Josh Kerr, Katie Moon, Kenneth Rooks & CJ Allen receive top-10 world rankings from T&FN...

A group of four athletes with Washington ties, led by Josh Kerr of Seattle's Brooks Beasts (Paul Merca photo), the world's number three 1500 meter runner, earned world rankings from Track & Field News in the publication's annual world and US rankings, released Tuesday.

Kerr, the Olympic silver medalist in the event from Great Britain, was ranked third by the publication behind Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and Olympic champion & Oregon alum Cole Hocker.

This marks the second year in a row that Kerr, who ran the fastest time in the world in the mile at 3:45.34, and the third fastest 1500 of 3:27.79 in 2024, was ranked number three.

American Yared Nuguse, the Olympic bronze medalist, was ranked fourth by the publication.

Ingebrigtsen received the number one ranking by the magazine's international panel based on his overall season record, despite a loss to both Kerr (Nike Prefontaine) and Nuguse (Zürich). However, the Norwegian's 4-1 record over Hocker was the deciding factor in Ingebrigtsen getting the nod over the three Olympic medalists.

Former Pullman resident Katie Moon (Paul Merca photo), who was ranked number one in the world in 2023, slipped to number four behind Olympic champ Nina Kennedy of Australia, Olympic bronze medalist Alysha Newman of Canada, and Molly Caudery of Great Britain, who shockingly did not make the Olympic final. 

Moon, who cleared a 2024 best of 15-11 (4.85m), had identical 1-3 records against Newman and Caudery in 2024. Her only win over the duo was at the Olympics, where she finished second.

Walla Walla native Kenneth Rooks (Paul Merca photo) was ranked eighth by the magazine, despite finishing second in the Olympic steeplechase final behind winner Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, who was ranked number one for the fifth consecutive year.

While Rooks dropped his personal best from 8:15.08 to 8:06.41 in the Olympic final, his overall world ranking was hurt by his lack of racing against international competition at big meets.

Washington State alum CJ Allen (Paul Merca photo), who did not duck anyone as noted by his presence in nearly every Wanda Diamond League meet offering the 400 hurdles in 2024, earned his third career world top 10 ranking from the magazine, but dropped from number five in 2023 to number nine.

Allen, who ran a season best 47.81 to finish second at the US Olympic Trials behind eventual Olympic champion and world number one Rai Benjamin, only advanced as far as the semifinals at the Olympics, along with sixth place finishes at the Oslo, Monaco, and London Diamond League meets to offset his third place finish in the Eugene and Stockholm Diamond League meets, and a fourth at the Diamond League finals in Brussels,

The men with Washington ties who earned US top ten rankings from the magazine include: Brandon Miller of the Brooks Beasts (3) in the 800; UW's Nathan Green (5), Henry Wynne of the Beasts (6), Seattle resident Sam Prakel (8), and the Huskies' NCAA champ Joe Waskom (9) in the 1500; Kenneth Rooks (1) in the steeplechase; CJ Allen (2) in the 400 hurdles; Vancouver native Daniel Nehnevaj (4) in the 20k walk; Ridgefield native Trey Knight (9) and Renton native Brock Eager (10) in the hammer; and Washington's Chandler Ault (9) in the javelin.

Women with Washington ties earning US top ten rankings from Track & Field News include: Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts (2) in the 800; Pasco native Marisa Howard (4), Woodinville native Olivia Markezich (5), former Seattle Pacific standout Kaylee Mitchell (6), and Seattle resident Allie Ostrander (7) in the steeplechase; Allie Buchalski of the Brooks Beasts (7), and Lake Stevens native Taylor Roe (9) in the 5000; former Brooks Beast Jessica McClain in both the 10000 and marathon (4); Washington alum Lindsay Flanagan (8) in the marathon; and Bellevue native Katie Burnett (4) in the 20k walk.

In the field events, Emerald Ridge HS standout JaiCieonna Gero-Holt (6), an Olympic Trials finalist in the high jump, was the only Washington high schooler that ranked in the top ten. Katie Moon (1) and the University of Washington's twins Hana (5) & Amanda Moll (9) were recognized in the pole vault. Vancouver native Kara Winger (2) was noted in the javelin, despite only competing at the USATF New York Grand Prix and the Olympic Trials after deciding in June to come out of retirement.

You can read the complete world and US rankings on the Track & Field News website (subscription required).

NOTE: Track & Field News contributed to this report.

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