I am just curious to see if I am the only one who would like to see and think it would be a great event(both M/F). What country would win? USA, Kenya, Morocco, Spain, France, Portugal, Brazil, Canada, etc..What a graet all star event. You could have had potentially El G, Michael Johnson, Wilson kipketer, Noah Ngeny, Bernard Lagat and so many others all in the same event.
This has been batted about before, but I still like debates like this (so long as no one mentions Alan Webb). I think it would be Kenya hands down. Kenya has some of the fastest non-American 400 runners in history as well as the deepest 800 and mile (and therefore 1200) legs. Imagine all these guys at their peak: Ngeny for a 2:45-6, Kimutai at 1:42, and Lagat at 3:43-ish. Granted, DMR's rarely go the team with the fastest combined PRs due to that sticky thing called racing, but I think these guys have all proven their mettle in RACES.
I did not mean to beat the subject to death, I have not been a part of these boards for very long. I do agree with you about Kenya. However I dont think it would be a runaway.
USA women would be good, Teter, Jacobs (if she would run), SFH (if she could finish), Jearl Miles Clark, Runyan... who else? What other countries could compete for women??
I've read where Europeans don't go in for relays that much. Can't imagine why. A good DMR or 4x800 is incredibly exciting. Hell, any well-contested relay is exciting, even when it's just a few evenly-matched mediocre HS teams--as an official at track meets I've seen more than my fair share of them.
I definitely agree. and relay fan touched on it when he said that even HS relays are exciting. I think relays could go a long way in helping to make track more exciting/marketable. We all know the average joe isn't going to become super-fan #1, but relays could help spark some interest.
And personally I think it would be interesting to see just how the teams would be formed. For a sprinter, it might not be that much harder to run one more race, but for a miler to run the rounds, the individual final and then run yet another mile as an anchor in a relay....things could get interesting. (let's see Lagat and El G battle down the last 100 meters with 4-5 races each in their legs)
And oh yeah, ps - Alan Webb would be soooo awesome on our relay! And Ritz could run too! I bet those two could the run all four legs themselves and still win! They are sooo awesome!!!
Definitely a good idea! How could it not be? Relays are easily the most exciting races in track and field. adding the 4x800 and the DMR would only help the fan base. Look at how many people tune in to watch the 4x100's in the olympics, almost everyone, but they could care less about the rest. The extra relays would be a great addition for the fans and even the athletes.I'd love to see this happen, is there any reason why it hasn't??