Great races won by running from the front from the start

Beijing Olympic Marathon-Men and Women.

Kip Keino 1968 Olypic 1500m

Filbert Bayi 1974 Commonwealth 1500m WR

Steve Jones 1985 Chicago marathon

Don't think it was right from the start, but Joan Benoit in the 1984 Oly Marathon

Benoit, 1984 LA.

I think there is also a difference between controlling the race from the front - e.g. Mary Slaney in the 1983 WC - and trying to run away from the field and steal the race.

Bayi's mile WR (3:51.0?). He opened with a really fast 400 although I don't recall the split.

not a "great" or "historic" race really, but German Fernandez winning the NCAA 1500m was a really impressive front-running effort, beautifully executed.

i can see for miles wrote:

I think there is also a difference between controlling the race from the front - e.g. Mary Slaney in the 1983 WC - and trying to run away from the field and steal the race.

Agreed. I'm going more for the running away from the field and trying to steal the race.

worst post ever?

Paula Radcliffe, New York, New York.

Byers beating out Coe, Cram, etc in the big upset 1500m(or mile can't remember).

Randy Oldman wrote:

Paula Radcliffe, New York, New York.

Hear. Hear. Paula is a joy to watch. Not only can she take the lead, but she can finish the race, too.

Ngugi 1984 Olympics 5000

GF's NCAA 1500m win

Tom Byers Oslo Dream Mile where he was the rabbit and ran off with it.

Vladmir Kuts '56 Oly 5 & 10

Jim Peters first sub-2:20 marathon

i say leave the marathons out of it. that's a different beast altogether.

Steve Prefontaine in the olympics...

I know the marathon is a different beast and all, but I've been a paul pilkington fan ever since he was paid to rabbit the LA marathon, came through halfway on the pace he was paid for, but was way out ahead, kept going, and picked up the win and the Benz.

Ron Clarke and Brendan Foster in just about any race they won.