and not here in the U.S. Ryan's performance would indicate he is capable of breaking the 10000m American Record and possibly threatening to the 27 minute barrier. I doubt he would get the proper pacing and amount of quality opponents needed for such a fast run in the U.S.
Pretty much have to agree with Wejo here, especially considering it was a solo effort, though some would change the validity of that notion. While this may end up being a flash in the pan type performance (I highly doubt it), this effort shows that this kid right now is probably the best distance runner we have. He's got great versatility (13:16-59:43), and one can only imagine that he'll be competitive in cross as well as drop his 5k and 10k PRs substantially this year.
For those who would challenge the possible credibility of this performance, need I remind you that Hall absolutely destroyed the field at cross nationals last year, and even if Ritz was healthy, I don't think he could have touched Hall that day. That said, this half-marathon is truly the most inspiring effort in American distance running in quite some time, at least from my stantpoint.
Flagpole Willy wrote:
Ryan Hall has shown by this performance that he is clearly in the same league with Dathan Ritzenhein in all distances, and quite frankly any other American. This was such a superior performance that maybe even in CC he has a real shot at beating a healthy Ritzenhein.
I've been a Ritz fan since he was in high school, and his xc performance this weekend was encouraging, but honestly, a 59:43 half-marathon is in a different league.
that was an oly record performance
get a clue
I think most of us would understand we're talking about male distance performances. But I guess not.
that's what it takes to run against the best...awesome run...Hall! Some of the latter comments don't matter...just run...baby!
wejo wrote:
I must say I'm totally shocked. 59:43 for the half marathon by an American in January. Running all alone. I don't think you all realize how good a performance that is. Forget the fact it was in January or solo or on a certified course for that matter. LetsRun.com JK says it ranks out timewise as the "second best American performance EVER at any distance."
JK said it ranks slightly ahead of Bob Kennedy's American Record at 5k (12:58.21) coming out to a 12:56.25 on his personal conversion charts. This would rank it only behind Khalid Khannouchi's 2:05:38 in the marathon. (Hall's time comes out to 2:06:51 for the marathon but taking it out to the marathon is of cousre guess work)
Originally I titled the thread "Ryan Hall's Performance The Best American Performance Since...." but now I'm removing the since. So let' discuss where this ranks alltime in terms of American performances. As of now it is a one off performance, so I'm putting Kennedy's 12:58 ahead of him because Kennedy was better relative on the world stage at 5k than Hall is at the half. But I just wanted to start this thread because in the live race results thread we have people posting stuff like this: "Ryan Hall ran an amazing race today, but I remember him starting off his season really strong last year on the roads and the XC course and then under performing on the track last year."
Ryan Hall could not run another step this year and it would be a great year. That's how good this run is and I don't think a lot of your realize it. Its the 9th best time ever on a non aided course (using a 50% separation from start to finish:
58:55 a ( 1) Haile Gebreselasie (ETH) 18 Apr 1973 15 Jan 2006 Tempe AZ USA
59:07 ( 1) Paul Kosgei (KEN) 22 Apr 1978 02 Apr 2006 Berlin GER
59:15.4 ( 1) Zerisenay Tadesse- 2 08 Feb 1982 10 Sep 2006 Rotterdam NED
59:15.8 ( 1) Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 10 Nov 1986 11 Sep 2005 Rotterdam NED
59:17 ( 1) Paul Tergat- 2 17 Jun 1969 04 Apr 1998 Milan ITA
59:22 ( 1) Paul Tergat- 3 17 Jun 1969 17 Apr 1999 Milan ITA
59:27.1 ( 2) Robert Kipchumba (KEN) 24 Feb 1984 10 Sep 2006 Rotterdam NED
59:29 ( 2) Evans Cheruiyot (KEN) 1980 02 Apr 2006 Berlin GER
Now granted the half marathon is just now becoming a more popular distnace and there are some fast non-certified courses (Lisbon) but regardless Hall'f performance charts out very well. So i'm just opening it up for discussion.
Here's a list that included aided runs:
http://www.arrs.net/AL_HMar.htm
Believe me i knew it was an amazing performance. Who the hell could go out and run THAT FAST alone in Janurary on a certified...um Gebrselassie, Tergat and now HALL. Thats right. The kid would've dropped some MAD time had he had rabbits and a huge support group to push him to run his ultimately fastest possible time at his current fitness. Dare I say he would've dropped 20 seconds had this been this case.
HALL FTMFW!
What a great day for Ryan, for Houston, for US distance running. Great picture Victah...thanks.
wow, ryan hall is unbelievable
How in the hell can you down play Hall's performance today? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FAST THAT IS!!!!! This was the greatest thing that I have seen from an American since the BK ran sub 13. Hall has to be in SICK shape right now, I'm talking at the very least 13 low to sub 13 minute 5k shape. This is f******g crazy!!!!!!!
I would not down play it it was an amazing performance I would just not say it is worth a 1:41 800 or 3:45 mile.
Jonny B Good wrote:
MJ\'s 200 and 400 WR\'s are both far superior performances, Just like Mo Greene\'s 9.79 is and Every one of Carl Lewis\'s performances at 84 olympics. Hall would have got beaten by any number of African\'s, Your sprinters are far superior to your distance runners, look at your 200 and 400 guys for the true talent in your pathetic country.
I must have been the only person pissed off by this comment.
Jim Ryun's 3:51 mile in 1967 is far better than Ryan Hall's run today.
That was a great run. I think Hall vowed to improve himself after his close defeat to Dathan at the 2003 NCAA XC championships. He obviously has done it. I'd love to see Hall, Webb, Tegenkamp, and Ritz race together in a couple 5K and 10K races on the track this year. Hopefully they can all push each other to get better and better.
I agree with you. I also put Shorter's 2 Olympic medals (robbed by a cheating Cierpinski in '76) and Billy Mills in the upper echelon.
Today's effort continues the great promise we have seen recently, (e.g. American's at Boston)with a huge leap forward. This is a stunningly fast time. I hope this kid can continue to develop.
Lastly, I root also for Ritz, Sell, Webb, Culpepper, Gilmore and any other US distance runner to help US running compete for Olympic medals. You people that feel the need to rip Ritz or Webb are not fans of the sport.
Craig Virgin's two World XC Championships are also better... Wejo needs to study the history of his own sport.
Joe Money wrote:
Craig Virgin's two World XC Championships are also better... Wejo needs to study the history of his own sport.
Not so. Not nearly as much African dominance back in that era. Any American effort in the top ten at world cross now is much better then anything Virgin or Porter ever did.
Joe Money wrote:
Craig Virgin's two World XC Championships are also better... Wejo needs to study the history of his own sport.
Not its not. His time/performance is on level with some of the most dominate African runners in history. It wasnt long ago we though only guys like Geb, Tadesse and such could go out on a Janurary day and run that fast of a time on a solo effort. Your acting like its an easy task to break 60:00 in the half, Virgin never could do it, Shorter couldnt, shit even the SILVER MEDALLIST Meb couldnt even come close to it. Put all these guys in there prime in this race at this distance and Hall would've destroyed them.
This is one of the reasons American running never progresses because you old farts cling on to the past too much. Just admit it Hall owns those guys.
whoa, slow down folks.
hall ran a fantastic time, a time that all distance runners dream of 'popping' when out there 'going to the well' on their second or third run of the day, when things look really grim, but for optimism.
but virgin won 2 world cross country championships, the single most difficult race to win in all of distance running.
apples and oranges.
nuge wrote:
but virgin won 2 world cross country championships, the single most difficult race to win in all of distance running.
apples and oranges.
Agreed, but it's way more difficult now than it was back then.