2008 in the sport of athletics
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This article contains an overview of the year 2008 in athletics
Major world events2008 Olympics
World records set10
IAAF Athletes of the YearUsain Bolt
Yelena Isinbayeva
Yelena Isinbayeva
World Marathon Majors winnersMartin Lel
Irina Mikitenko
Irina Mikitenko
| 2008 in athletics | |
|---|---|
| Major world events | 2008 Olympics |
| World records set | 10 |
| IAAF Athletes of the Year | Usain Bolt Yelena Isinbayeva |
| World Marathon Majors winners | Martin Lel Irina Mikitenko |
← 2007 2009 → | |
International events
- 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, China
- African Championships, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- European Cup, super league held in Annecy, France
- World Indoor Championships, held in Valencia, Spain
- Golden League, held in various venues
- World Athletics Final, held in Stuttgart, Germany
- World Cross Country Championships, held in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- World Road Running Championships, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- World Junior Championships, held in Bydgoszcz, Poland
World records
Men
| Event | Performance | Athlete | Nation | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 9.72 | Usain Bolt |  Jamaica |
New York City, United States | May 31 |
| 9.69 | Beijing, China | August 16 | |||
| 200 m | 19.30 | August 20 | |||
| 4 × 100 m relay | 37.10 | Nesta Carter Michael Frater Usain Bolt Asafa Powell |
August 22 | ||
| 110 m hurdles | 12.87 | Dayron Robles |  Cuba |
Ostrava, Czech Republic | June 12 |
| 50 km race walk | 3:34:14 | Denis Nizhegorodov |  Russia |
Cheboksary, Russia | May 11 |
| Marathon | 2:03:59 | Haile Gebrselassie |  Ethiopia |
Berlin, Germany | September 28 |
Women
| Event | Performance | Athlete | Nation | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5000 m | 14:11.15 | Tirunesh Dibaba | Ethiopia |
Oslo, Norway | June 6 |
| One hour run | 18,517 m | Dire Tune | Ostrava, Czech Republic | June 12 | |
| 3000 m steeplechase | 8:58.81 | Gulnara Galkina-Samitova | Russia |
Beijing, China | August 17 |
| Pole vault | 5.03 m | Yelena Isinbayeva | Rome, Italy | July 11 | |
| 5.04 m | Monte Carlo, Monaco | July 29 | |||
| 5.05 m | Beijing, China | August 18 | |||
| Javelin throw | 72.28 | Barbora Špotáková |  Czech Republic |
Stuttgart, Germany | September 13 |
Awards
Men
Women
Men's best year performances
100 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Usain Bolt (JAM) |
9.69 WR |
| 2. | Asafa Powell (JAM) |
9.72 |
| 3. |  Tyson Gay (USA) |
9.77 |
| 4. | Travis Padgett (USA) |
9.89 |
| Darvis Patton (USA) |
9.89 | |
 Richard Thompson (TRI) |
9.89 |
200 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Usain Bolt (JAM) |
19.30 WR |
| 2. | Walter Dix (USA) |
19.86 |
| Shawn Crawford (USA) |
19.86 | |
| 4. | Wallace Spearmon (USA) |
19.90 |
| 5. | Rodney Martin (USA) |
19.99 |
400 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | LaShawn Merritt (USA) |
43.75 |
| 2. | Jeremy Wariner (USA) |
43.82 |
| 3. | Angelo Taylor (USA) |
44.38 |
| 4. |  Chris Brown (BAH) |
44.40 |
| 5. |  Martyn Rooney (GBR) |
44.60 |
800 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Abubaker Kaki (SUD) |
1:42.69 |
| 2. | Yuriy Borzakovskiy (RUS) |
1:42.79 |
 Yusuf Saad Kamel (BHR) |
1:42.79 | |
| 4. | Yeimer López (CUB) |
1:43.07 |
| 5. |  Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (RSA) |
1:43.26 |
1500 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (KEN) |
3:31.49 |
| 2. | Augustine Kiprono Choge (KEN) |
3:31.57 |
