Greatest is Mary Decker (pre drug bust). 17 World records/bests, 37 US records over the best distance span of those named. In a really competitive era she was a double world champion. If she'd won Olympic gold there would be no debate.
Greatest is Mary Decker (pre drug bust). 17 World records/bests, 37 US records over the best distance span of those named. In a really competitive era she was a double world champion. If she'd won Olympic gold there would be no debate.
Steve Prefontaine: 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist
Ronny105 wrote:
1) Salazar
2) Ryun
3) Rodgers
4) Shorter
5) Virgin
Salazar was born Cuban. So he is ineligible, according to OP's standard.
Bob Kennedy should be in the conversation.
unless you are counting native americans only. Bernie Lagat
been there done that wrote:
unless you are counting native americans only. Bernie Lagat
Billy Mills is the only one who fits the bill.
e mcd wrote:
Greatest is Mary Decker (pre drug bust). 17 World records/bests, 37 US records over the best distance span of those named. In a really competitive era she was a double world champion. If she'd won Olympic gold there would be no debate.
^^This
been there done that wrote:
unless you are counting native americans only. Bernie Lagat
Lagat is ineligible.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/3078642.stmSan Diego HS's and UCLA's Meb Keflezighi is the greatest American runner of all time. 2x CIF State Champ. 4x NCAA T&F/XC Champ. 2x Olympic medals. Won Bos & NYM.
agc5k wrote:
Pretty simple, but who is the greatest American distance runner of all time? For the purpose of this, let's say they can't have changed nationality from another country.
For me, I'm gonna say top 3:
1. Frank Shorter- Olympic gold and silver, 4 Fukuoka wins, American Record holder at 10k and marathon for a time. Had a great range.
2. Bill Rodgers- 4 Boston and 4 NYC wins. Twice set the American Record at the marathon.
3. Jim Ryun- Olympic silver, 3 mile outdoor world records, 1 880 yard outdoor world record, 1 indoor mile world record, 1st HSer to break 4 minutes.
I'll take #3.
Jim Ryun GOAT? wrote:
agc5k wrote:Pretty simple, but who is the greatest American distance runner of all time? For the purpose of this, let's say they can't have changed nationality from another country.
For me, I'm gonna say top 3:
1. Frank Shorter- Olympic gold and silver, 4 Fukuoka wins, American Record holder at 10k and marathon for a time. Had a great range.
2. Bill Rodgers- 4 Boston and 4 NYC wins. Twice set the American Record at the marathon.
3. Jim Ryun- Olympic silver, 3 mile outdoor world records, 1 880 yard outdoor world record, 1 indoor mile world record, 1st HSer to break 4 minutes.
I'll take #3.
Why? Frank has Gold and Silver.
It would be interesting to look at slices of time. In '79 and '80 nobody could beat Herb Lindsay, who btw trained with Shorter. He packed it in competitively in his mid 20's, though to this day can still whoop @ss. Had a couple world records and left people for dead at 10 miles. Wish there were more colorful runners like him today.
See Sports Illustrated:
She was undoubtedly great PED or non-PED, but she had only two great years in her career -- 1983 and 1985, so it would hard for me to give the all time best given that. Injuries robbed her of a lot of years but that's the way the cookie crumbled.
e mcd wrote:
Greatest is Mary Decker (pre drug bust). 17 World records/bests, 37 US records over the best distance span of those named. In a really competitive era she was a double world champion. If she'd won Olympic gold there would be no debate.
bluegill wrote:
It would be interesting to look at slices of time. In '79 and '80 nobody could beat Herb Lindsay, who btw trained with Shorter. He packed it in competitively in his mid 20's, though to this day can still whoop @ss. Had a couple world records and left people for dead at 10 miles. Wish there were more colorful runners like him today.
See Sports Illustrated:
http://www.si.com/vault/1980/09/29/825004/herb-lindsay-comes-on-strong-his-physique-seems-better-suited-to-the-backfield-than-the-blacktop-but-the-record-shows-hes-americas-finest-road-racer
I believe a lot of people beat Lindsay in the 1980 OT 10000m.
Yes to Billy Mills.
douglas burke wrote:
1. Lagat- Fast times, championships, longevity. Confirmed doper.
2. Ryun-so talented, no longevity, poorly trained.
3. Rodgers, won New York AND Boston 4 times, raced every week for over a decade at a high level. Better than Shorter.
4. Virgin 2 x World XC champ, no American men have won since. Or will, since they're PC brainwashed cowards.
5. Johnny Gray- 65 times under 1:45, 28 times at 1:44 or better his 10th best time is 1:43.39, longevity at top level. Underrated in his career.
FIFY
[quote]bluegill wrote:
It would be interesting to look at slices of time. In '79 and '80 nobody could beat Herb Lindsay, who btw trained with Shorter. He packed it in competitively in his mid 20's, though to this day can still whoop @ss. Had a couple world records and left people for dead at 10 miles. Wish there were more colorful runners like him today.
Virgin beat him pretty bad at the 10k at the 1980 Olympic Trials
Yep
Gold medal.
Still competitive in her late 50's.
….if Huddle keeps this up, she'll soon 'be in the conversation'!
Deena Kastor on the women's side, her marathon record is by far the most unbeatable out of all AR.