Sixteen athletes with Washington ties earn Track & Field News US top-10 rankings...

Track & Field News revealed its 2015 world and national rankings in its annual issue mailed out to its subscribers Monday.

Sixteen men and women with ties to the state of Washington received a national top-10 ranking by the magazine, based on honors won, win-loss record, and sequence of marks. Some of the major shoe companies use the magazine’s rankings as part of their criteria when paying bonuses to athletes.

Among those with Washington ties making the US top ten in 2015 on the men’s side are:  Marcus Chambers (ranked #7 in the 400 at 44.95); Michael Berry (#10 at 45.13); Nick Symmonds (#2 in 800 at 1:44.53); Cas Loxsom (#4 at 1:44.92); Garrett Heath (#8 at 1500/mile in 3:34.13, and #7 in the 5000 at 13:16.31); Bernard Lagat (#5 in the 5000 at 13:14.97); Jeshua Anderson (#6 at 400H at 48.95); Brad Walker (#2 in pole vault at 18-9.25/5.72m); and Jeremy Taiwo (#3 in decathlon with 8303 points).

Vancouver’s Kara Winger (left/photo by Paul Merca) was again ranked #1 in the USA by the magazine in the javelin, with a best of 218-1/66.47m, which was the fourth furthest throw in the world last year.

Other women with Washington ties earning top-10 rankings from the magazine include: Phoebe Wright (#7 in the 800 at 2:00.61); Katie Mackey (#4 in the 1500/mile at 4:03.81 and #7 in the 5000 at 15:16.60); Mattie Suver (#8 in the 10000 at 31:54.43); Katie Burnett (#3 in 20K walk at 1:37:51); Blessing Ufodiama (#8 in triple jump at 44-4.5/13.47m); and Britney Henry (#7 in hammer at 233-2/71.08m).



On his Facebook page, longtime Track & Field News associate editor Jon Hendershott, who is originally from Seattle (he attended Roosevelt HS), announced his retirement from the magazine after 48 years.

paulmerca.blogspot.com wishes Hendershott all the best and congratulates him on his long service to the magazine and to the sport.

NOTE:  Track & Field News contributed to this report.

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