Yearly Ranking Leaders- 5000 meters Outdoor Track
Men (quality performances)
2016 12:59.29 Mohamed Farah-2 23 Jul London ENG 2015 12:53.98 Yomif Kejelcha Atomsa (ETH) 11 Sep Brussels BEL 2014 12:54.83 Edris Awel Muktar (ETH) 21 Aug Stockholm SWE 2013 12:51.34 Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (KEN) 19 Jul Fontvieille MON 2012 12:46.91 Dejene Gebremeskel (ETH) 06 Jul Paris FRA 2011 12:53.11 Mohamed Farah (ENG) 22 Jul Monte Carlo MON 2010 12:51.21 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 14 May Doha QAT 2009 12:52.32 Kenenisa Bekele-6 28 Aug Zurich SUI 2008 12:50.18 Kenenisa Bekele-5 29 Aug Zurich SUI 2007 12:49.53 Kenenisa Bekele-4 28 Jul Zaragoza ESP 2006 12:48.09 Kenenisa Bekele-3 25 Aug Brussels BEL 2005 12:40.18 Kenenisa Bekele-2 01 Jul Paris FRA 2004 12:37.35 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 31 May Hengelo NED 2003 12:48.81 Stephen Cherono (KEN) 12 Jun Ostrava CZE 2002 12:55.85 Salah Hissou (MAR) 12 Jul Rome ITA 2001 12:56.72 Richard Limo (KEN) 17 Aug Zurich SUI 2000 12:49.28 Brahim Lahlafi (MAR) 25 Aug Brussels BEL 1999 12:49.64 Haile Gebreselasie-4 11 Aug Zurich SUI 1998 12:39.36 Haile Gebreselasie-3 13 Jun Helsinki FIN 1997 12:39.74 Daniel Komen-2 22 Aug Brussels BEL 1996 12:45.09 Daniel Komen (KEN) 14 Aug Zurich SUI 1995 12:44.39 Haile Gebreselasie-2 16 Aug Zurich SUI 1994 12:56.96 Haile Gebreselasie (ETH) 04 Jun Hengelo NED 1993 13:02.75 Ismael Kirui (KEN) 16 Aug Stuttgart GER 1992 13:00.93 Moses Kiptanui (KEN) 28 Aug Brussels BEL 1991 13:01.82 Yobes Ondieki-2 07 Aug Zurich SUI 1990 13:05.59 Salvatore Antibo (ITA) 18 Jul Bologna ITA 1989 13:04.24 Yobes Ondieki (KEN) 01 Jul Oslo NOR 1988 13:11.70 John Ngugi (KEN) 01 Oct Seoul KOR 1987 12:58.39 Said Aouita-4 22 Jul Rome ITA 1986 13:00.86 Said Aouita-3 06 Aug La Corunna ESP 1985 13:00.40 Said Aouita-2 27 Jul Oslo NOR 1984 13:04.78 Said Aouita (MAR) 13 Jun Florence ITA 1983 13:08.54 Fernando Mamede (POR) 17 Sep Tokyo JPN 1982 13:00.41 Dave Moorcroft (ENG) 07 Jul Oslo NOR 1981 13:06.20 Henry Rono-2 13 Sep Knarvik NOR 1980 13:16.38 Miruts Yifter (ETH) 07 Jun Bratislava SVK 1979 13:12.29 Suleiman Nyambui (TAN) 18 Jun Stockholm SWE 1978 13:08.4 Henry Rono (KEN) 08 Apr Berkeley CA USA 1977 13:12.86 Dick Quax-2 05 Jul Stockholm SWE 1976 13:13.10 Dick Quax (NZL) 05 Jul Stockholm SWE 1975 13:18.6 Emile Puttemans-3 04 Jun Papendal NED 1974 13:14.4 Ben Jipcho (KEN) 29 Jan Christchurch NZL 1973 13:14.51 Emile Puttemans-2 07 Aug Stockholm SWE 1972 13:13.0 Emile Puttemans (BEL) 20 Sep Brussels BEL 1971 13:22.2 Dave Bedford (ENG) 12 Jun Edinburgh SCO 1970 13:22.8 Ian Stewart (SCO) 25 Jul Edinburgh SCO 1969 13:29.0 Dick Taylor (ENG) 13 Aug London ENG 1968 13:27.66 Ronald Clarke-3 02 Sep London ENG 1967 13:18.8 Ronald Clarke-2 05 Jul Stockholm SWE 1966 13:16.6 Ronald Clarke (AUS) 05 Jul Stockholm SWE 1965 13:24.2 Kipchoge Keino (KEN) 30 Nov Auckland NZL 1964 13:38.0 Robert Schul (USA) 05 Jun Compton CA USA 1963 13:38.6 Piotr Bolotnikov-2 23 Jun Zurich SUI 1962 13:38.4 Murray