Henry Rono would be distance running GOAT if not for a series of misfortunes.
The biggest misfortune he had was that his country boycotted the 1976 Olympics when hundreds of students were killed in the Soweto student uprising. Then in 1980 again USA convinced Kenya and many other countries to boycott. So he missed the two Olympics that happened when he was in his prime. There is nothing that can destroy a runners motivation than missing big events.
The second misfortune is that he ran in the amateur era when their was no prize money. So he had to waste his talents running in the NCAA which is a huge hindrance to talent development because coaches tend to overwork their ace runners.
Thirdly there was a dearth of competition. There was no World Championships. The European circuit was not active as it is today.
He says these missed opportunities are what led to his clinical depression and to him becoming an alcoholic and at one point homeless.
Still he broke four world records: 10,000 m (27:22.5), the 5000 m (13:08.4), the 3000 m steeplechase (8:05.4), and the 3000 m (7:32.1); an achievement unsurpassed.
Yet he is rarely ever mentioned in discussions about GOATs
What if he was running today with Super-shoes, wavelights and what if his career was not ruined by missed events ?
3000m: Sub 7:20
5000m: Sub 12:30
10,000m : Sub 26:10
Half Marathon: 57:20
Marathon: 1:58