Sorting times and in different ranks

Kryptonite · November 29, 2015, 8:22pm

Hello,
I am playing around with sort and I am having some problems
I want to sort times.

sort -n -k2 filename
# key: sex, time, athlete, athlete's nationality, date, city, country
F, 2:15:24.6, Paula Radcliffe, ENG, 2003-04-13, London, UK
F, 2:17:17.7, Paula Radcliffe, ENG, 2002-10-13, Chicago, USA
F, 2:17:42, Paula Radcliffe, ENG, 2005-04-17, London, UK
F, 2:18:20, Liliya Shobukhova, RUS, 2011-10-09, Chicago, USA
F, 2:18:37, Mary Keitany, KEN, 2012-04-22, London, UK
F, 2:18:47, Catherine Ndereba, KEN, 2001-10-07, Chicago, USA
F, 2:19:19, Irina Mikitenko, GER, 2008-09-28, Berlin, Germany
F, 2:19:36, Deena Kastor, USA, 2006-04-23, London, UK
F, 2:19:41, Yoko Shibui, JPN, 2004-09-26, Berlin, Germany
F, 2:20:25, Liliya Shobukhova, RUS, 2010-10-10, Chicago, USA
F, 2:20:38, Zhou Chunxiu, CHN, 2007-04-22, London, UK
F, 2:20:43, Tegla Loroupe, KEN, 1999-09-26, Berlin, Germany
F, 2:20:47, Tegla Loroupe, KEN, 1998-04-19, Rotterdam, Netherlands
F, 2:21:33, Catherine Ndereba, KEN, 2000-10-22, Chicago, USA
F, 2:21:45, Uta Pippig, GER, 1994-04-18, Boston, USA
F, 2:21:6, Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR, 1985-04-21, London, UK
F, 2:22:11, Irina Mikitenko, GER, 2009-04-26, London, UK
F, 2:22:43, Joan Benoit, USA, 1983-04-18, Boston, USA
F, 2:22:48, Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR, 1987-05-10, London, UK
F, 2:22:7, Tegla Loroupe, KEN, 1997-04-20, Rotterdam, Netherlands
F, 2:23:43, Olga Markova, RUS, 1992-04-20, Boston, USA
F, 2:23:51, Lisa Ondieki, AUS, 1988-01-31, Osaka, Japan
F, 2:24:18, Wanda Panfil, POL, 1991-04-15, Boston, USA
F, 2:24:26, Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR, 1984-05-13, London, UK
F, 2:24:33, Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR, 1989-04-17, Boston, USA
F, 2:24:54, Grete Waitz, NOR, 1987-04-20, London, UK
F, 2:24:7, Wang Junxia, CHN, 1993-04-04, Tianjin, PR China
F, 2:25:11, Uta Pippig, GER, 1995-04-17, Boston, USA
F, 2:25:24, Rosa Mota, POR, 1990-04-16, Boston, USA
F, 2:26:12, Joan Benoit, USA, 1982-09-12, Eugene, USA
F, 2:26:47, Allison Roe, NZL, 1981-04-20, Boston, USA
F, 2:26:4, Katrin D�rre, GER, 1996-01-28, Osaka, Japan
F, 2:30:27, Joyce Smith, ENG, 1980-11-16, Tokyo, Japan
M, 1:12:34.6, Fast Guy, GER, 2014-06-16, Konstanz, Germany
M, 2:10:30, Frank Shorter, USA, 1972-12-03, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:10:47.8, Bill Adcocks, ENG, 1968-12-08, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:10:55.3, Bill Rodgers, USA, 1977-12-04, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:11:12.6, John Farrington, AUS, 1973-07-14, Sydney, Australia
M, 2:11:7.2, Bill Adcocks, ENG, 1969-04-06, Athens, Greece
M, 2:11:8.8, Derek Clayton, AUS, 1971-09-25, Hobart, Australia
M, 2:12:0, Morio Shigematsu, JPN, 1965-06-12, Chiswick, England
M, 2:12:11.2, Abebe Bikila, ETH, 1964-10-21, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:14:28, Leonard Edelen, USA, 1963-06-15, Chiswick, England
M, 2:14:4.8, Michael Ryan, NZL, 1966-11-27, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:15:16.2, Abebe Bikila, ETH, 1960-09-10, Rome, Italy
