Jim Ryun is the greatest distance runner of all-time, Make my day tell me I'm wrong.

Everyone who qualifies for the final is the same. Keino qualified for the final.

Ryun did not qualify for the final in 1972.

Right, but Ryun lost the race in 1972, because he didn't even qualify for the final.

Perhaps it's a matter of semantics.

But he didn’t *lose* to Keino. It’s a silly point.

OK, you also don't understand.

Did Keino fail to advance? Or are you illiterate?

Did Ryun *win* over Keino in 1968? C’mon bro.

No. He lost. Because Keino was better. Just like in 72.

Sayers was born in Kansas.

You really don't understand?

Oh I understand, I just don’t agree. I wouldn’t put qualifying rounds in the win-loss column on a personal level. Keino no more beat Ryun personally in the 1972 qualifier than Ryun beat Keino in the 1968 qualifying round (which he did, but it’s not a “win”).

The semantics are that you don't have a clue what you are talking about. Qualifying rounds are about qualifying, not winning or beating a rival. Many of the best, including the eventual gold medallists, only ran to place in the earlier rounds, not to "win". In any case, Ryun's fall ruled out the race as any kind of measure of their respective abilities.

I actually agree, despite your two downvotes. I think you captured the spirit of it.

Are you that thick? That's the point I'm making -- that prelims don't count in the Win-Loss column. Now go vandalize another thread will ya.

Keino beat Ryun once out of 5 attempts. Keino beat Ryun ONCE at nearly 1.5 miles of altitude. Ryun destroyed Keino in every other race.
.
May 13, 1966 2 miles
1. 8:25.1 Jim Ryun AR
3. 8:29.8 Kip Keino

August 12, 1967 Emsley Carr Mile, London
1. 3:56.0 Jim Ryun
2. 3:57.4 Kip Keino

July 8, 1967 1500m US vs Commonwealth
1. 3:33.1 WR Jim Ryun
2. 3:37.2 Kip Keino

October 20, 1968 Mexico City Olympics
1. 3:34.9 Kip Keino
2. 3:37.8 Jim Ryun

January 22, 1972 Sunkist Indoor Los Angeles
1. 4:06.8 Jim Ryun
2. 4:07.3 Kip Keino

6th July 1971 Stockholm

Keino 1st

Ryun 10th

8th September 1972 München OG

Keino qualified

Ryun not

24th March 1973 Los Angeles

Keino 1st

Ryun 2nd

7th April 1973 Oklahoma

Keino 2nd

Ryun 4th

19th May 1973 San Diego

Ryun 1st

Keino 3rd

1st July 1973 Louisville

Ryun 1st

Keino 2nd

20th April 1974 Portland

Ryun 3rd

Keino 4th

In 66/67, Ryun clearly was the best Miler in the world. Not anymore from 69 on.

The point you avoid: you answered to someone who asked if it shouldn't count as a win from A over B, when A advances to the next round in a heat and B doesn't (in the same heat).

Its Mo Farah

Thanks for the laugh.

I'm not avoiding the question, in fact I think it's a fair question. Here are my rules:

1. Wins in qualifying rounds don't count. You either move through or you don't.
2. The "winner" of a heat doesn't get a win over the guy in 2nd or the guy who barely squeaks through. It's like freshman year at Cal Tech. Everyone gets Pass/Fail.
3. If you want, everyone who advances can count as a "win" over everyone who doesn't, but all non-qualifiers don't get to notch victories among each other.
4. Being knocked down or DQ'd by rule/infraction doesn't count. It gets wiped from the slate. No matter how bratty Athing Mu or Mary Slaney behave, she gets a pass. Nobody should benefit from misfortune.

Finals only events, DNFs count as losses. So if you have an epic marathon meltdown, everyone who beat you can chalk up the win, but it's an epic douchebag move for them to actually say they beat the Olympic Champion.

LOL… cherry picking mostly ITA events when Ryun barely trained. You guys who gobble African sacks are hilarious.