Rankings Still Undecided

I’ve been a bit lax on posting lately, as I’ve been working on a project for Track and Field News which should be on their website sometime in the next few days.

The season is almost over, or at least in terms of truly meaningful competitions. There is the Continental Cup this weekend, which will have very good fields in some events and not so much in others.

This year I’ve been trying out my own points-based rankings system. Most of the #1 rankings are set, but in a few events they’re still up in the air. Which ones, and what’s the scenario?

Men’s Discus. Diamond League champ Piotr Malachowski has a small lead over Robert Harting, and they’ll face off at the Continental Cup this weekend. If Harting wins with 69.83 or better and Malachowski finishes third or below, the German will overtake the Pole. That’s a tall order, though, as it would be a significant PR for Harting.

Men’s Hammer. Dilshod Nazarov leads Libor Charfrietag by a scant 5 points, 199 to 194. Both will be at the Continental Cup and that will decide the top ranking.
Women’s Steeple. #1 Milcah Cheywa and #2 Yuliya Zarudneva face off at this weekend’s Continental Cup. If Zarudneva wins wins a sub-9:15 and Cheywa is at least six seconds in arrears, the Russian will move to first. This scenario is unlikely.

Women’s Triple Jump. Olga Rypakova and Yargeris Savigne are separated by just four points and both will be at the Continental Cup. Whoever places higher will exit the meet ranked #1.

Women’s Discus. Yarelis Barrios and Sandra Perkovic are the leaders and both will be at the Continental Cup. If Perkovic wins with something near 65 meters, she’d overtake the lead.

Women’s Heptathlon. If Hyleas Fountain won in Talence and scored over 7000 points, she could be #1. But I don’t see that happening.

And then, of course, there are the long distances (12k to 25k) and the marathon, whose seasons are only half over. The walks still have a big competition remaining as well in the Walking Challenge Final, but that’s hardly the spectator event of the season.

Yesterday’s results
Zagreb 2010 (IAAF World Challenge)
Achen Street Vault

Track on TV
Diamond League Stockholm rerun, 12:30 PM on Universal Sports
Diamond League Zurich rerun, 10 PM on Universal Sports

Around the Web
Runner's World Racing News has all the headlines.

Summaries of yesterday's meet in Zagreb from the IAAF,  USATF and Let's Run.

Fifty years ago today the world got introduced to "Arthur's boys" as New Zealand won two Olympic golds in one afternoon.  The links:
Snell and Halberg remember / Lydiard's ability to get the best from people / Video #1 / Video #2

Quote of the week and Jerk of the week.

Kara Patterson on a German road trip.

Sandra Perkovic cheated death.