just one more incredible experience on this amazing ride as SPEED SPORT continues to be America’s Motorsports Authority.

I have worked on hundreds of live television shows during my career but never have I done one with only 10 people. Times are changing in a lot of ways.

Racers, sanctioning bodies and tracks are finding ways to put on their events while being more cost-effective, yet still delivering quality with their events.

It’s the same for those of us on the media side. SPEED SPORT has invested in and developed a new platform that allows us to do just that. “LIVE From the Chili Bowl” was a proof of concept.

It was the first of 12 “LIVE From” programs that we will produce for MAVTV during the course of this season. We think of it as America’s Pre-Race Show, coming into homes from coast to coast from many of this country’s biggest races.

Along with the pre-race TV show, SPEED SPORT will continue to deliver the best coverage you will find anywhere from these events utilizing our numerous media platforms, including magazines, websites and social media.

Nobody produced more content from the annual week in Tulsa than SPEED SPORT and its sister brand Sprint Car and Midget. A job well done by our entire staff.

Next up will be Florida Speedweeks.

— Kyle Larson did a masterful job in winning his second Golden Driller at the Chili Bowl. When I asked him how different it is driving a midget these days compared to a few years ago, he said with all seriousness, “I don’t know; I just jump in and drive it.”

I guess now we know the speed secret to all of those races Larson won last year.

— The rulebook for a midget at the Chili Bowl is much different than any other midget race during the year.

I asked Keith Kunz, the winningest car owner in Chili Bowl history with nine victories, what the latest stats and figures are for a midget competing at Tulsa Expo Raceway in January.

“The main numbers are 370 and 270,” Kunz said.

That’s horsepower and torque, with the horsepower number coming from the right-rear wheel. Cars weigh around 800 pounds with the driver, and carry 14 to 15 gallons of methanol for the 55-lap feature on Saturday night.

— Only four drivers have ever won back-to-back Golden Drillers at the Chili Bowl.

Kevin Swindell won four in a row from 2010-’13. Rico Abreu ruled the Chili Bowl in 2015-’16 and Christopher Bell won three straight Chili Bowls from 2017-’19. Larson has now won the last two editions of the prestigious mid-January event.

— Zack Morgan is a tremendous young man. Despite dealing with the challenges of having cerebral palsy, Morgan has become quite the wheelman.

He has also become friends with NASCAR star Ryan Newman. The two have spent hours talking about racing, with Newman coaching Morgan on how to improve his skills.

The Chili Bowl was the first time Newman had the chance to watch Morgan race in person. It was difficult to tell which driver had the bigger smile. I can tell you that if you spend any time with Morgan, you will walk away smiling.

He is an inspiration to anyone who is lucky enough to meet him. Keep digging Zach!

Speaking of folks overcoming cerebral palsy, congratulations to SPEED SPORT’s Jacob Seelman for being named media member of the year by the 410 Sprint Car Poll.

— While many racers have gotten into the wine-making business, multi-time AMA Pro Motocross and Monster Energy AMA Supercross champion Ryan Dungey has launched a line of coffee.

The most recent blend is called Holeshot Espresso.

It’s Dungey’s fifth blend and, ironically, his racing number was five as well. As the name suggests, it help give you jump out of the gate in the morning.

It’s a small-blend batch of Colombian and Guatemalan beans roasted in a way to bring out the complex citrus and milk chocolate flavors.

If you love coffee, give RD Coffee a try. You can find a variety of flavors at rdcoffees.com. Tell Dungey you heard about it in SPEED SPORT.

— Did you know the shoe size of the actual Golden Driller that stands in front of the River Spirit Expo Center, home of the Chili Bowl, in Tulsa, Okla., is 393 DDD?

The New York Rangers placed defenseman Tony DeAngelo on waivers Sunday.

It was a surprising move considering New York signed DeAngelo, 25, to a two-year, $9.6 million extension this past October.

"This isn't about one incident, it's not about one thing," Rangers coach David Quinn told reporters Sunday. "This is a situation that the organization felt was best at this current time, and we'll see how the situation plays out."

DeAngelo led Rangers defensemen in scoring with 15 goals and 38 assists in a breakout 2019-20 season, in which he finished 12th in Norris Trophy voting.

But DeAngelo committed a bad penalty in the 2021 home opener and was benched for two games after that. He also had a rough outing Saturday against the Penguins, and he was on the ice for four of Pittsburgh's goals in a 5-4 overtime loss.

Quinn was asked about reports that DeAngelo got into an altercation with a teammate in the tunnel after Saturday's game.

"There's always rumors," Quinn said. "I'm not going to address rumors."

DeAngelo has no goals and one assist in six games this season. Originally drafted at No. 19 overall in 2014 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, DeAngelo has also played for the Arizona Coyotes and three AHL teams. If DeAngelo clears waivers, he could be put on New York's taxi squad.

Paris Saint-Germain missed out on an opportunity to move top of Ligue 1 after they slipped to a last-gap 3-2 defeat at Lorient on Sunday, their first loss in nine competitive games and the first for new coach Mauricio Pochettino.

PSG went ahead thanks to two Neymar penalties after Laurent Abergel's opener, only for the hosts to equalise with 10 minutes remaining through Yoane Wissa and wrap it up in stoppage time courtesy of a Terem Moffi goal.

Pochettino's side have 45 points from 22 games and trail Lyon, who beat Bordeaux 2-1 on Friday, by one point.

- Stream FC Daily on ESPN+
- Laurens: The highs and lows as Neymar reaches 100 PSG games

Lille, third on 45 points, will go top if they beat second-from bottom Dijon later on Sunday.

Lorient are now 18th on 18 points.

PSG were without Marco Verratti and Abdou Diallo, who have been isolating after testing positive for COVID-19 and the Italian midfielder's absence was felt.

The hosts went ahead against the run of play when Abergel dispossessed Danilo Pereira, who was standing in for Verratti, and fired the ball under the crossbar with a crossed shot in the 36th minute.

PSG, however, hit back on the stroke of half-time as Neymar converted a penalty after being brought down by Houboulang Mendes.

Mendes was at fault again, on Mauro Icardi this time, as PSG won another penalty, which was again coolly converted by Neymar in the 58th minute.

But Lorient levelled with 10 minutes left when Wissa fired past Sergio Rico after a one-two with Moffi.

Moffi then bagged all three points for Lorient after beating the offside trap for his fifth goal in his last five matches as PSG lost in the league for the first time in eight games.

Their last defeat was a 1-0 loss to Lyon in Ligue 1 on Dec. 13.

Manchester United have loaned winger Facundo Pellistri to Alaves for the remainder of the season.

Pellistri, 19, moves to La Liga to gain first-team experience having made several appearances for United's under-23 side since joining last summer.

"Our scouts have followed Facundo for a long time and we believe that he will be a real talent for the long term," United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said when the Uruguayan moved to Old Trafford from Penarol.

"Whilst we understand it will take time for him to adapt to the English game, he is capable of having an impact with his pace and ability to beat his opponent."

Pellistri follows Jesse Lingard out of United after he moved to West Ham on Friday.

Sources have told ESPN the deal will cost West Ham £1.5 million and they will also cover Lingard's wages for the remainder of the campaign.

West Ham beat competition from Newcastle, West Brom and Sheffield United to sign the 28-year-old England international, who is desperate to play regular first time football after featuring in three matches for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team this season. His two starts have both come in the domestic cups and he has not featured in the Premier League since July.

