by Larry Eder
Genzebe Dibaba, photo by PhotoRun.net
Ashton Eaton, photo by PhotoRun.net
Decathlon and 1500 m top marks 2015
MOUNTAIN VIEW (USA): Track and Field News voted as performances of the year Ashton Eaton´s World record in decathlon on the men side and Genzebe Dibaba´s 1500 m World record as top female result of 2015. In the men ranking experts voted for 18 performances in total, second is Christian Taylor´s 18.21 in triple jump, third Wayde van Niekerk´s 400 m 43.48. In the fourth place 3:26.69 by Asbel Kiprop in the 1500 m and in the fifth position Julius Yego and his 92.72 javelin. Usain Bolt and his 100 m 9.79 Beijing win is number six. Seventh Evan Jager steeple 8:00.45 despite falling at the last barrier, 8th in a tie Eaton´s 45.00 in the 400 m in decathlon and Joe Kovacs 22.56 shot. In the 10th position Pedro Pablo Pichardo with 18.08 in triple. Second best female result is 81.08 hammer world record by Anita Wlodarczyk and third 21.63 200 m by Dafne Schippers. In the fourth place Almaz Ayana and her 14:14.32 in the 5000 m, fifth another mark of Ayana 14.26.83 in the 5000 m in Beijing, sixth is the World record by Florence Kiplagat 1:05:09 in half marathon. Number seven Liu Hong´s 20 km walk World record 1:24:38. In the 8th position Wlodarczyk for second time, her 80.85 in Beijing. For 9th position a tie for Dibaba´s two results over 1500 m, her 3:54.11 in Barcelona and 4:08.09 Beijing win with special second part.
Editor’s note: I saw six of the top ten performances up close for women and nine of ten for men in 2015. It was a magnifiscent year. Watching Eaton in the decathlon WR and Dibaba in the 1,500 meter WR were unique experiences. Watching Eaton over two days was great theatre, and Ashton put it all on the line to win gold and break his own brilliant WR. Genzebe Dibaba’s charge over the last 500 meters was a site to behold in Monaco’s Herculis meeting, which is becoming my single day meet of year.