M, 2:15:17.6, Sergei Popov, URS, 1958-08-24, Stockholm, Sweden
M, 2:16:9.6, Yu Mang_Hyang, PRK, 1962-10-24, Pyongyang, North Korea
M, 2:17:39.4, Jim Peters, ENG, 1954-06-26, Chiswick, England
M, 2:17:45.2, Sergei Popov, URS, 1959-11-11, Ko�ice, Slovakia
M, 2:18:34.8, Jim Peters, ENG, 1953-10-04, Turku, Finland
M, 2:18:4.8, Paavo Kotila, FIN, 1956-08-12, Pieks�m�ki, Finland
M, 2:18:54, Takayuki Nakao, JPN, 1961-03-21, Nagoya, Japan
M, 2:19:50, Sergei Popov, URS, 1957-09-01, Moscow, Russia
M, 2:20:42.2, Jim Peters, ENG, 1952-06-14, Windsor, England
M, 2:21:21.6, Veikko Karvonen, FIN, 1955-09-04, Copenhagen, Denmark
M, 2:26:14, Sohn Kee_Jung, KOR, 1935-03-21, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:28:32, Sohn Kee_Jung, KOR, 1936-04-18, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:28:39.4, Salomon K�n�nen, FIN, 1949-10-02, Turku, Finland
M, 2:28:7.4, Veikko Karvonen, FIN, 1951-08-03, Tampere, Finland
M, 2:29:9.4, Fedosiy Vanin, URS, 1950-07-12, Moscow, Russia
M, 2:30:27.6, Pat Dengis, USA, 1938-05-30, Salisbury, Massachusetts, USA
M, 2:30:38, Manuel Dias, POR, 1937-03-28, Lisbon, Portugal
M, 2:30:57.6, Harry Payne, GBR, 1929-07-05, Stamford Bridge, England
M, 2:30:58, Mikko Hietanen, FIN, 1947-08-23, Loughborough, England
M, 2:31:10, Kozo Kusunoki, JPN, 1933-11-03, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:31:26, Toyu Ko, KOR, 1939-11-03, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:31:27, Les Pawson, USA, 1941-05-30, Salisbury, Massachusetts, USA
M, 2:31:2, Mikko Hietanen, FIN, 1948-09-07, Stockholm, Sweden
M, 2:31:31, Tnji Yahagi, JPN, 1932-04-30, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:31:37, Mikko Hietanen, FIN, 1946-07-11, Imatra, Finland
M, 2:31:38, Zaiten Kimoto, JPN, 1942-11-02, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:32:56, Tamao Shiaku, JPN, 1934-11-23, Osaka, Japan
M, 2:32:57, Boughera El Ouafi, FRA, 1928-08-05, Amsterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:33:19, Juan Zabala, ARG, 1931-10-28, Ko�ice, SVK
M, 2:33:42, Shoichiro Takenaka, JPN, 1940-11-01, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:3:38, Patrick Makau Musyoki, KEN, 2011-09-11, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:34:25, Iivari R�tk�, FIN, 1926-09-12, Helsinki, Finland
M, 2:35:21.4, Verner Laaksonen, FIN, 1927-09-11, Helsinki, Finland
M, 2:35:59, Sam Ferris, ENG, 1925-05-30, Windsor, England
M, 2:3:58.2, Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 2008-09-28, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:36:10, Shizo Kanaguri, JPN, 1924-04-12, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:36:33, Fukutaro Shibui, JPN, 1930-05-28, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:36:37.6, Sven Hakansson, SWE, 1945-10-28, Gothenburg, Sweden
M, 2:38:35.3, G�rard C�t�, CAN, 1943-11-07, Yonkers, New York, USA
M, 2:40:47, Aksel Jensen, DEN, 1923-06-16, Windsor, England
M, 2:40:48.6, Charles Robbins, USA, 1944-11-12, Yonkers, New York, USA