Liverpool have eased their defensive problems by agreeing a £2 million deal for Preston North End defender Ben Davies, sources have told ESPN.

Davies, 25, will undergo a medical in Liverpool on Monday before completing the transfer, which also includes Anfield youngster Sepp van den Berg, 19, moving to the EFL Championship club on loan until the end of the season.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Transfer Talk LIVE ahead of Feb. 1 deadline day

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been pushing the club's recruitment team to sign a centre-half during the transfer window after losing both Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez to long-term knee injuries earlier this season.

Captain Jordan Henderson has played in defence in recent weeks, including Sunday's 3-1 win at West Ham, with fellow midfielder Fabinho also being forced to drop into the back four due to the team's injury crisis.

Preston defender Davies has made 19 appearances in the Championship this season and played in the weekend defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

And although he is unlikely to be thrust straight into the Liverpool team for Wednesday's premier league clash with Brighton, Davies will give Klopp much needed cover at the back if, as expected, Liverpool complete the deal before Monday's transfer deadline.

The rules issue that Patrick Reed faced during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open is one that Rory McIlroy also confronted -- without a rules official and with virtually no fanfare.

Reed was allowed to take a drop from what he believed was an embedded lie on the 10th hole Saturday, sparking considerable conjecture as to whether it was warranted.

He had picked up his ball in the rough, thought he was entitled to relief and then called in rules official Brad Fabel, who after briefly testing the ground concurred and gave Reed the free drop. He went on to par the hole and began the fourth round tied for the lead at Torrey Pines with Carlos Ortiz.

Replays showed Reed's ball bounced, which he later admitted would suggest it didn't embed, but no one was aware of that at the time.

Also Saturday, McIlroy's second shot to the par-5 18th hole came to rest in the right rough and he believed his ball had plugged. McIlroy could be heard saying so to another player in the group, Rory Sabbatini, who without inspecting the lie signed off on McIlroy's request for a drop. No rules official was called.

According to the PGA Tour, both issues were handled properly.

"It was reasonable for both players to conclude -- based on the fact that they did not see the ball land, but given the lie of the ball in soft course conditions -- that they proceed as the rule allows for a potential embedded ball," the Tour said in a statement. "They marked, lifted and assessed the situation to determine if the ball was embedded.

"Patrick went one step further and called in a rules official to be sure his assessment would not be questioned (although this step is not required). Both players took proper relief under the Rule 16/3. The committee is comfortable with how both players proceeded given the fact that they used the evidence they had at the time."

Reed faced considerable scrutiny for his action. The CBS broadcast team, including six-time major champion Nick Faldo, questioned how a ball could embed after bouncing. Reed, who has had rules-related issues in the past, including at the 2019 Hero World Challenge, faced several media questions about it afterward and said he believed he handled the matter properly, given what he knew.

Later, Reed pushed back against detractors on Twitter and noted the same thing occurred to McIlroy without any pushback.

https://t.co/qza5Aa1yrS. RORY MCILROY @McIlroyRory DID THE SAME THING TODAY ON HOLE 18! AND DIDN'T EVEN CALL A RULES OFFICIAL OVER TO DEEM THE BALL EMBEDDED. END OF STORY.

— Patrick Reed (@PReedGolf) January 31, 2021

"Rory McIlroy did the same thing today on Hole 18!" Reed tweeted. "And didn't even call a rules official over to deem the ball embedded. End of story."

Athlete form through last year has been assessed by a panel of experts to create rankings based on merit with Karsten Warholm, Mondo Duplantis, Joshua Cheptegei and Ryan Crouser among those topping their event

For the 22nd year, Athletics International has collaborated with AW to produce an annual statistical review including world top 10 merit rankings. The full rankings were published in the December issue of AW magazine but here you can see an edited version featuring the top three in each event.

The selection panel – consisting of Athletics International co-editors Peter Matthews and Mel Watman, with Stuart Mazdon (UK), Mirko Jalava (FIN), Alfons Juck (SVK), A Lennart Julin (SWE) and Ed Gordon (USA), plus Elliott Denman for walks – assessed the year’s records of the leading contenders and the ranking order was determined by consensus. The criteria are the traditional ones of honours won, win-loss records and sequence of marks.

Matthews says: “In this extraordinary year compilation was hard, but in recognition of the efforts of those who competed or put on meetings we were determined to go ahead.”

He adds: “We have been much more reliant on times and distances than usual and win-loss records play less part. Then we have had to try to compare the conditions athletes competed in and the relative importance to them of the events they contested.”

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 top 10 ranking. Then their five/six best marks in 2020 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.

Below we list the top three in each men’s event. The women’s international rankings can be found here, while UK merit rankings for men are here and women are here.

The full top 10 lists for every event, including the details of athletes’ seasons and more in-depth explanations, appear in our December end-of-year review special issue, which is available to buy and read digitally here or order in print here.

100 metres

1. Akani Simbine RSA
21.9.93 (5y, 5)
1 Pretoria 10.01A (9.91A, 10.03A)
1 Marseille 10.19
1 Rovereto 10.17
1 Bellinzona 10.02
1 Rome 9.96

2. Trayvon Bromell USA
10.7.95 (3y, -)
1h5 Montverde 4/7 10.04
1h3 Clermont 24/7 9.90
1 Montverde 10/8 9.87w (9.99)

3. Noah Lyles USA
18.7.97 (3y, 2)
1h1 Montverde 4/7 9.93w
1 Clermont 24/7 9.93w (10.04)
1 Székesfehérvár 10.05

Top men were undefeated but did not meet. Simbine ranked first with his wins in the top meetings, while Bromell made an excellent return to form last shown in 2016.

200m

1. Noah Lyles USA
18.7.97 (4y, 1)
1 Bradenton 18.90 for 185m
1 Clermont 25/7 19.94
1 Monaco 19.76
1 Székesfehérvár 20.13

2. Kenny Bednarek USA
14.10.98 (1y, -)
1 Montverde 4/7 20.06
1 Fort Worth 20.30
2 Clermont 25/7 20.19
1 Montverde 10/8 19.80

3. Steven Gardiner BAH
12.9.95 (1y, -)
1B Clermont 25/7 19.96
1 Marietta 20.19

Just four races, but Lyles retained his supremacy. Bednarek and Gardiner joined Lyles under 20 seconds.

400m

1. Justin Robinson USA
30.3.02 (1y, -)
1 Marietta 44.91

2. Michael Cherry USA
23.3.95 (2y, -)
1 Prairie View 45.43
2 Marietta 44.98

3. Karsten Warholm NOR
28.2.96 (1y, -)
1 Ulsteinvik 45.97i
1 Stockholm 45.05
1 Oslo 5/10 45.55

Hardly enough to justify any ranking, but athletes are in the order of their best times.

