Steve Smythe compares the latest athletics marks with standards from 2008, 1998, 1988 and 1978

In terms of rankings, Athletics Weekly has never published so many marks across all the age groups in one issue before (see our bumper December 20 magazine). Here we analyse senior 2018 performances and compare them with last year and 2008, 1998, 1988 and 1978 to see whether the standards are progressing as they should, though it is noticeable that the events open to women has greatly increased over the last 40 years.

Here are the marks for women's field events.

See also: Men's track events | Men's field events | Women's track events

High jump

There is a marginal improvement on last year but further back the rankings are no better than 30 and 40 years ago.

40 years ago the best was just 1.85m – compared to Morgan Lake's 1.97m – but it took a higher jump in 1978.

Wendy Laing, who was then an intermediate, jumped 1.69m and this year she jumped 1.55m to easily be Britain’s best at W55 (or indeed W50).

The top vet this year is W45 Julia Bennett, who though a junior, was in the top 10 in 1988 with 1.84m. Laing jumped 1.71m but missed the top 30 which was completed by future 400m Olympic medallist Katharine Merry with 1.74m, though only aged 13!

           10th       30th
1978     1.79      1.75
1988     1.84      1.74
1998     1.80      1.73
2008     1.80      1.71
2017     1.80      1.73
2018     1.81      1.74

Pole vault

This is another newish event but was down on last year at 10th but better at 30th.

There are seven juniors in the top 20 and a further five under-23s so the rankings should improve in coming years.

Back in 1998 the rankings were dominated by Janine Whitlock who was 40 centimetres better than anyone else and had the 26 best jumps of the year!

           10th       30th
1978     -
1988     -
1998     3.60      3.10
2008     3.92      3.60
2017     4.00      3.64
2018     3.90      3.70

Long jump

The standards were up on last year and 6.38m for 10th in 2018 was only bettered by 2012.

The depth at 30th is edging towards six metres (and better than 2012) but it is still very similar to 40 years ago.

Back then Commonwealth champion Sue Reeve topped the rankings ahead of future Olympic medallist Susan Hearnshaw, who is now in the top 10 W55s in 2018.

            10th       30th
1978     6.13      5.83
1988     6.13      5.87
1998     6.16      5.82
2008     6.18      5.84
2017     6.16      5.91
2018     6.38      5.95

Triple jump

Up front Naomi Ogbeta went over 14 metres and behind the depth was encouraging with 10th going over 13 metres for the first time and the depth behind impressive too in yet another newish women’s event.

However, it was in 1998 when Ashia Hansen leapt the still furthest ever by a Briton – an indoor 15.16m.

The depth is much better now as only three bettered 13 metres to 2018’s 10 and the 14th best this year surpasses 1998’s fourth.

           10th       30th
1978     -
1988     -
1998     12.44    11.46
2008     12.86    12.08
2017     12.96    12.05
2018     13.02    12.08

Shot

The depth is up on last year’s particularly poor levels but the encouraging aspect of 2018 was four easily bettered 17 metres.

Britain’s best ever shot exponent Judy Oakes was top in 1978 with a modest 16.74m, set indoors as a teenager, though 10th was comparable to this year.

Oakes threw an extraordinary 19.36m in 1988, which still stands as the British record, and she had 20 marks over 18 metres and Myrtle Augee bettered it three times. Oakes (18.83m) and Augee (17.69m) were still top in 1998.

            10th       30th
1978     14.23    12.28
1988     14.45    13.02
1998     14.68    13.07
2008     14.39    12.63
2017     14.08    12.65
2018     14.20    12.87

Discus

This is an event that while again dominated by Jade Lally, has not shown any significant improvement in 30 years in terms of depth. However, the top three this year threw further than Venissa Head did in 1988.

Oakes was not just good at the shot as she ranked in the top 30 in 1978, 1988 and 1998 even though she has just a single discus throw listed on Power of 10.

