NOT wrote:
Joan Benoit Samuelson- ran 2:22:43 nearly 42 years ago, BAA 1983, and 2;21:21 nearly 40 years ago, Chicago 1985; keeping things in perspective.
And fair to post that Mantz really hasn't run faster than Salazar did at NYC in 1981. but we're comparing to some of the all time greats. And even if you don't think Salazar is one of the all-time American marathon greats, there is NO dispute about Joanie.
However - this is about Natosha: Congratulations to her! Great run, well done moving into the sub-2:24 range. As a runner, we should always celebrate a PR when we see it, especially at a national level. Well done Natosha.
(I have always believed, with proper pacing, that Benoit could ahve run sub 2:20 in Chicago 1985. Her splits that day, going out to burn off Ingrid as hard as she did, are so less than ideal, and she still ran 2:21. She could, and should, have been the first sub 2:20 woman in history. Alas. But she's still a legend.)