Ryan Hall's Performance The (fill in the blank) Best American Performance EVER

Pretty much have to agree with Wejo here, especially considering it was a solo effort, though some would change the validity of that notion. While this may end up being a flash in the pan type performance (I highly doubt it), this effort shows that this kid right now is probably the best distance runner we have. He's got great versatility (13:16-59:43), and one can only imagine that he'll be competitive in cross as well as drop his 5k and 10k PRs substantially this year.

For those who would challenge the possible credibility of this performance, need I remind you that Hall absolutely destroyed the field at cross nationals last year, and even if Ritz was healthy, I don't think he could have touched Hall that day. That said, this half-marathon is truly the most inspiring effort in American distance running in quite some time, at least from my stantpoint.

Flagpole Willy wrote:

Ryan Hall has shown by this performance that he is clearly in the same league with Dathan Ritzenhein in all distances, and quite frankly any other American. This was such a superior performance that maybe even in CC he has a real shot at beating a healthy Ritzenhein.

I've been a Ritz fan since he was in high school, and his xc performance this weekend was encouraging, but honestly, a 59:43 half-marathon is in a different league.

that was an oly record performance

get a clue

I think most of us would understand we're talking about male distance performances. But I guess not.

that's what it takes to run against the best...awesome run...Hall! Some of the latter comments don't matter...just run...baby!

Believe me i knew it was an amazing performance. Who the hell could go out and run THAT FAST alone in Janurary on a certified...um Gebrselassie, Tergat and now HALL. Thats right. The kid would've dropped some MAD time had he had rabbits and a huge support group to push him to run his ultimately fastest possible time at his current fitness. Dare I say he would've dropped 20 seconds had this been this case.

HALL FTMFW!

What a great day for Ryan, for Houston, for US distance running. Great picture Victah...thanks.

wow, ryan hall is unbelievable

How in the hell can you down play Hall's performance today? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FAST THAT IS!!!!! This was the greatest thing that I have seen from an American since the BK ran sub 13. Hall has to be in SICK shape right now, I'm talking at the very least 13 low to sub 13 minute 5k shape. This is f******g crazy!!!!!!!

I would not down play it it was an amazing performance I would just not say it is worth a 1:41 800 or 3:45 mile.

Jonny B Good wrote:

MJ\'s 200 and 400 WR\'s are both far superior performances, Just like Mo Greene\'s 9.79 is and Every one of Carl Lewis\'s performances at 84 olympics. Hall would have got beaten by any number of African\'s, Your sprinters are far superior to your distance runners, look at your 200 and 400 guys for the true talent in your pathetic country.

I must have been the only person pissed off by this comment.

Jim Ryun's 3:51 mile in 1967 is far better than Ryan Hall's run today.

That was a great run. I think Hall vowed to improve himself after his close defeat to Dathan at the 2003 NCAA XC championships. He obviously has done it. I'd love to see Hall, Webb, Tegenkamp, and Ritz race together in a couple 5K and 10K races on the track this year. Hopefully they can all push each other to get better and better.

I agree with you. I also put Shorter's 2 Olympic medals (robbed by a cheating Cierpinski in '76) and Billy Mills in the upper echelon.

Today's effort continues the great promise we have seen recently, (e.g. American's at Boston)with a huge leap forward. This is a stunningly fast time. I hope this kid can continue to develop.

Lastly, I root also for Ritz, Sell, Webb, Culpepper, Gilmore and any other US distance runner to help US running compete for Olympic medals. You people that feel the need to rip Ritz or Webb are not fans of the sport.

Craig Virgin's two World XC Championships are also better... Wejo needs to study the history of his own sport.

Joe Money wrote:

Craig Virgin's two World XC Championships are also better... Wejo needs to study the history of his own sport.

Not so. Not nearly as much African dominance back in that era. Any American effort in the top ten at world cross now is much better then anything Virgin or Porter ever did.

Joe Money wrote:

Craig Virgin's two World XC Championships are also better... Wejo needs to study the history of his own sport.

Not its not. His time/performance is on level with some of the most dominate African runners in history. It wasnt long ago we though only guys like Geb, Tadesse and such could go out on a Janurary day and run that fast of a time on a solo effort. Your acting like its an easy task to break 60:00 in the half, Virgin never could do it, Shorter couldnt, shit even the SILVER MEDALLIST Meb couldnt even come close to it. Put all these guys in there prime in this race at this distance and Hall would've destroyed them.

This is one of the reasons American running never progresses because you old farts cling on to the past too much. Just admit it Hall owns those guys.

whoa, slow down folks.

hall ran a fantastic time, a time that all distance runners dream of 'popping' when out there 'going to the well' on their second or third run of the day, when things look really grim, but for optimism.

but virgin won 2 world cross country championships, the single most difficult race to win in all of distance running.

apples and oranges.

nuge wrote:

but virgin won 2 world cross country championships, the single most difficult race to win in all of distance running.

apples and oranges.

Agreed, but it's way more difficult now than it was back then.