I thought Ryun ran his second record on asphalt. Mind you that can kill the legs but it is a quick surface. I regularly run on an asphalt track and the guys I run with always say "that one(say a 300 rep) is worth 1 second faster on Tartan". I haven't bothered to point out that we run the same speed when we do train on Tartan.
[quote]morceli1978 wrote:
El G is obviously a great fast-paced runner. However, he does seem to run into trouble in slower tactical races. Even in the WC and Olympics he relies heavily on a fellow countryman to sacrifice himself for a fast pace.
[quote]
he seems to run into trouble? he's only lost one race in like 7 years! and that one wasn't a slow pace... won in 3:31 wasn't it? AND he had a pacemaker for that race, too...so it's not like the lack of a pacemaker caused him to lose his ONE race in seven years. people like to cite the fact that a) he's never won the olympics and b) he prefers to have a pacemaker to support the claim that he can't race in tactical races. but the fact is that in whatever tactical races he's run in the last seven years, he's still won. wouldn't you rather have a pacemaker if you could? it doesn't mean that you couldn't win without one.
The only man to win the Olympic 1500 twice. Sebastian Coe.
He should be mentioned with Ryun and El G.
Sebastian Coe. Greatest middle distance runner of all time. Numerous world records, 2 gold medals, proved himself the most dominant in quite possibly the most competetive era of middle distance running.
I think not about the asphalt track ? I am not expert but , where did he run it?
Coe was very good!! But never liked, which should not come in to the discussion his personality? I liked Ovett, which then brings into play Walker who was very Cool!! Coe was very great your right!
El G, Morcelli, Coe, Snell, Elliot, Walker... you cannot pick one, they are all great.
Jazy broke Peter Snell's mile world record in Rennes, France. And yes Wisher is right the ash track in that Stadium was on it's last legs by the mid 1960's.
What was also remarkable about this run was that the pacemaking was quite diabolical (the third lap was ran in 61 seconds so Jazy had to close very fast to get the record. Perhaps this was was because the field was not an international field (all the runners were French) and so the quality was relatively poor for a record attempt of this stature.
Jazy's 4-54 2000m record was the last race of his career (1966). Nice note to end on !
All the best milers from every generation are great - Jazy is just my personal favorite and he seems to be a little bit forgotten these days.
Jazy had a heart attack at 52(as did Gaston Roelants of Belgium). Sadly few of the former greats kept up much of a fitness level. I remember a thief stole some jewelery from a store in Paris and Jazy gave chase. Couldn't catch the guy. I think Coe could still get the job done even today.
I agree with the Coe supporters. Coe not only won two Olympic golds at 1500m, he won the silver in the 800m at both of those Olympiads. How many of the other greats could have matched that feat? Some, perhaps. It is a rare feat, nonetheless. Still, I agree that among Coe, Snell, Elliott, Morceli, El G, Ryun, etc., how can you chose?
based on #1 rankings, titles, WR's and overall quantity of achievement.
1) Morceli-7 #1's, 1 Oly gold, 3WC's, 3 WR's (1500,mile only)
2) El G- 6 #1's, 3WC's, 2 WR's
3) Coe- 2 Oly golds, ?WR's, traded top rankings w/ Aouita and the other Brits.
Ryun just doesn't have the stats to match these guys, although to be fair there were no World Championships in his day. El G's racing record and number of fast times is incredible (6 times under 3:30 last year alone).
There can not be a discussion of history's greatest milers without the name of Steve Ovett coming into the discussion. I am not suggesting Ovett was the best, but must be included with many of the others mentioned here. How high was his mile/1500 winning streak? I was reading the posts anticipating bringing Ovett into the discussion only to see my arch rival Mr. Red Dragon beat me to the punch. I also grudgingly agree that Walker was very cool. His Montreal performance was fantastic considering the pressure he was under from carrying the whole country of New Zealand on his back for 1500 meters. His look at the line is one of relief, not necessarily joy. Question: Was '76 the first real sit and kick Olympics? I know the pack finished in 1:51 and Wellman had a :25 for the bronze I think. Now if I can get this info. from another than RD, I will be a believer.
Munich(Vasala) was pretty darn sit and kick as well. Tokyo(Snell). Melbourne(Delaney). No, there were plenty of others as well before Montreal. Maybe not quite as sit and kick but certainly not like Elliott and Keino.
worldwide yes america only ryun takes it
John Walker, whose last name stands in contrast to his accomplishments: first man under 3:50, Oly gold in '76, prolific (over 100 sub-4's).
EL-g currently holds 5 (5!) wr's. mile, 1500, indoor mile, indoor 1500, and 2000.
The look of relief and fast close to te montreal race was due to the fact that Walker was injured and considered not running. If I remember correctly, he couldn't believe the field let him "have it." No question that Athletes from countries like NZ and Australia carry the weight of the entire nation on their backs. (A whole "nother" thread)
Ray, Excellent point. I know Walker received hundreds of letters with 'Don't let us down' messages and he received several calls from top leaders of NZ while he was in the olympic village. However, I had forgotten about the injury. You are absolutely correct, good call!
How about Benard Lagat? Oh, wait...that would be the "Im El-G's bitch" miler ever. Of course Lassiter would be Lagat's.
WOW you americans just can't handle not being the best at everything can you......to ever consider for a thousand of a second that EL G. isn't the best of all time is ridiculous!!