The BIG 3: Only one remains

malmo wrote:

reader of the forums wrote:

People finish 3rd in Zurich every year. A 3:46 mile is very rare.

Ritz's third in Zurich (the most important race of the year) was very rare and very inspiring. Webb's 3:46 was a yawner in a completely forgettable competition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aTRTvo2ouo

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Now here are remarkable Webb races (that matter)

2007 Paris

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMN9iet4Rh8

2004 Olympic Trials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyGQGxgVkMg

2007 Nationals Webb DESTROYS Lagat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5i_xNDhOaM

2007 Reebok Grand Prix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it9uLpoUMks

Even Webb's 2004 win in Ostrava was ten times more important (and exciting ) than his 3:46

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5pwqnLIEuY

PS, that should have been Hooterville. No thank you spell-check.

^^Some great races posted there^^

I think Webbs mile record is better than Ritz's 5000. Webbs people set up the backyard mile during Webbs hot season where there wasn't a mile to race. Not as exciting a Scott's AR but 3:46 is 3:46.

The most impressive feats by the big 3 are Webbs 3:53 and Ritzs 3rd place Junior World XC finish behind Bekele in HIGH SCHOOL(not as a college frosh).

Bazooka Joe wrote:

The most impressive feats by the big 3 are Webbs 3:53 and Ritzs 3rd place Junior World XC finish behind Bekele in HIGH SCHOOL(not as a college frosh).

Ritz was as old as a college frosh when he was in high school.

Webb had a short career. Jim Spivey and Steve Scott were running competitively into his early thirties. Spivey broke a 3:50 at 30 making the oldest runner ever to accomplish such a feat.

passport pro wrote:

Bazooka Joe wrote:

The most impressive feats by the big 3 are Webbs 3:53 and Ritzs 3rd place Junior World XC finish behind Bekele in HIGH SCHOOL(not as a college frosh).

Ritz was as old as a college frosh when he was in high school.

18 years old at time of graduation. Perfectly normal for a high school kid.

passport pro wrote:

Bazooka Joe wrote:

The most impressive feats by the big 3 are Webbs 3:53 and Ritzs 3rd place Junior World XC finish behind Bekele in HIGH SCHOOL(not as a college frosh).

Ritz was as old as a college frosh when he was in high school.

No he wasn't.

Reading this thread, I was struck by 13+ year of post-HS racing from these three. There's something to be said for that (injuries, ups/downs, disappointments aside).

But then... I remembered that Daddy has been grilling on the coals for almost 20 years. Just the 15's:

2013 3:36.36 Paris Saint-Denis 06 JUL

2012 3:34.63 New York City, NY 09 JUN

2011 3:33.11 Paris Saint-Denis 08 JUL

2010 3:32.51 Monaco (Stade Louis II) 22 JUL

2009 3:32.56 Tanger 12 JUL

2008 3:32.75 Rieti 07 SEP

2007 3:33.85 Eugene, OR 10 JUN

2006 3:29.68 Rieti 27 AUG

2005 3:29.30 Rieti 28 AUG

2004 3:27.40 Zürich 06 AUG

2003 3:30.55 Zürich 15 AUG

2002 3:27.91 Monaco (Stade Louis II) 19 JUL

2001 3:26.34 Bruxelles 24 AUG

2000 3:28.51 Zürich 11 AUG

1999 3:30.56 Zürich 11 AUG

1998 3:34.48 Stuttgart 19 JUL

1997 3:41.19 01 JAN

1996 3:37.7 01 JAN

passport pro wrote:

Bazooka Joe wrote:

The most impressive feats by the big 3 are Webbs 3:53 and Ritzs 3rd place Junior World XC finish behind Bekele in HIGH SCHOOL(not as a college frosh).

Ritz was as old as a college frosh when he was in high school.

No he wasn't

HardLoper wrote:

passport pro wrote:

Ritz was as old as a college frosh when he was in high school.

No he wasn't

Yes he was. Ritz couldn't run Junior Nationals or Junior Worlds when he was a freshmen BECAUSE HE WAS TOO OLD. Most freshman are eligible for Junior comp. as freshmen.

Birthday in December, I think. Perfectly normal since most school systems run September 1st deadlines (and maybe back then October 1st or October 16th) for your age to start Kindergarten.

Junior eligibility is based on staying 19 for the whole calendar year. Since Ritz turned 20 at the end of the year, it didn't count.

You may be thinking about Adam Goucher, he was old for his grade.

Dr. Pepper wrote:

Birthday in December, I think. Perfectly normal since most school systems run September 1st deadlines (and maybe back then October 1st or October 16th) for your age to start Kindergarten. .

Ugh. Yes, that means that it's perfectly normal for some students to be older than the rest who are in the same grade.

