Farah is better than all of them, career-wise.
Farah is better than all of them, career-wise.
He hasn’t challenged for a medal at the world level like the others have, but his longevity and the fact that he’s running basically at his best in his mid 30s definitely puts him up there.
$how me the money wrote:
Whichever one made the most in endorsements money had the best career
PREACH
Rupp
The main challenge in comparing Lomong to the other four is that he doesn't have an exceptional performance in any event.
Webb's mile, Ritz and Teg both breaking 13 and Hall's 2:06 marathon in London and 2:04 in Boston* are all "landmark type" performances. Lomong doesn't have anything of this type on his CV.
*- wind aided
fano wrote:
The main challenge in comparing Lomong to the other four is that he doesn't have an exceptional performance in any event.
Webb's mile, Ritz and Teg both breaking 13 and Hall's 2:06 marathon in London and 2:04 in Boston* are all "landmark type" performances. Lomong doesn't have anything of this type on his CV.
*- wind aided
Yeah, I think those guys burned brighter but they burned shorter. Lomong first qualified for the Olympics for 2008, then he just did so again for 2020. That's 12 years. The others were more competitive at a global level over a much shorter time period. Ritz had a long career but he really only had a couple years where he was more competitive than Lomong. So it depends how you weigh these accomplishments and on what you consider a "career".
ncrecuvuer wrote:
Primo Numero Uno wrote:
Nope. Lomong has never been a player on the world stage, the others have been.
Lomong has never been a threat to get near the podium of a global championship of a Major marathon.
Don't get me wrong he's had a great career and many would love to have it. Plus he has a great story. But the others all moved the needle in American distance running, maybe not Teg. Lomong was never at that level although he has better longevity than all except Ritz, although Ritz has had many injuries.
You have a point. He's just very good at showing up at US Championships. Webb, Ritz, Teg, and debatably Hall have all at least tasted being near the top in the world. Lomong has been more consistent and even all over.
Just based on international contention, Webb, Teg and Ritz, but Ritz's 2:07 gives him the edge. Webb had range and a world class phase but didn't produce at global champs. Teg was sub 13 and had that 4th place at World's, but he didn't do a ton outside the 5k. Had a short 10k career that didn't do a ton. Ritz was sub 13, competitive at the 10k and one of the fastest American marathoners.
I agree over a period of time, Lomong will prove out to be one of the best. National titles mean a little more to him as his path in life to get US citizenship wasn't easy. His titles are in the record books, the top finishes here and there by all the others are just that, side notes, obscure details that are important to a very few.
More important with age Lomong is getting faster.
Given his current 10k, I think on a fast course he is capable of a 2:07 marathon at some point.
Ryan Deak, Esq. wrote:
mtlno wrote:
Lomong is younger and didn’t have to compete for titles against the two best American distance runners in their primes (Lagat and Rupp).
WTF??? Rupp and Lomong both graduated HS in 2004. They both ran Footlocker XC Nats together. They ran head to head in the NCAA for a few years and as pros after.
As for Lagat, sure his FASTEST years were previous to Lomong's career, but in terms of competing as an American, the crossover is crystal clear...
Lagat:
Seven-time USATF Outdoor 5,000m champion – 2006 (13:14.32); 2007 (13:45.87); 2008 (13:27.47); 2010 (13:54.08); 2011 (13:23.06); 2013 (14:54.16); 2014 (13:31.41)
Three-time USATF Indoor 3,000m champion – 2010 (8:12.60); 2011 (7:57.17); 2014 (7:46.01)
Two-time USATF Outdoor 1,500m champion - 2006 (3:39.29); 2008 (3:40.37)
2012 Olympic Trials 5,000m runner-up (13:22.82)
2011 USATF Outdoor 1,500m runner-up (3:47.96))
Lomong:
Two-time USA Outdoor 1,500m champion – 2009 (3:41.68); 2010 (3:50.83)
2014 USA Indoor 1,500m champion (3:43.09)
2012 USA Indoor 3,000m runner-up (7:51.75)
Third 2008 Olympic Trials 1,500m (3:41.00)
Third at 2012 Olympic Trials 5,000m (13:24.47)
Third at 2013 USA Outdoor championships 1,500m (3:45.69)
I said that Lomong was younger than the people the OP compared him to, not Rupp. When doing a title comparison, you have to acknowledge that Lomong is winning titles after Lagat and Rupp’s peak track times.
David S wrote:
fano wrote:
The main challenge in comparing Lomong to the other four is that he doesn't have an exceptional performance in any event.
Webb's mile, Ritz and Teg both breaking 13 and Hall's 2:06 marathon in London and 2:04 in Boston* are all "landmark type" performances. Lomong doesn't have anything of this type on his CV.
*- wind aided
Yeah, I think those guys burned brighter but they burned shorter. Lomong first qualified for the Olympics for 2008, then he just did so again for 2020. That's 12 years. The others were more competitive at a global level over a much shorter time period. Ritz had a long career but he really only had a couple years where he was more competitive than Lomong. So it depends how you weigh these accomplishments and on what you consider a "career".
Are you from the future?
Uh, Lomong hasn’t qualified for 2020. You must be an armchair QB, eh?
Add another US title for Lomong after he won the 2019 5k
Not sure what constitutes challenging for a medal, but with one lap to go in the 2012 Olympic 5000m final, Lomong came up alongside Farah at the front. (Before getting smoked.)
mtlno wrote:
Ryan Deak, Esq. wrote:
WTF??? Rupp and Lomong both graduated HS in 2004. They both ran Footlocker XC Nats together. They ran head to head in the NCAA for a few years and as pros after.
As for Lagat, sure his FASTEST years were previous to Lomong's career, but in terms of competing as an American, the crossover is crystal clear...
I said that Lomong was younger than the people the OP compared him to, not Rupp. When doing a title comparison, you have to acknowledge that Lomong is winning titles after Lagat and Rupp’s peak track times.
Gotcha, didn't read it how you intended the reference to the big three.
I would still counter your point on Rupp. His track peak was clearly 2010-2016, with Lopez' best times being between 2009-2014, with 5000m coming into the mix more in 2012-2015+.
PRs: Ritz
Olympic teams: Ritz
NCAA titles: Lomong
US titles: Lomong
WC/Oly medals: tie for zero
If Lomong can medal at WC he takes the second place queen's crown of US distance runners of this generation.
The King is Rupp.
Dril wrote:
PRs: Ritz
Olympic teams: Ritz
NCAA titles: Lomong
US titles: Lomong
WC/Oly medals: tie for zero
If Lomong can medal at WC he takes the second place queen's crown of US distance runners of this generation.
The King is Rupp.
Correction
WC/Oly medals: Ritz - 3rd place in the half marathon WCs
Ritz has had a better career- mostly because he a complete runner.