800m

1. Donavan Brazier USA
15.4.97 (3y, 1)
1 New York 1:44.22i
1 Newberg 1:43.84
1 Monaco 1:43.15
1 Stockholm 1:43.76

2. Ferguson Rotich Cheruiyot KEN
30.11.89 (8y, 4)
8 Monaco 1:45.48
4 Stockholm 1:45.11
1 Chorzów (Kus) 1:45.34
1 Marseille 1:44.34
1 Chorzów (Skol) 1:45.30
1 Rovereto 1:44.82
1 Doha 1:44.16
1 Nairobi 1:44.78A

3. Elliot Giles GBR
26.5.94 (1y, -)
5 Glasgow 1:47.40i
1 London (LV) 1:47.76i
2 Sollentuna 1:45.46
1 Bydgoszcz 1:45.18
2 Marseille 1:44.68
6 Ostrava 1:45.51
2 Zagreb 1:44.75
2 Doha 1:44.56

Brazier was dominant with three sub-1:44 times and retains his top ranking. Hoppel, at Monaco, was the only other man to break 1:44, but was 4th and 5th in the next most important races – Zagreb and Doha. Cheruiyot ranks 2nd with a string of six wins after a slow start. Brits excelled, finishing 1-2-3 at Zagreb, but opinion divided over Giles and Rowden for 3rd.

1500m

1. Timothy Cheruiyot KEN
20.11.95 (5y, 1)
1 Monaco 3:28.45
1 Stockholm 3:30.25
1 Nairobi 3:34.31A

2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR
19.9.00 (3y, 2)
2 Monaco 3:28.68
2 Stockholm 3:30.74
1 Brussels 3:30.68
1 Ostrava 3:33.92
1 NOR Ch 3:33.93

3. Stewart McSweyn AUS
1.6.95 (1y, -)
3 Stockholm 3:31.48
3 Ostrava 3:34.25
1 Zagreb 3:32.17
1 Doha 3:30.51
1 Penguin 3:50.61M
1 Burnie 4:00.68M

Although he only ran three 1500m races, wins in those showed that Timothy Cheruiyot remained clearly the world’s best ahead of Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who was twice runner-up to him. Stewart McSweyn made excellent progress while Jake Wightman was hardest to rank (in fourth) as he raced 1500m just once, but that was in the top race, at Monaco where he beat 3:30 ahead of Filip Ingebrigtsen.

3000m

1. Jacob Kiplimo UGA
14.11..00
In Oslo 5000m 7:44.8+
1 Rome 7:26.64

2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen NOR
19.9.00
2 Rome 7:27.05

3. Stewart McSweyn AUS
1.6.95
3 Rome 7:28.02

The first three men at the Golden Gala in Rome set national records as Jacob Kiplimo won the battle of the teenagers over Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who ran a European U23 record while 3rd-placed McSweyn set an Oceania record.

5000m

1. Joshua Cheptegei UGA
12.9.96 (4y, 5)
1 Monaco 12:35.36 WR
in 10000m Valencia 13:07.9+

2. Nicholas Kimeli KEN
29.9.98 (2y, 6)
2 Monaco 12:51.78
1 Nairobi 13:08.32A
in 10k Valencia 13:07.73+

3. Jacob Kiplimo UGA
14.11.00 (1y, -)
1 Ostrava 12:48.63

Although there were few top class races there were still three won in under 12:50. Pride of place of course goes to Joshua Cheptegei’s world record in Monaco. Nicholas Kimeli, second there, ran the fastest ever 5000m time at altitude with his win in Nairobi.

10,000m

1. Joshua Cheptegei UGA
12.9.96 (5y, 1)
1 Valencia 26:11.00 WR

2. Nicholas Kimeli KEN
29.9.98 (1y, -)
1 Leiden 26:58.97
2 Valencia 27:12.98

3. Richard Yator KEN
6.4.98 (2y, -)
3 Abashiri 27:49.35
1 Kumagaya 27:01.42
1 Yokohama 27:01.74

Cheptegei took 6.53 seconds off Kenenisa Bekele’s 2005 world record and Kimeli squeezed under 27 mins at Leiden. After them the year list was dominated by Kenyans in Japan.

Half-marathon

1. Kibiwott Kandie KEN
20.6.96
1 RAK 58:58
1 Prague 58:38
2 World Ch 58:54
1 Valencia 57:32 WR

2. Jacob Kiplimo UGA
14.11.00
1 World Ch 58:49
2 Valencia 57:37

3. Alexander Mutiso KEN
10.9.96
1 Santa Pola 59:09
2 RAK 59:16
4 Valencia 57:59

Jacob Kiplimo, only 19, was an outstanding world champion, but the man he narrowly beat in Gdynia, Kibiwott Kandie, had three major wins and beat Kiplimo at Valencia where the first four men beat the previous world record.

Marathon

1. Evans Chebet KEN
10.1.88 (2y, -)
1 Lake Biwa 2:07:29
1 Valencia 2:03:00

2. Berhanu Legese ETH
11.9.94 (2y, 6)
1 Tokyo 2:04:15
3 Valencia 2:03:16

3. Tola Shura Kitata ETH
9.6.96 (2y, -)
1 London 2:05:41

So many major marathons were cancelled, but new standards in depth were set at several races aided by the new generation of shoes. The year’s fastest times came in Valencia in December but it is difficult to compare these with those at the most prestigious race, London run in poor conditions. Chebet with two wins and Legese, winner at Tokyo, rank ahead of Shura Kitata who raced just once.

3000m steeplechase

1. Soufiane El Bakkali MAR
7.1.96 (5y, 1)
1 Monaco 8:08.04

2. Leonard Bett KEN
3.11.00 (2y, 9)
2 Monaco 8:08.78
2 Nairobi 8:17.63A

3. Abraham Kibiwot KEN
36.4.96 (4y, 8)
1 Nairobi 8:17.60A

The six fastest times of the year were run at Monaco and the athletes are ranked in their order there with Kibiwot, who narrowly beat Bett in Nairobi, slotted in.

110m hurdles

1. Orlando Ortega ESP
29.7.91 (8y, 2)
13.11, 13,15, 13.21, 13.25
1 Monaco 13.11
1 Székesfehérvár 13.21
1 Chorzów (Kus) 13.25
1 Marseille 13.15

2. Andrew Pozzi GBR
15.5.92 (2y, -)
13.14, 13.15, 13.17, 13.25, 13.30, 13.31
1 Rieti 13.38 (13.44)
1 Savona 13.30
1 Trieste 13.36
1 Turku 13.17 (13.25)
2 Monaco 13.14
6 Székesfehérvár 13.60
1 Chorzów (Kus) 13.25
2 Rovereto 13.31
1 Rome 13.15

3. Aaron Mallett USA
26.9.94 (1y, -)
13.15, 13.23, 13.34, 13.39, 13.43, 13.45
1 Lignano 13.61
5 Székesfehérvár 13.45
2 Chorzów (Kus) 13.43
3 Rovereto 13.39
1 Bellinzona 13.34
2 Rome 13.23
1 Doha 13.15

Ortega, second in 2019, was undefeated in four major races and Pozzi, based in Italy, was a clear second, followed by Mallett who improved his time in each of his seven races.

