Kara Winger & Katie Moon lead six athletes with Washington ties in '22 T&FN world rankings issue...
Vancouver native Kara Winger (Paul Merca photo) and former Pullman resident Katie Moon lead the six athletes with Washington ties ranked by Track & Field News in the publication's annual world and US rankings, released late last week.
Winger, who ended her professional career after winning the Wanda Diamond League finals in Zürich was the number one ranked javelin thrower in the world in 2022, despite a silver medal at the world championships in Eugene.
While splitting head-to-head competitions with Australia's world champ Kelsey-Lee Barber 2-2, Winger got the nod from the publication based on her two head-to-head wins in Diamond League competitions in Brussels & Zürich and a better sequence of marks over Barber.
Moon, who did not compete as frequently in 2022, won the world outdoor title in Eugene over her training partner Sandi Morris, but was 1-8 in head-to-head competition over Morris, who won the world indoor title in Budapest.
Washington alum Gianna Woodruff, who was seventh in the 400 hurdles in Eugene, and again broke the Panamanian national record in that event, was ranked eighth in the world by the magazine, matching her ranking from 2021.
On the men's side, former Renton resident Devon Allen was ranked 5 in the world by T&FN, and number 3 in the US in the 110 hurdles, a slight drop-off from 2021.
Josh Kerr of Great Britain & the Seattle based Brooks Beasts was ranked number eight in the world in the 1500, down one spot from 2021.
Despite not making the world championship team, Washington State alum CJ Allen had a breakout season, earning a number 9 world ranking and a number 4 US ranking from the magazine. This marks his first world ranking.
The women with Washington ties earning US rankings from Track & Field News include: Nia Akins (7) and Brooke Feldmeier (8) in the 800m; Katie Rainsberger (5) and Kayley DeLay (9) in the 3000 steeple; Katie Burnett (5) in the 20k walk; Katie Nageotte (2) and Olivia Gruver (7) in the pole vault; Lexi Ellis (7) and Kiana Davis (10) in the triple jump; Kara Winger (1) and Ashton Riner (4) in the javelin; and Alissa Brooks-Johnson (9) in the heptathlon.
Men with Washington ties earning US rankings include: Isaiah Harris (5) and Brannon Kidder (9) in the 800m; Johnny Gregorek (7) and Sam Prakel (9) in the 1500m; Kenneth Rooks (10) in the 3000 steeple; Dillon Maggard (4) in the 10000m; Devon Allen (3) in the 110 hurdles; CJ Allen (4) in the 400 hurdles; Daniel Nehnevaj (2) in both the 20k and 35k walks; and, Brock Eager (7)in the hammer.
You can read the complete world and US rankings on the Track & Field News website (subscription required).
ODDS & ENDS...
In our 2022 Mercanator Awards column, we inadvertently left off triple jumper Lexi Ellis, who was ranked number 86 in the final 2022 World Athletics rankings with a world ranking score of 1069 points.
Ellis' two best competitions in 2022 were at the Mt. SAC Relays, where she won with a personal best of 44-6.25 (13.57m), and at the Toyota USA championships in Eugene, where she finished fifth with a mark of 43-9.25 (13.34m)...
David Ribich is on the move, after his contract with the Seattle based Brooks Beasts expired at the end of 2022.
The former Oregon prep standout and Division II stalwart at Western Oregon University is going back to his home state, where he was signed to run for the Nike sponsored Union Athletics Club, which trains frequently on the Nike campus in Beaverton.
Here's his Instagram post:
NOTE: Track & Field News contributed to this report.
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