| 3. | Asbel Kipruto Kiprop (KEN) |
3:31.64 |
| 4. |  Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) |
3:31.88 |
| 5. | Shedrack Kibet Korir (KEN) |
3:31.94 |
3000 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (KEN) |
7:31.83 |
| 2. | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
7:31.94 |
| 3. | Augustine Kiprono Choge (KEN) |
7:32.01 |
| 4. |  Moses Ndiema Kipsiro (UGA) |
7:32.42 |
| 5. | Levy Matebo (KEN) |
7:33.01 |
5000 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
12:50.18 |
| 2. | Moses Ndiema Masai (KEN) |
12:50.55 |
| 3. | Tariku Bekele (ETH) |
12:52.45 |
| 4. | Moses Ndiema Kipsiro (UGA) |
12:54.70 |
| 5. | Abreham Cherkos (ETH) |
12:57.56 |
10,000 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
26:25.97 |
| 2. | Sileshi Sihine (ETH) |
26:50.53 |
| 3. | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) |
26:51.20 |
| 4. | Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) |
26:54.32 |
| 5. | Leonard Komon (KEN) |
26:57.08 |
110 metres hurdles
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dayron Robles (CUB) |
12.87 WR |
| 2. | David Oliver (USA) |
12.95 |
| 3. | Terrence Trammell (USA) |
13.08 |
| 4. | Antwon Hicks (USA) |
13.09 |
| 5. | Anwar Moore (USA) |
13.15 |
400 metres hurdles
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Angelo Taylor (USA) |
47.25 |
| 2. | Kerron Clement (USA) |
47.79 |
| 3. | Bershawn Jackson (USA) |
48.02 |
| 4. | L.J. van Zyl (RSA) |
48.22 |
| 5. | Danny McFarlane (JAM) |
48.30 |
3000 metres steeplechase
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Paul Kipsiele Koech (KEN) |
8:00.57 |
| 2. | Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong (KEN) |
8:07.64 |
| 3. | Tareq Mubarak Taher (BHR) |
8:08.53 |
| 4. |  Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (FRA) |
8:08.95 |
| 5. | Michael Kipyego (KEN) |
8:09.05 |
Half marathon
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) |
59:15 |
| Deriba Merga (ETH) |
59:15 | |
| 3. | Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich (KEN) |
59:16 |
| 4. | Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) |
59:26 |
| 5. | Patrick Makau Musyoki (KEN) |
59:29 |
| Evans Kiprop Cheruiyot (KEN) |
59:29 |
Marathon
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) |
2:03:59 WR |
| 2. | Martin Lel (KEN) |
2:05:15 |
| 3. | Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) |
2:05:24 |
| 4. | Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) |
2:05:30 |
| 5. | James Kipsang Kwambai (KEN) |
2:05:36 |
High jump
| RANK | ATHLETE | HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Andrey Silnov (RUS) |
2.38 |
| 2. |  Stefan Holm (SWE) |
2.37 |
| 3. | Dusty Jonas (USA) |
2.36 |
| 4. |  Michał Bieniek (POL) |
2.35 |
| 5. |  Kabelo Kgosiemang (BOT) |
2.34 |
| Germaine Mason (GBR) |
2.34 | |
| Yaroslav Rybakov (RUS) |
2.34 |
Pole vault
| RANK | ATHLETE | HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Brad Walker (USA) |
6.04 |
| 2. | Evgeniy Lukyanenko (RUS) |
6.01 |
| 3. |  Steven Hooker (AUS) |
6.00 |
| 4. |  Denys Yurchenko (UKR) |
5.83 |
| 5. | Maksym Mazuryk (UKR) |
5.82 |
Long jump
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Irving Saladino (PAN) |
8.73 |
| 2. | Ibrahim Camejo (CUB) |
8.46 |
| 3. |  Loúis Tsátoumas (GRE) |
8.44 |
| 4. |  Mohamed Salman Al Khuwalidi (KSA) |
8.37 |
| 5. | Trevell Quinley (USA) |
8.36 |
Triple jump
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Nelson Évora (POR) |
17.67 |
| 2. | Phillips Idowu (GBR) |
17.62 |
| 3. | Leevan Sands (BAH) |
17.59 |
| 4. | Arnie David Giralt (CUB) |
17.52 |
| 5. | Alexis Copello (CUB) |
17.50 |
Shot put