M, 2:4:15, Geoffrey Mutai, KEN, 2012-09-09, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:4:26.3, Duncan Kibet, KEN, 2009-04-05, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:4:26, Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 2007-09-30, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:4:48, Patrick Makau Musyoki, KEN, 2010-04-11, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:4:55, Paul Tergat, KEN, 2003-09-28, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:46:26, Gabriel Ruotsalainen, FIN, 1922-09-10, Helsinki, Finland
M, 2:47:29.8, Florestano Benedetti, ITA, 1921-09-20, Bologna, Italy
M, 2:5:37.8, Khalid Khannouchi, USA, 2002-04-14, London, UK
M, 2:5:42, Khalid Khannouchi, MAR, 1999-10-24, Chicago, USA
M, 2:5:56, Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 2006-09-24, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:6:16, Evans Rutto, KEN, 2004-10-10, Chicago, USA
M, 2:6:19.5, Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 2005-10-16, Amsterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:6:36, Ant�nio Pinto, POR, 2000-04-16, London, UK
M, 2:6:50, Belayneh Dinsamo, ETH, 1988-04-17, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:6:50, Josephat Kiprono, KEN, 2001-04-22, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:6:5, Ronaldo da Costa, BRA, 1998-09-20, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:7:10, Khalid Khannouchi, MAR, 1997-10-19, Chicago, USA
M, 2:7:12, Carlos Lopes, POR, 1985-04-20, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:7:15, Cosmas Ndeti, KEN, 1994-04-18, Boston, USA
M, 2:7:2, Sammy Lelei, KEN, 1995-09-24, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:7:51, Robert de Castella, AUS, 1986-04-21, Boston, USA
M, 2:8:16, Steve Moneghetti, AUS, 1990-09-30, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:8:18, Robert de Castella, AUS, 1981-12-06, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:8:18, Takeyuki Nakayama, JPN, 1987-12-06, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:8:1, Juma Ikangaa, TAN, 1989-11-05, New York, USA
M, 2:8:25, Mart�n Fiz, ESP, 1996-03-24, Kyong_Ju, South Korea
M, 2:8:37, Robert de Castella, AUS, 1983-04-09, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:8:51, Dionicio Ceron, MEX, 1993-12-05, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:8:52, Alberto Salazar, USA, 1982-04-19, Boston, USA
M, 2:8:53, Koichi Morishita, JPN, 1991-02-03, Beppu, Japan
M, 2:8:5, Steve Jones, WAL, 1984-10-21, Chicago, USA
M, 2:8:7, David Tsebe, RSA, 1992-09-27, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:9:12, Ian Thompson, ENG, 1974-01-31, Christchurch, New Zealand
M, 2:9:1, Gerard Nijboer, NED, 1980-04-26, Amsterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:9:28.8, Ron Hill, ENG, 1970-07-23, Edinburgh, Scotland
M, 2:9:28, Bill Rodgers, USA, 1979-04-16, Boston, USA
M, 2:9:36.4, Derek Clayton, AUS, 1967-12-03, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:9:55, Waldemar Cierpinski, GDR, 1976-07-31, Montreal, Canada
M, 2:9:56, Bill Rodgers, USA, 1975-04-21, Boston, USA
M, 2:9:5.6, Shigeru So, JPN, 1978-02-05, Beppu, Japan
M, 3:12:34.6, Slow Guy, GER, 2014-06-16, Konstanz, Germany

