Rank The Top 12 Men's Marathoners Of All Time -

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  • rojo
    cofounder
    11 years ago 10/10/2008 11:47pm CDT
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    Phil Hersh of the Chicago Tribune has followed up his top 10 ranking of the greatest women marathoners of all time with his Top 12 men of all-time.

    It's a fascinating list that can be found at:
    http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/sports_globetrotting/2008/10/marathon-men-th.html

    Please read that article to see his reasoning behind his picks.

    I'll list his top 12 with a few of my comments.
    His top 6 is:
    1. Abebe Bikila - very smart #1 pick.
    2. Frank Shorter
    3. Samuel Wanjiru - great to see him so high.
    4. Mamo Wolde
    5. Bill Rodgers
    6. Haile Gebrselassie
    Those six right there will certainly start a good discussion. The next 6 are just as interesting.

    7. Clarence DeMar
    8. Known drug cheat. I won't mention his name but I didn't like him appearing in the list or Hersh seemingly condoning his cheating by saying, "it is likely (Drug Cheat) was among the many beneficiaries of his country’s state-sponsored doping program. What is unknown is how many other marathoners worldwide also were doping in an era when it was ridiculously easy to beat testing."
    9. Gezahegne Abera - remember this guy? The seemingly forgotten man. Too bad injuries robbed him of a long career.
    10. Stefano Baldini-hmmmm. Ahead of Seko??? Not sure about that one.
    11. Toshihiko Seko
    12. Pheidippides - You might want to put him at #1 but I like his reasoning for Bikila.
  • BOHICA
    registered
    11 years ago 10/10/2008 11:51pm CDT
    re: rojo
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    Lame. KK belongs ahead of all of those. I can't respect Hersh's opinions.
  • WHAT???
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 12:06am CDT
    re: rojo
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    Rodgers higher than Geb? Geb should be ahead of Shorter EASILY, at least #1 or #2.

    And where is PAUL TERGAT? He is another GOAT, amazing runner!

    This guy is on crack.
  • Mr. Snuffaluffagus
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 12:18am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    How many marathons did Wolde race, to be ranked ahead of all but three men in history?

    Where's Jim Peters?

    A year ago it might've been fun to enjoy the outrage around here at his omission of Brian Sell...
  • txRUNNERgirl
    registered
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 12:41am CDT
    re: WHAT???
    Forum Index
    WHAT??? wrote:

    Rodgers higher than Geb? Geb should be ahead of Shorter EASILY, at least #1 or #2.

    And where is PAUL TERGAT? He is another GOAT, amazing runner!

    This guy is on crack.

    I was going to mention that, but I guess he's more known as a 10000m guy. Although he did have a world record in the marathon... the430miler must be rolling over in his grave.
  • Youre kidding
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 1:09am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    rojo wrote:
    12. Pheidippides - You might want to put him at #1 but I like his reasoning for Bikila.

    Why would you rank a fictitious character?
  • Oscar the Liberal punk
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 4:14am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    #1 pick isn't bad, but the all time kick ass, bad ass,the beast, the monster, the fearless:

    DEREK CLAYTON
  • Gonzo
    registered
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 6:44am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    Geb
    Tergat
    Rodgers
    DeMarr
    Khannouchi
    Ibrahim Hussein
    Shorter
    Seko
    Walde
    Bikila
    N'Deti
    Jones
  • senator
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 6:48am CDT
    re: txRUNNERgirl
    Forum Index
    "the430miler must be rolling over in his grave."

    if only we were so lucky.
  • John Smallberries
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 7:06am CDT
    re: rojo
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    Hersh puts too much weight into the Olympics and WCs. Tergat, Cheruiyot and Lel should be on the list.
  • The Monk
    registered
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 7:10am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    Robert De Castella ???
  • no Kenyans?
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 8:57am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    No kenyans, but how many Americans? Stefano Baldini won like one marathon his whole career. And what's with this "prestigious" Fukuoka marathon? Too bad Khannouchi was only winning those comparatively small races, Chicago and London(in world record fasion ahead of all time #6).

    Hersch is an idiot, isn't he one of the guys who was blasting special K for not being a real american and skipping the olympics?
  • no Kenyans?
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 9:01am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    No kenyans, but how many Americans? Stefano Baldini won like one marathon his whole career. And what's with this "prestigious" Fukuoka marathon? Too bad Khannouchi was only winning those comparatively small races, Chicago and London(in world record fasion ahead of all time #6).

    Hersch is an idiot, isn't he one of the guys who was blasting special K for not being a real american and skipping the olympics?
  • no Kenyans?
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 9:01am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    No kenyans, but how many Americans? Stefano Baldini won like one marathon his whole career. And what's with this "prestigious" Fukuoka marathon? Too bad Khannouchi was only winning those comparatively small races, Chicago and London(in world record fasion ahead of all time #6).

    Hersch is an idiot, isn't he one of the guys who was blasting special K for not being a real american and skipping the olympics?
  • no Kenyans?
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 9:02am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    No kenyans, but how many Americans? Stefano Baldini won like one marathon his whole career. And what's with this "prestigious" Fukuoka marathon? Too bad Khannouchi was only winning those comparatively small races, Chicago and London(in world record fasion ahead of all time #6).

    Hersch is an idiot, isn't he one of the guys who was blasting special K for not being a real american and skipping the olympics?
  • no Kenyans?
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 9:02am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    No kenyans, but how many Americans? Stefano Baldini won like one marathon his whole career. And what's with this "prestigious" Fukuoka marathon? Too bad Khannouchi was only winning those comparatively small races, Chicago and London(in world record fasion ahead of all time #6).

    Hersch is an idiot, isn't he one of the guys who was blasting special K for not being a real american and skipping the olympics?
  • no Kenyans?
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 9:04am CDT
    re: rojo
    Forum Index
    No kenyans, but how many Americans? Stefano Baldini won like one marathon his whole career. And what's with this "prestigious" Fukuoka marathon? Too bad Khannouchi was only winning those comparatively small races, Chicago and London(in world record fasion ahead of all time #6).

    Hersch is an idiot, isn't he one of the guys who was blasting special K for not being a real american and skipping the olympics?
  • Pine
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 9:05am CDT
    re: no Kenyans?
    Forum Index
    Umm...Sammy Wanjiru is a Kenyan
    I'd probably have Martin Lel on the list. I'd also probably have Carlos Lopes. I don't understand why Mamo Wolde is ranked so high.
  • one more time!!!
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 9:05am CDT
    re: no Kenyans?
    Forum Index
    Sammy Wanjiru is indeed a kenyan.
  • mrr82
    registered
    11 years ago 10/11/2008 9:13am CDT
    re: Pine
    Forum Index
    Where would Geb Rank if say he runs 203:30 at Dubai in feb? Would he move up? 3 wr's, all in incredibly historic times in what many consider past his prime.

    What if Wanjiru breaks the wr this upcoming year? What would thast do for his ranking, and would that sink Geb's accomplishments moving him rather far down the list?