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Adam Nelson (USA) |
22.12 |
| 2. | Reese Hoffa (USA) |
22.10 |
| 3. |  Andrei Mikhnevich (BLR) |
22.00 |
| 4. | Christian Cantwell (USA) |
21.76 |
| 5. | Tomasz Majewski (POL) |
21.51 |
Javelin throw
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR) |
90.57 |
| 2. | Jarrod Bannister (AUS) |
89.02 |
| 3. |  Tero Pitkämäki (FIN) |
87.70 |
| 4. | Antti Ruuskanen (FIN) |
87.33 |
| 5. | Sergey Makarov (RUS) |
86.88 |
Discus throw
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Gerd Kanter (EST) |
71.88 |
| 2. |  Virgilijus Alekna (LTU) |
71.25 |
| 3. |  Mario Pestano (ESP) |
69.50 |
| 4. |  Ehsan Haddadi (IRI) |
69.32 |
| 5. | Ian Waltz (USA) |
68.90 |
Hammer throw
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ivan Tsikhan (BLR) |
84.51 |
| 2. |  Primož Kozmus (SLO) |
82.02 |
| 3. |  Krisztián Pars (HUN) |
81.96 |
| 4. |  Koji Murofushi (JPN) |
81.87 |
| 5. | Vadim Devyatovskiy (BLR) |
81.70 |
Decathlon
| RANK | ATHLETE | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bryan Clay (USA) |
8832 |
| 2. | Andrei Krauchanka (BLR) |
8585 |
| 3. | Trey Hardee (USA) |
8534 |
| 4. | Leonel Suárez (CUB) |
8527 |
| 5. | Tom Pappas (USA) |
8511 |
Women's best year performances
100 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Torri Edwards (USA) |
10.78 |
| Shelly-Ann Fraser (JAM) |
10.78 | |
| 3. | Kerron Stewart (JAM) |
10.80 |
| 4. | Muna Lee (USA) |
10.85 |
| 5. | Sherone Simpson (JAM) |
10.87 |
| Veronica Campbell Brown (JAM) |
10.87 |
200 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Veronica Campbell Brown (JAM) |
21.74 |
| 2. | Allyson Felix (USA) |
21.93 |
| 3. | Kerron Stewart (JAM) |
21.99 |
| 4. | Muna Lee (USA) |
22.01 |
| 5. | Sherone Simpson (JAM) |
22.11 |
400 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) |
49.62 |
| 2. | Shericka Williams (JAM) |
49.69 |
| 3. | Sanya Richards (USA) |
49.74 |
| 4. | Amantle Montsho (BOT) |
49.83 |
| Allyson Felix (USA) |
49.83 |
800 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pamela Jelimo (KEN) |
1:54.01 |
| 2. | Yelena Soboleva (RUS) |
1:54.85 |
| 3. | Tatyana Andrianova (RUS) |
1:56.00 |
| 4. | Janeth Jepkosgei (KEN) |
1:56.07 |
| 5. | Svetlana Klyuka (RUS) |
1:56.64 |
1500 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Yelena Soboleva (RUS) |
3:56.59 |
| 2. | Tatyana Tomashova (RUS) |
3:59.42 |
| 3. | Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) |
3:59.84 |
| 4. | Nancy Jebet Lagat (KEN) |
4:00.23 |
| 5. | Shannon Rowbury (USA) |
4:00.33 |
3000 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) |
8:33.66 |
| 2. | Wude Ayalew (ETH) |
8:35.50 |
| 3. | Dolores Checa (ESP) |
8:37.78 |
| 4. | Peninah Jepchumba (KEN) |
8:40.12 |
| 5. | Priscah Jepleting Cherono (KEN) |
8:42.04 |
5000 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) |
14:11.15 WR |
| 2. | Meseret Defar (ETH) |
14:12.88 |
| 3. | Liliya Shobukhova (RUS) |
14:23.75 |
| 4. | Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) |
14:25.43 |
| 5. | Gulnara Samitova-Galkina (RUS) |
14:33.13 |
10,000 metres
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) |
29:54.66 |
| 2. |  Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) |
29:56.34 |
| 3. | Shalane Flanagan (USA) |
30:22.22 |
| 4. | Linet Masai (KEN) |
30:26.50 |
| 5. |  Kimberley Smith (NZL) |
30:35.54 |
100 metres hurdles
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Lolo Jones (USA) |
12.43 |
| 2. | Damu Cherry (USA) |
12.47 |
| 3. | Brigitte Foster-Hylton (JAM) |
12.49 |
| 4. | Josephine Onyia (ESP) |
12.50 |
| 5. | Sally McLellan (AUS) |
12.53 |
400 metres hurdles
