1500m - 3:27.40 yikes
1:42, 3:27, 3:46, 7:29, 12:53, and 26:44
American Record Ranked:
1500m -> 3:27.40 is amazing. The 3:29 was already the better record when compared to Webb's mile. To get revised down to 3:27 makes this far and away the best record, and that's why the post said excluding 3:27.
800m -> 1:42.60. Although I think this record is the most likely to be broken, we just happen to be in a golden era of 800m runners. We have Brazier running 1:43 2 months after his 19th birthday and Murphy running 1:42 for bronze as a 21/22 year old. 1:42.60 will make you very competitive every year in the 800m.
10,000m -> 26:44. There are only two Americans that have finished within 200m of this time. Rupp would probably be on the same straightaway, but a lap ahead of all but 10-15 guys from this country.
3000m -> 7:29.00. We rarely see guys breaking 7:30 now. Maybe 1-2 guys per year.
Mile - 3:46.91. Performance-wise, this ranks even further down for me because it wasn't an actual race. But, it's placed here because it's still about a 3:29/3:30 1500m. It's elite. But not elite-elite, and not something that several people don't run faster than each year. Also, if the mile was run more frequently, the setup races in Europe would have certainly led to more Americans threatening this.
5000m - 12:53.x is a solid time. Lagat had a lot more in him at the time. This record should be faster.
3000m SC 8:00.45. Steeple is an event that doesn't attract talent and so it's easier to be listed higher on the all time lists. Performance-wise, this ranks here because there is no doubt in my mind that if any of the record holders above this, minus, Gray, trained for the steeple, the record would be sub 8. Jager is a tier 2 runner compared to the guys that hold the other records.
Marathon - We're just starting to scratch the surface in the marathon. The WR has fallen almost 5 minutes in the last 25 years. The AR hasn't budged. We won't have Rupp. If Rupp runs 2:03 or 2:04, we can revisit.