400m hurdles

1. Karsten Warholm NOR
28.2.96 (4y, 1)
1 Monaco 47.10
1 Stockholm 46.87
1 Ostrava 47.62
1 Berlin 47.08
1 Rome 47.07
1 NOR Ch 48.23
300mh: 1 Oslo 33.78 WR

2. Ludvy Vaillant FRA
15.3.95 (1y, -)
48.69, 49.14, 49.18, 49.22, 49.35. 50.37
3 Turku 50.37
4 Monaco 49.35
3 Stockholm 49.18
2 Ostrava 49.14
1 Bellinzona 49.22
2 Rome 48.69

3. Rasmus Mägi EST
4.5.92 (3y, -)
48.72, 49.22, 49.23, 49.32, 49.40, 49.79
2 Turku 50.01
3 Monaco 49.23
2 Székesfehérvár 50.18
4 Stockholm 49.40
2 Rovereto 49.79
1 Samorín 49.32
2 Berlin 49.22
3 Rome 48.72

Warholm had a marvellous season. He started with 33.78 for 300m hurdles in a solo run in Oslo to shatter the world best. Then he had six races at 400m hurdles, easily the six fastest in the world, five at 47.62 or better headed by a narrow miss at the world record in Stockholm. He took the average of his all-time top 10 times to 47.160, passing Edwin Moses (47.254) as the world’s best. His major rivals did not run the event in 2020.

High jump

1. Tom Gale GBR
18.12.98 (1y, -)
2.33i, 2.31i, 2.30i, 2.28i. 2.27i
1 Cardiff 2.28i
1 Trinec 2.30i
1 Hustopece 2.33i
3 Banská Bystrica 2.31i
1 UK Ch 2.27i

2. Jamal Wilson BAH
1.9.88 (1y, -)
2.33i, 2.30, 2.30i, 2.26i, 2.24i
1 Nassau 2.30
1 Nehvizdy 2.26i
2 Trinec 2.24i
3 Hustopece 2.30i
2 Banská Bystrica 2.33i

3. Ilya Ivanyuk RUS
9.3.93 (2y, 3)
2.33i, 2.30, 2.28i, 2.24, 2.23i
1 Moscow 1/2 2.23i
1 RUS Ind Ch 2.33i
2 Moscow 3/3 2.28i
1 Bryansk 2.30
1 RUS Ch 2.24

This remained a depressed event, especially outdoors, with the year’s best at 2.33m. Gale was best in the world in the indoor season, but did not compete outdoors due to a knee injury that needed surgery, but there was little between the top eight with two panellists ranking Tamberi, who had much the fullest season, top. Unbeaten Protsenko won the only Diamond League high jump.

Pole vault

1. Armand Duplantis SWE
10.11.99 (4y, 2)
6.18i, 6.17i, 6.15, 6.07, 6.07i, 6.01
1 Düsseldorf 6.00i
1 Torun 6.17i WR
1 Glasgow 6.18i WR
1 Liévin 6.07i
1 Clermont-Ferrand 6.01i
1 Oslo 5.86
1 Gothenburg 5.94
1 Karlstad 5.72
1 Monaco 6.00
1 SWE Ch 5.63
1 Stockholm 6.01
1 Lausanne 6.07
1 Brussels 6.00
1 Berlin 5.91
1 Rome 6.15
1 Doha 5.82

2. Sam Kendricks USA
7.9.92 (7y, 1)
6.02, 6.01i, 5.90i, 5.87i, 5.82, 5.82
1 Cottbus 5.50i
9 Karlsruhe 5.50i
2 Düsseldorf 5.80i
1 Rouen 6.01i
1 Lódz 5.80i
2 Glasgow 5.75i
2 Liévin 5.90i
3 Clermont-Ferrand 5.87i
1 Ulsteinvik 5.80i
1 Bradenton 5.81 (1 Insp G)
1 Leverkusen 16/8 5.81
1 Bydgoszcz 5.80
3 Stockholm 5.80
1 Chorzów (Kus) 5.82
2 Lausanne 6.02
2 Chorzów (Skol) 5.72
3 Ostrava 5.64
2 Doha 5.82

3. Piotr Lisek POL
16.8.92 (7y, 3)
5.90, 5.82, 5.82, 5.80, 5.80, 5.72
1 Warsaw 5.60/5.70
5 Gothenburg 5.35
3 Karlstad 5.62
1 Karlstad 5.66 (2 Insp G.)
2 Zweibrücken 5.61
1 Sopot 5.72
1 Szczecin 5.90
1 Miedzyzdroje 5.65
2 Bydgoszcz 5.80
1 Chorzów (Skol) 5.82
1 Dessau 5.80
1 Poznan 5.72
2 Berlin 5.82

Duplantis had a wonderful year with two world records indoors and also taking the outdoor best. He won all 13 competitions, including four World Indoor Tour and all six Diamond League meetings that staged the event, clearing 6m or higher at 10 meetings to equal the record that Sergey Bubka set in 1991. Kendricks was busy with 18 competitions, of which he won eight. He was the only other man to exceed 6m, both indoors and out. The overall standard was good with 18 men at 5.80 or higher.

Long jump

1. Juan Miguel Echevarría CUB
11.8.98 (3y, 1)
1 Madrid 8.41i
1 Ulsteinvik 8.08w
1 CUB Ch 8.25

2. Tajay Gayle JAM
2.8.96 (3y, 2)
1 Kingston 11/7 8.52w/8.23
1 Kingston 8.13/8.04
3 Bellinzona 7.99

3. Miltiádis Tentóglou GRE
18.3.98 (3y, 6)
1 Bochum 8.07i
1 Ostrava 8.04i
1 Pireás 8.06i
2 Madrid 8.07i
1 GRE Ch 8.26i

Competition was thin, but Echevarría did just enough to retain top place. Opinions were mixed as to ranking, with extremes being Gayle, who had a mighty windy 8.52w, and Samaai who had two wins and two 2nds but only between 8.00 and 8.09 and just misses out. The US outdoor best of the year was 7.78m!

Triple jump

1. Fabrice Zango BUR
25.6.93 (2y, 4)
17.77i, 17.51i, 17.43, 17.42, 17.31i, 17.29i
1 Paris 17.77i
1 Liévin 17.51i
1 Madrid 17.31i
1 FRA Ind Ch 17.29i
1 Székesfehérvár 17.43
1 Pierre-Bénite 17.11
2 Ostrava 17.42
1 FRA Ch 17.11w/16.86

2. Christian Taylor USA
18.6.90 (10y, 1)
17.57, 17.46, 17.34, 17.27w, 17.13. 16.75
1 Montverde 16.75
1 Brad’ton 17.27w (2 Insp G)
1 Südstadt 17.13
2 Székesfehérvár 17.34
1 Ostrava 17.46
2 Samorín 16.53
1 Berlin 17.57

3. Andy Díaz CUB
25.12.95 (3y, 10)
17.30, 17.29, 17.19, 17.12
1 Havana 17.29/17.19
1 Camagüey 17.12
1 CUB Ch 17.30

Zango and Taylor were 1-1 in their clashes, but Zango, best indoors, edges it with the best set of marks. The panel was split between Pichardo and Diaz for third and fourth.

