Now that I’ve thrown some parameters out there regarding ranking athletes, let’s get on with it. After all, December has snuck up on us rather suddenly.
I’ve already detailed my Athletes of the Year and Performances of the Year, now it’s time to list my #1’s by event. I will follow that up with some individual event rankings – I’m thinking five deep. Picking the number ones was not as difficult as I thought it might be. In most cases there was a clear number one. Not too uncommon in an Olympic year. Racing/competing being a little more selective during an Olympic campaign than in other seasons.
The women were a little more difficult as they competed much more regularly against each other than the men – as I’ve said before, that’s a quality problem. In each case with these rankings I started with the Olympic champion since the Games were easily the most important meet of the year. Winning gold was not the only criteria however, as this is an award for the entire season. So there needed to be some back up performances worthy of naming one the best of the season. That’s why the Olympic champion is not always my number one.
With that, here is my list of event leaders for the 2012 season. Next up, event rankings. I haven’t forgotten about the best all time races. I will get back to that once rankings are complete.
Men’s 2012 #1’s
100 – Usain Bolt (JAM)
200 – Usain Bolt (JAM)
400 – Kirani James (GRN)
800 – David Rudisha (KEN)
1500 – Silas Kiplagat (KEN)
5000 – Mo Farah (GBR)
10000 – Mo Farah (GBR)
110 H – Aries Merritt (USA)
400 H – Javier Culson (PUR)
3K st – Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN)
PV – Reynaud Lavillenie (FRA)
HJ- Ivan Uhkov (RUS)
LJ – Greg Rutherford (GBR)
TJ – Christian Taylor (USA)
SP – Tomas Majewski (POL)
Dis – Robert Harting (GER)
Ham – Krisztian Pars (HUN)
Jav – Keshorn Walcott (TRI)
Dec – Ashton Eaton (USA)
Women’s 2012 #1’s
100 – Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce (JAM)
200 – Allyson Felix (USA)
400 – Sanya Richards Ross (USA)
800 – Mariya Savinova (RUS)
1500 – Maryam Jamal (BRN)
5000 – Meseret Defar (ETH)
10000 – Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)
100H – Sally Pearson (AUS)
400H – Lashinda Demus (USA)
3K st – Yulia Zaripova (RUS)
PV – Jenn Suhr (USA)
HJ – Anna Chicherova (RUS)
LJ – Brittney Reese (USA)
TJ – Olga Rypakova (KAZ)
SP – Valerie Adams (NZL)
Dis – Sandra Perkovic (CRO)
Ham – Betty Heidler (GER)
Jav – Barbora Spotakova (CZE)
Hep – Jessica Ennis (GBR)
I am surprised not to see Jesse Owens listed as one of the candidates for a spot at Mt. Rushmore. In my opinion his achievements both on and off the field will never be matched. Clearly, there has been faster times run and longer distances jumped,but J.O. performed admirably during a time where was not even considered a “man” in the eyes of many. He should not only be included at Mt. Rushmore, but should be the centerpiece.
Wow … Jesse never crossed my mind … I’ve spent the day pondering that one, and I think it’s because I tend tho think of the sport before the sixties as not being as competitive … That’s all I’ve got …
That said, what Owens did was outstanding … His long jump record lasted about a quarter century … His four golds in Berlin stood alone until Carl Lewis … He definitely deserves some consideration …
I’ll have to put Mt Rushmore together here shortly ..