Jesse Owens is the most over rated sprinter in history. The guy had a 3-7 record vs Temples Eulace Peacock, he once lost five races in a row to Peacock. Injuries to Peacock ruined his Olympic hopes in 1936. Owens lost to Ralph Metcalf numerous times, was beaten by James "Who?" Johnson at our 35 Nationals. Owens was the greatest long jumper ever up to Ralph Boston in the 60's.
Tommie Smith held 11 world records, he was the first sub 44.00 4x4 relayer, his 19.5 200 straight was considered to be the greatest mark in the spors histrory at that time. He beat the great Lee Evans in the 400 and ran down the soon to be Olympic 100m champ Jimmy Hines on a pre Olympics 4x1 anchor leg. Smith has to be on that Mount Rushmore for sprinters.
I worked with Willie Neal the uncle of NFL fullback Lorenzo Neal, he ran with Tommie while at Lemoore high school, they were good friends. He talked about how all that raised fist stuff was because of pressure from Tommie's wife, she was the one pushing that stuff not Tommie In his book "Blackthink" Jesse Owens says the same thing, more about doing what the wife wanted.
Bob Hayes was the first sub 6.0 60 cat, histories first sub 10.00 on dirt (windy) twice ran a 200m world record, ran the 100 yard world record at 9.3, 9.2 and a gang of 9.1's. From the beginning of time up to the arrival of Bob Hayes nobody in history had ever ran faster. That Olympic 4x1 anchor the greatest display of speed ever seen up to 1964. If hed stayed in the sport he's beatng Hines UP in Mexico City in 68, 9.85 sounds about right.
Obviously Bolt has to be there and we can go with Johnson also for obvious reasons.
How about
1.Bolt
2.MJ
3.Tommie Smith
4.Bob Hayes
Carl Lewis the greatest track AND field athlete.