RANK, LARGE and SMALL

Rank a list either way round, build a top-three table, and put a name to each place. Intermediate · 5 min · RANK, LARGE, SMALL, INDEX/MATCH

Raw numbers tell you how much. A ranking tells you where someone stands, which is often the question people really want answered.

=RANK(number, list) gives a value's position in a list, with the largest as 1. Add a third argument of 1 to put the smallest first.
=LARGE(list, k) returns the k-th largest value and =SMALL(list, k) the k-th smallest. With k = 1 they match MAX and MIN.

> RANK compares each value with the whole list, so lock the list with $ before you copy the formula down.

Steps

Your running club logs how far each member ran this month. In D2, rank Priya's distance against the whole list with =RANK(B2, $B$2:$B$13), then fill it down to D13.
For race times, smaller is better. In E2:E13, rank the 5K times in column C so the fastest runner gets 1, by adding a third argument of 1: =RANK(C2, $C$2:$C$13, 1)
Time for a podium. In H2, find the longest distance with =LARGE($B$2:$B$13, G2), using the place number in G2 as k. Fill it down to H4 for 2nd and 3rd place.
The fastest times are the smallest numbers. In H7:H9, use SMALL on the 5K times in column C, with the place numbers in G7:G9 as k.
A podium needs names. In I2, find the distance from H2 in B2:B13 and return the runner from column A: =INDEX($A$2:$A$13, MATCH(H2, $B$2:$B$13, 0)). Fill it down to I4.

=RANK(x, $B$2:$B$13) ranks the largest first; add , 1 to rank the smallest first.
Lock the list with $ so every row is compared with the same values.
LARGE(list, k) and SMALL(list, k) return the k-th largest or smallest. Keep k in a cell to build a top-N table.
Pair LARGE or SMALL with INDEX/MATCH or XLOOKUP to put a name to the number.