Not just necessarily on major championships alone; but all things considered. How about a US list and World list.
I remember a to American steepler that I saw as a kid; (could have been my 1st viewing of the steeplechase). It was Sid Sink at the all Ohio meet in 1971.
I think it would be possible to make up a top 10-15 list. Not sure you could pick a 'best one'. My crowning achievement was finally breaking the 9 minute barrier my senior year after being all around 9 minutes my soph and junior years. I know, small potoatoes to guys like Malmo; but it was 'my little war' and it did score 2 points for our team at Conference.
I don't know why you think that 9:00 is small potatoes to "guys like (me)"? I remember when I broke 9:00 I thought it was pretty significant.
malmo wrote:
I don't know why you think that 9:00 is small potatoes to "guys like (me)"? I remember when I broke 9:00 I thought it was pretty significant.
maybe because to an 8:21 guy like you; 8:56 would mean you fell down/hit a barrier and jogged in the final 2 laps. Remember 8:56 was my end; to you it was a begining.
Doug Brown?
Henry Rono for world's best in the 70s?
From the US List looks like Brown, Manley were the most consistent in the early 70's with Brown the AR holder.
The last 4-5 years of the decade Marsh dominated. I know Marsh went on to be best in the world for a few years.
Doug Brown would proably be the best American of the 70's. Henry Rono without doubt would be the best in the world for the 70's.
Kip Keino made a mockery out of the steeplechase in winning the 1972 Olympics. I think it was his first steeplechase or close to it. I don't think he ever ran it again.
Jerome Liebenberg, Western Michigan U., early 70s. Just kidding. But he was a force for a year or 2 and was cool, with the bandana and long hair. I think WMU cut their track program in the past 5 years too. What a disgrace.
Anders Garderud set a WR in the 1976 Olympics. That's pretty significant.
The mark Rono smashed two years later (in a college dual meet, right?)
I'll add a plug for Bronislaw Malinowski for top 3.
Brono:
4th '72 Oly G
1st '74 Euro Ch
2nd '76 Oly G
1st '78 Euro Ch
1st '80 Oly G - Bur does 1980 count?
Head to head wins over Rono also.
Euro record holder in Steeple and I think he had a best of 8:09.
Garderud had more WR's and won their big clash in '76, but it is hard to decide who was more impressive (unless you don't count 1980 because it is not in the 70s).
Brono has the most impressive Oly G record of nearly any steepler of any era. He backs it up with a great Euro Ch record too.
Henry Rono
1440 to go wrote:
Brono:
.
That's how I see it too.
1. 8:09.1 (76) Malinowski Silver (76) traded wins with Garderud and beat Rono headsup in 1978. Ranked 4, 6, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 1 (72-79)
2. 8:08.0 (76) Garderud, WR and Gold (76) traded wins with Malinowski. Ranked 9, 4, 2, 2, 1, 1 (71-76)
3. 8:05.4 (78) Rono, WR that stood for 12 years. One great year, lost to Malinowski. Ranked 1, 2 (78 -79)
4. 8:13.9 (73) Jipcho WR in 1973 ranked 6, 2, 1, 6 (70,72-74)
5. 8:14.1 (77) Karst. Ranked 3, 3, 6, 1, 5, 8 (74-79)
6. 8:10.3 (76) Baumgartl Bronze in 76. Ranked 4,3 (75, 76)
7. 8:12.6 (76) Kantanen. Ranked 3,3,4,5,4 (72-76) consistent but can’t beat Baumgartl
8. 8:23.6 (72) Keino Olympic Gold (72) wins the big one
9. 8:22.0 (70) O’Brien WR in 70 ranked 1, 5, 10 (70-72)
10. 8:15.3 (76) Glans ranked 5, 4 (76,77)
11. 8:16.1 (76) Cefan. Ranked 10, 6, 7,9 (74-77)
12. 8:18.8 (74) Fava ranked 5, 10 (74-75)
13. 8:20.4 (78) Copu ranked 7, 5 (78-79)
14. 8:21.6 (77) Munyala ranked 5, 6 (77-78)
15. 8:21.6 (76) Marsh ranked 7, 8, 6 (77-79)
1976 OG steeplechase
Bron Malinowski undisputed. Personally, I feel Rono should be ranked above Garderud, who had many failures at Munich, Rome, Christchurch (1975) Dusseldorf (1977), etc.
Keino should be ranked higher. He absolutely dominated the whole last lap at Munich...he didn't just win the sprint off the last hurdle.
Malmo, didn't Garderud break WR AFTER Munich (8:20)...more demerit points. Can Montreal atone for all of that?
Michael Karst - best hurdler?
I'd have to say Jipcho had most potential to bury the record before Rono
he ran 3'33 / 13'14 in '74 ->7'35.1 for 3k
the 1500 was at his limit, but the 5k was a tactical race v Foster & Jipcho ran what it took to win, not chase the clock - I think quite easily he couda run 13'10 that day on the circuit
3'33 / 13'10 ->7'33.7
Now, he was an accomplished SCer & I think he couda had an ideal ~ 30 - 35s differential to the stix ->~ 8'03 - 8'08
He was capable of a spectacular time in '74...
When was Marsh on top of his game? Doing mostly treadmill work in his basement.