My first problem is that it sorts the first higher time before the lower one.
For example:

M, 2:47:29.8, Florestano Benedetti, ITA, 1921-09-20, Bologna, Italy
M, 2:5:37.8, Khalid Khannouchi, USA, 2002-04-14, London, UK

And it also sorts after gender first.
And is there also a command to limit the sorted time between the times of more than 2:30 but less than 3 hours for example ?
And how can i create ranks of different sorts.(time first, date second ...)
For example i want that the nationality of the runners gets sorted in alphabetic order and after that the date.
I hope my questions are understandable.
I am a beginner and i couldnt figure it out for several hours now.
Regards,
Krypto

Don_Cragun · November 29, 2015, 9:40pm

Sort terminates numeric fields with characters that are not part of a decimal number with an optional fractional part. And, since a colon is not a valid character in a decimal number, you are just sorting on the hours as your primary key and the entire line as an alphanumeric string as your secondary key. The following seems to do what you want:

LC_NUMERIC="C" sort -t':' -k1.4,1n -k2,2n -k3,3n filename

yielding the output:

# key: sex, time, athlete, athlete's nationality, date, city, country
M, 1:12:34.6, Fast Guy, GER, 2014-06-16, Konstanz, Germany
M, 2:3:38, Patrick Makau Musyoki, KEN, 2011-09-11, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:3:58.2, Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 2008-09-28, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:4:15, Geoffrey Mutai, KEN, 2012-09-09, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:4:26, Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 2007-09-30, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:4:26.3, Duncan Kibet, KEN, 2009-04-05, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:4:48, Patrick Makau Musyoki, KEN, 2010-04-11, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:4:55, Paul Tergat, KEN, 2003-09-28, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:5:37.8, Khalid Khannouchi, USA, 2002-04-14, London, UK
M, 2:5:42, Khalid Khannouchi, MAR, 1999-10-24, Chicago, USA
M, 2:5:56, Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 2006-09-24, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:6:5, Ronaldo da Costa, BRA, 1998-09-20, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:6:16, Evans Rutto, KEN, 2004-10-10, Chicago, USA
M, 2:6:19.5, Haile Gebrselassie, ETH, 2005-10-16, Amsterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:6:36, Ant�nio Pinto, POR, 2000-04-16, London, UK
M, 2:6:50, Belayneh Dinsamo, ETH, 1988-04-17, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:6:50, Josephat Kiprono, KEN, 2001-04-22, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:7:2, Sammy Lelei, KEN, 1995-09-24, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:7:10, Khalid Khannouchi, MAR, 1997-10-19, Chicago, USA
M, 2:7:12, Carlos Lopes, POR, 1985-04-20, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:7:15, Cosmas Ndeti, KEN, 1994-04-18, Boston, USA
M, 2:7:51, Robert de Castella, AUS, 1986-04-21, Boston, USA
M, 2:8:1, Juma Ikangaa, TAN, 1989-11-05, New York, USA
M, 2:8:5, Steve Jones, WAL, 1984-10-21, Chicago, USA
M, 2:8:7, David Tsebe, RSA, 1992-09-27, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:8:16, Steve Moneghetti, AUS, 1990-09-30, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:8:18, Robert de Castella, AUS, 1981-12-06, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:8:18, Takeyuki Nakayama, JPN, 1987-12-06, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:8:25, Mart�n Fiz, ESP, 1996-03-24, Kyong_Ju, South Korea
