Rankings questions

[hc10003]

Hi, just got around to reading the rankings issue in detail (I know, way behind) and had a couple questions and would appreciate any insights anyone can offer:

1. The W400H describes the event as "the only one, man or woman, where the #1 wasn't on the podium in London". But Kiplagat did not medal in the 15, and Koech (St) did not even compete in London? Or am I misinterpreting the statement?

2. Was the Jamaican 1 - 5 sweep in the 200 a first for that event by one nation, or has the US done that? And was the resulting US 'score' in the 200 an all-time low? Amazing, event where US has often been dominant.

3. Are the US rankings done as "top 10 Americans if the world rankings went deep enough to get to that level" or are they done in the context of the US season? The reason I ask is M1500. I understand in a world context Centro had the better overall season; but in the realm of US track Leo finished ahead in the two most important races - in that the Trials were the largest gathering of top US competition. It seems this is a rare case where the ordering of the US rankings shouldn't follow the world order, as US champ + Oly medal would, in a ranking of US runners only, trump not US champ + no Oly medal.

Issue was great as always! Thx for any insights anyone can share.

[26mi235]

In 2, I think you mean 1-3 sweep (not 5). Obviously it is a low for the US, but not absolutely certain whether it is merely a tie or the only one.[edit I thought that you meant the sweep in the Olympic Games - duh]

In 3, the US ranking is always in order of the overall. I think gh has explained it as a ranking of US runners on the world stage, not if you subset them in a US (only) sense.

[hc10003]

I think you mean 1-3 sweep (not 5)

Thx - but it actually is 1 - 5: Bolt, Blake, Ashmeade, Jason Young, Warren Weir. That's the amazing part -- for any nation! And thus my curiosity as to if any nation ever reached that level of dominance.

[Per Andersen]

I think you mean 1-3 sweep (not 5)

Thx - but it actually is 1 - 5: Bolt, Blake, Ashmeade, Jason Young, Warren Weir. That's the amazing part -- for any nation! And thus my curiosity as to if any nation ever reached that level of dominance.

Go to "Rankings" on top of this page.
The US had the top 5 in the 200 in 1984.

[hc10003]

Thx Per Anderson - did not realize there was that level of in-depth rankings data available on the website. Also did not realize Pietro Mennea was still competing at that level in '84! Interesting that '84 was an Oly year too - you might think that would bring greater diversity of top performances, and that the 1 through 5 tally would be more likely in a non-Oly year.

[DrJay]

Has any country ever run the table in an event? Figuring Kenya in the steeple was the most likely, I only looked at that event. In 1996 and 1997 they took 9 of the top 10 spots. In 2004, they took 8 of10 and the two "non-Kenyans" were actually Kenyan-born.

[gh]

US men went 1-10 in PV in '47.