Halberg-2 17 Feb Auckland NZL 1961 13:35.2 Murray Halberg (NZL) 25 Jul Stockholm SWE 1960 13:38.1 Piotr Bolotnikov (MDA) 07 Oct Kiev UKR 1959 13:42.4 Friedrich Janke (GER) 05 Sep Berlin GER 1958 13:51.6 Gordon Pirie-2 28 Aug Goteborg SWE 1957 13:35.0 Vladimir Kuts-2 13 Oct Rome ITA 1956 13:36.8 Gordon Pirie (GBR) 19 Jun Bergen NOR 1955 13:40.6 Sandor Iharos (HUN) 23 Oct Budapest HUN 1954 13:51.2 Vladimir Kuts (UKR) 23 Oct Prague CZE 1953 13:58.8 Aleksandr Anufriyev (RUS) 06 Jun Moscow RUS 1952 14:06.4 Emil Zatopek-5 04 Oct Opava CZE 1951 14:10.8 Gaston Reiff (BEL) 13 Jun Brussels BEL 1950 14:03.0 Emil Zatopek-4 26 Aug Brussels BEL 1949 14:10.2 Emil Zatopek-3 09 May Warsaw POL 1948 14:10.0 Emil Zatopek-2 22 Jun Prague CZE 1947 14:08.2 Emil Zatopek (CZE) 25 Jun Prague CZE 1946 14:08.6 Sydney Wooderson (GBR) 23 Aug Oslo NOR 1945 14:17.2 Viljo Heino-2 11 Aug Turku FIN 1944 14:09.6 Viljo Heino (FIN) 17 Sep Goteborg SWE 1943 14:22.8 Åke Durkfeldt (SWE) 02 Jul Stockholm SWE 1942 13:58.2 Gunder Hagg (SWE) 20 Sep Goteborg SWE 1941 14:15.8 Bror Hellström-2 28 Sep Stockholm SWE 1940 14:20.6 Bror Hellström (SWE) 01 Aug Helsinki FIN 1939 14:08.8 Taisto Maki-3 16 Jun Helsinki FIN 1938 14:26.8 Taisto Maki-2 04 Sep Colombes FRA 1937 14:28.8 Taisto Maki (FIN) 07 Aug Viipuri FIN 1936 14:22.2 Gunnar Höckert (FIN) 07 Aug Berlin GER 1935 14:36.8 Lauri Lehtinen-4 10 Aug Kotka FIN 1934 14:36.8 Roger Rochard (FRA) 09 Sep Turin ITA 1933 14:41.4 Lauri Lehtinen-3 25 Jun Antwerp BEL 1932 14:16.9 Lauri Lehtinen-2 19 Jun Helsinki FIN 1931 14:31.7 Lauri Lehtinen (FIN) 01 Jul Helsinki FIN 1930 14:40.7 Paavo Nurmi-6 27 Aug Helsinki FIN 1929 14:47.2 Lauri Virtanen (FIN) 10 Jul Turku FIN 1928 14:36.2 Ville Ritola (FIN) 21 Jun Helsinki FIN 1927 14:45.3 Nils Eklöf (SWE) 06 Aug Norrköping SWE 1926 14:34.0 Paavo Nurmi-5 21 Sep Vienna AUT 1925 14:40.4 Edin Wide (SWE) 18 Jun Stockholm SWE 1924 14:28.2 Paavo Nurmi-4 19 Jun Helsinki FIN 1923 14:39.9 Paavo Nurmi-3 24 Aug Stockholm SWE 1922 14:35.3 Paavo Nurmi-2 12 Sep Stockholm SWE 1921 14:53.8 Paavo Nurmi (FIN) 22 May Göteborg SWE 1920 14:45.0 Charles Hunter (USA) 26 Jun Pasadena CA USA 1919 14:51.0 Eric Backman (SWE) 31 Aug Stockholm SWE 1918 14:57.5 John Zander-2 17 Aug Stockholm SWE 1917 14:59.6 John Zander-3 19 Aug Stockholm SWE 1916 15:16.3 John Zander (SWE) 09 Jul Stockholm SWE 1915 15:24.0 Albin Stenroos (FIN) 03 Jul Turku FIN 1914 14:57.8 Hannes Kolehmainen-2 04 Apr n/a 1913 14:58.8+ Jean Bouin-2 06 Apr Marseille FRA 1912 14:36.6 Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN) 10 Jul Stockholm SWE 1911 15:11.4 Jean Bouin (FRA) 16 Nov Colombes FRA 1910 15:39.0 William Coales (GBR) 11 Sep Stockholm SWE 1909 15:10.0 Arthur Robertson-2 05 Sep Stockholm SWE 1908 15:01.2 Arthur Robertson (GBR) 13 Sep Stockholm SWE 1907 15:01.0 Johan Svanberg (SWE) 18 Aug Stockholm SWE 1906 15:33.3 Edward Dahl-2 16 Sep Stockholm SWE 1905 15:48.7 Edward Dahl (SWE) 12 Jun Stockholm SWE 1904 14:59.0 Alfred Schrubb-2 13 Jun Glasgow SCO 1903 15:03.0 Alfred Schrubb (GBR) 15 Jun Glasgow SCO 1902 16:25.6 Johannes Böge (GER) 20 Jul Berlin GER 1901 16:26.0 Angelo Rabuffetti (ITA) 17 Jul Milan ITA 1900 15:29.2 Charles Bennett (GBR) 22 Jul Paris FRA
