World Rankings Update - Marathon

Now that the spring majors are done, let's see how the top marathoners stack up.
MEN
1. Tsegay Kebede, ETH, 214
2. Deriba Merga, ETH, 212
3. Samuel Wanjiru, KEN, 184
4. Duncan Kibet, KEN, 180
5. Jaouad Gharib, MAR, 172
6. James Kwambai, KEN, 168
7. Patrick Makau, KEN, 151
8. Abel Kirui, KEN, 148
9. Daniel Rono, KEN, 116
9. Vincent Kipruto, KEN, 116
11. Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 108
12. Emmanuel Mutai, KEN, 106
13. Ryan Hall, USA, 100
14. Bazu Worka, ETH, 92
15. Tekeste Kebede, ETH, 88
16. David Kiyeng, KEN, 80
17. Yemane Adhane, ETH, 76
18. Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, KEN, 72
19. Rachid Kisri, MAR, 66
20. David Mandago, KEN, 56
20. Hendrick Ramaala, RSA, 56
22. Gashaw Asfaw, ETH, 46
23. Moses Kimeli Arusei, KEN, 44
24. Deressa Edae, ETH, 42
25. Samuel Muturi Mugo, KEN, 34

Why is Kebede ranked two spots ahead of Wanjiru despite the results of Sunday's London Marathon, where Wanjiru beat Kebede? Because these rankings reflect points earned rather than merit.

If neither athlete ran again this year, T&FN's year-end World Rankings would definitely put Wanjiru ahead of Kebede. And by October, that's likely what will happen here. Kebede has run two marathons plus a good half-marathon since my "season" began in early November, whereas Wanjiru has only London (plus a lackluster half that earned him nothing). For Kebede to gain any more points, he must do better than his Fukuoka win. Wanjiru, on the other hand, doesn't have to do much this fall to overtake the top spot…besides keeping #4 Duncan Kibet, the winner of the blazing Rotterdam race, form overtaking him.

WOMEN
1. Irina Mikitenko, GER, 160
2. Mara Yamauchi, GBR, 152
3. Salina Kosgei, KEN, 137
4. Dire Tune, ETH, 133
5. Kara Goucher, USA, 120
6. Yoko Shibui, JPN, 114
7. Yoshimi Ozaki, JPN, 104
8. Mizuho Nasukawa, JPN, 100
8. Liliya Shobukova, RUS, 100
10. Bezunesh Bekele, ETH, 92
11. Yuri Kano, JPN, 90
12. Aselefech Mergia, ETH, 88
13. Svetlana Zakharova, RUS, 84
14. Berhane Adere, ETH, 79
15. Atsede Baysa, ETH, 74
16. Helena Loshanyang Kirop, KEN, 73
17. Nailya Yulmanova, RUS, 72
18. Atsede Habtamu, ETH, 60
18. Yukiko Akaba, JPN, 60
18. Inga Abitova, RUS, 60
21. Ashu Kasim, ETH, 59
22. Yoshiko Fujinaga, JPN, 52
23. Christelle Daunay, FRA, 50
24. Yukari Sahaku, JPN, 48
24. Marisa Barros, POR, 48
24. Irina Timofeyeva, RUS, 48

Mikitenko's dominant London win has her rightly at the top of the rankings, followed by London runner-up Yamauchi and the Boston podium finishers of Kosgei, Tune and Goucher.

If there's a "sleeper" to watch, it's Japan's #7 Yoshimi Ozaki, winner of the Tokyo Marathon. She will be running the World Championships in Berlin, along with #6 Yoko Shibui, who she soundly defeated in that race. Like Wanjiru, Ozaki has only that one race to her credit which leaves her ranked a bit below what she deserves. So far this season, only Mikitenko's London win was a better race than Ozaki's Tokyo win.