- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2001–2016
- Country
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
GOAT Rank · 11
Greatest Distance runnings of all time
This ranking is led by Meseret Defar, Derartu Tulu and Ingrid Kristiansen. GOAT Rank currently ranks 11 eligible Athletics distance runnings using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Quick answer
According to GOAT Rank's current model, Meseret Defar ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 88.3.
How the GOAT Score is calculated →#AthleteGOAT Score
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1989–2013
- Country
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 88.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1977–1996
- Country
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 84.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2018–active
- Country
- 🇰🇪 Kenya
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 90.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2015–active
- Country
- 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 92.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1969–1980
- Country
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- Peak
- 94.0
- Dominance
- 88.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 88.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1994–2003
- Country
- 🇰🇪 Kenya
- Peak
- 96.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 90.0
- Honours
- 82.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1962–1973
- Country
- 🇰🇪 Kenya
- Peak
- 92.0
- Dominance
- 86.0
- Statistics
- 86.0
- Honours
- 86.0
- Longevity
- 74.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2009–active
- Country
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- Peak
- 90.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 88.0
- Honours
- 78.0
- Longevity
- 84.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 1983–1993
- Country
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- Peak
- 88.0
- Dominance
- 78.0
- Statistics
- 80.0
- Honours
- 76.0
- Longevity
- 72.0
- Sport
- Athletics
- Career
- 2011–active
- Country
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Peak
- 84.0
- Dominance
- 72.0
- Statistics
- 76.0
- Honours
- 74.0
- Longevity
- 78.0
| # | Athlete | Sport | Country | Career | GOAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Meseret Defar | Athletics | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 2001–2016 | 88.3 |
| 48 | Derartu Tulu | Athletics | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 1989–2013 | 88.3 |
| 53 | Ingrid Kristiansen | Athletics | 🇳🇴 Norway | 1977–1996 | 87.8 |
| 57 | Beatrice Chebet | Athletics | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 2018–active | 87.5 |
| 76 | Letesenbet Gidey | Athletics | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 2015–active | 87.0 |
| 104 | Lasse Virén | Athletics | 🇫🇮 Finland | 1969–1980 | 85.7 |
| 124 | Daniel Komen | Athletics | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 1994–2003 | 85.0 |
| 127 | Kipchoge Keino | Athletics | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 1962–1973 | 84.8 |
| 171 | Mohammed Ahmed | Athletics | 🇨🇦 Canada | 2009–active | 83.1 |
| 256 | Zola Budd | Athletics | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 1983–1993 | 78.7 |
| 273 | Eilish McColgan | Athletics | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2011–active | 76.6 |
Compare the leaders
Meseret Defar vs Derartu TuluRead the full methodology
Sport lists use the raw In-Sport GOAT Score. Cross-sport lists use the official competition-depth adjustment. No scores are recalculated for this page.
Read the full methodologyFrequently asked questions
How is this ranking calculated?
Five verified components are weighted consistently: dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.
Who is included?
According to GOAT Rank's current data model, only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible. Rank and score are read live.
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