2010 Runners of the Year

Top runners and races from around the world

As featured in the JanFeb 2010 issue of Running Times Magazine
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Our Runners of the Year rankings take into account all certified races 3,000m or longer, track or roads, giving the greatest weight to winning or placing in the most competitive races. The formula then factors in each runner's winning percentage in head-to-head matchups with other top-ranked runners, and, finally, considers the runner's average weekly competitive level, calculated as point exchanges based on who beat whom in that week's races. Times aren't considered in this formula, so a fast time run solo wins few points. While marathoners are included in this ranking, few make the top echelons due to their limited schedules.

MOST COMPETITIVE RACES 2009

MEN

1    IAAF World Championships --  5,000m    Aug. 23    Berlin, GER
2    Weltklasse Zurich -- 5,000m    Aug. 28    Zurich, SUI
3    IAAF World Athletics Final -- 3,000m    Sept. 12    Thessaloniki, GRE
4    DKB-ISTAF  -- 5,000m    June 14    Berlin, GER
5    Memorial Van Damme --  5,000m    Sept. 4    Brussels, BEL
6    IAAF World Championships -- 10,000m    Aug. 17    Berlin, GER
7    Golden Gala  -- 5,000m    July 10    Rome, ITA
8    IAAF World Championships -- Half Marathon    Oct. 11    Birmingham, ENG
9    IAAF World Athletics Final -- 5,000m    Sept. 13    Thessaloniki, GRE
10    FBK Games -- 5,000m    June 1    Hengelo NED

WOMEN

1    IAAF World Athletics Final -- 5,000m    Sept. 12    Thessaloniki, GRE
2    IAAF World Championships -- 10,000m    Aug. 15    Berlin, GER
3    IAAF World Athletics Final -- 3,000m    Sept. 13    Thessaloniki, GRE
4    IAAF World Championships -- 5,000m    Aug. 22    Berlin, GER
5    ExxonMobil Bislett Games -- 5,000m    July 3    Oslo, NOR
6    Golden Spike Ostrava -- 5,000m    June 17    Ostrava, CZE
7    Adidas Women's Challenge -- 5K    Sept. 6    London, ENG
8    World's Best -- 10K    March 1    San Juan, PUR
9    IAAF World Cross Country -- 8K    March 28    Amman, JOR
10    IAAF World Championships -- Marathon    Aug. 23    Berlin, GER

TOP NATIONS 2009
MEN
1) Kenya (33)
2) Ethiopia (38)
3) U.S. (205)
4) Qatar (441)
5) Spain (551)		 WOMEN
1) Kenya (23)
2) Ethiopia (38)
3) Japan (131)
4) U.S. (208)
5) Russia (328)
Top Nations ranking is compiled by adding the ranking position of the top five runners from each nation on the world list.

TOP RUNNERS:
WORLD 2009
MEN
1) Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)
2) Moses Kipsiro (UGA)
3) Sammy Kitwara (KEN)
4) Imane Merga (ETH)
5) Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)
6) Edwin Soi (KEN)
7) Zersenay Tadese (ERI)
8) Deriba Merga (ETH)
9) Vincent Chepkok (KEN)
10) Micah Kogo (KEN)		 WOMEN
1) Meseret Defar (ETH)
2) Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)
3) Linet Masai (KEN)
4) Meselech Melkamu (ETH)
5) Lineth Chepkurui (KEN)
6) Sylvia Kibet (KEN)
7) Florence Chebet (KEN)
8) Fyles Ongori (KEN)
9) Wude Ayalew Yimer (ETH)
10 Dire Tune (ETH)

TOP RUNNERS
USA 2009
MEN
1) Bernard Lagat
2) Meb Keflezighi
3) Dathan Ritzenhein
4) Galen Rupp
5) Matt Tegenkamp
6) Ryan Hall
7) Tim Nelson
8) Chris Solinsky
9) Abdi Abdirahman
10) Jonathon Riley		 WOMEN
1) Kara Goucher
2) Amy Yoder Begley
3) Jenny Barringer
4) Shalane Flanagan
5) Molly Huddle
6) Jennifer Rhines
7) Rebecca Donaghue
8) Colleen De Reuck
9) Magdalena Lewy Boulet
10) Katie McGregor
LAGAT'S YEAR
Feb. 7    (1)    7:35.41    3,000m    Sparkassen Cup
May 30    (2)    13:03.06    5,000m    Reebok Grand Prix
June 7    (2)    7:35.92    3,000m    Prefontaine Classic
July 17    (1)    7:33.15    3,000m    Meeting AREVA
Aug. 23    (2)    13:17.33    5,000m    IAAF World Championships
Aug. 31    (2)    7:36.68    3,000m    Aviva British Grand Prix
Sept. 12    (2)    8:04.00    3,000m    IAAF World Athletics Final		 GOUCHER'S YEAR
Jan. 17    (1)    9:03.47a    3,000m    Washington Indoor Preview
Feb. 7    (1)    8:46.65    3,000m    Reebok Grand Prix
March 22    (1)    1:08:30    Half Marathon    Lisbon Half Marathon
April 20    (3)    2:32:25a    Marathon    Boston Marathon
June 26    (1)    15:20.94    5,000m    U.S. Track & Field Championships
Aug. 2    (1)    1:08:05    Half Marathon    Rock 'n' Roll Chicago
Aug. 23    (10)    2:27:48    Marathon    IAAF World Championships
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