jyv wrote:
Decker was significantly greater than Cain currently is
Please explain your reasoning for that statement.
I would assume this is because she was better on the world/national stage?
Womens competition was much weaker in the 1970s (though I suppose that could theoretically work in her favor, some sort of "impact factor"). Ryun and Lindgren do get some points in my book for being better national/world than guys today, as does Mary Decker. 2) However, Mary Cain is so much faster, especially over mile and two mile, that she makes up for it. Like if Alan Webb had run ~3:49, or if Rupp had run, say, 13:1x, I would probably put them ahead of Ryun or Lindgren.
While I disagree with what I would assume to be your argument, I don't find it unreasonable.