BEST KICKERS OF ALL TIME

nick lowery

Back in the day, I'd watch Coghlan run the mile where he'd be in about 6th or 8th place with a lap to go, and then drop the hammer and blow by everyone in front of him. Awesome!

What year did Khalid Skah outkick Geb in a 5K?

Up until Kamathi in 2001, I had never really heard of someone flat out owning Geb in a sprint.

At times like in Zurich against Komen he had no kick and was gapped or in 1993 against Ishmael Kirui he left his kick too late and could not catch him, but when did Skah outsprint Geb?

Zurich? What year?

Seb Coe - could kick and kick again. Mick McLeod - silver in the LA Olympics 10,000. 'Mick the Kick'. Son, Ryan, now starting out and beginning to come through the UK junior rankings.

He may not be the most liked guy around, but remember that Geb has only been (really) out kicked by Skah and the only person (that I know of) to really out kick Skah was Davis (the DOC himself)....

Where does Davis rank?

How many people could've been waiting at the 800 to go mark, fresh, then outkick Bile when he finsihed in 1:46.0? Just a handful of people in the world. Far more could be waiting and run a :51 or :24 or :11. All the people and races mentioned have been awesome, but Bile's 1500 stands out imho.

Norpoth once ran the last 600m of a 5k in 1:19.2. That is an unbelievable time, especially considering it was on cinders at the end of a 5k.

The best kicker or kick of all-time has to be Abdi Bile's 1500m World Championship win (last 800m 1:46.0) The kid blow down everyone doors and I agree even Bile himself never displayed that type of superhuman closing ability.

Hicham, Seb Coe, F. Cacho, or Noureddine never displayed that ability in the hundred and hundered of races they have run and yet they recieve numerous mentions.

~~When a 10000m man runs a (27:45 or faster) decent world class time and run his last 3000m in 7:45-or-

~~5000m man run (13:19 or faster) and his last 1500m in 3:41.5 etc

then you will have found someone who kick may EQUAL what Abdi Bile did in his 3:35 1500m (1:46.0 last 800m).

Vipam

That is a great point Vipam. Much Respect.

Adam Vintari

BUT, yall leaving out Kipketer! how about in Stockholm in 1997 when he equalled the World Record for 800m (1min41.73) and closed out in 25.4

and the World Champs in Gotebörg 1995 - 11.7 for the final 100m winning in 1min45.something (low 1.45)

and a point - people are blowing their loads over Chebii whatever - but you are missing the essence of a kick - its not neccessarily the final rate you are going, but the amount of acceleration in the shortest possible distance - and for that, and every genuine tack-knower will tell you, that the best three guys ever, were Miruts Yifter, Steve Ovett, and Peter Snell.

Mirus Yefter.

OK sure

I have to disagree with you a kick is not about acceleration

in the shortest distance possible...that is simply acceleration. A kick will have a few different definations depending upon who you ask; however, when speaking of the best kick or kicker- the qualification is simply-its someone who have closed out their race at an increased speed faster than anyone. The 800m is ruled out becaused many of the greats aren't kicking they are simply slowly down the least.

I am CURIOUS can anyone name another (besides Abdi) athlete who could/have close out a 3:35 1500m with his last 800m in 1:46.0?

Not even the great Coe, Cacho, Cram, Aoutia, El Guerrouj, Morceli, Ryun, Elliot, Spivey, or any other miler came close to running the equivalent of two 53.0 second back to back 400m at the end of ANY 1500m!

The individual who picked Abdi Bile first was absolutely right THAT 1:46.0 WAS THE BEST KICK IN ANY RACE ANY DISTANCE, EVER!

Vipam

Vipam - a few thoughts. Firstly I disagree with you. A 1:46:00 last 800m is phenomenal, but it isn't a 'kick'. If anything it's almost the opposite of a kick. A kick, in my view, is a short burst of acceleration - usually occuring during the last 100m, 200, or perhaps 300m of a distance race.