             10th       30th
1978     45.76    40.20
1988     49.34    43.24
1998     47.96    42.59
2008     45.39    41.65
2017     47.22    42.59
2018     47.19    42.03

Hammer

While Olympic medallist Sophie Hitchon is way out on her own – by almost 10 metres – the depth behind is good with 10 at 60 metres and three more on 59 and the 50th best at 48.89m is a new record even though 30th is slightly down on last year.

This is another newish event that has potential to grow further.

            10th       30th
1978     -
1988     -
1998     50.35    44.43
2008     55.45    47.56
2017     59.76    53.55
2018     60.24    53.51

Javelin

It is unfair to compare the first three below to now as the new specifications came in in 1999.

However, the 10th best mark at 45.03m is a new all-time low and it is not much better at 30th and the standards are worrying.

Back in 1978, Tessa Sanderson topped the lists with 64.00m from junior Fatima Whitbread (53.88m)

In 1988 with both global champions, Sanderson (71.70) had advanced but not as much as Whitbread (70.32m) who took Olympic silver as Sanderson failed to make the final in her Olympic defence.

             10th       30th
1978     50.20    42.10
1988     50.58    44.12
1998     50.34    43.87
2008     46.27    42.62
2017     47.68    42.00
2018     45.03    41.61

Heptathlon

There has not been a great advance but 10th at 5381 points is a best ever and there are 14 under-23s or under-20s in the top 19.

Up front Katarina Johnson-Thompson advanced to 6759 and her natural successor is surely world under-20 champion Niamh Emerson who was second with 6253.

The pentathlon was still the main multi event in 1978 and in 1988 no one bettered 6000 points.

By 1998, Denise Lewis was nearing her prime with 6559 and further back in the top 10 Julia Bennett (5604) and Diana Bennett (5555) are now all over the masters rankings in a number of events.

In 2008, Jessica Ennis was injured as Kelly Sotherton (6517) topped the rankings with under-17 Johnson-Thompson seventh (5343), one place up on European 400m hurdles medallist Meghan Beesley (5291), while world long jump leader this year Lorraine Ugen was 30th (4307).

            10th       30th
1978     4407     -
1988     5174     4310
1998     5358     4309
2008     5154     4307
2017     5344     4590
2018    5381    4421

» See the current 112-page double issue of AW for more end-of-year statistics

» For more on the latest athletics news, athletics events coverage and athletics updates, check out the AW homepage and our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Steve Smythe compares the latest athletics marks with standards from 2008, 1998, 1988 and 1978

In terms of rankings, Athletics Weekly has never published so many marks across all the age groups in one issue before (see our bumper December 20 magazine). Here we analyse senior 2018 performances and compare them with last year and 2008, 1998, 1988 and 1978 to see whether the standards are progressing as they should, though it is noticeable that the events open to women has greatly increased over the last 40 years.

Here are the marks for women's track events.

See also: Men's track events | Men's field events | Women's field events

100m

Apart from having the world’s fastest 100m runner, the UK can boast good depth with the top 10 equalling 2008 for the best year ever.

That year was an Olympic year and benefitted from optimum conditions at Loughborough where Montell Douglas surprisingly broke the British record with an 11.05.

This year the 30th and 50th marks are slightly down on last year but there is no doubt that British women’s sprinting is at a high level.

            10th       30th
1978     11.71    12.24
1988     11.72    12.06
1998     11.71    12.03
2008     11.41    11.90
2017     11.45    11.70
2018     11.41    11.76

200m

Again 10th was up on last year though 30th was down but again the standard was excellent and well in advance of our sample from the past and 50th was a record 24.36.

In 1998, it was a notable how many in the top 30 were from different events such as pole vaulter Janine Whitlock and long jumper Jade Johnson.

Ellena Ruddock, then aged 22 and ranked 11th at 23.94, is now Britain’s top W40 100m runner.

