Who Is the GREATEST American Distance Runner of All Time? Submit your 64 nominees now for our tournament

The comment on the spreadsheet regarding Old performances being inferior and not worthy of at least recognition....

I threw out Louis Tewanima, a 2 time Olympian and silver medalist at 10k 1912. Not because I thought he was necessarily even in the top 32 or a GOAT but to educate others about what came before. Sure, I have my favorites from when I was just learning, Steve Scott, Frank Shorter, Bill Rogers, Joan Benoit, Cindy Bremser, etc... But that never stopped me from being curious about what happened in other times. There are many amazing stories everywhere.

What's dissapointing is the lack of thought by some put into considering what people of different eras experienced to achieve success with limitations different than modern times. Imagine having no shoes, poor nutrition, no coaching or training facilities, poverty like most don't understand and extreme racism just to name a few limitations. I thought we were talking about Great American Distance Runners.

Not to mention.... known cheating has been going on since the 1904 Games in the form of strychnine given to some marathon runners. Look up Stella Walsh (Stanislawa Walasiewicz) and learn about a current hot topic issue that's factually almost 90 years old. Who knows what we will find out about this list 20 years from now.

My point is, compile a complete list, then weed out with criteria that can be agreed upon. Maybe we can learn something new if people are willing to teach/explain rather than disregard.

Marla Runyon was and still is an inspiration. Wow should get a mention

Wohlhuter has had the AR for 45 YEARS, the longest standing American Record. Sure, the 1000m isn't run that often, but there are at least a handful of them every (non-COVID) year and no one has even come close. 2:13.9 is really, really, really good.

That is why I posted these 4 criteria a few pages ago:

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.

4. Range- able to win at multiple distances

If you cant check all these off, maybe you are top 5-10 best but to be top couple you have to have those 4

Lynn Jennings

Pat Porter

Additions:

800 Rick Wolhuter

1500 Steve Scott, Marty Liquori

Steeple Henry Marsh

5000 Liquori, Bill McChesney

10000 Mark Nenow, Craig Virgin

Marathon Bill Rodgers

Yeah, I just went off the top of my head. No offense to the people I forgot(or the women).

I also forgot Lomong, Steve Scott, Spivey, Falcon, Chelimo, Al Sal, Mills, Jennings, Stember, Holman, Pyrah, Lassiter, Fernandez, Woody, lots of others

That is a really good one and I love to hear about folks from differnt ages - for him to be competitive at that time he would have had to run against Kohlemainen (sp?) which is saying something for sure - that was when the Flying Finns were coming into their hey day - I was trying to get the other names in as well. I think perhaps determine a criteria first or at least a workable set of characteristics.

I think someone else suggested that stats should accompany the person

AM Runner wrote:

Thats fair, but we all have our own criteria

Not saying he wasnt great - but best of all time means a bit more for me - his greatness and an american was really only 3 races over 2 years - yes fast for sure but those are his only titles and nothing in a USA vest

Meb on the other hand has been a US Citizen since 1998

won 4 NCAA Championships

Multiple National Championships (10 K and Marathon)

4 Olympic Finals including a 2nd and a 4th place

2 World Champ Finals

Won Boston and NY

So I would put Meb over Khaild - I respect both as Americans but for me Meb wins easily

1) Meb was not an American when he won his NCAA titles.

2) I didn't write that I'd take Khalid over Meb. I just said in that short window it can be argued he accomplished more than Meb did his entire marathon career. Both had two major wins as Americans but Meb also had the Olympic medal on top but Khalid had the WR and #3 time as well.

In ultrarunning, I'm going with Max King and Camille Herron.

In trailrunning, Jim Walmsley and Ann Trason.

In Track running, Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor.

Kind of going with my generation

Frank Shorter and Joanie Benoit Samuelson given Olympic gold in the marathon for both and 2 min WR 2:22 at Boston for Joanie a course record for 11 years and almost 2 golds for Shorter (robbed by cheat Cherpinki and I was there and saw it live in Montreal in 1976 incredulous that the rolly polly guy pulled away)

Carl Lewis

Not a big centro fan but the dude has done it all medals , and he’s done everything from a 1:44 800 to a 13:00 5k throw in a 3:30 1500 it’s no contest , if we’re talking most talented a very different discussion maybe at that point we throw in brazier and Webb but right now the question is best that means who do I want on the line in there event on any given day and am gonna get the best production out of for that reason I have to pick centro the guy shows up and rupps a close second , women right now I’d say Jenny but I think in the upcoming years houlihan will overtake it

I wasnt sure where he was naturalized and when the titles came in - I thought it was in the midst of his Senior year so fair enough there.

I also didnt say that you did take Khalid over him so my apologies there if it appeared that way - trying to narrow it down is a tough job thats the interesting thing about a list like this people have different criteria on how they would pick their list for me Khalid shone brightly but not long enough and would be on my maybe list - for you its fine if you do think he belongs there - its your website...

Lwy12canes wrote:

Not a big centro fan but the dude has done it all medals , and he’s done everything from a 1:44 800 to a 13:00 5k throw in a 3:30 1500 it’s no contest , if we’re talking most talented a very different discussion maybe at that point we throw in brazier and Webb but right now the question is best that means who do I want on the line in there event on any given day and am gonna get the best production out of for that reason I have to pick centro the guy shows up and rupps a close second , women right now I’d say Jenny but I think in the upcoming years houlihan will overtake it

Lagat double gold trumps anything Centro has done, before even comparing PRs.

Please give some love to:

Lynn Jennings — 3 time world cross country champion

Doris Brown — 5 time international cross country champion

rojo wrote:

1) Meb was not an American when he won his NCAA titles.

2) I didn't write that I'd take Khalid over Meb. I just said in that short window it can be argued he accomplished more than Meb did his entire marathon career. Both had two major wins as Americans but Meb also had the Olympic medal on top but Khalid had the WR and #3 time as well.

Khalid moved to the US when he was 21 because he was upset with the Moroccan federation and probably rightly so.

Meb moved to the US with his family when he was 12 for very different reasons. He went to middle school and high school in San Diego.

I know you are 100% technically correct and that should be respected for this contest, but it feels very different to me. I mean Meb ran at my high school invitational when I was just a freshman. He didn't seem any less American than I was. And we lived 90 minutes or less from one another while going to middle school, high school and college. So yeah it's just different.

well spoken.

but this guy some how is under the radar for some.

he might be good for 203 high in the right atmosphere back in the day.

and 201 with the shoes.

i move this guy to one of the greatest marathon talents of all time,

while moving him from the american list.

that can't be a downgrade.

ryun is the greatest talent, if you want to call the mile distance.

the 800m is not distance. as in 50 seconds per lap has nothing what so ever to do with a 5K.

webb is tainted. never won medals.

virgin is way under rated, but shorter's two golds and ten years dominance at roads and cross,

there is little comparison.

good old al sal, deserves a mention, but just a mention.

rupp is still working on his resume. pretty sure he's cleaner than most of his opposition.

rogers too is underrated, but no medals.

there is little competition to shorter, only those that oppose havent look at this resume.

and to say shorter in montreal never won gold, is to say that the east german was not doped to the gills, which is to say the investigation was false.

even if rupp won gold next time out, its still shorter, though rupp has a case.

good luck rupp