Sixty days until the New Year: Counting Down the top Twenty mens and womens marathoners, two every three days.

Next woman at number 7 is Vivian Cheruiyot, 36yo and ranked 13. Second in London in 2.20.14 then 4th in Valencia in 2.18.52, just 21 sec outside her PB when winning London last year.

Here is my bio from London this year:

Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot could be second among the women. Has had a long and successful career at 5000 and 10000 on the track, winning a gold and a silver at the Rio Olympics; and 4 golds and a silver at 4 World Champs from 2007 to 2015.Ran her first marathon in London 2017, finishing 4th. Was rated best in the world by Letsrun for her 2018 record of first in London, second in New York. She is 35 years old and the IAAF ranks her 3.

And Valencia:

Second woman should be the legend that is Vivian Cheruiyot, 36yo and ranked 26. Her and Birhane were born on the same day, a decade apart. Vivian chased Kosgei home in London, second in 2.20.14. Even if Birhane or Roza beat her here, and they are the only two who could, i would still rank her above them both at year's end. More in a minute.

Vivian won London last year when Mary (67.16 at halfway) and Tirunesh (67.39) went after Paula’s record. Vivian, Kosgei, and Gladys Cherono were thru that point in 68.56 and Vivian won by 1.42 in 2.18.31.

7th man is Geoffrey Kamworor, who won New York in 2.08.13 after breaking the half WR in Copenhagen, 58.01. He is 27yo and ranked 19. Here is what i wrote then:

Fourth this year should be the man that was third last year, Geoffrey Kamworor. He is 26yo and ranked 54. He won here in 2017. He is planning to run the Copenhagen half marathon on Sept 15 as a lead up. His best marathon time of 2.06.12 was set in 2012, third in Berlin. He has three other times under 2.07 in majors.

Sixth woman is Joyciline Jepkosgei, turned 26 last week and ranked 40. Won New York on debut in 2.22.38. Set the WR at the half in 2017 in Prague in 64.52 than later that year took another sec off that in Valencia. Profile following is mine from NY:

Eighth lady may be Joyciline Jepkosgei in her debut. More soon.

Funny story prior to April this year. Joyciline was slated to make her long awaited debut at Hamburg on the same day that the London marathon is on. Was aiming for 2.22 which is reasonable for a runner who in 2017 won two of the biggest halfs, both in under 65 min. Jepkosgei ended up being a pacer in London because, i believe, she didn't think she could beat Dibabe Kuma in Hamburg. Kuma is running the half in Copenhagen in 10 days.

Next man is Birhanu Legese, 25yo and ranked equal second. Won Tokyo in 2.04.48 then was second in Berlin in 2.02.48.

Here is my mini bio from Berlin:

Legese for me is the favourite. Won Tokyo and third this year over 10k in Bangalore. Last year was 6th in Dubai and tenth in Chicago. He is still only 24 years old and the IAAF ranks him sixth.

Fifth lady is Ashete Bekere, 31yo and ranked 4. Won both Rotterdam in 2.22.55 and Berlin in 2.20.14. Following is my profile from before Rotterdam:

Best of the women's entrants look to be Ashete Dido, also known as Ashete Bekere Dido. Dido in 31 next month and won in Valencia this last December in 2.21.14. Ashete is currently ranked 14 and April last year was 4th in Paris in 2.23.27. Her previous fastest was 2.23.43 in Dubai 2015, finishing 9th.

And from Berlin:

So my pick for second woman is Ashete Bekere, 31yo and ranked 5. Won Valencia last Dec in her PB of 2.21.14 then this April won Rotterdam in 2.22.55. Also last year was 4th in Paris in 2.23.27. Is building quite a list of great performances

Fifth man is Mosinet Geremew, 27yo and ranked 5. Second in London in 2.02.55 and second as well at the World Champs in 2.10.44. Here is my bio from London:

My choice for fourth place is Mosinet Geremew, who is 27yo and ranked 4. He is warming up for it today in a half marathon in Lisbon. Last year he won Dubai in 2.04.00 and was second in Chicago. Previous year he was 2nd in Xiamen, China and 3rd in Berlin. He has won the half marathon in Yangzhou four years in a row from 2015-2018, holding the Chinese all-comers record of 59.52 set in the first win.

Who will be fourth woman? Kosgei 1, Ruth C 2, who is third or fourth for 2019 out of Roza Dereje and Worknesh Degefa?

Aussiestatman wrote:

Who will be fourth woman? Kosgei 1, Ruth C 2, who is third or fourth for 2019 out of Roza Dereje and Worknesh Degefa?

I have Dereje at 4, 22yo and ranked 6. Third in London in 2.20.51, DNF at Worlds then won the second deepest run all year in Valencia in 2.18.30. Halfway in 69.18 alongside Birhane and Vivian, then Azmera Abreha caught them by 35k, making 4 together. Birhane led by 4 sec at 40k and Vivian had been dropped. Roza though had enough left to go past Birhane and hold off Azmera Abreha.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Next man is Birhanu Legese, 25yo and ranked equal second. Won Tokyo in 2.04.48 then was second in Berlin in 2.02.48.

Here is my mini bio from Berlin:

Legese for me is the favourite. Won Tokyo and third this year over 10k in Bangalore. Last year was 6th in Dubai and tenth in Chicago. He is still only 24 years old and the IAAF ranks him sixth.

The other man officially ranked equal second is by pick for 4th. Lelisa Desisa is 29yo and was second in Boston in 2.07.59 before winning the World Champs in 2.10.40. That run affected his chances in New York and he could not finish there. His best time still dates back to 2013 in winning Dubai in 2.04.45 and most respected judges would acclaim him number one that year.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Who will be fourth woman? Kosgei 1, Ruth C 2, who is third or fourth for 2019 out of Roza Dereje and Worknesh Degefa?