             10th       30th
1978     23.61    24.91
1988     23.91    24.43
1998     23.93    24.37
2008     23.42    24.27
2017     23.42    24.03
2018     23.37    24.06

400m

Though down on last year, which saw record depth, the overall strength is still well up on the more distant past though less impressive at the very top.

Back in 1978, Commonwealth champion Donna Hartley was top ranked at 51.2 which is very similar to this year’s top two Anyika Onuora (51.13) and Laviai Nielsen (51.21) though the top three from 1998 – Alison Curbishley (50.71), Donna Fraser (50.85) and Katharine Merry (51.02) – were all faster than this year.

           10th       30th
1978    54.0      55.7
1988     53.57    55.0
1998     53.79    55.32
2008     53.11    54.99
2017     52.60    54.03
2018     52.74    54.31

100m hurdles

With last year’s top two Tiffany Porter and Cindy Ofili absent for much of the year, the standard right up front was disappointing in 2018 and the depth a little down on last year’s record levels.

Sally Gunnell, by then more proficient at 400m hurdles, topped the rankings back in 1988 and the then second fastest Lesley-Ann Skeete’s 13.19 matched this year’s No.2.

             10th       30th
1978     13.99    14.93
1988     13.68    14.66
1998     13.73    14.42
2008     13.68    14.25
2017     13.47    13.94
2018     13.51    14.14

400m hurdles

While down at 10th best on last year, the 61.33 at 30th was more encouraging but surprisingly down on 1988 and almost identical at 10th on 30 years ago.

Just missing 30th with 61.04 in 1988 was the then Gowry Varadukumar who as Retchakan topped 1998 with her Commonwealth silver medal run of 55.25 which put her ahead of future Olympic medallist Natasha Danvers.

             10th       30th
1978     60.5      62.7
1988     58.60    60.9
1998     59.07    62.2
2008     58.84    62.4
2017     58.33    61.5
2018     58.59    61.33

800m

There was little change from last year but depth was again excellent and very similar to Olympic year 2008.

Back then Lynsey Sharp, who on the merit rankings has been British No.1 the last five years, was ranked 16th with 2:04.44 while another then junior Laura Weightman was 50th (2:08.20).

Five athletes broke two minutes this year compared to three last year and in 2008 when Marilyn Okoro was top on 1:58.45 and 1988 when Diane Modahl (1:59.66) was top. The latter was also top in 1998 (1:58.81).

             10th       30th
1978     2:03.7   2:07.9
1988     2:03.49  2:07.6
1998     2:04.98  2:08.58
2008     2:01.78  2:05.7
2017     2:02.09  2:05.81
2018     2:02.02  2:05.85

1500m

European medallists Laura Muir and Laura Weightman led unprecedented depth with a superb 4:07.69 only good enough for 10th.

At 30th and 50th it was down on last year’s heights.

Back in 1978 Penny Yule, who is now of Britain’s top W65 runners, was ranked fourth with 4:10.3 while AW publisher Wendy Sly was ninth with 4:13.4. The latter was 10th in 1988 where the rankings were headed by Olympic finalists Christina Cahill (4:00.64) and Shireen Bailey (4:02.32).

             10th       30th
1978     4:14.6   4:22.8
1988     4:12.72  4:22.9
1998     4:18.17  4:23.5
2008     4:11.29  4:20.83
2017     4:09.52  4:16.32
2018     4:07.69  4:17.51

5000m

Back in 1978, the 5000m was not available to women and even in 1988, there were not enough times within standard for a top 30.

Even so, 30 years ago the three inside 15:18 is marginally up on this year and the rankings were headed by Liz McColgan, whose daughter Eilish of course tops 2018.

This year the 10th and 30th are a little down on the heights of 2017 but the 50th best of 16:36.07 is an all-time record.

            10th       30th
1978      -           -
1988     16:19.93            -
1998     15:57.45            16:50.8
2008     16:04.65            16:40.1
2017     15:37.90            16:12.07
2018     15:41.11            16:17.35

10,000m

As per the 5000m, 25 laps was not a serious option 40 year ago and there was a lack of depth in 1988 and 1998.

