Canada1978 wrote:
In the late spring and early summer of 1978, with a strong field, Rono could have run 27:00. In such a race, Yifter would have been at least 200 meters back. By the time the Commonwealth Games were held in August, 1978, Rono had lost some fitness but he was still strong enough to play with some of the best runners in the world in the 5000 (including Dixon and Foster). In my view, Rono is the greatest runner without an Olympic medal.
behind Jim Ryun
1'39
3'24
3'41
Well i will have my say on this one.. Sonia O sullivan. Class act. she def deserved one.. running in the era of the king of dopers.. Paula wasnt in the same League.. Sonia proved that by reverting to cross country and winning both long and short courses in the one weekend... if you need your memory jogged.. watch this
szabo and the Chinese weren't doped
it's the losers that are doped
Jean Paul Jean Paul.
He was the heavy favorite from Trinidad & Tobago and overslept for the marathon final. The alarm had a separate volume knob. Why separate knob?
Radcliffe, Ryun and Mary Slaney
Some amazing folks on this list and its hard to choose one but for my money the greatest runner to never win Olympic Gold (but won basically everything else) is Grete Waitz
World Records in the 3000, 1/2 Marathon and Full Marathon
World XC Champion - 5 X
World Champion Marathon - 1983
New York City Marathon Champion - 9 X
London and Stockholm Marathon Champion
Olympics 72, 76, 84, 88 - ran everything from 1500 up to the Marathon. Silver to Joanie in 84
And just an amazingly wonderful person as well.
Bill Rodgers, Wilson Kipsang, Jim Ryun, Geoffrey Mutai, Paula Radcliffe, Bernard Lagat. Just a few that come to mind. Wilson Kipketer probably has a gold but him too if he doesn't.
At the long distance end Paul Tergat and Paula Radcliffe would be a good call.
At the shorter end Wilson Kipketer and Merlene Ottey (nine olympic medals no gold).
Alan Webb. That's a joke, yes?
There is such a difference between fast running and championship running.
that being said, if the Olympics were held in '66 or '67, Jim Ryun would certainly have a gold medal. He murdered Kip Keino twice in '67, and smoked him in a 2 mile in '66.
I do believe Kip would have beat him at sea level in '68 however, it was not Ryun's moment.
Me
Sartor Resartus wrote:
Running on Empathy wrote:At best, Rono would have probably been the favorite in the steeplechase at Moscow if not for the US-led boycott, but he had no shot at beating Yifter or Maaninka in the 5k and 10k.
Rono would have blown their doors off.
Not a chance ...
http://youtu.be/Q5U-LxbZ1GII wasn't aware that Yifter or Maanika would go on to set a WR at 1500m and had an olympic gold medal at 800m:) I don't think Rono (or anyone) was blowing the doors off of Yifter but he had a shot. I would say the same about Craig Virgin. He wouldn't have been the favorite but he had a chance.
Running on Empathy wrote:
Sartor Resartus wrote:Rono would have blown their doors off.
Not a chance ...
http://youtu.be/Q5U-LxbZ1GI
Lindgren
Running on Empathy wrote:
http://youtu.be/Q5U-LxbZ1GI
Nice link.
Ovett in his prime was as pretty a runner as there has been.
0 world records isn't going to get you on this list.
no one wrote:
Lindgren
Joplas wrote:
Henry Rono
^This. It's not even close. What did he do?... Four world records in 81 days in 1978.
adsadfsfas wrote:
0 world records isn't going to get you on this list.
He set the world record in the 6 mile.
HOrst Girth wrote:
Alan Webb. That's a joke, yes?
There is such a difference between fast running and championship running.
Nothing to do with championship running, everything to do with injuries.
I must say it has to be Bernard Lagat. Man, this guy is the second fastest in 1500m and won numerous medals at the olympics and world championships. He's now 39 years old and still running!