M, 2:8:37, Robert de Castella, AUS, 1983-04-09, Rotterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:8:51, Dionicio Ceron, MEX, 1993-12-05, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:8:52, Alberto Salazar, USA, 1982-04-19, Boston, USA
M, 2:8:53, Koichi Morishita, JPN, 1991-02-03, Beppu, Japan
M, 2:9:1, Gerard Nijboer, NED, 1980-04-26, Amsterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:9:5.6, Shigeru So, JPN, 1978-02-05, Beppu, Japan
M, 2:9:12, Ian Thompson, ENG, 1974-01-31, Christchurch, New Zealand
M, 2:9:28, Bill Rodgers, USA, 1979-04-16, Boston, USA
M, 2:9:28.8, Ron Hill, ENG, 1970-07-23, Edinburgh, Scotland
M, 2:9:36.4, Derek Clayton, AUS, 1967-12-03, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:9:55, Waldemar Cierpinski, GDR, 1976-07-31, Montreal, Canada
M, 2:9:56, Bill Rodgers, USA, 1975-04-21, Boston, USA
M, 2:10:30, Frank Shorter, USA, 1972-12-03, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:10:47.8, Bill Adcocks, ENG, 1968-12-08, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:10:55.3, Bill Rodgers, USA, 1977-12-04, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:11:7.2, Bill Adcocks, ENG, 1969-04-06, Athens, Greece
M, 2:11:8.8, Derek Clayton, AUS, 1971-09-25, Hobart, Australia
M, 2:11:12.6, John Farrington, AUS, 1973-07-14, Sydney, Australia
M, 2:12:0, Morio Shigematsu, JPN, 1965-06-12, Chiswick, England
M, 2:12:11.2, Abebe Bikila, ETH, 1964-10-21, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:14:4.8, Michael Ryan, NZL, 1966-11-27, Fukuoka, Japan
M, 2:14:28, Leonard Edelen, USA, 1963-06-15, Chiswick, England
M, 2:15:16.2, Abebe Bikila, ETH, 1960-09-10, Rome, Italy
M, 2:15:17.6, Sergei Popov, URS, 1958-08-24, Stockholm, Sweden
F, 2:15:24.6, Paula Radcliffe, ENG, 2003-04-13, London, UK
M, 2:16:9.6, Yu Mang_Hyang, PRK, 1962-10-24, Pyongyang, North Korea
F, 2:17:17.7, Paula Radcliffe, ENG, 2002-10-13, Chicago, USA
M, 2:17:39.4, Jim Peters, ENG, 1954-06-26, Chiswick, England
F, 2:17:42, Paula Radcliffe, ENG, 2005-04-17, London, UK
M, 2:17:45.2, Sergei Popov, URS, 1959-11-11, Ko�ice, Slovakia
M, 2:18:4.8, Paavo Kotila, FIN, 1956-08-12, Pieks�m�ki, Finland
F, 2:18:20, Liliya Shobukhova, RUS, 2011-10-09, Chicago, USA
M, 2:18:34.8, Jim Peters, ENG, 1953-10-04, Turku, Finland
F, 2:18:37, Mary Keitany, KEN, 2012-04-22, London, UK
F, 2:18:47, Catherine Ndereba, KEN, 2001-10-07, Chicago, USA
M, 2:18:54, Takayuki Nakao, JPN, 1961-03-21, Nagoya, Japan
F, 2:19:19, Irina Mikitenko, GER, 2008-09-28, Berlin, Germany
F, 2:19:36, Deena Kastor, USA, 2006-04-23, London, UK
F, 2:19:41, Yoko Shibui, JPN, 2004-09-26, Berlin, Germany
M, 2:19:50, Sergei Popov, URS, 1957-09-01, Moscow, Russia
F, 2:20:25, Liliya Shobukhova, RUS, 2010-10-10, Chicago, USA
F, 2:20:38, Zhou Chunxiu, CHN, 2007-04-22, London, UK
M, 2:20:42.2, Jim Peters, ENG, 1952-06-14, Windsor, England
F, 2:20:43, Tegla Loroupe, KEN, 1999-09-26, Berlin, Germany
F, 2:20:47, Tegla Loroupe, KEN, 1998-04-19, Rotterdam, Netherlands
F, 2:21:6, Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR, 1985-04-21, London, UK
M, 2:21:21.6, Veikko Karvonen, FIN, 1955-09-04, Copenhagen, Denmark
F, 2:21:33, Catherine Ndereba, KEN, 2000-10-22, Chicago, USA
F, 2:21:45, Uta Pippig, GER, 1994-04-18, Boston, USA
F, 2:22:7, Tegla Loroupe, KEN, 1997-04-20, Rotterdam, Netherlands
F, 2:22:11, Irina Mikitenko, GER, 2009-04-26, London, UK
F, 2:22:43, Joan Benoit, USA, 1983-04-18, Boston, USA
F, 2:22:48, Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR, 1987-05-10, London, UK
F, 2:23:43, Olga Markova, RUS, 1992-04-20, Boston, USA
F, 2:23:51, Lisa Ondieki, AUS, 1988-01-31, Osaka, Japan
F, 2:24:7, Wang Junxia, CHN, 1993-04-04, Tianjin, PR China
F, 2:24:18, Wanda Panfil, POL, 1991-04-15, Boston, USA