+ time taken at 5040 m enroute
Women (quality performances)
2016 14:12.59 Almaz Ayana Eba-2 02 Jun Rome ITA 2015 14:14.32 Almaz Ayana Eba (ETH) 17 May Shanghai CHN 2014 14:28.88 Genzebe Dibaba Kenini (ETH) 18 Jul Fontvieille MON 2012 14:35.62 Vivian Cheruiyot-3 31 May Rome ITA 2011 14:20.87 Vivian Cheruiyot-2 29 Jul Stockholm SWE 2010 14:27.41 Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 16 Jul Paris FRA 2009 14:33.65 Tirunesh Dibaba-2 25 Jul London ENG 2008 14:11.15 Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) 06 Jun Oslo NOR 2007 14:16.63 Meseret Defar-3 15 Jun Oslo NOR 2006 14:24.53 Meseret Defar-2 03 Jun New York NY USA 2005 14:28.98 Meseret Defar (ETH) 26 Aug Brussels BEL 2004 14:24.68 Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) 11 Jun Bergen NOR 2003 14:29.32 Birhane Adere (ETH) 27 Jun Oslo NOR 2002 14:31.42 Paula Radcliffe (ENG) 28 Jul Manchester ENG 2001 14:29.32 Olga Yegorova (RUS) 31 Aug Berlin GER 2000 14:30.88 Getenesh Wami (ETH) 05 Aug Heusden BEL 1999 14:40.59 Gabriela Szabo-2 07 Sep Berlin GER 1998 14:31.48 Gabriela Szabo (ROM) 01 Sep Berlin GER 1997 14:28.09 Ji-ang Bo (CHN) 23 Oct Shanghai CHN 1996 14:41.07 Fernanda Ribeiro-2 05 Jul Oslo NOR 1995 14:36.45 Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) 22 Jul Hechtel BEL 1994 15:05.94 Elena Romanova-2 12 Jul Stockholm SWE 1993 14:45.92 Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) 27 Aug Berlin GER 1992 14:44.15 Elana Meyer-2 06 Mar Bellville RSA 1991 14:49.35 Elana Meyer (RSA) 08 Apr Cape Town RSA 1990 15:02.23 Elena Romanova (RUS) 24 Jul Seattle WA USA 1989 14:59.01 Katrin Wessel (GER) 03 Jul Stockholm SWE 1988 15:03.29 Liz McColgan-2 26 Aug Berlin GER 1987 15:01.08 Liz McColgan (SCO) 05 Aug Oslo NOR 1986 14:37.33 Ingrid Kristiansen-2 05 Aug Stockholm SWE 1985 14:48.07 Zola Pieterse-2 26 Aug London ENG 1984 14:58.89 Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) 28 Jun Oslo NOR 1983 15:10.65 Zola Pieterse (RSA) 17 Oct Port Elizabeth RSA 1982 15:08.26 Mary Slaney (USA) 05 Jun Eugene OR USA 1981 15:14.51 Paula Fudge (ENG) 13 Sep Knarvik NOR 1980 15:30.6 Jan Merrill (USA) 22 Mar Palo Alto CA USA 1979 15:33.8 Jan Merrill-2 19 May Durham NC USA 1978 15:35.52 Kathy Mills (USA) 26 May Knoxville TN USA 1977 15:37.0 Jan Merrill (USA) 06 Jul Ingelheim GER 1976 16:04.2 Nina Holmen (FIN) 30 May Pietarsaari GIN 1975 16:55.0 Thelma Wright (CAN) 11 Jun Richmond BC CAN 1974 16:38.0 Julie Brown (USA) 17 Jun Santa Monica CA USA 1973 1972 1971 17:30.5 Cheryl (Flanagan) Bridges (USA) 21 Mar Phoenix AZ USA 1970 1969 15:53.6 Paola Cacchi (ITA) 02 Sep Milan ITA
Last Updated on 03 Sep 2016
Note: Pre-1950 men's list leaders are based largely on "A World History of Long Distance Running" by Roberto L Quercetani, available from the IAAF or from Track and Field News.
Contributor: Michael Rabinovich