Overall, in terms of range, is Colin S. the greatest HS distance runner of all time?

Dathan was better

+5 for the troll.

Webb had better range. He ran 1:47 in a HS only race and 3:53. He also ran 8:45 on a flat indoor track in the only 2-mile he ran he senior year. He would have easily been sub-8:35 outdoors if he wanted to.

he also ran 49, 1:49, and 4:06 (with 2:14/1:52 splits) at his district meet completely solo in the span of about 50 minutes.

he was very strong in XC as well, running 13:57 on the Burke Lake 2.98 course (14:20 pace). No one has ever come close to that time.

Webb is faster at 800-mile. I’d put the two equal at 2-miles, and say Sahlman would be slightly ahead for 5000 but I don’t like his chances in a kick.

In all honesty, although I’m not a big fan, Gerry Lindgren was the best American high school distance runner. 4:01 mile, 8:40 indoors on an eleven lap to the mile track, beat the Russians(a huge deal back then), and was considered by some I respect, unbeatable in cross country. And he was truly insane in his training, even if only half what he said was true.

Um, ever heard of Jordan Hasay?

In terms of range, no one did it better than Matt Boling, 100, 200, 400, long jump, relays - he was the best in all. Simply the greatest.

The only two in the discussion for matching his range are Webb and Hunter. Webb with 1:47/3:53/8:45 and solid XC chops + Hunter 1:48/3:58/7:59 3K and Footlocker Champ.

Webb has him beat on mid-D 800/Mile but I would say pretty confidently Sahlman is the best out of those 3 in XC.

Webb split 47.4.

But Sahlman would’ve beat Webb by 20s in XC just like Dathan did.

That’s fair, but if we’re talking range, then it’s no contest. Webb would win 10/10 times in any race shorter than a 3000m. Sahlman would probably win 8/10 times in a 5000m.

The only interesting matchup between these guys is a hypothetical 2-mile. I still think Webb would win 50% of the time or more against Sahlman over that distance.

Overall range though, Webb takes the cake.

Would we even be having this conversation without the advent of super shoes?

I think Colin trumps Hunter in HS cross and track. It would be a battle at 2 mile though with Webb. But I also have to think a 3:53 Webb could run 8:25 or so at least if he cared about it. Still, XC between them all, I think it's Colin all day. If it's overall range of all time of a HS distance runner, it's got to be down to Sahlman and Webb. Webb had such raw speed power. He probably has the edge but he and Colin are very close or tied.

I can't believe there's a thread about this guy's range. He has great performances at 1 event. Look at El G: GOAT at 1500 and mile. And 2000. Good at 5000. As great as he was, where's the range? Isn't this guy similar? And at 1 mile, by far his best event (although he'd be good at 1500 if he ever ran one) Webb has him hands down.

Great miles. Not as good as Webb. No range.

Yawn