Which runner has demontrated the greatest range of running abilty?

Dazed and Confused wrote:

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Günther Weidlinger. This excerpt was taken from a thread previously started on the similar topic.

His PRs reveal unreal range: 1,500 m (3:34.69 minutes), 3,000 m (Indoors: 7:44.19), 3,000 m steeple chase (8:10.83), 5,000 m (13:13.44), 10,000 m (27:36.46), 10 k road (28:10) and half marathon (61:42).

That was Wejo, and the thread can be found here:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2844683

When Bekele would be beating him by half a lap in the 5000 and a full lap in the 10000m, his 10000m pr has been recorded as a split en route to a half marathon and his half marathon pr has been recorded as a split to a marathon, I refuse to believe that is "unreal" range.

Might as well throw Ritz in there with his 3:42, 12:56 and 60:00.

Belgian Waffle wrote:

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.

So even at his prime he was never the best at any event. He was a top 1500 meter runner basically but his NY marathon win was mediocre at best. Who did he take down? Geoff Smith for christ sake. His credentials are good but not great.

Aouita-time-1:43.8 800m, 12:58 hardware-bronze 800m, gold 5000m

Gebreselassie-time-1500i 3:31, 2:03:59marathon wr hardware-world indoor 1500 champion, 2xOly 10k champ, no big marathon wins (I don't count Berlin as a major, sorry)

Rod Dixon-time 1:47, 3:33, 2:08:59 hardware-bronze 1500m, NYC marathon win

Ovett-time-21.xx 200m speed, 1:44low, 64 minute half marathon speed. hardware-gold 800m,

Komen-time-3:29, 12:39 hardware-not much to speak of

The runner with the most range will almost certainly end up being a 5000/10000 type runner who works on speed enough to run a very good 800(1:44-1:46), and a great 1500 (3:29-3:30 then later turns to marathoning-I think Gebresselassie takes this one-he could probably run around 1:45-1:46 for 800m in his prime.

But so could a few other more distance oriented guys-I could see Komen running similar times to Haile had he not burnt out, and Aouita probably could have ran a decent sub 2:07 marathon had he been inclined later in his career. Bekele will probably end up running a pretty quick marathon as well.

Also, I'd like to add Goumri to the list-7:32, 12:50 and 2:05:30-and still active.

I'd say Dixon. He's a really great guy too.

Check out the nonprofit he runs:

www.kidsmarathon.com

Just to throw something out there that's not quite as ridiculous as Jordan Hasay: I think it's an exciting time in US women's running with the range we're seeing out of athletes like Barringer and Willard. On the men's side, hopefully Ritz can keep things rolling in the right direction and run some great times from 5000-marathon.

Wang Junxia

1500 -- 3:51.92 -- Beijing -- 11/09/1993

3000 -- 8:06.11 (WR) -- Beijing -- 13/09/1993

10000 -- 29:31.78 (WR) -- Beijing -- 08/09/1993

Marathon -- 2:24:07 -- Tianjin -- 04/04/1993

wellll? wrote:

Ummm... ever heard of Jordan Hasay?

Jordan has no speed. Mary Decker ran a 54 sec 400m at the age of 14 - you know her times for the middle distance races. Also, she ran a 3 hour flat spontaneous marathon at the age of 12.

Jordan cannot come close to Mary.

mango van mango wrote:

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.

He is a contender for best range - but I don't know how T&F had him ranked No1 for 800m in any year:

But here it is:

Paul Ereng wins Olympic Gold in 1:43.55* ahead of Aouita's 1:44.06 (*faster than Aouita's time best of 1:43.86) but Ereng is ranked 3rd behind Aouita No 1!

What a crock - man I don't believe it, it get worse I've just checked for 1984 1500m and he's No.1 above Seb Coe. Are you kidding me - maybe T&F don't think the Olympics are important. No 1 for ducking!

Absolutely Geb! He also is an international businessman & family man!

Many runners CAN or have run a wide rage of distances, but Aouita demostrated his range at a very high level. Instead of moving up to the long stuff, he came back down to get the speed guys! If Geb had run some serious 800's he would just be all the more unbelieveable.

But because Aouita actually took on the 800 world, I think that put's him over Geb on this issue, even though Gebs range from 1500 to marathon is quite great. I think we need some 800s to validate the raw leg speed & competiveness. If we had some of these guys running the 400 that would get us closer to the main point of this question...who has the best range over the standand race distances...demonstrating the best combination of speed & endurance.

These are Aouita's 800m races from 1988.

1:45.0 1

1:44.4 1

1:43.9 1

1:45.2 1q3

1:44.8 2s2

1:44.1 3

1:44.6 1

Ereng races in 1988

01:45.1 3

01:44.8 2

01:45.9 1h2

01:44.6 1s1

01:43.5 1

Babe Didrickson and Jim Thorpe should be the only two athletes in consideration

Craig Virgin was a HS stud, elite track stud, World XC champ, road stud, and top marathon stud. Unfortunately he got sh!t on by Jimmy Carter's 1980 Olympic boycott when Virgin was at his peak.

Clearly one of the most versatile runners ever.

Magda Boulet.

xo

If its RANGE we're talking about then it ends with Y. Kourous. 2:25 marathoner with WR at 24 hours (180+ miles) and 6-days (643 miles). That is range.

uncalled for wrote:

JOSH COX. According to his training log, he has run WR pace for nearly every distance during workouts.

"You don't have the kick for the marathon...I'm entering you in the 50k Josh."-Terrence

"The 50k? I'm a marathoner. No one cares about the 50k." -JCox

"Well give em a reason to care."-Terrence

heeeeyyyoh!

Life Long Goal wrote:

You already Said Aouita.

dixon has the complete resume; others don't have the documented range.

whirledpeas wrote:

dixon has the complete resume; others don't have the documented range.

Gebrselassie does and is faster and more accomplished at every distance.