Top Five In 2017 World Rankings

2017 saw several historical performances of female road runners. The year will particularly be remembered by Joyciline Jepkosgei’s records.

While the Kenyan dominance continued in the top lists, Mary Keitany set the women-only world record by 2:17:01 at the London Marathon. The 35-year-old was 41 seconds faster than Paula Radcliffe’s previous record stood from 2005. However, the star of 2017 was another Kenyan who is still at the beginning of her career. Joyciline Jepkosgei, born in 1993, had personal bests of just 1:09:07 for the half marathon and 31:08 for 10km at the start of the year. She surprised the athletics world in Prague where she led through 10km in 30:04, 15km in 45:37, then 20km in 1:01:25, all new world records, before smashing the half marathon world record with 1:04:52, the first sub-65-minute performance in history by a woman. The Kenyan cut another second off her half marathon record in Valencia. In the year where the six fastest 10km times in history have been set, Jepkosgei also became the first ever woman to run under 30 minutes when she clocked 29:43 over the distance.

On the men’s side, Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:03:32 in the marathon and Abraham Cheroben’s 58:40 in half marathon were overshadowed by the “Breaking2” project introduced by Nike. Although the attempt in Monza fell short, Kipchoge produced the fastest ever time for the marathon distance finishing in 2:00:25. The time was not ratifiable as a world record due to various conditions during the event, yet it was the performance of the year.

Top five athletes in the marathon, half marathon and 10km in 2017 are as follows;

Women's marathon:
2:17:01  Mary Jepkosgei Keitany, KEN (London, 23 April)
2:17:56  Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH (London, 23 April)
2:19:47  Sarah Chepchirchir, KEN (Tokyo, 26 February)
2:20:22  Brigid Chepchirchir Kosgei, KEN (Chicago, 8 October)
2:20:23  Gladys Cherono Kiprono, KEN (Berlin, 24 September)

Women's half marathon:
1:04:51  Joyciline Jepkosgei, KEN (Valencia, 22 October)
1:05:06  Peres Jepchirchir, KEN (Ras Al Khaimah, 10 February)
1:05:13  Mary Jepkosgei Keitany, KEN (Ras Al Khaimah, 10 February)
1:05:22  Violah Jepchumba, BRN (Prague, 1 April)
1:05:36  Fancy Chemutai, KEN (Valencia, 22 October)

Women’s 10km:
29:43    Joyciline Jepkosgei, KEN (Prague, 9 September)
30:05+  Violah Jepchumba, BRN (Prague, 1 April)
30:06    Fancy Chemutai, KEN (Prague, 9 September)
30:28    Sheila Chepkirui Kiprotich, KEN (Prague, 9 September)
30:38    Senbere Teferi, ETH (Tilburg, 3 September) 

Men's marathon:
2:03:32  Eliud Kipchoge, KEN (Berlin, 24 September)
2:03:46  Guye Adola, ETH (Berlin, 24 September)
2:03:58  Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich, KEN (Tokyo, 26 February)
2:04:11  Tamirat Tola, ETH (Dubai, 20 January)
2:05:09  Lawrence Cherono, KEN (Amsterdam, 15 October) 

Men's half marathon:
58:40    Abraham Naibei Cheroben, BRN (Copenhagen, 17 September)
58:48    Jorum Lumbasi Okombo, KEN (Copenhagen, 17 September)
58:51    Alex Oloitiptip Korio, KEN (Copenhagen, 17 September)
59:10    Bedan Karoki Muchiri, KEN (Ras Al Khaimah, 10 February)
59:14    Barselius Kipyego, KEN (Usti nad Labem, 16 September) 

Men’s 10km:
27:10    Benard Kimeli, KEN (Prague, 9 September)
27:11    Mathew Kipkorir Kimeli, KEN (Prague, 9 September)
27:13    Rhonex Kipruto, KEN (Prague, 9 September)
27:29    Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei, UGA (Durban, 8 October)
27:33    Alfred Chelal Barkach, KEN (Berlin, 8 October)

(+) Intermediate time in a race over longer distance