Any famous sprinters with equally good 100/400 times?

Allyson felix. 10.89/49.26

Felix is a good answer.

But are there REALLY many distance runners with great ranges?

Lagat and El G were basically 1500-5K, though I'm sure they could have dropped a mean 800 in their prime.

Bolt would be if he ever had applied himself to the 400m

Not a lot, but Eliud K with 12:48/2:03-low is The GOAT. Rupp 3:50-26:46, and possibly a fast marathon by the end of his career is impressive. And Farah 3:28-26:44(?) is a good standard at the top.

The letter why wrote:

Felix is a good answer.

But are there REALLY many distance runners with great ranges?

Lagat and El G were basically 1500-5K, though I'm sure they could have dropped a mean 800 in their prime.

Xavier Carter 10.00 / 44.53. Almost dead even by most scoring tables.

Van Niekerk? 9.98, 19.94, 43.03

Let it Rupp wrote:

What happens between 100 and 400 meters that causes this big dropoff in quality of times?

I'd suggest that the difference between 100m and 400m is actually greater than between 1500m & 5000m, in terms of the body type they demand. The 100m requires very little endurance - it's basically about getting to top speed and keeping that going as long as you can. The 400m requires a lot more in terms of endurance - there are a lot of people who could probably get through a fast 100m on little training, but the 400m requires serious work.

Also, with the exception of Bolt, the 100m has historically been for medium sized guys, whereas the 400m seems to reward being relatively tall. That's because a lot of the 100m is about how quickly you can start, whereas the 400m is about what your (longer term) top speed is. Big guys often find it hard to get out of the blocks quickly, but make up for it by having a higher top speed. Even Bolt is a relatively slow starter at the 100m - it's usually 50-70m where he destroys everyone.

By contrast, I think the 1500m and 5000m both put similar demands on the body. Although the average speed in the 1500m is quicker than the 5000m, the 1500m guys aren't doing anything like their top 100m sprint speed. A 3:30 1500m works out at 14s per 100m, and I'd almost guarantee that most people who can do 3:30 for 1500 could run sub 12s for 100m (or maybe just over 12s).

Yeah the 400m is definitely more demanding on the endurance side. But I just find it weird that a 100/200 sprinter and a 200/400 sprinter could have equally good 200m times, but completely different 100 and 400 times (if that makes sense). Case and point - Michael Johnson (although he probably never ran an open 100m close to his potential).

100m vs 400m is kind of similar to 800m vs 5000m. Very different events in each case.

Tommie Smith had great range with well matched times from 100-400.

Let it Rupp wrote:

I just find it weird that a 100/200 sprinter and a 200/400 sprinter could have equally good 200m times, but completely different 100 and 400 times (if that makes sense).

I think that's because the 200m is a bit of a crossover event. You get the smaller guys from the 100m who can start fast but don't have as good top-end speed, vs the bigger guys from the 400m who don't start as well but have better top-end or can hold it for longer. The 200m is often where those two are most competitive.

I'm mainly a 100m runner (actually my best results at masters level are in the 60m) and can stretch out to remain competitive over 200m, but my 400m time is well behind the good guys in my age group. On the other hand, I have a friend who always beats me over 400m and is always behind me in the 100m, and the 200m is where the races are most competitive. The advantage for the bigger guys doesn't seem to last however - I find most of the good long distance runners I've known are relatively small (both in terms of height and build).

Gwen Torrence. 10.82. 49.64.

Marion Jones. 10.65. 49.59.

Allyson Felix. 10.89. 49.26.

FloJo. 10.49/10.61. 48.1 (relay).

As I was looking at these I started to appreciate more the flexibility Allyson has over the 100/200/400. She has definitely gotten bigger, faster, and stronger since 2012. Her 100m potential (PR from 2012) is probably closer to 10.8... her 200m potential (PR from 2012) is probably closer to 21.5x high, where clean WR is probably 21.63... her 400m potential is probably closer to low 48.xx, where clean WR is probably 48.25. I sure hope she runs 4 more years and reaches her full potential in the 200m/400m.

And as a side query, if Gwen, Marion, or FloJo had trained hard as a 200m/400m runner as opposed to a 100m/200m runner, which might have been able to run in the 48.xx range? FloJo of course based on her relay split, and with her how low? Same question is fun to think about with Bolt.

In swimming the 200m freestyle is also a bit of a crossover event. You have 100m/200m freestylers, and 200m/400m freestylers, but very rarely do you have 100m/200m/400m freestylers that could make an Olympic team individually in all three events (someone like an Ian Thorpe talent).

only one i can think of is marita koch.

HurdleMVP wrote:

Xavier Carter 10.00 / 44.53. Almost dead even by most scoring tables.

This is probably this best example.

WvN's 400m WR is lightyears better than a sub-10 at altitude.

Buy why would someone have similar times? The 100 and 400 are very different events with very specific training. Someone with similar times is leaving something on the table in one, if not both events.

kimani wrote:

HurdleMVP wrote:

Xavier Carter 10.00 / 44.53. Almost dead even by most scoring tables.

This is probably this best example.

WvN's 400m WR is lightyears better than a sub-10 at altitude.

Buy why would someone have similar times? The 100 and 400 are very different events with very specific training. Someone with similar times is leaving something on the table in one, if not both events.

Yes. Xavier Carter.

Someone one would have equivalent 100 and 400 times if they were very good in the 200.

Xavier Carter ran 19.63 which is much better than his 100 and 400 times.

We just have trouble finding elite 200m runners that did well in the 400.

Kediris of Greece ran 10.15 and 45.60 - pretty equivalent.

His 200 was 19.85

Ashton Eaton: 10.21, 45.00

Maybe 10.1 would be more equiv

I would say Nierkerk as well, only sprinter to go sub 10, 20, and 44