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Melaine Walker (JAM) |
52.64 |
| 2. | Tiffany Williams (USA) |
53.54 |
| 3. | Sheena Tosta (USA) |
53.58 |
| 4. | Tasha Danvers (GBR) |
53.84 |
| 5. | Anastasiya Rabchenyuk (UKR) |
53.96 |
3000 metres steeplechase
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gulnara Samitova-Galkina (RUS) |
8:58.81 WR |
| 2. | Eunice Jepkorir (KEN) |
9:07.41 |
| 3. | Yekaterina Volkova (RUS) |
9:07.64 |
| 4. | Tatyana Petrova (RUS) |
9:12.33 |
| 5. |  Cristina Casandra (ROU) |
9:16.85 |
Half marathon
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Philes Ongori (KEN) |
1:07:57 |
| 2. | Yukiko Akaba (JPN) |
1:08:11 |
| 3. | Aselefech Mergia (ETH) |
1:08:17 |
| 4. | Genet Getaneh (ETH) |
1:08:18 |
| 5. | Peninah Arusei (KEN) |
1:08:20 |
Marathon
| RANK | ATHLETE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Irina Mikitenko (GER) |
2:19:19 |
| 2. | Askale Tafa (ETH) |
2:21:31 |
| 3. |  Zhang Yingying (CHN) |
2:22:38 |
| 4. | Berhane Adere (ETH) |
2:22:42 |
| 5. | Galina Bogomolova (RUS) |
2:22:53 |
High jump
| RANK | ATHLETE | HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Blanka Vlašić (CRO) |
2.06 |
| 2. |  Tia Hellebaut (BEL) |
2.05 |
| 3. | Anna Chicherova (RUS) |
2.04 |
| 4. | Ariane Friedrich (GER) |
2.03 |
| Elena Slesarenko (RUS) |
2.03 |
Pole vault
| RANK | ATHLETE | HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) |
5.05 WR |
| 2. | Jennifer Stuczynski (USA) |
4.92 |
| 3. |  Fabiana Murer (BRA) |
4.80 |
| 4. | Monika Pyrek (POL) |
4.75 |
| Svetlana Feofanova (RUS) |
4.75 | |
| Yuliya Golubchikova (RUS) |
4.75 |
Long jump
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Naide Gomes (POR) |
7.12 |
| 2. | Lyudmila Kolchanova (RUS) |
7.04 |
| Maurren Maggi (BRA) |
7.04 | |
| 4. | Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS) |
7.03 |
| 5. | Brittney Reese (USA) |
6.95 |
Triple jump
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Françoise Mbango Etone (CMR) |
15.39 |
| 2. | Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS) |
15.32 |
| 3. | Hrysopiyi Devetzi (GRE) |
15.23 |
| 4. | Yargelis Savigne (CUB) |
15.20 |
| 5. |  Olga Rypakova (KAZ) |
15.11 |
Shot put
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nadzeya Ostapchuk (BLR) |
20.98 |
| 2. | Natallia Mikhnevich (BLR) |
20.70 |
| 3. | Valerie Vili (NZL) |
20.56 |
| 4. | Nadine Kleinert (GER) |
19.89 |
| 5. | Yulia Leantsiuk (BLR) |
19.79 |
Javelin throw
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Barbora Špotáková (CZE) |
72.28 WR |
| 2. | Mariya Abakumova (RUS) |
70.78 |
| 3. | Christina Obergföll (GER) |
69.81 |
| 4. | Steffi Nerius (GER) |
68.34 |
| 5. | Linda Stahl (GER) |
66.06 |
Discus throw
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Iryna Yatchenko (BLR) |
67.89 |
| 2. | Darya Pishchalnikova (RUS) |
67.28 |
| 3. | Nicoleta Grasu (ROU) |
66.51 |
| 4. | Stephanie Brown-Trafton (USA) |
66.17 |
| 5. | Yarelis Barrios (CUB) |
66.13 |
Hammer throw
| RANK | ATHLETE | MARK |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Aksana Miankova (BLR) |
77.32 |
| 2. |  Martina Hrasnová (SVK) |
76.82 |
| 3. | Yipsi Moreno (CUB) |
76.62 |
| 4. | Darya Pchelnik (BLR) |
76.33 |
| 5. | Gulfiya Khanafeyeva (RUS) |
75.07 |
Heptathlon
| RANK | ATHLETE | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nataliya Dobrynska (UKR) |
6733 |
| 2. | Hyleas Fountain (USA) |
6667 |
| 3. | Tatyana Chernova (RUS) |
6618 |
| 4. | Lyudmyla Blonska (UKR) |
6570 |
| 5. | Olga Kurban (RUS) |
6559 |
Deaths
- June 9 — Peter Rwamuhanda (54), Ugandan hurdler (b. 1953)
- December 22 — Jani Lehtonen (40), Finnish pole vaulter (b. 1968)