Using the latest WMA 2006 age-graded tables for the fastest “open class” category (age 23-27), here is how the below runners ran as a percentage of the world’s fastest “open class” time.
The best college distance performance of all time is probably a three way tie between: Jen Barringer’s 15:01 indoor 5K, Alistair Cragg’s 7:38 indoor 3K, and Henry Rono’s 13:08 outdoor 5K. The new 2006 WMA performance percentages are now really quite good. But in ranking performances at different distances, % differences of .3% or less are too small to be meaningful.
INDOOR COLLEGE RECORDS
1. **Jennifer Barringer ’09__15:01.70___5K = 95.9%
2. Alistair Cragg ‘04_______7:38.59____3K = 95.9%
3. Don Paige ‘80__________3:54.22___Mile = 95.0%
4. **Galen Rupp ’09_______13:18.12___5K = 94.8%
5. **Sally Kipyego ’09______8:48.77____3K = 94.8%
6. Vicky Huber ‘88_________4:28.31___Mile = 93.8%
Note: German Fernandez ’09__3:56.50__Jr Mile = 94.1% (=97.3% computed at age 18)
OUTDOOR COLLEGE RECORDS
1. Henry Rono ‘78_______13:08.4____5K = 96.0%
2. **Galen Rupp ’07_____27:33.48___10K = 95.6%
3. Sydney Maree ‘81______3:35.30___1.5K = 95.6%
4. **Sally Kipyego ’08___31.25.45____10K = 95.5%
5. Kim Smith ‘04________15:09.72____5K = 95.0%
6. **Hannah England ’08__4:06.19___1.5K = 94.4%
** Recent records.
Tech Note: The college records listed at Trackshark.com and TrackandFieldNews.com contain a few errors. Overall I have found the T&FNews list a little more up-to-date, plus they keep top-10 all-time lists which now seem very accurate (they weren't 4 years ago). Both have the men’s indoor mile record listed as Tony Waldrop’s 3:55.0(ht) but I believe the record belongs to Don Paige’s 3:54.22 run Feb ‘80 (And listed at TrackandFieldNews.com. Click on “lists”, then “all-time top-10 men”, then “collegiate comprehensive”). Trackshark also has not updated the women’s outdoor 1500m collegiate record which Hannah England set in June ‘08.