Might as well throw in Michael Wardian.
Might as well throw in Michael Wardian.
Please please please LRC, do a separate women's bracket or do 32 men & 32 women. Learn from the last time you tried this experiment.
Steve Prefontaine
A man that stood up for the sports . A man that ran with his spirit .
You Americans are blind enough not to see this right?
RunAnnArbor wrote:
I think you could make a strong case for Gerry Lindgren.
And, like others mentioned here, like Alberto Salazar . . . his career was short, hard to believe no one has mentioned Jim Ryun yet. So, Jim Ryun.
The 'middle distance' nature of the 800 seems like the wrong place to start for considering 'greatest American distance runner.' Maybe the 3K/2 mile, or better . . . the 5k.
"or better....the 5k."
Agree!
True distance running begins at 5k.
I wish people would understand this.
Split men and women, please.
Technically, distance begins at 3 miles by 150-year tradition. 5K is the metric milestone that’s closest.
Ray wrote:
Sorry I meant replace Slaney with Hasay
Haha I thought you meant replace drug-cheat Mary Slaney with pre-drug cheat Mary Decker
help help fwiw wrote:
casual obsever wrote:
Yes please!
I'd also remove:
- everyone from Athletics West
- everyone from NOP
- everyone labeled by the IAAF as "likely doping"
Considering Jager was on the likely doping list and he’s part of Bowerman, we should also remove everyone from Bowerman TC since he is likely not operating in a vacuum.
Whose "likely doping list?" What confidence should be placed in that list?
Could be on this list but career cut short:
Tony Waldrup
German Fernandez
George Young
Galen Rupp and Jenny Simpson.
Joan Benoit
Molly Huddle
Kara Goucher
Shalane Flanagan
Des Linden
Mary Dekker
The lady that medaled in athens marathon
Nah im bored already
There is no doubt that Bob Schul has the best single year of any runner in history. He spearheaded the 1964 American squad that as a whole dominated.
Bob himself broke multiple AR and world records along with being undefeated at just about any distance he ran.
All while training on his own with no coach.
topper wrote:
quite a list there wrote:
Centro
Olympic gold at 1500m!
That single performance can’t be topped by any other US performance.
Bob Schul, olympic gold at 5000m!
Nice burn
been around the track a time or two wrote:
Steve Prefontaine and Joan Benoit Samuelson
Few other runners have the same name recognition, their impacts on sports and society, and the fact that they had national and international results
Name recognition doesnt count when it comes to whether you got the job done in a race
BTW....did I miss where Alan Webb has been brought into the discussion?
To be GOAT you should have had some sort of records during your time. His American record mile is there.
I like Brie Felnagle. At least she had the greatest American Distance runner prom dress,
We need a section for Asian Americans too
stateroftheoblivious wrote:
Big Hawk Chief.
Sub 4 mile (80 years before Bannister)
and sub 24 100 mile.
Deerfoot Bennett. Held the world record in the 10 mile for nearly 40 years.
I'll add Louis Tewanima 1908 & 1912 Olympian. Hopi running legend. It was said he would run the 80 miles from Keams Canyon to Winslow to see the Iron Horse (locomotive) and immediately return to tell his people. He finished 9th in the marathon in 1908 and won the silver medal at 10,000 m in Stockholm, 1912. Was a schoolmate of Jim Thorpe at Carlisle in NM. An early American ultra distance runner and Olympic medalist that should be on the list.
My vote for the final....Rogers vs Shorter with Shorter the champion. We are talking about "DISTANCE" running right? Rupp wins the bronze.
I think the criteria to be a top ranked runner:
1. RECORDS< RECORDS< RECORDS!!!! You got to own the best time when you were in your prime.
2. Head to head. You have to be able to beat someone.
3. Gold medals.
If you cant check all these off, maybe you are top 5-10 best but to be top couple you have to have those 3.