Dr. Pepper wrote:

Junior eligibility is based on staying 19 for the whole calendar year. Since Ritz turned 20 at the end of the year, it didn't count. .

No it doesn't. It means you are allowed to compete as a junior the same year you TURN 19.

A December 30 birthday means you are older than most of your peers in high school, younger than most of your peers in Junior competition.

"No it doesn't. It means you are allowed to compete as a junior the same year you TURN 19. "

Neil - better to burn out than fade away. We are saying the same thing.

Neil Young wrote:

Dr. Pepper wrote:

Birthday in December, I think. Perfectly normal since most school systems run September 1st deadlines (and maybe back then October 1st or October 16th) for your age to start Kindergarten. .

Ugh. Yes, that means that it's perfectly normal for some students to be older than the rest who are in the same grade.

Dr. Pepper wrote:

Junior eligibility is based on staying 19 for the whole calendar year. Since Ritz turned 20 at the end of the year, it didn't count. .

No it doesn't. It means you are allowed to compete as a junior the same year you TURN 19.

A December 30 birthday means you are older than most of your peers in high school, younger than most of your peers in Junior competition.

Are you a professional fool?

Graduating high school at 18.5 years of age is perfectly normal. Every year 20 - 30% of high school grads are as old as Ritz was when he graduated (or older than he was).

Seriously, is being a fool your profession or just a hobby of yours?

You're the fool? Every year 70 - 80% of high school graduates are younger than Ritz when he graduated, which means that....

.......drumroll.......

End of thread.

Next nitwit, please......

Neil Young wrote:

Well R U wrote:

Are you a professional fool?

Graduating high school at 18.5 years of age is perfectly normal. Every year 20 - 30% of high school grads are as old as Ritz was when he graduated (or older than he was).

Seriously, is being a fool your profession or just a hobby of yours?

You're the fool? Every year 70 - 80% of high school graduates are younger than Ritz when he graduated, which means that....

.......drumroll.......

Neil Young wrote:

A December 30 birthday means you are older than most of your peers in high school, younger than most of your peers in Junior competition.

End of thread.

Next nitwit, please......

Bolded for emphasis!

Neil Young wrote:

Neil Young wrote:

You're the fool? Every year 70 - 80% of high school graduates are younger than Ritz when he graduated, which means that....

.......drumroll.......

End of thread.

Next nitwit, please......

Bolded for emphasis!

So, you've said in the clearest of terms that indeed yes, you are a fool.

Got it.

It is absolutely idiotic to say that someone was 'old' in high school when they are well within normal age limits. That is like complaining that a 160 lb boxer is (drum roll please) heavy for fighting in the middleweight class since the majority of middleweights come in at under 160.

You sir, are the biggest moron on these boards.

Glad this thread inspired Toni Reavis.

Letsrun is where running news is FIRST!

George Atlas wrote:

Longetivity nonetheless, Webb's 3:46 mile and Hall's 58 half-marathon out rank (barely) Ritzenheins 12:56 5000.

First off Ryan Hall ran 59:43

And Ritz's 12:56 is def better than his 59:43, Rupp hasn't even ran 12:56 yet (PR- 12:58) and even he is going to destroy Hall's 59:43 when he moves up to the HM

But yes, 3:46 should be better than 12:56

NOP Skeptic wrote:

George Atlas wrote:

Longetivity nonetheless, Webb's 3:46 mile and Hall's 58 half-marathon out rank (barely) Ritzenheins 12:56 5000.

First off Ryan Hall ran 59:43

And Ritz's 12:56 is def better than his 59:43, Rupp hasn't even ran 12:56 yet (PR- 12:58) and even he is going to destroy Hall's 59:43 when he moves up to the HM

But yes, 3:46 should be better than 12:56

What Rupp has done or what he will do (or at least what you think he will do) is not relevant in comparing the achievements of Ritz, Hall and Webb.

Thanks just the same.

Pointing Out the Obvious wrote:

NOP Skeptic wrote:

First off Ryan Hall ran 59:43

And Ritz's 12:56 is def better than his 59:43, Rupp hasn't even ran 12:56 yet (PR- 12:58) and even he is going to destroy Hall's 59:43 when he moves up to the HM

But yes, 3:46 should be better than 12:56

What Rupp has done or what he will do (or at least what you think he will do) is not relevant in comparing the achievements of Ritz, Hall and Webb.

Thanks just the same.

I was just using Rupp as a reference

And since we're on the same subject, I'll even cite what other previous posters have said, in that Ritz's 1:00:00 was more impressive than Hall's 59:43

The HM Champs course was not flat, windy, and it was raining, compared to Hall who had spot on conditions and a flat course, plus Ritz ran his time in a championship race that was tactical toward the beginning miles