Furthermore you say "speaking of the best kick or kicker- the qualification is simply-its someone who have closed out their race at an increased speed faster than anyone" What happens if someone finishes faster than anyone else in a race but doesn't win? (or get a medal or qualify for the final or whatever). John Mayock has a great kick - it's sure been useful over the years as he flew round the last lap in all those GP meets, moving up from 10th to 8th.

A successful kicker gets himself (of herself) in the right place at the right time and, usually though not always, kicks first. A good kick, which usually only needs to be held for 10-15m opens up a winning gap. Guys with that talent include Snell, Ovett, Coe, Yifter, Cacho, Geb and a few others. Chebii looks like he may well join the list of great kickers.

By the way Finland's Pekka Vasala ran 1:48:4 for the final 800m to win Gold at the Munich Olympics in 3:36.33 - ahead of Kip Keino 3:36.81 and Rod Dixon 3:37.46. Not quite as fast as 1:46:00 obviously, but still impressive.

I think Spivey ran the last 800m of the 1500m in the world Championships one year in 1:48 for the win. Tom

bazza

While I stated that everyone's defination of a kick may vary somewhat depending upon the individual. To me there isn't just one type of kick: A kick can be a short burst of speed for 75-90 meters, the norm 100m -200m, sustained kick 300m-500m, long kick 600m-800m. Just as there are many different type of tactics there are also different degree of kicks. There have been MANY announcers all over the world who will agree with this and I heard it many times with Abdi, Cram, Paula Ivan, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Morceli and most recently when Geb finished third-"He started his kick (600m out) a little earlier than usual, he is trying to take the sting out of Chebii..etc.

Bazza if someone finishes the race faster than the winner than he had the best kick (winning isn't neccessary for the best kick).

Why is that regulars find it hard to agree with other regular posters. Numerous times I see regular posters offering 2nd rate examples when they don't agree with another poster's better example. 1:48.4 is not 1:46.0 and 3:36.33 is definitely not 3:35. Bazza while I respect your opinions I guess we disagree on this! Gotta go.

Vipam

Vipam wrote:

Why is that regulars find it hard to agree with other regular posters. Numerous times I see regular posters offering 2nd rate examples when they don't agree with another poster's better example. 1:48.4 is not 1:46.0 and 3:36.33 is definitely not 3:35.

Vipam

I think we do it, because to simply say "yeah, that's the best" would kind of end the discussion!!!

And I threw that one in just because no else had mentioned it and it is the nearest example I know of. But, I still don't think that a quick last 800m can be defined as the best kick ever. If you want to start a thread titled "Who ran the best ever final 800m of a 1500m" then that's cool - Abdi's 1:46:00 is the winner!!!

Till then, we'll have to disagree...

Finally a good thread! Personally I don't think anything over 500 meters in a distance race above 800 is a kick. Is a kick someone actually picking up speed the last 50 meters vs others slowing down?

Vipam, you are very knowledgeable on Track and Field, however your downfall is you think you know everything. I agree with Bazza and the other guy. Abdi Biles 1min46.0 last 800m is truly amazing - BUT ITS NOT A KICK! A kick is, a short burst of speed during a race used to break the race open - and it can be finishing a race, or not. A kick is ENTIRELY about acceleration. There are many Kenyans who can wind it up from 800-1000 out but cant jam it hard for 20m in a tactical race when it matters.

The 800m is not ruled out. The Kipketer example proves that. For 11.7 over 100m is equivilent to a 1min33 800m, and yet the race was 1min45, so therefore there has obviously been a great increase in tempo somewhere there. (by the way, saw that race - and I can assure it was a kick - he opened up 5 metres in the space of 10, and it was extremly impressive)

My opinion is that Ovett was the best kicker of all time. He was a far better tactitician than Coe, and Coes double kick is an example of what you are talking about when you say that one 'holds tempo' while the others are fading.

One guy that hasnt appeared at all is Dieter Baumann. Anyone that saw that race in Barcelona (close to the best Olympic 5000m in terms of time, and also the way the race unfolded) and has seen Dieter run when he was at his prime, will tell you that guy had some serious gas when he needed it.