Where Does Bob Kennedy's Career Rank?

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2 months ago 03/13/2026 11:19am EDT

re: McRunnin

Since Bob Kennedy I'd say a handful of people have had better careers. Obviously Rupp, Fisher, Lagat as they've run fast and won medals and won US titles. Chelimo I'd say also did better because he's got the olympic silver medal. I'm keeping middle distance out of it, but Hocker now has a world title at Kennedy's main distance and has run sub 13 so he's had a better few years. Argument for Solinsky. Kennedy was running in the US dark ages so he looked exceptionally good, kind of like how Rupp was looking around 2012. If Rupp were at his 2012 level right now he wouldn't be so dominant with the likes of Fisher and Hocker and others not far behind. Kennedy and Rupp were the clear dominant US runner of their eras so they seemed better because of it.

2 months ago 03/13/2026 11:34am EDT

re: wejo

wejo wrote:
We were discussing in the house today what do we call Kennedy ie how do we rank him.
And someone said, "Best American long distance (above the mile) (track) runner ever". The argument was that although Kennedy never got a medal, the guys who did competed when the sport was far from a global sport so their accomplishments are not as impressive.
So the question is where do you rank Kennedy? What do you say when discussing his career?
Just wanted to get the discussion started.

Kennedy was racing during the careers of Haile G and Daniel Komen (Still considered legends) NOT GLOBAL?? Track was dominated by Kenya, Ethiopia, Algeria and Morocco with a spattering of Europeans here and there in the 80's and 90's. Their accomplishments were sure impressive at the time. You could argue that it wasn't a global sport in the 1950's but not in the 90's. Maybe its an American bias because entire the continents of North and South America were non-factors at global championships? Mexico and South America had a few stars in the 80's but careers were waning by the early 90's.

As for the question: He has to be considered one of the greatest Americans ever just for being the first under 13 minutes for 5000m if nothing else.

2 months ago 03/14/2026 6:53am EDT

re: Do not worry it is only pain

Do not worry it is only pain wrote:
wejo wrote:
We were discussing in the house today what do we call Kennedy ie how do we rank him.
And someone said, "Best American long distance (above the mile) (track) runner ever". The argument was that although Kennedy never got a medal, the guys who did competed when the sport was far from a global sport so their accomplishments are not as impressive.
So the question is where do you rank Kennedy? What do you say when discussing his career?
Just wanted to get the discussion started.
Kennedy was racing during the careers of Haile G and Daniel Komen (Still considered legends) NOT GLOBAL?? Track was dominated by Kenya, Ethiopia, Algeria and Morocco with a spattering of Europeans here and there in the 80's and 90's. Their accomplishments were sure impressive at the time. You could argue that it wasn't a global sport in the 1950's but not in the 90's. Maybe its an American bias because entire the continents of North and South America were non-factors at global championships? Mexico and South America had a few stars in the 80's but careers were waning by the early 90's.
As for the question: He has to be considered one of the greatest Americans ever just for being the first under 13 minutes for 5000m if nothing else.

You misread the post. He was talking about the "guys who did (win a 5k medal)", so Bob Schul (1964), Bill Dellinger (1964), Ralph Hill (1932), and saying that at that earlier time it wasn't global.

also note that you are responding to a 20-year-old comment, so this was before Fisher or Chelimo (2x) won their medals.

2 months ago 03/14/2026 7:21am EDT

re: wejo

2 months ago 03/15/2026 4:36pm EDT

re: wejo

source:

alltime-athletics.com

Men's 5000m

5000, 5000m, 5000 meters, statistics

Open link

You're also forgetting

Young 12:45

Fisher 12:46

Blanks 12:48

Lagat 12:53

Kincaid 12:54

Teare 12:54

Klecker 12:55

Solinsky 12:55

Ritezhein 12:56

Chelimo 12:57

Tegenkamp 12:57

Kennedy 12:58.21

Hocker 12:58.30

Lomong 12:58.78

Rupp 12:58.90

Centrowitz 13:00.39

2 months ago 03/16/2026 9:42am EDT

re: armchairexpert

armchairexpert wrote:
source:
Link:www.alltime-athletics.com/m_5000ok.htm
You're also forgetting
Young 12:45
Fisher 12:46
Blanks 12:48
Lagat 12:53
Kincaid 12:54
Teare 12:54
Klecker 12:55
Solinsky 12:55
Ritezhein 12:56
Chelimo 12:57
Tegenkamp 12:57
Kennedy 12:58.21
Hocker 12:58.30
Lomong 12:58.78
Rupp 12:58.90
Centrowitz 13:00.39

About 7 or 8 of these guys have as high of a finish or higher than Kenedy ever did at the olympics/world championships. People will say it's all because of the spikes, but all these guys are competitive on the world level. Kenedy was 15+ seconds off the world lead in his era for 5000 meters

2 months ago 03/16/2026 10:12am EDT

re: Hot Takes

Hot Takes wrote:
armchairexpert wrote:
source:
Link:www.alltime-athletics.com/m_5000ok.htm
You're also forgetting
Young 12:45
Fisher 12:46
Blanks 12:48
Lagat 12:53
Kincaid 12:54
Teare 12:54
Klecker 12:55
Solinsky 12:55
Ritezhein 12:56
Chelimo 12:57
Tegenkamp 12:57
Kennedy 12:58.21
Hocker 12:58.30
Lomong 12:58.78
Rupp 12:58.90
Centrowitz 13:00.39
About 7 or 8 of these guys have as high of a finish or higher than Kenedy ever did at the olympics/world championships. People will say it's all because of the spikes, but all these guys are competitive on the world level. Kenedy was 15+ seconds off the world lead in his era for 5000 meters

Because no reliable test for EPO

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