Off the top of my head:
Current elites: hard to argue with Lagat and Tirunesh Dibaba. As someone mentioned, Centro is also smooth as silk.
Collegiates: I've been impressed by Abbey D'Agostino's form lately.
Off the top of my head:
Current elites: hard to argue with Lagat and Tirunesh Dibaba. As someone mentioned, Centro is also smooth as silk.
Collegiates: I've been impressed by Abbey D'Agostino's form lately.
Think Fast wrote:
Good /better/best can be argued endlessly, but when you look for "Iconic" in distance running, there are only two: for the men, Coe (already well covered), and for the women, Decker/Slaney:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRSM7ER0q1M
I guess only white runners count in your mind
Not sure if you can find any video of him, but Rudy Chapa of Oregon in the late 70's/early 80's was outstanding. He was the teammate of Salazar and ran 13:19. Also, Bill McChesney, also of U of O was another one with great form. He has the outdoor collegiate record in the 5,000 at 13:14.
As a suggestion, be real careful in trying to mimic someone else's form. Mechanically everyone is different. If you change your mechanics very much I can just about assure you that you will get injured.
Shalane Flanagan
The one and only ElG. Jim Ryun had a beautiiful stride once he opened up.
Byron Dyce-800m/1500m . Ran for Florida Tc in 70's . Marty Liquori and Barry Brown maintained that he should have been the first runner to run sub 3;50 /mile .
Kipketer
Lagat
Gebre
Very suprised Wilson Kipketer doesnt get mentioned that much.
It's like he defied gravity, so smooth & aerial when running.
For current elites it is hard to find better form than Lagat's as others have said. He is smooth and efficient. No wasted motion.
Actually, Liquori had a strong, well-balanced stride himself. Also fancied Dixon's style, though he was more power than smooth.
12GREG08 wrote:
Byron Dyce-800m/1500m . Ran for Florida Tc in 70's . Marty Liquori and Barry Brown maintained that he should have been the first runner to run sub 3;50 /mile .
Hicham El G, guy was a stallion.
Pat Porter...............
For me, it has to be Kipketer, hands down. I miss watching him run, and I don't know if I'll ever see another like him during our time:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_S_Z7Psv_OD4/TGdzL4Z_dII/AAAAAAAAAgU/wKcfCq9grDQ/s640/wilson+kipketer+1.bmp
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQLp9r0_Eiqh1GjxoqgVksWFoJc0RepY4O__lYD00c9EZj9ZdDrEWoEGdFu
I can barely get my feet off the ground the last 100m of an 800m, but Wilson's heels are always still coming up to his butt and his knees are just as high as the start of the race. It's sickening.
To me, Coe leans back and sticks out his chest a little. Love watching him race, but not because of his form.
Brad Barquist....seriouly. All American at Michigan back in the late 80's early 90's. 10,000 meter runner for US olympic team in 92. Absolutely beautiful running form. Hard to get any video...but those who saw him, I'm sure would agree.
Shorter.
Have to agree with Hicham, and Mary Slaney on the female side. Lagat is beautiful to watch, but he never could match El G.
Then there's Ovett...
Coe.
I have to agree with Evelyn Ashford
Emil Zatopek.. haha jk
Greg Fredericks