The top two in 1988 though – Liz McColgan (31:06.99) and Sly (31:53.36) – were much faster than anyone this year while the third, Susan Tooby (32:20.95), is now better known as Jake Wightman’s mother!

While the depth again did not quite match the record levels of last year and was down at the very front, it was still very good thanks to the Highgate Night of the 10,000m PBs.

            10th       30th
1978      -           -
1988     34:52.5  -
1998     34:38.11            -
2008     34:55.84            39:36.77
2017     32:51.38            35:27.66
2018     32:52.85            35:42.01

3000m steeplechase

The standard is up on last year – and significantly so at 30th – but disappointing that only four broke 10 minutes compared to five in 2008 when the rankings were headed by Helen Clitheroe’s 9:29.14.

Lennie Waite ranked in the top 10 in both 2008 and 2018 while the then junior Eilish McColgan ranked 11th on 10:52.13.

This is an even newer track event than the 5000m and 10,000m and even in 2008, 30 were not inside the rankings limit.

           10th       30th
1978     -           -
1988     -           -
1998     -           -
2008     10:48.55            12:42.61 (27)
2017     10:25.03            12:20.38
2018     10:21.72            11:32.68

» See the current 112-page double issue of AW for more end-of-year statistics

» For more on the latest athletics news, athletics events coverage and athletics updates, check out the AW homepage and our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Steve Smythe compares the latest athletics marks with standards from 2008, 1998, 1988 and 1978

In terms of rankings, Athletics Weekly has never published so many marks across all the age groups in one issue before (see our bumper December 20 magazine) but here we analyse senior 2018 performances and compare them with last year and 2008, 1998, 1988 and 1978 to see whether the standards are progressing as they should.

Now it's the turn of the men’s field events.

See also: Men's track events | Women's track events | Women's field events

High jump

Robbie Grabarz retired after the Commonwealth Games but was still Britain’s best as standards picked up from last year, though were identical below to 2008 and down in terms of top 30 on even 30 years ago where the rankings were headed by Dalton Grant and Geoff Parsons.

One encouraging aspect though is the number of younger jumpers headed by European under-18 champion Dominic Ogbechie’s 2.22m world age-15 best indoors.

            10th       30th
1978     2.10      2.00
1988     2.15      2.06
1998     2.15      2.07
2008     2.20      2.05
2017     2.16      2.05
2018     2.20      2.05

Pole vault

After the relative heights of 2017 with 10th at 5.26m, it plummeted to 5.06m this year which is the worst since 2009 and standards are generally down on even 20 years ago.

The top two in 1978, Brian Hooper (5.42m) and Keith Stock (5.25m), were to jump higher with British records in future years while fifth-ranked Allan Williams is now Britain’s-top ranked M65 40 years on.

             10th   30th
1978     4.60      4.20
1988     4.80      4.50
1998     5.16      4.70
2008     5.10      4.60
2017     5.26      4.75
2018     5.06      4.70

Long jump

Even with Greg Rutherford well off his best in his final season, there was not too much difference from last year in the rankings and while it is an event at 10th and 30th that’s not notably deteriorating, there certainly is stagnation from 1988 with a few centimetres down in both comparisons between now and 30 years ago.

40 years ago Olympic decathlon champion to be Daley Thompson headed the rankings with a 7.93m and windy 8.11m.

             10th   30th
1978     7.34      7.21
1988     7.66      7.30
1998     7.47      7.13
2008     7.47      7.17
2017     7.65      7.32
2018     7.63      7.28

Triple jump

The standard is a little down on last year but overall close to the same level as usual as top ranked Nathan Douglas, who was third in 2008, is still going strong.

Further back the standard is disappointing with 30th only just up on 40 years ago.

While it is an event that Britain has excelled in, the depth has never been notable. Even when Jonathan Edwards jumped 18.01m in 1998, 15.79m still got you in the first 10 which was marginally bettered this year.

