LONGTIME READERS of the Track & Field News Rankings undoubtedly noticed that something was missing in the Annual Edition. Oops! Our overall look at the year’s stats was missing from December’s issue, but here it is now. Our apologies for the glitch.
The World Rankings Defenders
No. 1 defenders of both sexes had a slightly harder time in keeping their top spots than they did in ’17. Combined, 16 of 43 did (6 men, 10 women), compared to 18 last year. The longest men’s streak is 5 for Eliud Kipchoge in the marathon; for the women it’s 7 years by discus thrower Sandra Perković.
The 6 world men’s repeaters (number in parentheses is streak if more than 2):
Conseslus Kipruto steeple, Eliud Kipchoge marathon (5), Mutaz Barshim HJ (4), Sam Kendricks PV, Christian Taylor TJ (4), Kevin Mayer decathlon.
The 10 world women’s repeaters:
Shaunae Miller-Uibo 200, Caster Semenya 800 (3), Beatrice Chepkoech steeple, Hellen Obiri 5000, Keni Harrison 100H (3), Mariya Lasitskene HJ, Lijiao Gong SP, Sandra Perković DT (7), Anita Włodarczyk HT (6), Nafi Thiam heptathlon.
The U.S. Rankings Defenders
Successful-defense U.S. men rose by 2 to 11, with women dropping from 12 to 9. The longest men’s and women’s streaks are both at 9 years: in the TJ for Christian Taylor, in the 20K Walk for Maria Michta-Coffey.
The 11 U.S. men’s repeaters:
Noah Lyles 200, Fred Kerley 400, Evan Jager steeple (7), Paul Chelimo 5000 (3), Shadrack Kipchirchir 10K, Galen Rupp marathon, Sam Kendricks PV (4), Christian Taylor TJ (9), Ryan Crouser SP (3), Mason Finley DT (3), Alex Young HT.
The 9 U.S. women’s repeaters:
Phyllis Francis 400, Ajee’ Wilson 800, Emma Coburn steeple (8), Keni Harrison 100H (3), Maria Michta-Coffey 20W (9), Vashti Cunningham HJ, Sandi Morris PV (3), Keturah Orji TJ (3), Kara Winger JT.
The World Doublers
Scoring in 1 event is tough, scoring in 2 is tougher: only 15 pointed-up twice or more (compared to 20 last year). Even tougher, of course, is scoring in 3 events, and AOY Caster Semenya (6/1/7) did that in the 400/800/1500.
The 5 world men’s doublers:
100/200—Noah Lyles (3/1)
200/400—Michael Norman (4/6), Akeem Bloomfield (9/10)
200/400H—Rai Benjamin (8/5)
5000/10,000—Mo Ahmed (9/2)
The 9 world women’s doublers:
100/200—Marie-Josée Ta Lou (1/7), Jenna Prandini (6/5), Dafne Schippers (7/3), Mujinga Kambundji (8/9)
200/400—Shaunae Miller-Uibo (1/2)
800/1500—Rabab Arrafi (7/5)
1500/5000—Shelby Houlihan (1/8), Sifan Hassan (3/2)
LJ/TJ—Caterine Ibargüen (3/1)
The U.S. Doublers
Doubling is a lot easier at the national level than it is at the international. Not only did 26 Americans score U.S. Rankings doubles in ’18, another 4 (all women) also scored triples.
The 11 U.S. men’s doublers:
100/200—Noah Lyles (3/1), Kendal Williams (6/5)
200/400—Michael Norman (2/3), Fred Kerley (10/1)
400/TJ—Christian Taylor (9/1)
800/1500—Clayton Murphy (1/5)
5000/10,000—Shadrack Kipchirchir (7/1)
110H/400H—David Kendziera (7/5)
110H/LJ—Grant Holloway (2/10)
20W/50W—Nick Christie (1/1), Anthony Gruttadauro (7/3)
The 4 U.S. women’s triplers:
200/400/400H—Sydney McLaughlin (7/10/4)
5000/10,000/marathon—Molly Huddle (2/1/4)
100H/HJ/Heptathlon—Erica Bougard (9/7/1)
SP/DT/HT—Maggie Ewen (2/2/5)
The 15 U.S. women’s doublers:
100/200—Jenna Prandini (2/1)
200/400—Lynna Irby (3/4), Phyllis Francis (4/1), Shakima Wimbley (6/2)
800/1500—Ajee’ Wilson (1/8), Charlene Lipsey (3/9)
1500/St—Colleen Quigley (4/3)
1500/5000—Shelby Houlihan (1/1)
5000/10,000—Molly Huddle (2/1), Karissa Schweizer (3/8), Sara Pagano (9/5), Emily Sisson (10/4)
20W/50W—Katie Burnett (3/1)
LJ/TJ—Keturah Orji (4/1)
SP/HT—Janeah Stewart (10/4) □
