Best High School Runner From each State All Time

In Pennsylvania Vandergrift is hard to top but I'm going to give the vote to Dan Coval. In the late 1990's and very early 2000's he was unstoppable in cross country and track. Although I like Sara Sargent there is really no way to vote against Gallagher.

Or girl analyst wrote:

Oregon girls:

Based off of times alone Ella Donaghu or Eryn Forbes

Based off potential Ember Stratton (star freshman- bump this in a few years)

Yep. Ember has made a very strong case for GOAT Oregon girl with her showing at NXN and her state meet record. Her performances in the next two years will only seal the deal.

CoachChaz wrote:

Louisiana:

Bobby Beck, 8:46 2 Mile, only behind Craig Virgins 8:40 that year.

Not true. Virgin HS class of 1973, Beck HS class of 1979.

List behind Virgin here:

List with Beck here:

Seth Hirsch probably over Wissel

v6 wrote:

mostly agree wrote:

Colorado - add Katie Rainsberger. Now has faster than Cranny did at sea level and altitude. Post season outdoor invites awaiting.

Eh, she isn't faster than Elise at any distance yet (that I am aware of) at sea-level. I don't know about their 5K times.

Cranny 2:04.81 / 4:10.95 / 10:17

Rainsberger: 2:08.87 / 4:14.20 / 10:23

Moot point now. See Brie Oakley.

Sorry if someone aleady posted this, and not sure if we are talking post high school or performance in HS, but if it's the latter, definitely Casey Clinger for Utah. If not than Jared Ward, especially if we're talking improvement from HS to Pro.

We should be ranking runners by the period in which they ran.

Choosing Ed Cheserek over Marty Liquori is silly, unless you disregard SHOES, clothing, medicine, TRAINING, tracks, RACING STRATEGY ADVANCEMENTS, PSYCHOLOGY, and etc.

Craig Virgin and many others set records in the 1970s that stood for 25 years in several places. In fact some of his marks still stand, with the obvious one being that he still holds the Illinois state meet record cross country time!

Jim Ryun peaked at 20 years of age when he ran his 3:51.1 on a track far inferior to even ones built in the 1980s!!! He often ran 40 X 440...we know better now!

In that 1973 list 1:53.0 Dyrk Dahl from Oklahoma. Could that be 40 milers father or grandfather?

br0ski wrote:

I don't think any of them are better than Salazar and Powell. Maybe Abdirizak Mohammud. Green/Abdi/Coogan/Gras are not even in the conversation for me.

Art Dulong, not better than Salazär or Powell?

Michigander flown south wrote:

RockfordsFinest wrote:

Michigan - Ritz

"Best" is too subjective. You want titles or you want times? Ryan Shay won more state titles ...

Who on the women's side?

Geena Gall?

Sharon Van Tuyl?

Megan Goethals?

Didn't Fisher win 3 state indoor, 2 XC state, 5 track State, 2 Nat indoor, 2 Dream Miles, 2 Footlockers, 2 US World Teams, and run faster then Ritz in the 800, 1500, 1600, Mile, 3200, 2 Mile while in HS. Ritz ran faster in the 5k but Fisher never ran a 5k on the track in HS

ray wrote:

kohlberg wrote:

On the girls side in CT, it's Liz Mueller, hands down. 1991 Foot Locker (Kinney) National Champ.

Hopp had a much better high school career with only half the competitive opportunities. First CT athlete to win Foot locker (Kinney) 1980. At one time held state records in the mile, 2 mile, 3000, 1000, 1600, 3200

Could a case could be made for Jan Merrill-Morin?

It has to be Donn Cabral for the guys, 3 time LL, 2 time Open, 2 time new england for xc alone during, without doing it freshman year and with a loaded field.

Yes, Jan was probably better than all of them, but to my knowledge didn't have the competitive opportunities of the others. In fact, I was shocked when told one of my athletes was the first CT girl under 5:00 (4:51) for the true mile when I thought Jan would have easily run that. She certainly took advantage of the emerging cross country scene. And of course legendary battles with Francie as an open athlete.

Ksrunner4 wrote:

Seth Hirsch probably over Wissel

This could be really interesting discussion come May as Greeder could potentially enter the equation. I would not be surprised to see both the 1600 and 3200 state records fall this spring with Hirsch and Greeder going at it. Greeder has owned Hirsch on the track and in shorter distances. Hirsch has owned XC, he just gets better as the race gets longer. Undoubtedly, Hirsch had the most impressive XC season ever in the state, with FTL still to come.

Rollie, NC wrote:

Why is Ryan Hill the best hs runner ever in North Carolina?

He only ran 4:19 and 9:03

Going by post high school performances he is definitely in consideration. He missed the Olypic 5k team by less than 3 seconds. Plus, he had very little competition in high school. I was a freshman when he was a senior and I remember at the conference meet he ran I think 9:10 and lapped second place who went to run at Arizona State.