BEST KICKERS OF ALL TIME

lasse viren of finland, are we all forgetting how he fell down in 72 in the 10,000 got back up and still won in world record time, and then doubled winning the 5000 meters with a final 200 meter kick to win it.

He is apparently the next coach at UTEP starting in the fall. But yes, he did run for Virginia.

It's called SISU in Finland

I will say that Khalid Skah closing in a last 100m in a 27.17 10000m in 11,2 sek is a clear vinner!!!!! Chebi ran 50 sec in a 8.30 3000m.... That´s a huge difference!

everyone agree?

Seeing as this topic arises from time to time, I'll post this message that appeared on the t-and-f list (ca. 1994):

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 94 18:14:26 CST

From: Keiron D Bailey

Subject: Re: Vaatainen / fast kicksOn Wed, 30 Mar 1994, Dr. Lesley wrote:> It is also interesting to compare kicks at the end of various distances.> A 53 at the end of an 800 is very good indeed.Yes-but that depends on the speed of the first 400! For instance, in 1958 at the Empire Games in Cardiff Herb Elliott ran a 50 sec last 440y: off a first lap of 58!Sebastian Coe's second lap at the 1986 European Champs was a really impressive run. Despite his terrible tactical positioning (he was knocked out of the pack round the turn at 500 and was a couple of meters back on the second last guy, on the border between lanes 2 and 3) he produced a second lap of 51.9 (off a first of 52.6) for a 1:44.50.> I don't think Wottle finished that fast. Yet some 5000s > are finished in that range. The most striking> case I ever saw was in Helsinki '83. The last 300 of the > 1500 was about 39 seconds, as was the last 300 of the > 10000, which was run near 28 minutes. I think that the > 1500 was run slower than 3 40. Miruts Yifter's last 200's> were consistently faster than those of the contemporary > 800 meter runners. There must be something about that 51 second start.....Yes. You can't "kick" off a fast 800meter pace. As far as other fast finishes go, here are some more middle-distance performances to add to the ones that have already been contributed....At 800Sebastian Coe Ecup79 200 in 24.1 for 1:46.3Tom McKean, Nixon Kiprotich and Jens-Peter Herold in the 1989 World Cup 200 in 24.9 for 1:44.94/1:45.03/1:45.09At 1500Said Aouita Grosseto 84 300 in 36 for 3:34.81Sebastian Coe OG 84 400 in 53.0 for 3:32.53Steve Cram and Jose-Luis Gonzalez in the 1987 European Cup 400 in 49.9 for 3:45.5Abdi Bile, Sebastian Coe and Jens-Peter Herold in the 1989 World Cup 300 in 37.7/37.8 for 3:35.57/3:35.7Nourredine Morceli WC91 400 in 51.4 for 3:32.85Nourredine Morceli WC93 400 in 50.6 for 3:34.23At 5000Said Aouita Oslo 85 400 in 53.9 for 13:00.40WR (pursued by Maree)Said Aouita WC 87 400 in 52.8 for 13:26.3Dieter Baumann OG 92 200 in 24.9 for a 13:12.5.[my addition ]{ Nourredin Morceli Zurich 17.8.94 400 in 51.93 for 13:03.xx one of best 5000m fields ever!}At 10000Juha Vaatainen EC 71 400 in 52.8 for 27:51? (not sure about the total)Fita Bayesa Oslo 92 400 in 53.9 for 27:15 (Chelimo 54.8 same race)Keiron

Szabo, Adere, Tulu and definitely not Radcliff. Yes, women run too.

Do remember Seko's 11sec 100m came at the end of a marathon ..

To me that is absolutely awesome .. he smiled on the victory podium afterwards and his coach sadi : 'That was a mistake'

The characters of the world of running

Best kicker of all time was Tom Dempsey. That half footed cripple still holds the record for the longest field goal in NFL history. How 'bout that?!

What sport was that again? Oh rugby or something....no one cares!

Yes but specifically WHAT RACE?

I'm glad someone mentioned Aouita, who closed out his 13:04 in L.A. with a 1:53 last half. Coe finished his last 300 in the 1500 at L.A. in 38.5, outkicking Cram, who would soon run 3:46 for the mile. Those were two of the most devastating kicks that I've ever seen in person--both on the same day!

Wottle and Marsh also deserve major props for consistently coming from so far back in the pack to win or to place in the mix, much like the Russian kid does now in the 800. However, Y.B. doesn't really kick, he just runs a pair of 52s.

how about gezahegne abera, not too shabby, huh? this after 25 miles of 5 minute miles, he would be the best.

TRUE DAT'

Unbelievable Dream Finishes**:

Abdi Bile-1:46.0 last 800m of a 3:35 1500m

Derartu Tulu-winning her first Oly gold running last 400m in 60.5 of a sub 30:20 10000m

Cream of the Crop:

Haile Gebrselassie

Christopher Kosgei (steepler)

Hicham El Guerrouj

Noureddine Morceli

Derartu Tulu

Abdi Bile

Said Aouita

Gabriella Szabo

Berhane Adere

Mirtus Yifter

Today's rising stars:

Abraham Chebii

Kenenisa Bekele

High school:

Ari Lambie

**non-duplicated performances, may not happen for another 50 years or more IF EVER.

SEKO, I hope that was just a really bad attempt at a joke-11sec last 100m hmmm...

Ill have to agree on the Abdi Belai call made, 1.46 last 800m of a 15 is as good as your going to see.

Krummenacker wrote:Unbelievable Dream Finishes**:Abdi Bile-1:46.0 last 800m of a 3:35 1500mDerartu Tulu-winning her first Oly gold running last 400m in 60.5 of a sub 30:20 10000mCream of the Crop:Haile GebrselassieChristopher Kosgei (steepler)Hicham El GuerroujNoureddine MorceliDerartu TuluAbdi BileSaid AouitaGabriella SzaboBerhane AdereMirtus YifterToday's rising stars:Abraham ChebiiKenenisa BekeleHigh school:Ari Lambie**non-duplicated performances, may not happen for another 50 years or more IF EVER.

No other race(s) or athletes compares to Abdi Bile World 1500m win and Derartu Tulu Olympic 10000m victory.

I think Christopher kosgei(STEEPLER) the eldest brother of Stephen Cherono and Abraham Cherono

Yeah they are brothers, thats one fast family. Those three guys could have gone 1-2-3 in like any distance race at USATFs, and its just one family.

As for women's kickers.

-Derartu Tulu, 60.28 at the onf 30:17, plus lots of other big race, big kick wins.

-Szabo, her kick is her trademark, shes closed in like 61 for 3k and 5k

-Adere, an up and comer, but she ran down Szabo a few times and has shown some real wheels so she makes the list.

In response to the best finishes in a 800m race, you left off Jim Ryun's WORLD RECORD run in which he split 53, and came back with a 51.