Former and Current Mile WR Holders: Who Wins 400m at Their Peak?

Ovett.

Nope. Couldn't beat 47.

People always harp on the ryun was so good at 19 thing (which he was) but it implies he would've been much better as he got older. That didn't happen. He's a legend, But it doesn't support your argument to put that in. Some people peak early. He did.

I mentioned his age partly because it was 1966 and if the tracks and footwear improved in the following 15 years that should be factored into the equation. It does seem difficult to believe that he peaked as a half miler at age 19. It was a different time also in terms of the options a young runner had compared to later. If he had been born 20 years later he might have been competing much longer, like Steve Scott. Anyway Coe is the answer at 400m and 800m but I was pushing back at those who implied it would be no challenge whatsoever.

Well Snell had the world record for 800 at 1.44,3. What is with the American obsession with Ryun? Snell would beat him

How old was he when he ran his PB? Before the church railings incident he could really move.

Ryan was a kid from Kansas that took on the world of middle distance running on dirt tracks in the sticks. Why wouldn't he be iconic?

And on grass in '62. Lydiard estimated it was worth nearly 2 secs on modern tracks.

wait until lydiard finds out about epo, test, wavelights and super shoes! is 1:38 out of the question?

Coe without a doubt. 46.87 is ridiculous speed for a miler.

He ran at least a second faster than that in a relay.

So with everything available today no one is actually any faster than Snell?

47.5 at 19. Still pretty impressive for a miler.

As do many people. MD runners often find it easier to run 400m in a relay setting, rather than in lanes out of blocks. Even more so when there is a race between two or more people with drafting or even holding someone off who is trying to pass you. So the norm is to run faster, other than the opening leg (in lanes). It is one of the reasons why the 800m experiment of 2 -turn stagger (in the mid-1970's) went back to the one-turn stagger (as it is today).

SEBASTIAN COE

Grew up 70 miles south of Wichita during Ryun's ascension. Remember being crushed when he didn't win in '68 Mexico City.

All I can say is that even between Ryun and Seb Coe... the changes in technology were stunning. And it all happened during the time I was running. Shoes, tracks, training methods. Seb Coe is went through that period as well. It would be interesting to see what he might say about Ryun given that in his earlier years even Seb probably ran on cinder tracks... in heavy track shoes.... and using those (for cinder) spikes that were as long as a snake's fangs.

I think it is Coe winning as well, with Jim Ryun most likely to get 2nd. El Guerrouj is probably way down in the 400M standings, although I'd take him at distances over a mile vs just about everyone else.