F, 2:24:26, Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR, 1984-05-13, London, UK
F, 2:24:33, Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR, 1989-04-17, Boston, USA
F, 2:24:54, Grete Waitz, NOR, 1987-04-20, London, UK
F, 2:25:11, Uta Pippig, GER, 1995-04-17, Boston, USA
F, 2:25:24, Rosa Mota, POR, 1990-04-16, Boston, USA
F, 2:26:4, Katrin D�rre, GER, 1996-01-28, Osaka, Japan
F, 2:26:12, Joan Benoit, USA, 1982-09-12, Eugene, USA
M, 2:26:14, Sohn Kee_Jung, KOR, 1935-03-21, Tokyo, Japan
F, 2:26:47, Allison Roe, NZL, 1981-04-20, Boston, USA
M, 2:28:7.4, Veikko Karvonen, FIN, 1951-08-03, Tampere, Finland
M, 2:28:32, Sohn Kee_Jung, KOR, 1936-04-18, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:28:39.4, Salomon K�n�nen, FIN, 1949-10-02, Turku, Finland
M, 2:29:9.4, Fedosiy Vanin, URS, 1950-07-12, Moscow, Russia
F, 2:30:27, Joyce Smith, ENG, 1980-11-16, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:30:27.6, Pat Dengis, USA, 1938-05-30, Salisbury, Massachusetts, USA
M, 2:30:38, Manuel Dias, POR, 1937-03-28, Lisbon, Portugal
M, 2:30:57.6, Harry Payne, GBR, 1929-07-05, Stamford Bridge, England
M, 2:30:58, Mikko Hietanen, FIN, 1947-08-23, Loughborough, England
M, 2:31:2, Mikko Hietanen, FIN, 1948-09-07, Stockholm, Sweden
M, 2:31:10, Kozo Kusunoki, JPN, 1933-11-03, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:31:26, Toyu Ko, KOR, 1939-11-03, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:31:27, Les Pawson, USA, 1941-05-30, Salisbury, Massachusetts, USA
M, 2:31:31, Tnji Yahagi, JPN, 1932-04-30, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:31:37, Mikko Hietanen, FIN, 1946-07-11, Imatra, Finland
M, 2:31:38, Zaiten Kimoto, JPN, 1942-11-02, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:32:56, Tamao Shiaku, JPN, 1934-11-23, Osaka, Japan
M, 2:32:57, Boughera El Ouafi, FRA, 1928-08-05, Amsterdam, Netherlands
M, 2:33:19, Juan Zabala, ARG, 1931-10-28, Ko�ice, SVK
M, 2:33:42, Shoichiro Takenaka, JPN, 1940-11-01, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:34:25, Iivari R�tk�, FIN, 1926-09-12, Helsinki, Finland
M, 2:35:21.4, Verner Laaksonen, FIN, 1927-09-11, Helsinki, Finland
M, 2:35:59, Sam Ferris, ENG, 1925-05-30, Windsor, England
M, 2:36:10, Shizo Kanaguri, JPN, 1924-04-12, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:36:33, Fukutaro Shibui, JPN, 1930-05-28, Tokyo, Japan
M, 2:36:37.6, Sven Hakansson, SWE, 1945-10-28, Gothenburg, Sweden
M, 2:38:35.3, G�rard C�t�, CAN, 1943-11-07, Yonkers, New York, USA
M, 2:40:47, Aksel Jensen, DEN, 1923-06-16, Windsor, England
M, 2:40:48.6, Charles Robbins, USA, 1944-11-12, Yonkers, New York, USA
M, 2:46:26, Gabriel Ruotsalainen, FIN, 1922-09-10, Helsinki, Finland
M, 2:47:29.8, Florestano Benedetti, ITA, 1921-09-20, Bologna, Italy
M, 3:12:34.6, Slow Guy, GER, 2014-06-16, Constant, Germany

with your sample input.

Kryptonite · November 29, 2015, 11:39pm

I am getting the rest but could you explain the

-k1.4,1n

to me ?
Why not just use

-k1,1n

Don_Cragun · November 29, 2015, 11:51pm

Using colon as the field separator, the 1st field is "M" or "F" followed by a comma followed by a space followed by the digit or digits representing the number of hours in the time field. The option -k1.4,1n says to sort starting in the 4th character of the 1st field ( 1.4 ) to the end of the 1st field ( ,1 ) as a numeric field ( n ). The 1.4 skips over the sex field, the comma, and the space and tells sort to start sorting on the hours digit(s) at the end of the 1st field.

Sorting on the entirety of field 1 as a numeric field makes that value be treated as zero in all cases because "M" and "F" are not parts of numeric strings.