Where does Rupp come in your all-time greatest American distance runner list?

I haven't read the entire thread but I am surprised no one has mentioned Craig Virgin as a potential top 5. 2 World XC titles and he was just a few years behind Pre with better PRs as well.

Larry Dickman wrote:

Shorter has a gold and silver in the Olympic marathon. Can you imagine the orgasm the fanboys here where would have if one of the modern idols did this?

Like when Meb won the Silver in the 2004 Olympic Marathon? I wasn't on Let's Run so I don't know the orgasm factor. Don't forget Meb also held the American Record in the 10,000 for many years.

Rupp is still a work in progress. He has at least two more chances at medals in the next World Championships and Olympics. I imagine he'll start doing more speedwork now and mix it up in some shorter DL races. Hopefully he can bring down the soft 5000 AR to a more respectable 12:44-48.

Rupp will win a global 10k gold before he's done.

No love for Billy Mills huh... Olympic Gold medal, 2 American Records doesn't get you in the top 5 discussion? With that logic, I suppose if Nurmi were American he'd not be in the top 10 because his times from the 1920s don't compare to today...

Depends on if you are only ranking on time or achievements. What about panache? What about braggadocio (hyping themselves, but then backing up with gutsy performances, ala Prefontaine)? What about how they treat other athletes? I'm not saying Rupp is lower because of these, just throwing other ideas into the mix besides times. And, no, I'm not one of those social-club-Runners-World-jogger types either.

Fastnbulbous wrote:

Larry Dickman wrote:

Shorter has a gold and silver in the Olympic marathon. Can you imagine the orgasm the fanboys here where would have if one of the modern idols did this?

Like when Meb won the Silver in the 2004 Olympic Marathon? I wasn't on Let's Run so I don't know the orgasm factor. Don't forget Meb also held the American Record in the 10,000 for many years.

We can definitely add Meb to that list!

Frank, though . . . pretty impressive. Only American gold in Olympic marathon. American marathon record, twice broke the American 10K record. 4 time national cross county champion.

perspective? wrote:

No love for Billy Mills huh... Olympic Gold medal, 2 American Records doesn't get you in the top 5 discussion? With that logic, I suppose if Nurmi were American he'd not be in the top 10 because his times from the 1920s don't compare to today...

I was going to say this. Medals, world rankings, and races against the best matter. American records are great but a notch or two below the other things.

1. Shorter

2. Ryun

3. & 4. Mills & Schul

5. & 6. Sort of a tossup between Rupp and Virgin - world cross, especially back then, is a kind of a big deal, as is Oly Silver in 2012.

9TH

lolcats wrote:

I haven't read the entire thread but I am surprised no one has mentioned Craig Virgin as a potential top 5. 2 World XC titles and he was just a few years behind Pre with better PRs as well.

It surprises me that you can know who has been mentioned without reading the whole thread.

word. wrote:

gale force wrote:

After running 26.44 tonight and with his other ARs.

What other ARs?

3000m indoor, 2 mile indoor (held twice), 5000m indoor (held twice), ring a bell?

Haha aren't you the same moron who thought he could break 12 in the 100?

Why not separate runners by generation instead of comparing all of them head-to-head. I don't think you can truly and fairly compare runners like Rupp and Nuurmi.

OK OK, not Nuurmi but you get my point.

Why are you lot unable to seperate middle distance and long distance. It's a different event

just sayin, Rupp could have multiple USA XC titles if his focus was on that & not burning up the indoor track. just different priorities now versus guys like Shorter, Virgin, etc. in the 70s/80s

also, we have a LOOOONG way to go in terms of seeing what Rupp does on the roads. he & AlSal are METICULOUS...if he continues to take care of himself AND has the desire to compete at a high level, he could be dominant on the US roads from ages 30-40. think about it, Geb is 13 or so years older than Rupp and still running near 60min for HMs.

He's an outstanding runner, but if he wants to join the pantheon of greatest American distance runners, he's gotta either win world gold, or set a world record. Because his times are great, but he's capable of a lot more in world class competition. He can do it. He just needs to set his sights a bit higher.

1. Frank Shorter

2. Jim Ryun

3. Galen Rupp

4. Meb Keflezighi

5. Steve Prefontaine

I know that people on this site like to make fun of Rupp because he doesn’t seem to exude the charisma of Prefontaine. But I have never seen a runner who has been more consistent throughout his career from HS, through college and into the pros than Rupp.

It seems like almost every time Rupp is called upon to deliver something that could be important for T&F, he does. Whether a 13:37 5k in HS, his contributions to his college, his 10k American records, his Olympic medal and several American records that he achieved to create interest in the sport.

There were so many times that he was placed under great pressure and almost every time he seemed to handle it with a unique professionalism.

I have no doubt that Prefontaine would have been honored to have known Galen Rupp.

Frank Shorter was in a different era and does not even merit consideration regardless of his medals. Jim Ryun was in a different era but was so far beyond the field that it is hard to place him. Prefontaine has clearly passed the torch to Rupp. Meb has done great things in the marathon, but his 10k record has been destroyed by Rupp.

If Rupp continues on his current path, he will clearly be the greatest American raised distance runner in the last 40 years.

How far back does our memory stretch, and are we including steeplers? If so, Horace Ashenfelter, won an olympic gold and set the world record in the steeple in 1952. Not to mention he was a four time US Champion, and had five Milrose two-mile wins. I'd say he deserves to be the discussion.