Who are some names of least known great distance runners?

As far as longetivity I would say Steve Scott among Americans. He was truly world class from 1977 until 1988. He was second to Coe at Oslo in Coe's World record of 3:49.0.

He just missed Coe's WR in 1982 with his 3:47.79 (I'm guessing about the 10ths.) and he beat Coe and won Zurich in 1985. And placed 5th at 88 Olympics.

Liquori's career spanned from 1968-1980. He was the number one miler in the world in 1970 and I think 1971 also. He ran 3:52 in Bayi's WR in 1975 or 74. He was injured in 76 and again in 1980. So erase 76 and 80 and Scott edges him out by one year.

I really loved Marty's auto-biography "On the Run" as a youngster. The first running book I ever read. He definitely tried to make a claim that longetivity and consistency was a better factor of determining an athlete's impact than performing great only in the Olympics, ala Viren.

Great thread.

Couple things.

1. Sadly, Fred Norris passed away a few weeks ago.

www.guardian.co.uk/otherlives/story/0,,1991803,00.html

2. Maybe I missed some humorous intent, but Viren DID outkick Yifter in 1972, though not of course, in 1976 for obvious reasons.

3. Vaatainen's two 400 "prs" can be seen on YouTube.

Search Euro champs 1971 5000 and (ditto) 10000.

It is heartstopping indeed. I had never seen it, having only become sentient, runningwise, in 1972. Heard a lot of talk about JV on TV during Munich.

I always had the impression that even though he wasn't in the final, JV's aura added to Viren's (oh no, another flying finn) and made Bedford panic.

4. No one has mentioned Mark Conover and Danny Grimes,

worthy successors of Smead, Scobey and Tuttle!

A little story you might like. Anyone who follows the sport closely would know that marathoner Jeff Wells had one of the nastiest finishing kicks of any American distance runner ever. Not much of a speedster anywhere else except the last lap of a race, Wells could somehow find the gear that he needed.

At Helsinki in 1978 I watched the good Reverend almost gun down Suleiman Nyambui in a 5000, coming from way back, possibly as much as 50 meters with 200 to go, and falling just short. Excited and animated as ever, I come running across the field yelling "Vah-tay-nen! Vah-tay-nen! Vah-tay-nen!" to Jeff. The Rev, in his deadpan manner and Texas drawl, quietly countered, "Ain't no Vat'nin, malmo. Ain't no Vat'nin."

Suomi:

As you probably know, Arthur Lydiard insisted, when he was the national coach at Finland, to send Vasala to Mexico City Olympics for his experience. He was dead last in the heat but it helped him for 1972 Games because he's already "been there, done that." Arthur loved to talk about Vasala because he was such a strong proponent for the Lydiard hill bounding.

When you look at Vasala's running form on Youtube (Munich 1500) that hill bounding comment makes much sense.

Could he have beaten Wottle?

desert rodent wrote:

Suomi:

As you probably know, Arthur Lydiard insisted, when he was the national coach at Finland, to send Vasala to Mexico City Olympics for his experience. He was dead last in the heat but it helped him for 1972 Games because he's already "been there, done that." Arthur loved to talk about Vasala because he was such a strong proponent for the Lydiard hill bounding.

When you look at Vasala's running form on Youtube (Munich 1500) that hill bounding comment makes much sense.

Could he have beaten Wottle?

yes on 20/8/72 he ran 1:44.5 only 0.2 seconds behind Wottles PR of the same year. It would certainly have been close.

Kenny Moore

Fermin Cacho. No one has mentioned him yet! 3:28.94 PR in 1500 meters. Olympic gold medal in 1500 meters.

Jens-Peter Herold. World ranked in top 10 in 1500 meters every year from 1987-1992.

Daniel Komen, Until letsrun, I had never heard him mentioned before, he is like if bannister went sub 4, twice, and no one ever could afterwards.

Peter Rono, Olympic champion in 1988 for 1500 meters.

(Komen's rabbit was mentioned on p. 4)

Living in the Past wrote:

Fermin Cacho. No one has mentioned him yet! 3:28.94 PR in 1500 meters. Olympic gold medal in 1500 meters.

Jens-Peter Herold. World ranked in top 10 in 1500 meters every year from 1987-1992.

LITP, you're an idiot. Cacho's best time in the 1500 meters was 3:28.95. Get your facts straight before you post.

what a great thread

For the Australian women: Libby Hassell

For the men: Steve Foley (ah what could have been)

I have been racking my brain since this am tryig to remember the name of the Australian Woman who broke the world record for the marathon. It came to me on a painful run this pm. (Lyme disease is really taking it's toll)

Adriene Beames (sp?) She smashed the WR only to be disqualified by the AAA for running the marathon.(1970 or 71?) You want to see a ton of unrecognized runners? Look no further than some of the ladies from down under who were villified for trying to compete under archaic rules.

Jim Beatty, who ran the first sub-4 minute mile indoors on Feb. 10, 1962 in 3:58.9. Beatty broke his own world indoor record a year later, running 3:58.6 at the old Madison Square Garden's 11 laps-to-the mile track. He also won the 1962 Sullivan Award as the nation's outstanding amateur athlete.

Jurgen May a 3:54 miler in 1966, Merv Lincoln, a 3:55 miler in the late 50's (who was always overshadowed by countryman and world mile record holder Herb Elliott), Pete McArdle, Bill Crothers.

Franz-Josef Kemper, who ran 1:44.9 for 800 meters in 1966, but had the misfortune to be in the same era as Peter Snell and Jim Ryun.

Fanatic wrote:

Franz-Josef Kemper, who ran 1:44.9 for 800 meters in 1966, but had the misfortune to be in the same era as Peter Snell and Jim Ryun.

He also had the misfortune of competing against Dave Wottle in the 1972 Olympic 800 meters.

Gianni Poli of Italy. Winner of the NYC Marathon in 1986; defeated Rob de Castella in that race. Had a marathon PR of 2:09:57 (fourth in Chicago 1985).

Orlando Pizzolato, also of Italy. Won NYC Marathon in 1984 and 1985.

Hans Grodotzki