Not since the early eighties has Sussex ended the year with a World number one but 2016 sees Sussex with a number one and a number four though in different events.
Thirty five years after Steve Ovett topped the 1500m list one Dan Lawson from Brighton has become the World’s top “24 hour” runner.
Back in October Lawson won the European 24 hour event at Albi in France covering 261.84 km which approximately an amazing 163 miles.
This is also the third longest distance ever achieved by a British runner.
It was back in 1980 that Steve Ovett, in his Olympic year, topped both the 1500m in 3:31.37s and the One mile at 3:48.8s World rankings. The following year he was still number one over 1500m but lost top spot to Seb Coe over the Mile.
Sussex also had another World Ranked athlete as Brighton & Hove’s Amber Anning was fourth ranked in the World Youth (Under 18 at the year end) with her clocking of 38.7sec over 300m. Anning in fact clocked three of the top seven times for her distance in 2016.
2016 Sussex Top Ten.
The Sussex Rankings, which have been published continuously since 1980, has been posted on our website, and we are inviting corrections/amendments etc. before a final list will be published early next year.
Roy Taylor, Roger Wardale and myself had actually published the Ranking lists, seniors only, from 1960 to 1966 but we were unable to continue it because of lack of help and it was Audrey Spinks who helped restart it in 1980 covering all age groups and apart from one year we have managed to publish.
Now we need help again if this is going to see the light of day again next year and any one willing to help is invited to contact Reg Hook.
If you have any queries or want more information regarding this post, please Email Reg Hook.