            10th   30th
1978    15.25    14.67
1988     15.90    15.02
1998     15.79    14.90
2008     15.39    14.63
2017     15.91    14.93
2018     15.82    14.72

Shot

The 10th best mark was marginally better than last year, which was just up on 2016 (the worst since 1963) but still the standard is worrying up front, in the middle and further down.

Scott Lincoln was a metre up on anyone else this year but well over a metre down on what Geoff Capes threw 40 years ago (20.68m) which was a metre down on his eventual PB in 1980.

             10th       30th
1978     16.53    14.86
1988     17.04    15.58
1998     16.71    14.73
2008     16.44    14.94
2017     15.75    14.56
2018     16.00    14.54

Discus

It was not a classic season though 10th at 56.06m courtesy of New Zealand-based Alex Parkinson (his only known throw) actually tops our sample though next was 53.74m which would have been the worst since 2007.

The 30th best of 46.31m is just down on 1978.

Three were over 60 metres this year which doesn’t compare with the seven in 1998 but then they were headed by Perris Wilkins’ 66.64m, who later had marks disqualified for being short weighted. He received a life ban in 2003 for two doping offences but still competes now and was the 10th ranked M50 this year.

             10th   30th
1978     53.16    46.32
1988     54.34    48.18
1998     54.20    46.68
2008     54.12    47.34
2017    55.29    45.74
2018     56.06    46.31

Hammer

Up front Nick Miller’s 80.26m broke new ground and there are three under-23s or under-20s in the top six and eight at 70m but otherwise the standard is a little down on last year at both 10th and 30th. The standard grew notably from 1978 to 1988 and 1998 but the depth further back has levelled off and now dropped and in the lower part of the ranking was the worst for 38 years.

Back in 1978, Warwick Dixon ranked in the top 100 and this year he ranks third in the M80 hammer but top of the discus.

             10th   30th
1978     58.26    51.08
1988     63.12    55.50
1998     64.64    57.99
2008     64.29    57.15
2017     68.86    57.85
2018     68.23    56.61

Javelin

The newer specifications (introduced in 1986) means comparisons aren’t fair anyway but there is doubt the quality was at a different level in the past. In 1988, the top five were at 79.50m or over including junior Steve Backley who was throwing 89.89m and was European champion in 1998 while two others were at 85.67m or better.

World junior champion David Parker ranked seventh with 75.21m which was a fraction below the top this year of 75.27m.

The 10th mark is at least marginally up on last year but the 30th is just 60.35m and the 50th best of 56.08m is the worst ever with the current javelin.

             10th       30th
1978     72.62    64.76
1988     72.58    64.38
1998     71.14    62.97
2008     70.80    63.05
2017     67.97    61.45
2018     68.69    60.35

Decathlon

The standards are up on last year’s low but well down on the 30th mark of 30 and 40 years ago.

Obviously Olympic and world champion and world record-holder Daley Thompson was top in both those years and this year his son Elliot is ranked ninth. Encouragingly, he is one of five under-23s in the top 10 and 16 of the top 30.

             10th   30th
1978     6990     6082
1988     6950     6206
1998     6696     5875
2008     7016     5735
2017     7065     5628
2018     7089     5825

» See the current 112-page double issue of AW for more end-of-year statistics

» For more on the latest athletics news, athletics events coverage and athletics updates, check out the AW homepage and our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

Steve Smythe compares the latest athletics marks with standards from 2008, 1998, 1988 and 1978

In terms of rankings, Athletics Weekly has never published so many marks across all the age groups in one issue before (see our bumper December 20 magazine) but here we analyse senior 2018 performances and compare them with last year and 2008, 1998, 1988 and 1978 to see whether the standards are progressing as they should.

We start with the men’s track events.

See also: Men's field events | Women's track events | Women's field events

100m

The depth has dropped since last year but there is no doubt that 2018 stands up very well against its 10-year comparisons.

