Top Ten Greatest High School Runners (Boys)

How is Edward cheserek not on this list? In three years, he had at least 7 national titles (maybe more because I might be forgetting some he had so many). Broke jerry lindgren's indoor record running 8:39. Broke the 5k indoor record in 13:57. He ran a 1:50 800 and a 29:56 10k. Arguably the most versatile runner in high school history. Oh yeah, and he won footlocker two years in a row. Alan Webb never won, and he's 6.

When Ryun ran his 3:55 mile as a senior, it was both the hs record and open mens American Record. More importantly, he outran the Olympic Champion and World Record Holder, Peter Snell. Ryun is undoubtedly number 1 on this list. Verzbicas and Cheserek belong near the top, more range and/or more titles than Webb, Ritz, or Rupp. Some of the guys being left off this list were awesome (Solinsky, Sage, Salazar, Hulst, etc).

Lukas V:

-Set countless records on the track.

-Broke 4:00 in the mile.

-Gave a minimal effort yet went undefeated in Cross Country.

-Did I mention he did this while winning the Junior Triathlon championships at age 16?

I'd rank 'em

1. Ryun

2. Lindgren

3. Verzbicas

4. Cheserek

5. Virgin

6. Webb

7. Ritz

8. Fernandez

9. Prefontaine

10. Rupp

Ritz makes it in for his 3rd at World Cross in addition to his other track and cross titles. Granville gets in if you don't count range. He almost makes a senior team off his pr back then. Every guy on the list has either multiple HS records or titles to their name.

I think, tho not sure, that Liquori anchored two Natl records at the time - DMR and 4X1. No? ... Yes?

Distance Maniac wrote:

[quote]Just distance runners? wrote:

I'm glad to see names like Dwayne Evans and Roy Martin Jr. being thrown out there for the "greatest high school runner" list. Any hurdlers??? Dude from Spokane ran a pretty good 400 back in the day.

Let's add Darrel Robinson to that list. That's "the dude from Spokane." 400 record not even threatened in over 20 years. 44.69 !!!!

New Jersey wrote:

How is Edward cheserek not on this list?

20 year olds don't count as High Schoolers.

Realism wrote:

New Jersey wrote:

How is Edward cheserek not on this list?

20 year olds don't count as High Schoolers.

LV was also 19 his Sr year. Hell, I wasn't 19 till a soph in college. I think you have to use an asterisk with both Cheserek and LV.

Keepin it Real wrote:

LV was also 19 his Sr year.

This is not correct. Nor was Cheserek 20 at graduation. These are poor arguments, at least argue something with substance.

Keepin it Real wrote:

LV was also 19 his Sr year. Hell, I wasn't 19 till a soph in college. I think you have to use an asterisk with both Cheserek and LV.

Age is irrelevant. Also, don't act like you turning 19 as a college soph is anywhere close to normal. Most are 19 during their freshman year.

Pretty much agree with this list through 3, but would change things after that.

I don't know why Ritz doesn't get more credit. He KILLED everyone in his footlocker wins, and that included having another guy on everyone's list in Webb. He ran 8:41 and 4:05 in high school only races, tied Lindgren's 5k in 13:44 and has a world junior bronze... His career is pretty much him winning everything he entered (other than a 3rd in world cc).

I think Webb's single accomplishment is better than any other Ritz had in HS, but in terms of career volume, I just don't think of him being as dominant as Ritz was.

Cheserek was great, but ahead of Ritz, I'd argue that his 8:39 isn't a strong enough performance by itself to put him over Ritz when you look at their careers side by side. Just an opinion.

Fernandez didn't win cross nationals, but his state meet record in cc is legendary, as is that 4:00, 8:34 double within 3 hours. That's an insane double for a school boy.

That being said, my updated list would be.

1.Ryun

2.Lindgren

3.LV

4.Ritz

5.Cheserek

6.Webb

7.Fernandez

8.Virgin

9.Jeff Nelson

10.Prefontaine

I could put Rupp on there at 10, but dislike putting a guy on there who ran all the lesser run metric records and had all that Nike backing, basically a professional high school athlete.

eh, I think you're half right. Age is relevant. The difference between a 17 year old and a 19 year old in distance running is massive...

It's one of the reasons I think German should be given more credit. He was insanely good and 17. He didn't turn 18 until Nov his freshman year... imagine if that guy had another year of HS, it would have been insane.

LV was born Jan 6, 1993 and graduate in 2011. That is a pretty normal high schooler.

Keepin it Real wrote:

Realism wrote:

20 year olds don't count as High Schoolers.

LV was also 19 his Sr year. Hell, I wasn't 19 till a soph in college. I think you have to use an asterisk with both Cheserek and LV.

LV ran 8:53 2 mile when he was 15 years old. Virgin ran 8:57 at 15.

science! wrote:

Jeff Nelson's 8:36 record stood for almost 30 years... he should probably make the list for that alone.

Absolutely! Combined with his course record at Mt. SAC that lasted for over 20 years, he should definitely make the list.

Why hasn't Ruben Reina been mentioned yet? He still holds the Balboa Park course record which has been run on pretty much every year by the best high schoolers in the nation and no one has come all that close to his mark.

AlwaysInjured wrote:

Why hasn't Ruben Reina been mentioned yet? He still holds the Balboa Park course record which has been run on pretty much every year by the best high schoolers in the nation and no one has come all that close to his mark.

Ritz would have broken it.

Ritz did not tie Lindgren's 5000 meter record and his 8:41 was for 3200 meters.

Somebody missed Marty Liquori???