This is an interesting and wrong take on Prefontaine. While it is the case that Nike marketing built the Pre legend, the fact is that he was one of the best (middle-ish) distance runners in the world -- 4th in the olympic 5000m at the age of 21. Quax was eliminated in the heats in that olympics.
And the US did have a few other good distance runners at the time. Perhaps you've heard of Marty Liquori, who also was the best 5k runner in the world at times, and Frank Shorter, who was not quite as good as Pre or Liquori at 5000m, but had some success at longer distances.
You judge them by their best, not by what they might have run at the same event. An Olympic silver medal and a world record always trumps no medals and no world records. Americans simply don't get that outside the US Prefontaine never featured in any discussion of the best in his era. It is as though you have put your version of Brendon Foster on a pedestal.
Liquori was also a very good American runner (as Prefontaine was) but was never amongst the best in his era. Ryun was better (even though he beat him late in Ryun's career), so was Keino, Vasala, and of course Bayi. Rod Dixon's bronze at the 1500m in Munich and the career that followed says he was better. American runners get tremendous hype at home. Internationally, with a few outstanding exceptions, they are mostly just part of the pack. That, too, was Prefontaine.
Liquori was twice ranked #1 in the world in the 1500/mile, and once in the 5000m.
Make up your mind. If the best HS career is defined by the best performance, Hutchins and Cook are superior. If body of work is how we judge, then Tuohy is superior but so is Pre. You lose.
You judge them by their best, not by what they might have run at the same event. An Olympic silver medal and a world record always trumps no medals and no world records. Americans simply don't get that outside the US Prefontaine never featured in any discussion of the best in his era. It is as though you have put your version of Brendon Foster on a pedestal.
Liquori was also a very good American runner (as Prefontaine was) but was never amongst the best in his era. Ryun was better (even though he beat him late in Ryun's career), so was Keino, Vasala, and of course Bayi. Rod Dixon's bronze at the 1500m in Munich and the career that followed says he was better. American runners get tremendous hype at home. Internationally, with a few outstanding exceptions, they are mostly just part of the pack. That, too, was Prefontaine.
Liquori was twice ranked #1 in the world in the 1500/mile, and once in the 5000m.
It seems that puts him higher than Prefontaine internationally, but not equal to or above the other runners I mentioned who either gained championship medals or set world marks - or both. I think Liquori's best performance was to push Bayi to a world record in '75. There are a lot of runners that we can't now remember who happened to have the fastest times in a particular year, who neither won or succeeded on the big stage or who broke a world mark.
Hutchins ran 15:34 on a race with professional runners. Other than that what has she achieved that is in the category of "best" ? Hutchins doesnt have a national title either, Katelyn Tuohy has almost 15 national titles.
You judge them by their best, not by what they might have run at the same event. An Olympic silver medal and a world record always trumps no medals and no world records. Americans simply don't get that outside the US Prefontaine never featured in any discussion of the best in his era. It is as though you have put your version of Brendon Foster on a pedestal.
Liquori was also a very good American runner (as Prefontaine was) but was never amongst the best in his era. Ryun was better (even though he beat him late in Ryun's career), so was Keino, Vasala, and of course Bayi. Rod Dixon's bronze at the 1500m in Munich and the career that followed says he was better. American runners get tremendous hype at home. Internationally, with a few outstanding exceptions, they are mostly just part of the pack. That, too, was Prefontaine.
This is one of the most ignorant posts ever at letsrun. Liquori was a rock star, recognizable at most every airport in Europe and America. Multiple #1 ranked at 1500 and 5000. Number 3 all time in the mile. Winner of the most hyped sporting event of the 70s. Still the youngest ever to make an Olympic 1500 final. I could go on and on.
You judge them by their best, not by what they might have run at the same event. An Olympic silver medal and a world record always trumps no medals and no world records. Americans simply don't get that outside the US Prefontaine never featured in any discussion of the best in his era. It is as though you have put your version of Brendon Foster on a pedestal.
Liquori was also a very good American runner (as Prefontaine was) but was never amongst the best in his era. Ryun was better (even though he beat him late in Ryun's career), so was Keino, Vasala, and of course Bayi. Rod Dixon's bronze at the 1500m in Munich and the career that followed says he was better. American runners get tremendous hype at home. Internationally, with a few outstanding exceptions, they are mostly just part of the pack. That, too, was Prefontaine.
This is one of the most ignorant posts ever at letsrun. Liquori was a rock star, recognizable at most every airport in Europe and America. Multiple #1 ranked at 1500 and 5000. Number 3 all time in the mile. Winner of the most hyped sporting event of the 70s. Still the youngest ever to make an Olympic 1500 final. I could go on and on.
You do. I think you've have just demonstrated how hype trumps results - especially in American sport. So what was the most "hyped sporting event of the 70's"? Something that occurred somewhere in America? Just off the top of my head two events that publicity-wise buried anything in US track were Ali's "rumble in the jungle" and Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs "Battle of the Sexes". Uncomfortable facts - Liquori never medalled at the Olympics or set a world record. Ryun did both. Liquori wasn't in the same league as Keino, Vasala, Bayi and Walker - all of whom won the biggest race in their sport or set world marks - or both. Liquori is second-tier behind the greats in his era - regardless of how many Americans recognized him at airports.
Make up your mind. If the best HS career is defined by the best performance, Hutchins and Cook are superior. If body of work is how we judge, then Tuohy is superior but so is Pre. You lose.
Before my response was deleted - I am not comparing present day college runners at the beginning of their careers, but was commenting about the hype given on these boards to Prefontaine. Because he is American.
I heard that her cross training is going great and she feels confident while Tuohy and the NC State girls are more worried about social media than runnign the race. This is going to be a blowout.
I heard that her cross training is going great and she feels confident while Tuohy and the NC State girls are more worried about social media than runnign the race. This is going to be a blowout.
You heard it from whom?
As for cross-training - if it produces such great results, why isn't everyone doing it? Why hasn't it been the norm for distance runners over the decades?
Cross training isn't optimal. Come on. You know that. But Valby is more talented than the competition. She is a future 14:20 performer as she slowly increases her training.
Cross training isn't optimal. Come on. You know that. But Valby is more talented than the competition. She is a future 14:20 performer as she slowly increases her training.
what I don't follow is of she is so talented, why were her initial hs times so much slower than those of, for example, Tuohy (even in 7-8th grade)?
How about checking the progression of Fisher or Monson or Shweizer? Valby looks pretty similar to most elite Americans. My daughter ran 7 minutes in 8th grade and 4:55 as a senior in high school.