Shot put

1. Ryan Crouser USA
18.12.92 (6y, 1)
22.91, 22.74, 22.72, 22.70, 22.60i, 22.59
1 New York 22.19i
1 USA Ind Ch 22.60i
1 Marietta 21.87/22.91
1 Des Moines 22.56/22.72
1 Chorzów (Skol) 22.70
1 Ostrava 22.43
1 Zagreb 22.74
1 Belgrade 22.59
1 Manhattan 22.58i

2. Michal Haratyk POL
10.4.92 (5y, 6)
21.88, 21.78, 21.65, 21.61, 21.57, 21.55
2 Torun 21.50i
2 Lódz 20.95i
1 POL Ind Ch 21.24i
2/1 Warsaw 20.54dh/21.26
2 Chorzów 20/6 20.12
1 Spala 21.45
1 Szczecin 21.57
1 Bydgoszcz 21.61
1 Olesnica 20.64
1 Chorzów (Kus) 21.88
1 POL Ch 20.64
2 Chorzów (Skol) 21.78
2 Ostrava 21.65
1 Poznan 21.55

3. Filip Mihaljevic CRO
31.7.94 (1y, -)
21.84i, 21.74i, 21.69, 21.59, 21.58, 21.52i
1 Düsseldorf 21.52i
3 Torun 21.42i
1 Madrid 21.74i
1 Belgrade 21.84i
1 CRO-w Ch 21.69
1 Split 20.61
1 CRO Ch 21.58
2 Bydgoszcz 21.35
2 Chorzów (Kus) 21.59

Crouser had the greatest ever series of throws in one year. Including all marks in a series he had 29 throws at 22.20m or better (36 over 22m), including all six at Des Moines on August 29 and five at Chorzów and Belgrade.

Discus

1. Daniel Ståhl SWE
27.8.92 (6y, 1)
71.37, 70.25, 69.23, 69.20, 69.17, 68.87
1 Oslo 11/6 65.92
nh Södertalje
1 Helsingborg 70.25
1 Bottnaryd 64.92
1 Hässelby 66.55/68.54
1 Karlstad 68.10
1 Växjö 68.72
1 Kuortane 68.48
1 Gothenburg 68.10
1 Sollentuna 71.37
1 Turku 69.23
1 SWE Ch 68.74
1 Székesfehérvár 67.31
1 Stockholm 69.17
1 v FIN 69.20
1 Chorzów (Skol) 67.28
1 Ostrava 66.42
2 Berlin 65.89
1 Zagreb 68.87

2. Andrius Gudzius LTU
14.2.91 (4y, 7)
68.68, 68.41, 68.22, 68.16, 67.88, 67.83
1 Birstonas 65.81
1 Kaunas 67.08
1 Klaipeda 68.68
1 Vilnius 67.83/67.88
1 LTU Ch 68.16
2 Turku 66.39
1 Ogre 68.41
2 Székesfehérvár 67.08
3 Stockholm 66.80
3 Chorzów (Skol) 64.45
3 Ostrava 64.88
1 Berlin 66.72
2 Zagreb 68.22

3. Simon Pettersson SWE
3.1.94 (2y, -)
67.72, 67.02, 66.93, 66.90, 66.76, 66.51
1 Växjö 62.87/66.93
2 Oslo 11/6 64.54
1 Södertalje 61.66
2 Helsingborg 67.10
2 Bottnaryd 63.63
1 Uppsala 59.31
2 Hässelby 66.32
2 Karlstad 66.90/67.02
2 Växjö 66.76
1 Malmo 63.75
2 Kuortane 66.11
2 Gothenburg 66.51
2 Sollentuna 66.51
5 Turku 63.13
2 SWE Ch 64.73
3 Székesfehérvár 65.70
2 Stockholm 67.72
1 Örbyhus 65.37
2 v FIN 63.79
2 Ostrava 65.90
4 Berlin 65.78
3 Zagreb 66.30

World lists were dominated by central Europeans who were able to compete regularly and Stahl retained top ranking.

Hammer

1. Wojciech Nowicki POL
22.2.89 (6y, 2)
80.28, 80.09, 78.88, 78.52, 78.50, 78.07
1 Chorzów 20/6 78.52
1 Spala 78.50
1 Székesfehérvár 78.07
1 Chorzów (Kus) 80.09
1 POL Ch 80.28
2 Chorzów (Skol) 78.88

2. Bence Halász HUN
4.8.97 (3y, 3)
79.88, 78.86, 78.79, 78.69, 78.56, 78.55
1 Szom’ly 74.22/76.35/77.13
1 HUN-w 76.66
1 Szom’ly 78.86/78.79/78.55
1 Pardubice 78.43
1 Budapest 78.56
1 HUN Ch 79.88
2 Székesfehérvár 78.00
2 Chorzów (Kus) 78.18
1 Székes’vár 5/9 74.59
1 Budapest 78.69

3. Pawel Fajdek POL
4.6.89 (9y, 1)
79.81, 78.62, 78.61, 78.06, 78.05, 77.83
2 Spala 76.77
4 Székesfehérvár 76.08
1 Chorzów 22/8 77.83
3 Chorzów (Kus) 78.05
2 POL Ch 78.61
1 Chorzów (Skol) 79.81
1 Poznan 78.06
1 Lódz 78.62

The top three were well clear, with Nowicki taking over from his great rival Fajdek at the top.

Javelin

1. Johannes Vetter GER
26.3.93 (6y, 2)
97.76, 91.49, 90.86, 87.36, 87.26, 86.94
nt Zweibrücken
1 Kuortane 86.94
1 GER Ch 87.36
1 Turku 91.49
1 Leverkusen 84.30
1 Chorzów (Kus) 90.86
1 Offenburg 84.03
1 Chorzów (Skol) 97.76
1 Dessau 86.17
1 Berlin 87.26

2. Kim Amb SWE
31.7.90 (2y, -)
86.49, 85.68, 83.60, 83.41, 82.96, 82.41
1 Södertalje 82.96
1 Bottnaryd 82.29
1 Hässelby 82.41
1 Karlstad 81.48
1 Bålstra 83.41
1 Zweibrücken 86.49
2 Kuortane 85.68
5 Turku 81.38
1 SWE Ch 83.60
2 Offenburg 78.97

3. Marcin Krukowski POL
14.6.92 (3y, 9)
87.07, 84.82, 83.51, 83.37, 83.27, 82.85
1 Kielce 82.85
1 Warsaw 80.75
1 Spala 79.66
1 Sopot 87.07
1 Bydgoszcz 83.37
1 Olesnica 73.84
3 Chorzów (Kus) 82.17
1 POL Ch 83.51
2 Chorzów (Skol) 84.62
2 Ostrava 83.27
3 Berlin 82.31
1 Suwalki 80.76

Vetter had a stellar season with seven of the world’s top ten performances, including the second best ever throw with the current specification javelin.

Decathlon

1. Kevin Mayer FRA
10.2.92 (6y, -)
1 Réunion 8552

2. Ashley Moloney AUS
13.3.00 (1y, -)
1 Brisbane 8492

3. Felipe V dos Santos BRA  30.7.94 (1y, -)
1 São Bernardo 7932
1 Bragança P 8104w
1 BRA Ch 8364

Ranked are the seven men who bettered 8200 points with Ehammer showing great promise (also at long jump) and Mayer’s score at Réunion taking him back to the top.

20km walk

1. Toshikazu Yamanishi JPN
15.2.96 (3y, 1)
1 JPN Ch 1:17:36

2. Koki Ikeda JPN
3.5.98 (3y, 4)
2 JPN Ch 1:19:07
1 Nomi 1:18:22

3. Perseus Karlström SWE
2.5.90 (3y, 2)
1 Adelaide 1:21:57
3 Kobe (JPN Ch) 1:19:34
1 Alytus 1:20:58
1 Podebrady 1:19:43

50km walk

1. Matej Toth SVK
10.2.83 (9y, -)
1 Dudince 3:41:15

2. Dementiy Cheparev RUS
28.10.92 (1y, nr)
1 RUS Ch 3:43:29

3. Sergey Sharipov RUS
14.4.82 (1yr, nr)
2 RUS Ch 3:43:46

Dudince was the only major international race and there were good times at the Russian Champs.

