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Annual Rankings
Running Times' Weekly Competitive Rankings
Our lists are based on a computer algorithm that we've developed over the years with the help of statistician Ken Young. The algorithm takes into account variables like how competitive the race is, how recently a runner has raced and how many times a runner has been beaten by higher or lower ranked runners.
All these things are quantified and when each week's race results are run through the algorithm, each athlete ends up with a point total. The point totals are ranked from highest to lowest, and we have our rankings. We often find that two athletes are neck and neck for one position, but then a large point gap exists down to the next ranked athlete. The point totals allow you to see just how close the number 1 and number 2 athletes (or the number 43 and 44 athletes) are each week, and who has to do a good bit of racing to pick up some places on the list.
We consider distance races in all disciplines -- indoor track, outdoor track, road racing and cross country. "Distance race" means anything 3,000m or longer.
rankings updated September 18th, 2009
World Men
World Women
US Men
US Women
World Men's Rankings
Kitwara up and back down
9/18/2009
World Women Rankings
Defar is back on top
9/18/2009
US Men's Rankings
Solinsy moves up from World Athletics Final
9/17/2009
US Women's Rankings
No change
9/17/2009
World Men's Rankings
Memorial van Damme 5000m Made the List Change This Week
9/10/2009
World Women's Rankings
Mary Keitany Joins List in 12th. Mary Who?
9/10/2009
US Men's Rankings
The Three Musketeers from Wisconsin Hit the Track in Europe
9/10/2009
US Women's Rankings
New Haven Road Race shakes things up on top
9/10/2009
World Men's Rankings
Ritz Joins Top-10
9/2/2009
World Women's Rankings
Masai Out as List Leader
9/2/2009
US Men's Rankings
Ritz makes his move
9/2/2009
US Women's Rankings
A quiet week domestically
9/2/2009
World Men's Rankings
The best are really good this week
8/25/2009
World Women's Rankings
Defar, Goucher fall from power
8/25/2009
US Men's Rankings
Teg and Lagat take off
8/25/2009
US Women's Rankings
Desi moves up
8/25/2009
World Men's Rankings
Bekele extends his lead, winstreak at world champs
8/19/2009
World Women's Rankings
A New World Leader Ascends
8/19/2009
US Men's Rankings
Ritz v. Rupp, take two
8/19/2009
US Women's Rankings
The week of the underdogs
8/19/2009
World Men's Rankings
Regassa makes his move in an otherwise quiet week
8/11/2009
World Women's Rankings
Inactivity causes all the changes this week
8/11/2009
US Men's Rankings
Meb moves up
8/11/2009
US Women's Rankings
Donoghue, DeReuck move up big time
8/11/2009
World Men's Rankings
Monaco 3000m race produces changes
8/4/2009
World Women's Rankings
Barringer moves up on a quiet week
8/4/2009
US Men's Rankings
Evan Jager Joins the Crowd
8/4/2009
US Women's Rankings
Barringer Jumps into Second with Flat Race Victory
8/4/2009
US Women's Rankings
Huddle Jumps to Fifth
7/30/2009
US Men's Rankings
Bix road race shakes up rankings
7/30/2009
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