In 1978 Allan Wells was emerging (10.12) and in 1988 Linford Christie was Seoul runner-up (9.97) but the depth behind our two future Olympic champions was not that notable and you can see how much British sprinting has improved since the 70s.

At 10th there was less improvement on the last decade with interestingly James Dasaolu 10th best in 2008 with 10.26 but absent in 2018. This year Richard Kilty was 11th best with 10.26.

             10th    30th
1978     10.66    10.95
1988     10.44    10.69
1998     10.31    10.56
2008     10.26    10.58
2017     10.18    10.38
2018     10.25    10.43

200m

At 200m, despite the absence this year of quite a few big names such as Danny Talbot, the depth was up on last year even if No.1 Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake was exactly the same at 20.04.

What is encouraging this year is that two juniors make the top nine and they are followed by three under-23s in the top 12.

Back in 1978, Commonwealth champion Wells was a class apart and junior Mike McFarlane, who would famously tie with Wells in the next Commonwealths in 1982, was the only other runner to legally break 21 seconds with 20.97. This year 22 broke 21.

             10th    30th
1978     21.36    21.92
1988     21.02    21.53
1998     20.77    21.31
2008     20.97    21.37
2017     20.73    21.10
2018     20.59    21.06

400m

The depth is fractionally down on last year but it is disappointing in terms of the top 10 that this year is down on both 1988 and a lot down on 1998.

1988 was an Olympic year but it was 1998 that was exceptional with two at 44.38 or faster and five at 44.83 while this year 44.74 put Matt Hudson-Smith out on his own.

In 1978 two future Olympic champions ranked in the top 30 – Seb Coe (47.7) and Daley Thompson (47.8) – while another, Steve Ovett (48.4), was just outside.

             10th    30th
1978     47.1    48.2
1988     46.43    47.69
1998     46.12    47.49
2008     46.51    47.49
2017     46.49    47.31
2018     46.54    47.42

110m hurdles

British high hurdling was not at an all-time high in 2018 and the lack of international class is worrying. The 14.31 for 10th is the worst since 1985 after 1988, 2008 and 2017 were much the same in the 14.09/14.10 level.

World indoor champion Andrew Pozzi is out way on his own and he did not have a very good year outdoors.

             10th    30th
1978     14.86    15.75
1988     14.10    14.92
1998     14.22    14.77
2008     14.09    14.73
2017     14.09    14.78
2018     14.31    14.9

400m hurdles

This is a curious one in comparison terms. The top 10 at 50.94 is superb with two juniors in the top 10 but the 30 is poor and much worse than 30 years ago and the 50th (55.60) is the worst since 1973.

Back in 1988, Kriss Akabusi was out on his own and the only sub-50 runner despite the motivation of the Olympics and four went sub-50 this year. Top coach Lloyd Cowan was ranked 15th back in 1988. In 1978, there was only one sub-51.

             10th    30th
1978     52.4    54.1
1988     51.48    53.0
1998     51.2    53.39
2008     51.75    53.56
2017     51.71    54.25
2018     50.94    53.66

800m

The 10th at 1:47.12 compares well with recent years – the best for 26 years, and the 30th at 1:49.18 is good but down on last year.

The eighth at 1:45.73 is exceptional though – then a curious 1.31-second gap to ninth. Though good, it is not as good as 1988.

There were two sub-1:44s – Cram and Coe, who was inexplicably not selected – and European indoor champion David Sharpe was only ninth best at 1:45.70. Ovett was ranked 28th with 1:48.88 which would have got him 26th this year.

The 1978 depth was not impressive but did have Coe (1:44.0) and Ovett (1:44.1) on top.

             10th    30th
1978     1:48.8    1:50.5
1988     1:46.13    1:49.04
1998     1:48.31    1:49.71
2008     1:48.06    1:49.75
2017     1:47.29    1:48.92
2018     1:47.12    1:49.18

1500m

The standard is down on last year (especially notably at 10th) but at least there are a junior and three under-23s in the top 10.

