Greatest American Distance Runners: 1) Billy Mills, 2) Alan Webb. 3) ? 4) ? 5) ?

1. Ann Trason

2. Everyone else

[3.1]Miles Davis wrote:

Anyone who leaves pre off this list is a fool. Pre is the most-marketed american runner ever

Fixed.

Why no mention of Joanie?

We can’t leave Jim Walmsley out of this.

Alan Webb...he's the guy that ran that one fast mile time, right?

You forgot Sage Canaday

Meb Keflezighi

2nd 2004 NYM

2nd 2004 OM

3rd 2005 NYM

1st 2009 NYM

1st 2014 BM

1. Frank Shorter

2. Galen Rupp

3. Centro

4. Meb

5. Pre, Webb, bill Rogers , Jim Ryun, salazar ,

If Galen wins gold in the marathon I would have to put him first. Great range, records, medals. Plus he has stayed reasonably healthy for such a long time. Very impressive

1 Lagat 10 major medals

2 Meb 5 majors medals

Everyone seems to be missing an obvious one...

Jim Fixx.

Boston Billy is it wrote:

I'm basing my list on running accomplishments as well as the ability to motivate/inspire/contribute to the sport and other athletes:

1) Bill Rodgers

2) Frank Shorter

3) Jim Ryun

4) Galen Rupp

5) Pre

If that's going to be your criteria then Gerry Lindgren should be at or near the top of the list. His win over the Russian runners in 1964 was to American running, what the Beatles appearance on the Ed Sullivan show was to American music.

TRackExpert wrote:

CoachExpert wrote:

Todd Williams

Mark Nenow

Joe Falcon

End of thread.

Agree

+1

James Ronald Ryun. No one else is even close.

Nary a George Young?

In no particular order:

Jim Ryun

Steve Scott

Joan Benoit

Frank Shorter/Bill Rogers

Honorable mentions:

Mary Decker

Francie Larrieu Smith

Mark Nenow

Steve Prefontaine

Lagat is CLEARLY the best American of all time. It's ridiculous to think otherwise. Shorter was a one trick pony, Rupp may pass Lagat in the next couple of years.

Bill Rodgers was the best. There will never be another Bill Rodgers.

outsiderunner wrote:

Bill Rodgers was the best. There will never be another Bill Rodgers.

Yuki Kawauchi