I have Dereje at 4, 22yo and ranked 6. Third in London in 2.20.51, DNF at Worlds then won the second deepest run all year in Valencia in 2.18.30. Halfway in 69.18 alongside Birhane and Vivian, then Azmera Abreha caught them by 35k, making 4 together. Birhane led by 4 sec at 40k and Vivian had been dropped. Roza though had enough left to go past Birhane and hold off Azmera Abreha.

That leaves Worknesh Degefa as third this year. 29yo and ranked 9. Second in Dubai where Ruth got away from her after 35k to win by 33 sec but she still was sub 2.18 and more than 3 min ahead of all the others. She then crushed the field in Boston in 2.23.31, already leading by 2.27 at halfway.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Next man is Birhanu Legese, 25yo and ranked equal second. Won Tokyo in 2.04.48 then was second in Berlin in 2.02.48.

Here is my mini bio from Berlin:

Legese for me is the favourite. Won Tokyo and third this year over 10k in Bangalore. Last year was 6th in Dubai and tenth in Chicago. He is still only 24 years old and the IAAF ranks him sixth.

The other man officially ranked equal second is by pick for 4th. Lelisa Desisa is 29yo and was second in Boston in 2.07.59 before winning the World Champs in 2.10.40. That run affected his chances in New York and he could not finish there. His best time still dates back to 2013 in winning Dubai in 2.04.45 and most respected judges would acclaim him number one that year.

Here is my profile from Boston:

Lelisa Desisa is my pick to win it. Last year he won New York in the second fastest time in its history after not finishing in Boston. Previously, he had finished on the podium in six major marathons over five years. Among those races are a second and two thirds in New York. He had also won Dubai and has a silver medal from a world champs. In 2017 he was third in both the breaking2 at Monza and the New York marathon. This website ranked him 6th for 2018, David Graham placed him eighth, and me 5th.

And my bio before NY including comment after the exertion of the World's win:

Second place should be Shura Kitata, second here last year just two seconds behind. Kitata was 4th in London last spring in front of Farah and his best time was in finishing second there the previous year in 2.04.49. He is 23yo and ranked 6.

swapping my first two choices after the world's, no way Desisa can back up that soon

My choice for third man is Lawrence Cherono, 31yo and ranked 4. Won Boston in 2.07.57 and Chicago in 2.05.45.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Who will be fourth woman? Kosgei 1, Ruth C 2, who is third or fourth for 2019 out of Roza Dereje and Worknesh Degefa?

So second woman this year is Ruth Chepngetich, 25yo and ranked 2. Won Dubai in 2.17.08 and you couldn’t really say won the worlds; it was more survived the conditions and crossed the line first.

Number two among the men and comeback story of the year has to be Kenenisa Bekele. 37yo and ranked 10, who could have envisaged how well he could have run Berlin to come within two seconds of the WR. 2.01.41 was amazing and it will be interesting where he decides to run next and how quick he can go then.

Any year a marathoner smashes the long standing WR must make her a lock for the number one for the year. Brigid Kosgei did that and more. Was at halfway in Chicago in a tick under 67 min, already 1.23 in front of Yeshaneh. In the second half, took apart the course between 25 and 35k: the two five km splits in 15.45 and 15.54. Earlier this year won London against most of the world’s best in 2.18.20. The second half there of 66.42 is the fastest second half ever.

Aussiestatman wrote:

My choice for third man is Lawrence Cherono, 31yo and ranked 4. Won Boston in 2.07.57 and Chicago in 2.05.45.

Is running Boston again next year.

Kipchoge is number one, won London then broke two hours in the Ineos challenge surrounded by his pacemaking teams. Is returning to London and will run the Olympic marathon too.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Kipchoge is number one, won London then broke two hours in the Ineos challenge surrounded by his pacemaking teams. Is returning to London and will run the Olympic marathon too.

The profile i wrote leading into London follows, including how i thought he would run a 2.02.xx to complete his set.

Kipchoge must win it. He is the G.O.A.T. No doubt. World Record Holder, owner of two other of the top 8 times of all-time. Undefeated in London. Winner of many more majors. What else can be said? After winning in Berlin, breaking the WR, he said he was interested in winning another marathon in 2.02.something so he could be the only owner of a 2,01, 2.02, 2.03, etc. Before him, no one had run sub 61.00 for either half of a marathon. In Berlin he ran the second half in 60.33 after a 61.06 opening half. enough superlatives? He is 34 years old and has won two marathons, mostly majors, in 4 of the last 5 years.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Sixth woman is Joyciline Jepkosgei, turned 26 last week and ranked 40. Won New York on debut in 2.22.38. Set the WR at the half in 2017 in Prague in 64.52 than later that year took another sec off that in Valencia. Profile following is mine from NY:

Eighth lady may be Joyciline Jepkosgei in her debut. More soon.

Funny story prior to April this year. Joyciline was slated to make her long awaited debut at Hamburg on the same day that the London marathon is on. Was aiming for 2.22 which is reasonable for a runner who in 2017 won two of the biggest halfs, both in under 65 min. Jepkosgei ended up being a pacer in London because, i believe, she didn't think she could beat Dibabe Kuma in Hamburg. Kuma is running the half in Copenhagen in 10 days.

Not considered top ten this year by Athletics Weekly when next week they display their year end rankings. Is it the time? Has to be more, surely, then Gelete Burka has done.