Top 12 HS distance gods of all-time

Not many run that far wrote:

TrackCoach wrote:

Zishka is probably somewhere near the bottom of a top-20 list; I would replace Zishka with Ches.

13:55 5k is pretty impressive.

... he closed in 4:17!

You need to look at the breadth of their HS career, not a couple of standout races.

Pretty obvious list of 5, in no particular order.

Ryun, Lindgren, Webb, Ritz, Verzbicas.

I am biased though, because even though I'm a decade older than Webb and Ritz, I didn't actually run or even follow running until 2008, which coincided perfectly with Verzbicas' HS career. From his 14:18i through his 8:29 and 3 XC championships (remember he won NXN too).

The only real beat down he suffered was the two mile against the Rosas, and it wasn't because they were that much better so much as he took the first mile out at like 4:14 or something.

Most of the other guys that people talk about had one or two good races, or a great Senior year.

Of course we would include the like of Ryun and Webb. Those listed would help round out the top 12. Read the thread title.

Do you know of 12 US High Schoolers of each gender, who ran distance, that have won "National Championships" that aren't what you call "Junior championships"? Step down off of your high horse and - again - read the title of the thread. All those I named above were "HS distance Gods." They won multiple championships and were the envy / inspiration of all those who ran with and after them.

Of course we would include the like of Ryun and Webb. Those listed would help round out the top 12. Read the thread title.

Do you know of 12 US High Schoolers of each gender, who ran distance, that have won "National Championships" that aren't what you call "Junior championships"? Step down off of your high horse and - again - read the title of the thread. All those I named above were "HS distance Gods." They won multiple championships and were the envy / inspiration of all those who ran with and after them.

I DID read the title. My examples were for runners who were in high school when they accomplished what they did. So are you saying that Jim Ryun and Gerry Lindgren making the Olympic team when they were Juniors in HS doesn't count? Lynn Bjorklund winning the senior women's cross country championship as a Junior doesn't count. Why, because the Olympic trials, Olympics and nationals weren't high school races?

I am on my high horse because you are so clueless of running history. I guess the world didn't start until 1990 ... right? Lukas Verzbikas my rear.

is Jim Ryun a distance god?or a mid-distance god?

wonderingoutloud wrote:

No order of my list ..just thinking out loud.

RUPP

Lindgren

Webb

Nelson

Fernandez

Hunter

Chapa

Verzbicas

Zishka

Ryun

Virgin

PREFONTAINE

yesstiles wrote:

Lindgren and Ryun are tied for #1. No one else comes close.

But the following should probably be included in a Top 12 or Top 15:

Rick Riley - Ran 14:00 for 5000m on a dirt track 50 years ago! Also ran 8:48 for full 2-miles by himself, winning by almost 30 seconds.

Eric Hulst - Won the World Junior Cross Country Crown in 1976. Ran 28:55 for 10,000 meters and 8:44 for full 2-miles on dirt.

Rich Kimball - Won the World Junior Cross Country Crown in 1974. Ran 4:02 for full mile and 8:46 for full 2-mile on dirt track.

Hulst and Kimball did not run their fast two miles on dirt a dirt track.

Look what Kimball ran on when he ran 846.

I can also prove where Hulst ran his 8944, I don't need to.

run with the wom wrote:

So are you saying that Jim Ryun and Gerry Lindgren making the Olympic team when they were Juniors in HS doesn't count?

Wrong!! Ryun had just begun his senior year when he first ran in the Oly. Gerry had already graduated. Got, it.

Other options wrote:

Agreed. Not many know of rich kimball but he held the fastest state double win before Fernandez broke it in 2007..

Probably his biggest accomplishment was finally catching that one arm man.

oldold runner wrote:

yesstiles wrote:

Lindgren and Ryun are tied for #1. No one else comes close.

But the following should probably be included in a Top 12 or Top 15:

Rick Riley - Ran 14:00 for 5000m on a dirt track 50 years ago! Also ran 8:48 for full 2-miles by himself, winning by almost 30 seconds.

Eric Hulst - Won the World Junior Cross Country Crown in 1976. Ran 28:55 for 10,000 meters and 8:44 for full 2-miles on dirt.

Rich Kimball - Won the World Junior Cross Country Crown in 1974. Ran 4:02 for full mile and 8:46 for full 2-mile on dirt track.

Hulst and Kimball did not run their fast two miles on dirt a dirt track.

Look what Kimball ran on when he ran 846.

http://www.runningentertainment.com/runningshots36.html

I can also prove where Hulst ran his 8944, I don't need to.

Are you sure that's not dirt? It's hard to tell with the b&w photo. Hulst did run one of his two 8:44's on a dirt track I was told, maybe not. I do know for sure though that in Hulst's senior year, Thom Hunt ran 8:45 for the full 2-miles on a dirt track at Arcadia Invite.