This U.S. Runner from 1990 Would Make the U.S. Team of 2016 in the 1500m or 5000m

"After 1993 Joe had more achilles issues"

It was closely related to plantar fasciitis. He carried one of those handheld stretcher boards wherever his track bag went. He also lost his Asics contract after a year of injury/coupled with being reported to Asics that he had been spotted wearing a sweatshirt that was a rival sporting brand. I think that was really a major blow to him. I drove down from Springfield to have dinner with him in the winter of 1995, and watched him do 5 x 1 mile on a hilly dirt loop on 3 minutes rest. If memory serves me correctly, he averaged 4:25 with the last one in 4:12. He's now a Sargeant at the Bentonville Police Department, and thriving once again.

George Atlas wrote:

Al Michaels and Marty Liquori in that video are three times better than any American track broadcast I've watched in the last 25 years.

I disagree. By my calculations, they are 2.6 times better than any American track broadcast of the last 17 years.

I remember watching that race, which was interrupted by an earthquake in the Bay Area. He could have been our standard bearer through the 1990s but that was the highlight right there and he faded from injury. Of course, pretty soon, the Nourredine Morcelis of the world also dropped the world records so far and fast that they became seemingly unattainable for Americans.

kdeomvoe wrote:

Star wrote:

I loved Joe Falcon.

But I am not as confident that he would make either team right now.

His PRS were 3:33 and 13:20.

Falcon's PR of 3:33 was set during the Dream Mile, so it was obvious he could have run faster, and as Mr. Atlas asserted, his PRs are not the main reason why he had the potential to be a factor in slowish championship races.

2:52 at the bell. Hard to remember how slow the early 90s were...

There are ton of should of and could guys out there. Joe Falcon, Andrew Wheating (3:31/1:44.5 as a 22 year old) and German Fernandez (13:25 5k@19 and 3:39 1500m speed) can fight it out at the top of the list (ok actually there are ton of other guys who can show up here. There is some one every 3-4 years who looks great but then falls away )

reader of the forums 2.0 wrote:

Star wrote:

Steve Scott got the one 1500m medal in the 1980s.

Don't forget Jim Spivey's world championship bronze.

I can't believe I forgot Spivey.

Spivey and Falcon were my favorite runners.

Yes, Falcon's 3:33 was en route but he had an entire career to run faster and never did.

His whole 1990 was great. I can't find a video of his Goodwil Games win, so hopefully someone can.

My main point is the American progress has been very good since 1990 because of the depth.

You had Steve Scott, Jim Spivey and Joe Falcon from the early 80s to the early 90s and then a big drop off to the next best guy in any given year.

Jeff Atkinson, Mark Deady, Terrance Harrington etc. that made US teams then aren't as good as David Torrence, Will Leer, Jordan McNamara, etc. that can't make today's teams.

And an American has medalled in the 1500 in 3 straight championships recently.

So the medal pattern has been: 1968, 1983, 1987, 2011, 2012, 2013.

I'll throw in the 1990 Gold for Joe since the Goodwill Games will a big deal then.

And I would say that the 1990 Joe Falcon would probably make the Olympic team this year, but it would be much tougher than what he faced in 88 or 92.

(Spivey's 4th in the 88 Trials still perplexes me)

Smokin' Joe Falcon!!!!! The dude could RUN!!!

BUT.......Arguable the BIGGEST FREAKIN' HEAD CASE EVER!!!! I love how every peanut chucker from the gallery comments on "Who could of made what team in what year" The bottom line is that they couldn't get it done. As fast as Joe ran..or could of run, and as many NCAA Championships he won for the Pigs he will always feel that burning stab in his gut of not making it to the Big Show!!!

Unfortunately, in the world of distance running the defining accomplishment that closes the book on a truly successful career is to be an Olympian.

Hook 'em up and keep the streets of Bentonville safe Big Joe.

Joe ran one 5k in college, to my recollection (I watched it at Hot Springs in around 87???) 13:45 - did run another one until Pre (13:20) - it is possible that I missed one at a SW conf meet, but don't think so

Joe ran the 1987 NCAA 5000 coming back from winning the 10,000 and ran poorly. He also ran in the TAC 5000 that year and ran around 14:25.

His 13:45 and 28:34 college prs were in races where he only ran hard enough to win the race and qualify for NCAA's.

He won 7 NCAA titles and had an 8th one locked up before tripping at the end of the 1986 NCAA XC champs in Tucson.

After the Oslo Dream mile, I think his greatest race was his anchor leg of the 1989 Penn Relays DMR. Completely owned Kip Cherouyiat (a 3:33 Kenyan for Mount St. Marys) on the last lap.

He was also knocked down in the 1989 NCAA 1500 semis. These days they would have let him pass to the final. . He was the heavy favorite, even against Peter Rono the Olympic 1500 champion.

You forgot 2007 and 2009 for American male medlaists at 1500m.

Joe was a great runner who had a number of tremendous performances over a number of years. His greatness is not diminished at all by not having run in the Olympics. Only a rare few runners can say they have a body of work equal to Joe's. He was an unreal runner with incredible range. A champion.

My apologies to Lagat.

But his medals didn't demonstrate progress in US running.

He already had medals before running for the US.

I agree that he was a champion, and many times over and his body or work is truly amazing. My point is that him not ever making an Olympic team does in fact somewhat diminish his greatness by means of not closing the deal on what is arguably the single most desired accomplishment for an elite runner. Joe had some 'Weird' and unexplained lapses during some big meets that many could not figure out (1992-Olympic trials in New Orleans). Joe should have made that team EASY!!!!!! and was a HUGE FAVORITE. Many think that went to his head and he just folded.

I think he would have a very hard making the team because he is 26 years older and way past his athletic 'prime'.

You, my fine friend, are a moron if you think an athlete doesn't age in 27 years. Wake up and learn something you dunderhead.

I don't know if Joe was a huge favorite to make the team in 1992 or would have made it easy.

He didn't put up any fast times in 1991 or 1992.

Spivey ran great at the 1992 Trials and was clearly the top American.

Holman followed Spivey all the way to finish second in that race and get the standard.

Herrington kicked his way to third and was the reigning US champ.

Falcon fell in that race, but he hadn't shown health or fitness that year that says he would have easily made top 3.

I think he tried running for one more year after that and then hung it up.

The Olympics were at that time in decline as far as being a metric for determining if one had a great running career. Today they are even more diminished in stature. The Games used to be a true test of the world's best, but with the limitation of three athletes per nation, the vast majority of the top runners in the world aren't at the games in the distance events. Track as a sport needs to address this issue. Timing plays a big part in trying to peak for the Games. Perhaps for Joe the timing was off and he didn't qualify.

I still would hesitate to be critical of his many great accomplishments as a runner. I do understand that there are people who will do so.

just another guy wrote:

I think he would have a very hard making the team because he is 26 years older and way past his athletic 'prime'.

You, my fine friend, are a moron if you think an athlete doesn't age in 27 years. Wake up and learn something you dunderhead.

Read the opening post of the thread before attempting to be amusing but instead receiving the dunce cap based on merit.

"Could OF run?" WTF???

I watched the 87 NCAA XC Championship in VA when I was in HS. Falcon surged up a hill around 4mi and no one had a response. He got a 30m or so lead and just held it to the end occasionally checking over his shoulder. He made it look easy. Arkansas won the team title too.

I wonder if all this love for Joe Falcon would stick even though he's a cop today and lot of you hate cops.