Ranking the top twenty Marathoners, male and female

Kosgei still rules the women. A couple quicker but lack the body of work just yet. Peres slaughtered her time from Saitama.

You're a gambling man, aren't ya?

Aussiestatman wrote:

Kosgei still rules the women. A couple quicker but lack the body of work just yet. Peres slaughtered her time from Saitama.

Kosgei the WR holder still at one

2. Peres. I had ranked in the forties before this.

3. Ruth C. Even with the fading third in London.

4. Worknesh Degefa. Been quiet.

5. Joyciline Jepkosgei: big improvement in time

6.Shura Kitata. winner in London

7.Lelisa Desisa, disappointing in Valencia but current World Champ

8. Vincent Kipchumba, runner up in London, i had him at 23 previously

9. Sisay Lemma, third in Tokyo and London

10. Geremew, 4th in London after being ranked 5 from results last year

11. Amos Kipruto: 4th Valencia after third at Worlds 2019

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Kosgei still rules the women. A couple quicker but lack the body of work just yet. Peres slaughtered her time from Saitama.

Kosgei the WR holder still at one

2. Peres. I had ranked in the forties before this.

3. Ruth C. Even with the fading third in London.

4. Worknesh Degefa. Been quiet.

5. Joyciline Jepkosgei: big improvement in time

Which woman would you suggest for 6?

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Kosgei the WR holder still at one

2. Peres. I had ranked in the forties before this.

3. Ruth C. Even with the fading third in London.

4. Worknesh Degefa. Been quiet.

5. Joyciline Jepkosgei: big improvement in time

Which woman would you suggest for 6?

Winner of Tokyo in 2.17.45 was Lonah Salpeter. This in my profile from then [ I thought she may finish fifth]:

Next woman should be Lonah Salpeter, 31yo and ranked 16. Following is my profile from Kolkata 25k where she did't start.

Before the w/champs I thought Ruth would win and two of the Ethiopians would battle with salpeter for the minor medals. The Ethiopian girls were underwhelming: retiring early in the high humidity. Lonah gave it absolutely everything until her body actually gave out and she collapsed. Don’t know how one month to the day later she could run another marathon and she must have been a little underdone (or maybe overdone) to come 4th in Frankfurt. At 15k in Doha, Lonah was 6th: 55sec behind the lead pack. By 25k she had cut it to 16 sec but 5k later it was 49 sec and she was fifth. Gone before 35k.

Turns 31 before the event and is ranked 7 as a road runner. Busy? Here are some highlights:

10 mar half Ostia won 66.40

6 Apr half Prague second 66.09

5 May marathon Prague won 2.19.46

1 sept 10k Tilburg won 30.05

27 sept marathon w/champs-collapsed

27 Oct marathon f/furt fourth 2.23.11

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Kosgei still rules the women. A couple quicker but lack the body of work just yet. Peres slaughtered her time from Saitama.

Kosgei the WR holder still at one

2. Peres. I had ranked in the forties before this.

3. Ruth C. Even with the fading third in London.

4. Worknesh Degefa. Been quiet.

5. Joyciline Jepkosgei: big improvement in time

7. Ashete Bekere: fourth in London [2.22.51] after winning Berlin Sept last year in 2.20.14

8. Roza Dereje: winner Valencia last year in 2.18.30. Only a half early this year.

9. Sara Hall: Wasn't ranked in my 50 before London with only one finish sub 2.26 in five years of running marathons. Has another chance in 9 days to cement this spot.

10. Birhane Dibaba, one of the few to get two runs at the classic distance this year. Second in Tokyo, 9th in Valencia.

12. Mule Wasihun, fifth in London in 2.06.08. Impossible that officially he is ranked 43 after his third in London in 2.03.16 still makes him tenth fastest all-time.

13. Kamworor: had him at 7 before COVID damaged the world.

14: Tamirat Tola, details soon.

11th lady is Azmera Abreha, still only 22yo. Second in Valencia last year in 2.18.33.

12. Vivian Cheruiyot: Second in London and fourth in Valencia in 2019. PB of 2.18.31 from London 2018. Still holds the NR for 10000m on the track when second at the last Olympics then a week later won gold in the 5000. At London this year, was 6th at halfway in 70.01: 1.49 behind the leader, and was out before 30k.

13:Mary Keitany. Fifth in London and second in New York last year. Has been ranked by T&F News as a top ten marathoner most of the last decade including number one in 2011 and 2017.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

6.Shura Kitata. winner in London

7.Lelisa Desisa, disappointing in Valencia but current World Champ

8. Vincent Kipchumba, runner up in London, i had him at 23 previously

9. Sisay Lemma, third in Tokyo and London

10. Geremew, 4th in London after being ranked 5 from results last year

11. Amos Kipruto: 4th Valencia after third at Worlds 2019

12. Mule Wasihun, fifth in London in 2.06.08. Impossible that officially he is ranked 43 after his third in London in 2.03.16 still makes him tenth fastest all-time.

13. Kamworor: had him at 7 before COVID damaged the world.

14: Tamirat Tola, details soon.

Tola was sixth in London this year and last. Has a PB from 2018 in Dubai: 2.04.06 when third. Won Dubai the previous year then silver at the World Champs to be ranked 3 that year by T&F News. Won bronze over 10000 at the Rio Olympics.

