Top FIVE American Middle & Long Distance Runners of All-TIme

I have no idea how to pick only five runners. Good picks here for the most part. But any list that doesn't include Jim Ryun is flawed.

KnowItAll wrote:

1 medal and no world records, not quite.

Runner42 wrote:

Meb:

NYC Champion

Olympic silver medalist

6-time 15k USA Champion (Gate River Run)

Credentials that stand up to anyone!

how may NYC marathons have other americans won?

You cant' include Keflegihizi or Lagat. They are not real Americans.

Nice Job on Marsh and Croghan - no steeple love here it seems - you could even toss in here for consideration the two Olympic Medalists Diemer and Ashenfelter - the latter not only won the race in 52 but broke the world record.

Curious also where when all is said and done where other steeplers like Barringer and Willard/Pierce will end up in a ranking.

PREFONTAINE

KENNEDY

RYUN

SHORTER

WEBB

Under the constitution you are a born citizen if your parents are citizens, despite whether you are actually born in America or not. Lagat and Meb are not born citizens, while Shorter is.

STEVE SCOTT top 5 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1111w wrote:

That is a very limited view. Would you rather have Bill Rodgers career (4x boston, NYC and so on) or Peter Rono (one great race)? There is a lot of luck in getting a gold medal. If the US competed in 1980, Rodgers would have had a shot at medalling. If Mexico was held at sea level, I liked Ryuns chances. If the olympics were in 1971, Liquori might have a medal, and so on.

This is a great point. Shit happens. Can you imagine if the peak of your athletic career was the 8 years between the 1976 and 1984 Games? Maybe in '76 you were just on the cusp of national class but not there yet, and by '84 you're just leaving national class. How much would that suck to have your whole career judged by not having an Olympic medal?

And maybe it's not just a boycott, it could be injury or sickness at the wrong time. If you miss out on one Olympics for some fluke reason, that's an eight year span where you're not medalling at the Olympics! To have a career defined by that - wow. Seems a bit harsh.

gary,norm,sheldon tomx2 norb, boston billyx4,saladbar x3.

kiwi rod in 83 was first non usa-- then piazzaguyx2 and then the other Italian (johnny polio?) hussein was first african in 87 if my memory math is correct---- then all imports while we waited until meb took 2009

You mean someone like Craig Virgin? 20 in 1976 (a bit young) and 28 in 84(not too old but othe issues (kidney) if I remember correctly ). Won the world XC and had the fastest 10k in the world in 1980.

bwaaagh wrote:

This is a great point. Shit happens. Can you imagine if the peak of your athletic career was the 8 years between the 1976 and 1984 Games? Maybe in '76 you were just on the cusp of national class but not there yet, and by '84 you're just leaving national class. How much would that suck to have your whole career judged by not having an Olympic medal?

Racism?!? wrote:

Well the fact is, they are just as much American as Shorter was!!! My point being, if there was anyone who became naturalized from any caucasian decent everything is perfectly ok. But heaven forbid they are of african background then it all of a sudden is a big deal and they are not considered American. Racism anyone?

Either you don't understand the Shorter "situation" or you're simply an idiot for comparing the "situation" to guys such as Meb.

In my view Meb is an American citizen as is Lagat. To that end they certainly should be considered as possibilities on these types of lists.

Their situations are not the same as Shorter.

Bill Rodgers- American Record, 4 straight NYC wins and 4 Boston wins plus Fukola and way more sub 2:10's than Meb. No contest Boston Billy even with the Silver. Plus Billy would have been tough in 80 if there was no boycott.

I'll take this team of five Americans to trounce any of the other teams of five listed so far:

1. Khalid Khannouchi

2. Bernard Lagat

3. Mebrahtom \"Meb\" Keflezighi

4. Abdi Abdirahman

5. Henry Rono*

* Had lived in the U.S. longer than all the others on list.

Put your five against these five Americans and your team will probably lose.

You nailed it! That is the list for native born (or at least (almost native born Americans - Salazar was born in Cuba I think?)

K, well maybe I shouldn't have used Shorter as an example. Let's use Salazar as an example then, how is his situation any different than Meb or Lagat? They all immigrated here in search of opportunities did they not, and yet I see Salazar's name mentioned on here without any objection, but as soon as Lagat or Meb get mentioned there is objection. And just wait a decade when Lukas Verzbicas' name gets mentioned on this thread without objection! I find it funny that you people actually beleive that racism is not present within this thread and most others on letsrun.[quote]brown wrote:

lanerellis wrote:

I'll take this team of five Americans to trounce any of the other teams of five listed so far:

1. Khalid Khannouchi

2. Bernard Lagat

3. Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi

4. Abdi Abdirahman

5. Henry Rono*

* Had lived in the U.S. longer than all the others on list.

Put your five against these five Americans and your team will probably lose.

Dude, why do you libbies hate America?!! None of those are real Americans. We're talking about real Americans who are the all time best.

Methinks you are trollin'.

1. Webb

2. Rupp

3. Hall

4. German Fernandez

5. Ritz

Mark my words: guaranteed

I consider Salazar to be an American along with Meb and Verzbicas. I have difficulty with Lagat simply because he had already competed for another country in the Olympics. If Nick Willis for example were to become an American citizen I would have difficulty calling him an American as well. Hopefully that makes sense.

Men: 1. Frank Shorter; 2. Bill Rogers; 3. Jim Ryun; 4. Gerry Lindren; 5. Steve Prefontaine; Honorable mentions: Craig Virgin, Alberto Salazar, Bernard Lagat. Women: 1. Mary Decker Slaney; 2. Joan Benoit; 3. Deena Kastor; 4. Suzy Favor Hamilton; 5. Kara Goucher; Honorable mentions: Jenny Barringer, Regina Jacobs, Marla Runyan. Note: Many of these selections are based upon the respective runners' effect on American and worldwide distance running rather than purely times (i.e. Pre over Kip).