What is the most memorable running moment you've seen in-person?

Ryan Hall's 59:43, and the excitement and fist pumps that came along with it before he even crossed the finish line.

08' US Olympic Trials 800 w/Symmonds and co. from OTC

Haven't seen many top-flight meets, so mine is probably the 1987 NCAA XC Championships - Joe Falcon easily winning by 6+ seconds (my memory is it wasn't as close as the time suggests).

Most impressive was probably Gay's 9.68--the fastest time ever, at the time, but a wind-aided mark probably only worth 9.84 or so.

Most memorable was probably the Men's 800m at the same meet ('08 trials).

i saw every one of the 18 medals that so cal kids won in person in london this past summer. my wife and i cried every day. it was the most fantastic meet ever. we're so happy and proud to have officiated thoudsands of meets and marathons in los angeles all these decades.

Thank you for your many years of volunteering for the sport.

Watching Steve Prefontaine win the two mile at the 1975 Portland Indoor Track Meet (I had a front row seat.) It was the only time I saw him in person.

Rudy Chapa winning the 1978 NCAA 5,000. It was probably the loudest I've ever heard the Hayward Field crowd.

Watching Rupp hold off Lauren Jespersen during his Junior year XC State Race. Rupp got him by hardly half a second and finished in 14:56 which is amazing given that course can be an absolute mud pit in the fall.

I was a freshman in high school and wasn't running on varsity yet so seeing that made a huge impression on me as a young kid and only increased my desire to train and race hard. I hadn't a clue who Rupp was at the time so it wasn't so much the person but just the sight of two guys neck and neck for so long and the entire crowd going wild.

I saw Webbs HSR and also Hall celebrating on the way in as he crushed he OT marathon in NYC.

Very curious choice. You seem pretty selective in your random drug accusations even if it's not proven. I guess you have it in for certain people.

trollism wrote:

1996 19.32

I really haven't had the chance to see much in person. The best I have is watching Hall pull away in a big way from the pack in the 2008 trials. He completely ran off with the race on the last lap.

Note: I see 7 of 10 posts are from the same I.P. address. Hope this helps.

South Lakes setting the DMR HSR in 2001 at AOC with Webb running 4-flat on the anchor to hold off John Jefferson.

I saw Rudisha run 1:41 in New York. It was absurd. He crushed the entire field and no one else had a chance from the gun. Kaki was only able to hang for 400 meters before he droped out. Watching that man run is easily the greatest thing I have ever witnessed. If you have not seen Rudisha race in person I highly recommend you do so.

When I was a kid, first sub-4 ever run at Hayward. Dyrol Burleson, 3:58.6.

This topic really forces one to think long and hard. After some thought I've selected 3... with possibilities I've left something out. ..and the original question asked for "most memorable"...oops!

1. Best seat in house for a memorable moment... On his shoulder as Alberto Juantorena controlled the tempo in the 800m CAC Games 1981 For those too young to know the name. Google him.

2.19.32 MJ in Atl ...96 Olympics. The reaction of everyone in the stands was one of disbelief. I was working the Trials when he ran 19.66 and tht was awesome. .. but 19.32 left mouths gaping. !!

3.Bolt runs 19.93 as a 17 yr old for the WJR ... Another stunner tht left a Stadium (Bermuda) breathless !!

Other than the ones I was in, probably meeting Alan Webb, that's basically my only pro encounter.

1) Yifter blowing Virgins doors off the last 300 at the 1979 World Cup.

2) Ngugi taking apart the field in the snow at Worlds XC in Boston 1992

3) Ryan Hall winning the Trials marathon in Central Park in 2007.

4) Josh McDougal beating Galen Rupp at NCAA cross in 2007.

Boston 2011. Two : oh-three : oh-two.

I sat 2 seats away from John Trautman's dad when he broke Pre's national HSR in the 3000 at Penn's. His dad cried like a baby the whole last lap--amazing moment.

In hindsight, when I was in HS I saw Carlton Young of Central high in Philly regularly kick Carl Lewis' behind in the 100.