The BIG 3: Only one remains

On the age old, age issue..

Interesting how Rojo says Cheserek records from HS should not count, as he turned 19 in Feb or his senior year.

I do not remember folks being so picky when Leo Manzano who was 6 months older than Ches, ran in HS? Leo was 20 on 9/12 of his frosh year at Texas.

Manzano was 19 years and 8 month when graduating

Paul Cross the former HS 800 star was almost 20 , could not even run in AOC back then because he was too old.

2001: A Running Odyssey wrote:

Class of 2001 US records:

Marathon

Um . . . ever heard of Khalid Khannouchi?

Ummmm... Ever hear of Ryan Hall at Boston??????

jewbacca wrote:

George Atlas wrote:

... Hall's 58 half-marathon...

When did Hall break 59?

Second Half of the 2011 Boston Marathon. Though not record eligable, everyone who has run the Boston Marathon knows the 2nd half is actually the tougher half!

Ummmm... Ever hear of aided, non-record eligible???????

Cubato wrote:

Ummmm... Ever hear of Ryan Hall at Boston??????

In terms of the public at large, ritz in my opinion would be the least accomplished by a long shot.

Everyone knows Ryan Hall. Top marathoner for years. AT&T commerical. Blonde haired asics posterboy.

Alan Webb was on letterman.

Ritz??? Not so much. Distance nerds like yourself love him but hobby joggers likely don't know who he is.

That was my perception. Then I remembered this poll that was posted on the boards from a Running USA survey in 2013:

Top Runners/Running Personalities Recognized:

Jeff Galloway 70%

Ryan Hall 69%

Hal Higdon 62%

Paula Radcliffe 61%

Alberto Salazar 61%

Kara Goucher 58%

Joan Benoit Samuelson 58%

Dean Karnazes 56%

Bary Yasso 54%

Meb Keflezighi 54%

Frank Shorter 52%

Deena Kastor 51%

Bill Rodgers 48%

Shalane Flanagan 46%

Mo Farah 44%

Scott Jurek 42%

Amby Burfoot 39%

Galen Rupp 36%

Jim Ryun 33%

John Bingham 30%

Katherine Switzer 29%

Alan Webb 22%

Dathan Ritzenhein 21%

Jenny Simpson 17%

Josh Cox 13%

Matt Centrowitz 12%

Leo Manzano 10%

Morgan Uceny 10%

Halleluja wrote:

jewbacca wrote:

When did Hall break 59?

Second Half of the 2011 Boston Marathon. Though not record eligable, everyone who has run the Boston Marathon knows the 2nd half is actually the tougher half!

I hope you are joking. For the record, Hall did not run sub 59 for the second half of the Boston Marathon on that tail wind year. Just under 1:03, actually.

SMiLE wrote:

Neil Young wrote:

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

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.

Being older than most of your high school peers, and being as old as a college freshman are 2 different things.

And no. He wasn't as old as a college freshman.

And no. Junior eligibility means that you cannot turn 20 during the calender year, this goes for eligibility to set junior records and eligibility to enter championships.

To assert that Dathan was as old as a college freshman is to make a mistaken assertion.

You lose eligibility the day you turn 20...

I'm from the days of unfulfilled potential. Moore, Granville, Jennings....

It's exciting to see guys who were the top in high school continue on to be the top U.S. distance runners of all time and competitive internationally. Olympic teams, American records.

Webb- Most exciting career. Ups and downs. Breaking Jim Ryuns record is amazing. Webb was the first and only sub 4 high schooler for a generation. Struggles as a college frosh but then comes back to the top. 2007 season where the top US miler can run with anyone in the WORLD

Ritz- Career of BIG SURPRISES, junior world xc 3rd place and sub 13 American 5000m SHOCKER, sub 60 half

Hall- sub 60 1/2, 2:04 thon, competitive internationally

Great careers guys!

Alternate Reality wrote:

SMiLE wrote:

Being older than most of your high school peers, and being as old as a college freshman are 2 different things.

And no. He wasn't as old as a college freshman.

And no. Junior eligibility means that you cannot turn 20 during the calender year, this goes for eligibility to set junior records and eligibility to enter championships.

To assert that Dathan was as old as a college freshman is to make a mistaken assertion.

You lose eligibility the day you turn 20...

Actually, you lose eligibility on Jan 1 of the year in which you turn 20.

The general pub doesn't know who Hicham El G is either. Why the f does that matter? Webb's accomplishments are the best,then Ritz's,then Hall's. That is my opinion and that is all that matters to me. So I don't have to explain it and I don't care about your opinion. However you should know mine because it is correct. That is as logical as any bafoon on Letsrun.com.

Alternate Reality wrote:

SMiLE wrote:

Being older than most of your high school peers, and being as old as a college freshman are 2 different things.

And no. He wasn't as old as a college freshman.

And no. Junior eligibility means that you cannot turn 20 during the calender year, this goes for eligibility to set junior records and eligibility to enter championships.

To assert that Dathan was as old as a college freshman is to make a mistaken assertion.

You lose eligibility the day you turn 20...

Pay attention to the many posts telling you that you're wrong. It's the year you turn 20. So jan 1st, 2 days after Ritz turned 19 he became ineligible to be a Jr.

Webb's 1:43.x 3:46.x 13:11 and 27:30's trumps any guy that ever ran in the U.S. as far as obvious marks go.

When Webb ran 8:45 on flat track in HS for two miles beating another great like Brannen? who knows what he could have run then after 3:59.x mile earlier.

Probably no worse than like 8:30 since he ran 3:53 outdoors

At that point in time, he could run anything he ran 1:47.x outdoors as well.