Statisticians have analysed athlete form from last year to create rankings based on merit with Yulimar Rojas, Laura Muir and Valarie Allman among the event leaders

For the 22nd year, Athletics International has collaborated with AW to produce an annual statistical review including world top 10 merit rankings.

The selection panel – consisting of Athletics International co-editors Peter Matthews and Mel Watman, with Stuart Mazdon (UK), Mirko Jalava (FIN), Alfons Juck (SVK), A Lennart Julin (SWE) and Ed Gordon (USA), plus Elliott Denman for walks – assessed the year’s records of the leading contenders and the ranking order was determined by consensus. The criteria are the traditional ones of honours won, win-loss records and sequence of marks.

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 top 10 ranking. Then their five/six best marks in 2020 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.

Below we list the top three in each women’s event. The men’s international rankings can be found here, while UK merit rankings for men are here and women are here.

The full top 10 lists for every event, including the details of athletes’ seasons and more in-depth explanations, appear in our December end-of-year review special issue, which is available to buy and read digitally here or order in print here.

100m

1. Elaine Thompson-Herah JAM
28.6.92 (6y, 4)
1 Kingston 18/7 11.19
1 Kingston 25/7 10.73w
1 Kingston 8/8 11.41/10.89
1B Kingston 22/8 10.92
1 Rome 10.85
1 Doha 10.87

2. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce JAM
27.12.86 (10y, 1)
1 Kingston 11/7 11.00
1 Kingston 8/8 10.87/11.28
1 Kingston 22/8 10.86

3. Sha’Carri Richardson USA
25.3.00 (2y, 5)
1 M’verde 4/7 11.05 (10.94w)
1 Fort Worth 10.79w
1 Montverde 10/8 10.83w (10.95w)

The two great Jamaicans did not meet, but Thompson-Herah added clear wins in Europe to the fast times in Kingston.

200m

1. Shaunae Miller-Uibo  BAH
15.4.94 (5y, 1)
1 Montverde 4/7 22.61
1 Clermont 21.98

2. Elaine Thompson-Herah JAM
28.6.92 (4y, 3)
2 Kingston 11/7 22.98
1 Kingston 9/8 22.19
1 Kingston 29/8 22.79

3. Lynna Irby USA
6.12.98 (2y, -)
2 Montverde 4/7 23.06
3 Clermont 22.47
1 Székesfehérvár 22.55
1 Des Moines 22.52w

Uncertainty over whether we should rank Battle and Steiner on their good indoor form.

400m

1. Beatrice Masilingi NAM
10.3.03 (1y, -)
1 Swakopmund 52.19
1 Nairobi 50.99A
1 Pretoria 50.44A & 50.42A
1 Nat. Yth G 51.07A

2. Lynna Irby USA
6.12.98 (2y, -)
1 Monaco 50.50

3. Shaunae Miller-Uibo BAH
15.4.94 (6y, 2)
1 Montverde 50.52

This presented us with our biggest problems. How to compare Masilingi, who ran only at high alttiude, with athletes with just one race at 400m, who would not normally be ranked, but Irby and Miller-UIbo ran much faster times than all but Masilingi and Irby was far ahead of Jonathas at Monaco.

800m

1. Faith Kipyegon KEN
10.1.94 (1y, -)
1:59.66+ in 1000m Monaco
1:59.19+ in 1000m Brussels
1 Doha 1:57.68

2. Jemma Reekie GBR
6.3.98 (1y, -)
1 Glasgow 1:57.91i
1 Liévin 2:00.34i
1 Trieste 1:59.52
–  Monaco 2:00.0+ in 2:31.11 1000m
1 Stockholm 1:59.68
1 Chorzów (Kus) 1:58.63
4 Bellinzona 1:58.87
1 Rome 1:59.76

3. Hedda Hynne NOR
13.3.90(1y, -)
1 NOR Ind Ch 2:04.79i
1 Ulsteinvik 2:03.53i
2 Espoo 2:03.54
4 Luzern 2:03.63
1 Karlstad 2:03.71
2 Bern 2:00.72
3 Trieste 1:59.94
3 Stockholm 2:01.44
1mx Trondheim 1:59.57
1 Rovereto 1:59.15
1 Bellinzona 1:58.10
2 Rome 2:00.24
1 NOR Ch 2:03.64 (2:01.08)

Kipyegon had only one race at 800m but this win in Doha was in the year’s fastest time, and when she won three times at 1000m she was under two minutes twice at 800m. Making great breakthroughs were Reekie and Hynne (two Norwegian records) for 2nd and 3rd.

1500m

1. Laura Muir GBR
9.5.93 (6y, 5)
1 Stockholm 3:57.86
1 Chorzów (Skol) 3:58.24
1 Berlin 3:57.40

2. Faith Kipyegon KEN
10.1.94 (7y, 2)
1 Ostrava 3:59.05

3. Laura Weightman GBR
1.7.91 (3y, -)
2 Stockholm 4:01.62
1 UK Ch 4:09.76
2 Ostrava 4:01.96
2 Berlin 4:00.09

Muir had a brief but outstanding season, with the year’s three fastest 1500m times.

3000m

1. Hellen Obiri KEN
13.12.89
In Monaco 5000m c.8:41+
1 Doha 8:22.54

2. Agnes Tirop KEN
23.10.95
2 Doha 8:22.92

3. Beatrice Chepkoech KEN
6.7.91
3 Doha 8:22.92
in Valencia 5000m 8:31.85+

Just one significant race outdoors, but that, at Doha, was top-class with the best ever times for 6th and 7th.

5000m

1. Letesenbet Gidey ETH
20.3.98 (4y, 7)
2 Monaco 14:26.57
1 Valencia 14:06.62 WR

2. Hellen Obiri KEN
13.12.89 (5y, 1)
1 Monaco 14:22.12
1 Nairobi 15:06.36A

3. Shelby Houlihan USA
8.2.93 (2y, -)
1 Portland 14:23.92
1 San Juan Capistrano 15:02.55

Is Gidey’s great world record enough to overcome her loss to Obiri in Monaco? The panel voted 5-2 for Gidey.

10,000m

1. Sifan Hassan NED
.93 (2y, 1)
1 Hengelo 29:36.67

2. Hitomi Niiya JPN
26.2.88 (4y, -)
1 JPN Ch 30:20.44

3. Rosemary Wanjiru KEN
9.12.94 (2y, 4)
1 Abashiri 30:38.18

The Hengelo race was the most important, with good races in Japan culminating in an excellent championship race, and a fast end-of-year race in California.

Half-marathon

1. Peres Jepchirchir KEN
27.9.93
dnf RAK
1 Prague 65:34
1 World Ch 65:16

2. Yalemzerf Yehualaw ETH
22.7.91
6 RAK 66:35
3 World Ch 65:19
1 Delhi 64:46

3. Ababel Yeshaneh ETH
3.8.99
1 RAK 64:31
5 World Ch 65:41
3 Delhi 65:21

Yeshaneh set a world record in Ras Al Khamah, but was 4th at the Worlds, won by Jepchirchir, who also won in Prague, while Worlds 3rd Yehualaw had a big win in Delhi.

