Which runner has demontrated the greatest range of running abilty?

And Dixon

http://www.global-pix.co.nz/roddixon.htm

Great for Dixon, but he never really competed at the bread and butter races for distance runners -- 5k, 10k.

Geb is the easy pick. Only thing he hasn't done in the marathon is beat the best head to head. World-class 1500 speed and champinoships in the 5k and 10k, world records 5k to marathon.

When you're one of the guys chasing Viren in Montreal you're competing at the 5k, even if it's the only one you ever do.

Alan Webb has probably had the greatest range within one season.

Alan Webb has probably had the greatest range within one season.

Alan Webb has probably had the greatest range within one season.

In the modern era, only Aouita has ranked #1 in the world at the 800, 1500, 5000 and 10,000 (by T&FN). Quite astounding.

You're right of course, 4th in the Olympic 5000 is not really competing. And a couple of bronzes at World Cross? That's 12K, not 10K, tsk tskAmong Americans, Prefontaine, with a range of 3:54 to 27:43 (mostly run alone) had promise in the longer distances similar to Dixon's. (Just thought I'd open things up for the Pre-bashers :)

thats nice, but wrote:

Great for Dixon, but he never really competed at the bread and butter races for distance runners -- 5k, 10k.

Geb is the easy pick. Only thing he hasn't done in the marathon is beat the best head to head. World-class 1500 speed and champinoships in the 5k and 10k, world records 5k to marathon.

shutoff valve wrote:

Dixon's 2:08:59 was in winning NYCM, NOT a fast course. As I recall, he also ran much of it in "No Man's Land", trying to catch Geoff Smith, who he often couldn't see.

Also, his 33 was lees than two seconds off of Bayi's 3:32 WR in the same race.

Imagine a big, badass white dude having a contemporary range of 3:27/2:05,and you get the idea.

Ok so he gets consideration for whitr guy with best range, but really, this thread is about is runner with greatest range. And whyat you talking about 2:05? There is no white dude handicap in running.

i'm gonna go ahead and toss out Steve Ovett even if you don't consider him one of the best he deserves an honorable mention

Aouita - 143 - 2722

Geb 331 - 203

Dixon 333 - 208

Webb - 143 - 2738 *only one who can still do more

What about the girls? The first one I thought of, and I am sure there are other examples, was Francie Larruie-Smith. 5x Olympian 1500 to marathon; 36 AR, 12 WR.

Steve Cram

800 m 1:42.88 1985

1000 m 2:12.88 1985

1500 m 3:29.67 1985

Mile 3:46.32 1985

2000 m 4:51.39 1985

2 Miles 8:14.93 1983

5000 m 13:28.58 1989

Marathon 2:35 1999

I have also heard he ran sub 46, 21 point and sub 11 in the 100, which considering his 800m pr is not hard to believe.

pen envy wrote:

Alan Webb has probably had the greatest range within one season.

Gebrselassie ran 3:31.76i in February 1998, and four months later, he ran 26:22.75 WR and 12:39.36 WR.

Which oF Webb's seasons demonstrated superior range?

When judged by his standings among his contemporaries --Dixon.

72: 3rd in OG 1,500.

74: One second off WR in 1,500.

76: 4th in OG 5,000 (0.12 from Bronze).

80: OG Boycott

Early 80s: became a successful Road Racer in the US various distances.

83: NYC Marathon Champion.

84: 10th in OG Marathon.

Because the women couldn't run more than 800m in competition, many of our early pioneers on the women's side of the house had tremendous range. Joanie was very successful in the 1500-3000 range. Francie, Ingrid, Grete,

Julie Brown, Lisa Ondieki, Lorraine, Anne Audain, to name just a few.

try this one wrote:

Steve Haas ran a 9.4 100 yard dash, 20.7 200 meters, 46.47 400 meters and a 1:47.0 800 meters, pretty tough to beat!!!!

Wow, I had to reply to this one. Steve told me 30 years ago he ran the 800 in 1963. Why would Steve Haas tell me. It's because he coached me 30 years ago. Once again wow, it's great to see his name.

what about Ovett? He could jump into a half marathon and run with some of Britain's best and then come back and run a hella of an 800.

Lisa Martin-Ondieki

From elite hurdler, to Silver medal in the Marathon.

The Greatest Range in any Elite athlete has to be her.

I didn't spend the time to find her hurdle and sprint PB's before she became a distance runner...but someone one probably knows them and can post.

http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/country=aus/athcode=61181/index.html