I had Reuben Kiprop Kipyego, winner of Abu Dhabi as a pacer as number 20 earlier this year. I would extend that to 15 here if he was the fifth placed finisher last Sunday in Valencia. The IAAF has credited that result to Reuben Kerio.

Aussiestatman wrote:

11th lady is Azmera Abreha, still only 22yo. Second in Valencia last year in 2.18.33.

12. Vivian Cheruiyot: Second in London and fourth in Valencia in 2019. PB of 2.18.31 from London 2018. Still holds the NR for 10000m on the track when second at the last Olympics then a week later won gold in the 5000. At London this year, was 6th at halfway in 70.01: 1.49 behind the leader, and was out before 30k.

13:Mary Keitany. Fifth in London and second in New York last year. Has been ranked by T&F News as a top ten marathoner most of the last decade including number one in 2011 and 2017.

14. Zeinaba Yimer. Fourth at Valencia in 2.19.54 after fifth there last year in 2.19.28 on debut. Only 22yo.

Aussiestatman wrote:

I had Reuben Kiprop Kipyego, winner of Abu Dhabi as a pacer as number 20 earlier this year. I would extend that to 15 here if he was the fifth placed finisher last Sunday in Valencia. The IAAF has credited that result to Reuben Kerio.

I have written to the IAAF to see if they did indeed make a mistake. If not, drop this Reuben to 22 and make Bedan Karoki 15. Bedan was 5th in Tokyo in 2.06.15 after second there last year and fifth in Chicago in his PB of 2.05.53. Is based in Japan and has a record over 10000m at major champs that may never be challenged: from 2012 to 2017 finished among the top seven at all 5 of them without snagging a medal, two Olympics and three Worlds.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

11th lady is Azmera Abreha, still only 22yo. Second in Valencia last year in 2.18.33.

12. Vivian Cheruiyot: Second in London and fourth in Valencia in 2019. PB of 2.18.31 from London 2018. Still holds the NR for 10000m on the track when second at the last Olympics then a week later won gold in the 5000. At London this year, was 6th at halfway in 70.01: 1.49 behind the leader, and was out before 30k.

13:Mary Keitany. Fifth in London and second in New York last year. Has been ranked by T&F News as a top ten marathoner most of the last decade including number one in 2011 and 2017.

14. Zeinaba Yimer. Fourth at Valencia in 2.19.54 after fifth there last year in 2.19.28 on debut. Only 22yo.

From one of the youngest to two of the oldest at 15 and 16: Gladys Cherono and Helalia Johannes. Gladys first: 37yo, fourth in London 2019 in 2.20.52 after winning Berlin in 2018 in 2.18.11.

Then Johannes the Namibian at 16, up from 22 eight months ago. Broke the O/40 WR when third in Valencia in 2.19.52. Was third at the World Champs last year in oppressive humidity while others dropped out all around her. Has represented her country at the last 3 Olympics and held the NR since 2012 when she took it away from her compatriot who is five months older than her, Beata Naigambo. Helalia has the top three times among her countrywomen and eight of the top 12, with Beata owning the other 4.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

I had Reuben Kiprop Kipyego, winner of Abu Dhabi as a pacer as number 20 earlier this year. I would extend that to 15 here if he was the fifth placed finisher last Sunday in Valencia. The IAAF has credited that result to Reuben Kerio.

I have written to the IAAF to see if they did indeed make a mistake. If not, drop this Reuben to 22 and make Bedan Karoki 15. Bedan was 5th in Tokyo in 2.06.15 after second there last year and fifth in Chicago in his PB of 2.05.53. Is based in Japan and has a record over 10000m at major champs that may never be challenged: from 2012 to 2017 finished among the top seven at all 5 of them without snagging a medal, two Olympics and three Worlds.

16th ranked man next.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

I have written to the IAAF to see if they did indeed make a mistake. If not, drop this Reuben to 22 and make Bedan Karoki 15. Bedan was 5th in Tokyo in 2.06.15 after second there last year and fifth in Chicago in his PB of 2.05.53. Is based in Japan and has a record over 10000m at major champs that may never be challenged: from 2012 to 2017 finished among the top seven at all 5 of them without snagging a medal, two Olympics and three Worlds.

16th ranked man next.

That would be Marius Kipserem, 10th in London this last October in 2.09.25. I had him ranked 12 before that based on wins at Rotterdam in April last year and Abu Dhabi in 2018 both in just over 2.04. Abu Dhabi would later be acknowledged as being a short course.

17th lady is Rose Chelimo, runner-up last year at the Worlds after winning those World Champs in 2017. Second in Boston in that same year, 2017, in 2.22.51 and sixth in London in 2018.

17th man is Shifera Tamru, down from 14 because his lack of participation this year while 3 ranked below him improved their records. Here is my profile from my ranking thread more than a year ago:

16th man is my surprise of the twenty: Shifera Tamru. Why? One of only two to break 2.05.30 twice during these last ten months on courses eligible for records [Legese the other]. More in a minute.

Fifth in Dubai in 2.05.18, second in Daegu in 2.06.21, won JTBC Seoul in 2.05.29. Ranked 44 with no d.o.b. on his IAAF profile, but only his second year of marathoning. Like Tigist, like to see them test themselves in a major.

After the Tokyo Marathon I set about ranking the top 50. I decided to place three women together at 18th. One, Valerie Jemeli, would struggle in London while the other two would amazingly record the same times in finishing Valencia, so those two I still cannot separate as equal 18th here. Degita Azimeraw and Tigist Girma both recorded 2.19.56.