Marathon

1. Peres Jepchirchir KEN
27.9.93 (1y, -)
1 Valencia 2:17:16

2. Brigid Kosgei KEN
20.2.94 (4y, 1)
1 London 2:18:58

3. Lornah Chemtai Salpeter ISR
12.12.88 (1y, -)
1 Tokyo 2:17:45

As for the men it is difficult to compare times from the top races and the top four women each ran one marathon. Conditions were tougher for Kosgei’s clear win in London than in Tokyo or Dubai.

3000m steeplechase

1. Hyvin Jepkemoi KEN
13.1.92 (9y, 3)
1 Berlin 9:06.14
2 Nairobi 9:34.07A

2. Beatrice Chepkoech KEN
6.7.91 (5y, 1)
2 Berlin 9:10.07
1 Nairobi 9:29.05A

3. Yekaterina Ivonina RUS
14.6.94 (1y, -)
1 RUS Ch 9:16.84
2 RUS Ch 9:23.86

Although Chepkoech beat her in Nairobi, Jepkemoi was first in the year’s top race, in Berlin.

100m hurdles

1. Nadine Visser NED
9.2.95 (1y, -)
12.68, 12.72, 12.79, 12.85, 12.87, 12/90
1 Papendal 4/7 12.99 (12.90) & 18/7 12.95 (13.03)
1 Turku 12.68 (12.87)
1 Leverkusen 12.85 (12.97)
1 Székesfehérvár 12.68
1 NED Ch 13.10 (12.97)
2 Chorzów (Skol) 12.95
1 Bellinzona 12.79
1 Rome 12.72

2. Luminosa Bogliolo ITA
3.7.95 (1y, -)
12.79, 12.82, 12,83, 12.88, 12.90, 12.91; 12.86w
1 Rieti 12.93 (12.93)
1 Savona 12.86w
1 Trieste 12.91
2 Turku 12.79 (12.93)
1 Stockholm 12.88
1 ITA Ch 13.02 (13.04)
1 Rovereto 12.90
2 Bellinzona 12.82
2 Rome 12.83

3. Elvira German BLR
9.1.97 (1y, -)
12.73, 12.80, 12.81, 12.85, 12.87, 12.87
1 Minsk 12.73 (12.81)
1 Brest 12.80
1 BLR Ch 12.87 (13.04)
3 Székesfehérvár 12.96
3 Chorzów (Kus) 13.02
2 Marseille 13.13
1 Chorzów (Skol) 12.87
1 Dessau 12.85 (12.94)

None of the 2019 top 10 women raced significantly outdoors in 2020. In 2019 there were 70+8w performances under 12.70, in 2020 there were just 2! That left Visser as the clear No.1, losing just once – to German, with the top four all racing regularly.

400m hurdles

1. Femke Bol NED
23.2.00 (1y, -)
1 Papendal 54.47/53.79
1 Székesfehérvár 54.67
1 Stockholm 54.68
1 Bellinzona 54.33
1 Rome 53.90
300mh: 1 Ostrava 38.55

2. Anna Ryzhykova UKR
24.11.89 (3y, 8)
2 Székesfehérvár 55.86
2 Stockholm 55.19
1 Samorín 55.21
2 Rome 54.54

3. Viktoriya Tkachuk UKR
8.11.94 (1y, -)
1 UKR Ch 55.60 (56.23)
3 Bellinzona 55.15
3 Rome 54.93
1 Balkan Ch 55.58

Standards were well down and no top Americans attempted the event, but Bol made a fine breakthrough from 55.32 in 2019.

High jump

1. Mariya Lasitskene RUS
14.1.93 (7y, 1)
2.05i, 2.04i, 2.00i, 1.97, 1.92
1 Moscow 1/2 2.04i
1 Moscow 9/2 2.05i
1 RUS Ind Ch 2.00i
1 RUS Ch 1.92
1 RUS Team 1.97

2. Yaroslava Mahuchikh UKR
19.9.01 (2y, 3)
2.02i, 2.01i, 2.01i, 2.00, 1.98, 1.98i
1 Lviv 2.01i
1 Cottbus 1.98i
1 Karlsruhe 2.02i
1 Banská Bystrica 1.96i
1 Glasgow 1.93i
1 UKR Ind Ch 2.01i
1 Ulsteinvik 1.96i
1 Dnipro 1.95i
1 Monaco 1.98
2 Bydgoszcz 1.97
1 Stockholm 2.00
2 Dessau 1.96
2 Rome 1.95

3. Yuliya Levchenko UKR
28.11.97 (4y, 2)
2.00, 2.00, 2.00i, 1.99i, 1,98, 1,98
1 Kiev 2.00i
2 Cottbus 1.96i
2 Karlsruhe 1.99i
3 Banská Bystrica 1.93i
1 Kiev 23/7 2.00
2 Monaco 1.98
1 Bydgoszcz 2.00
2 Stockholm 1.98
1 Chorzów (Skol) 1.92
1 Dessau 1.96
1 Rome 1.98

Lasitskene was top for the fifth time and the 2019 top three were again easily the best with Mahuchikh and Levchenko swapping places – the former 3-0 up indoors and the latter 3-2 outdoors.

Pole vault

1. Anzhelika Sidorova RUS
28.6.91 (6y, 1)
4.95i, 4.92i, 4.86i, 4.80, 4.80i, 4.75
1 Moscow 4.80i/4.86i
1 RUS Ind Ch 4.92i
1 Moscow 29/2 4.95i
1 Moscow 4.80/4.70
1 Bryansk 4.75
1 RUS Ch 4.70

2. Sandi Morris USA
8.7.92 (6y, 2)
4.91i, 4.90Ai, 4.83, 4.83i, 4.81, 4.80i
1 Fayetteville 4.71i
1 New York 4.91i
1 USA Ind Ch 4.90Ai
1 Liévin 4.83i
1 Clermont-Ferrand 4.80i
1 Bradenton 4.66 (Insp G.)
1 Piedmont 4.81
1 Marietta 22/8 4.70
1 Des Moines 4.65
1 Greenville 4.83

3. Katie Nageotte USA
13.6.91 (4y, 5)
4.92, 4.83, 4.81, 4.71, 4.70, 4.40Ai
3 Reno 4.40Ai
1 Marietta 4.70/4.83/4.92
2 Piedmont 4.81
1 Mooresville 4.71

The panel were split on the merits of the top two, both unbeaten. Nageotte ended her season early and Suhr only competed indoors.

Long jump

1. Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk UKR
18.7.95 (2y, 2)
6.96i, 6.92i, 6.91, 6.90i, 6.90i, 6.87
1 Karlsruhe 6.92i
1 Torun 6.96i
1 Glasgow 6.90i
1 Liévin 6.90i
2 Székesfehérvár 6.76
1 Stockholm 6.85
1 Chorzów (Kus) 6.78
1 UKR Ch 6.81
2 Innsbruck 6.82
2 Dessau 6.85
1 Berlin 6.87
1 Doha 6.91

2. Malaika Mihambo GER
3.2.94 (6y, 1)
7.07i, 7.03, 6.83i, 6.77, 6.77i,  6.71
2 Karlsruhe 6.83i
1 Berlin 7.07i
1 GER Ind Ch 6.77i
1 GER Ch 6.71
1 Dessau 7.03
2 Berlin 6.77

3. Anastasiya Mironchik-Ivanova BLR
13.4.89 (5y, 5)
6.94, 6.93, 6.81, 6.77w/6.73, 6.75i, 6.72
1 Bochum 6.71i
5 Torun 6.50
3 Berlin 6.75i
3 Liévin 6.59i
1 BLR Ind Ch 6.70i
1 Minsk 6.47
1 Brest 6.93
1 BLR Ch 6.81
1 Székes’vár 6.77w/6.73
1 Marseille 6.66
1 Innsbruck 6.94
3 Dessau 6.72
1 Samorín 6.70

Panellists were split over the top two. Mihambo was twice over 7m, but lost 2-1 to Bekh-Romanchuk, who had a brilliant unbeaten indoor season and won both the Diamond League long jump events.