Again it is surprising just how down it is on 30 years ago. Back then they had two in the top four at Seoul and the rankings are led by Cram’s 3:30.95, who was below his best in South Korea. Double Olympic champion Coe was only ranked sixth with 3:35.72 and Ovett seventh with 3:36.90, exactly the same as Jake Heyward’s time and ranking this year! Steeplechasers should note Mark Rowland’s 3:34.53 and Tom Hanlon’s 3:38.59.

1978 was notable for four between 3:35.5 and 3:35.7 – all from either the Commonwealth or European final.

             10th    30th
1978     3:41.79    3:45.7
1988     3:38.79    3:43.12
1998     3:41.9    3:45.69
2008     3:41.17    3:45.07
2017     3:38.35    3:43.64
2018     3:40.42    3:44.02

5000m

There is no 13-time ranked top Mo Farah this year and 10th is down compared to last year but 30th is up and back under 14 again and the depth is the best for almost 30 years.

It is still well below 1978 and 1988 though.

Just half a second covered the top four in 1978 headed by Mike McLeod’s 13:25.2 UK win ahead of Brendan Foster. It’s notable that quite a few in the top 30 back then – Andy Catton (13:45.2), Ray Smedley (13:46.0) and Nigel Gates (13:50.8) – are still competing well into their sixties 40 years later.

1988 was also incredibly competitive up top with less than three seconds covering the top eight headed by past Olympic steeplechaser Paul Davies-Hale’s 13:21.60. The past world record-holder Dave Moorcroft was 50th ranked then with 14:00.03 which would have ranked 33rd this year.

             10th    30th
1978     13:36.6    13:55.2
1988     13:31.66    13:53.48
1998     13:48.5    14:11.4
2008     13:57.88    14:11.87
2017     13:37.60    14:03.29
2018     13:43.75    13:58.52

10,000m

Standards are down on last year but there is no doubt that the Highgate Night of the 10,000m PBs has made a big difference to the lows around 2008 when 30th was a poor 31:31.8. In 2018, 13 of the fastest 16 achieved their run in the Highgate event.

In 1978, 29 of the 50 under 30 minutes were achieved at Crystal Palace. Only 28 broke 30 minutes this year.

Foster’s European record 27:30.3 headed the lists but only Dave Black (27:36.3) was also inside 28 and three did it this year.

Eamonn Martin’s UK record (and debut) 27:23.06 topped the rankings in 1988 where the previously mentioned Catton was 50th ranked at 30:04.4.

It is of course worth noting 40 years ago that the 10km on the road was never raced and now there is far more opportunity and 50 broke 30 on the road this year, so there is the potential to match the old numbers on the track.

             10th   30th
1978     28:37.1  29:31.0
1988     28:27.28    29:31.43
1998     29:24.15     30:52.87
2008     29:30.88    31:31.8
2017     29:01.76    29:48.41
2018     29:10.33    30:13.33

3000m steeplechase

The rankings seem encouraging up top with four sub 8:32 but it is well down on last year where the 10th was exceptional but further back the depth in steeplechasing is dire. 30th this year is 9:19.18, which would have placed 84th 40 years ago and 88th 30 years ago.

Back in 1988 Mark Rowland set his since unchallenged UK record of 8:07.96 in picking up Olympic bronze.

29th in the top 30 back then was the father of Britain’s fastest 800m runner this year, Geoff Wightman on 8:57.8.

The versatile elder Wightman also ranked in the top 100 at a number of events in 1988 including the 800m (1:51.9), mile (4:00.6), 5000m (13:42.80) and marathon (2:15:40)!

             10th   30th
1978     8:48.1    9:02.3
1988     8:42.52    8:58.11
1998     8:55.74    9:06.20
2008     8:58.74    9:21.5
2017     8:38.69    9:12.64
2018     8:47.88    9:19.18

» See the current 112-page double issue of AW for more end-of-year statistics

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