Triple jump

1. Yulimar Rojas VEN
21.10.95 (4y, 1)
15.43i, 15.03i, 14.71, 14.27
1 Metz 15.03i
1 Madrid 15.43i
1 Monaco 14.27
nj Ibiza
1 Castellón 14.71

2. Yekaterina Koneva RUS
25.9.88 (5y, -)
14.75w, 14.73w/14.19, 14.56, 14.20i, 14.13i, 14.00i
2 Moscow 9/2 14.00i
2 RUS Ind Ch 14.13i (14.20i)
1 Bryansk 14.75w
1 RUS Ch 14.73w/14.19
1 RUS Team 14.56

3. Liadagmis Povea CUB
6.2.96 (2y, 4)
14.78w/14.55, 14.52i, 14.49, 14.45
1 Havana 8/2 14.78w/14.55
1 Havana 11/2 14.49
2 Madrid 14.52i
1 CUB Ch 14.45

The world indoor record by Rojas ensured that she was well ahead of the pack, with Koneva and Povea in close competition for second.

Shot put

1. Gong Lijiao CHN
24.1.89 (14y, 1)
19.70i, 19.53
1 Beijing 19.70i
1 Shijiazhuang 19.53

2. Auriole Dongmo POR
3.8.90 (1y, -)
19.53, 19.27, 18,92, 18.85, 18.82, 18.42
1 Pombal 18.02i/17.60i
1 Rochlitz 18.31i
2 Sätra 17.79i
1 Braga 18.08i
1 POR Ind Ch 18.37i
1 Leiria 18.82/19.27/18.42
1 Lisbon 18.04/18.92
1 POR Ch 19.53
1 Thum 18.85
1 Chorzów (Skol) 18.33
1 Ostrava 18.42
1 São Paulo 18.57

3. Alyona Dubitskaya BLR
25.1.90 (5y, 5)
19.27, 19.19, 18.85i, 18.00
1 BLR Ind Ch 18.85i
1 Brest 19.27
1 BLR Ch 19.19
3 Chorzów (Skol) 18.00

Two panellists preferred Dongmo as she and Gong shared the world outdoor lead at 19.53m, but Gong’s better 19.70m indoors sealed the top spot. Dubitskaya and Ealey were then clear of the rest.

Discus

1. Valarie Allman USA
23.2.95 (2y, 6)
1 Rathdrum 70.15

2. Kristin Pudenz GER
9.2.93 (2y, 8)
65.58, 64.92, 63.96, 62.62, 62.52, 62.30
4 Berlin 58.98i
1 Neubrandenburg 63.96
1 Potsdam 64.92
1 Halle 15/7 62.62
1 Schönebeck 65.58
1 GER Ch 62.30
1 Halle 15/8 62.52
1 Thum 60.67

3. Sandra Perkovic CRO
21.6.90 (10y, 3)
65.93, 64.67
1 CRO-w Ch 65.93
1 Zagreb 64.67

Allman’s North American record was 4.22m better than the next best, but is just one competition enough in an event like this? The next three women were undefeated outdoors but Pudenz was much the most prolific. Thinner in depth than men’s discus.

Hammer

1. Alexandra Tavernier FRA
13.12.93 (4y, 5)
75.23, 74.94, 74.22, 74.12, 73.09, 72.76
1 Vénissieux 74.94
1 Székesfehérvár 73.09
1 Chorzów (Skol) 74.12
1 FRA Ch 72.76
1 Kladno 75.23
1 Barcelona 74.22

2. Malwina Kopron POL
16.11.94 (3y, -)
74.18, 74.13, 73.70, 73.43, 72.68, 72.48
1 Kielce 71.88
1 Spala 74.18
2 Székesfehérvár 72.68
1 Chorzów (Kus) 73.43
2 POL Ch 70.94
2 Chorzów (Skol) 72.37
1 Poznan 72.48
1 Pulawy 74.13
1 Lublin 73.70

3. Hanna Malyshik BLR
4.2.94 (3y, -)
75.45, 73.00, 70.59, 68.92
1 Minsk 75.45
1 Brest 73.00
2 BLR Ch 68.92
3 Székesfehérvár 70.59

Tavernier won all her six competitions, twice improving her French record, and the first three took those positions at the Gyulai Memorial.

Javelin

1. Lu Huihui CHN
26.6.89 (8y, 1)
67.61, 66.27, 65.70, 64.34i, 64.21i
1 Beijing 64.21i/64.34i
1 Beijing 67.61/66.27
2 CHN Ch 65.70

2. Tatyana Kholodovich BLR
21.6.91 (5y, 5)
67.17, 66.85, 64.33, 63.80, 60.61
1 Minsk 67.17/60.61
1 Brest 63.80/64.33
1 BLR Ch 66.85

3. Liu Shiying CHN
24.9.93 (4y, 4)
67.27, 66.14
1 Yantal 66.14
1 CHN Ch 67.27

Although Liu beat her at the Chinese Champs, Lu, who started the year with world indoor bests, shades the top spot with the best depth of marks from Kholodovich, who was unbeaten but competed only in Belarus.

Heptathlon

1. Ivona Dadic AUT
29.12.93 (3y, 10)
1 Amstetten 6235 in 1 hour
1 AUT Ch 6419

2. Alina Shukh UKR
12.2.99 (1y, -)
1 Lutsk 6386
1 UKR Ch 6215
1 Balkan Ch 5940

3. Carolin Schäfer GER
5.12.91 (7y, 9)
1 GER Ch 6319

Ranked in order of best score, Dadic had the best and also just missed the best score in one hour, while Shukh was busiest, with three heptathlons.

20km walk

1. Elvira Khasanova RUS
10.1.00 (1y, -)
1 RUS-w Ch 1:26:43
1 RUS Ch 1:27:45

2. Reykhan Kagramanova RUS
1.6.97 (1y, -)
2 RUS-w Ch 1:26:50
2 RUS Ch 1:28:32
3. Liu Hong CHN
12.5.87 (12y, 1)
1 CHN Ch 1:27:48

The top three times came at Russian Champs and the next three at the Chinese Champs.

50km walk

1. Yelena Lashmanova RUS
9.4.92 (1y, -)
1 RUS Ch 3:50:42 WR

2. Margarita Nikiforova RUS
19.8.98 (1y, -)
2 RUS Ch 3:59:56

3. Mar Juárez ESP
27.9.93 (1y, -)
1 ESP Ch 4:15:46

Lashmanova’s fantastic world record would have put her 10th on the world men’s list. Six of the top seven times of the year came at the Russian Champs, with Juárez coming in as third fastest.