best WR run ever witnessed

There are three world records of those I have seen that come to mind today.

Two were set in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The first was Bob Hayes tying the 100 meter world record of 10.0 in the Olympic final. He exploded out of the blocks, was a full meter ahead at the 40 meter mark and won by seven feet still going away. (By the way, I had also seen Harry Jerome tie that same 10 flat mark in the Canadian Olympic Trials on Friday July 15, 1960 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.)

The second was Abebe Bakila's 2:12:12 marathon world record in those same Tokyo Olympics. He won by over 4 minutes looking as fresh as though he was about to start the race when he crossed the finish line. He then went into the infield, waved his arms a few times, lay down on his back on the grass and began to do bicycle exercises before another runner had even entered the stadium.

My other standout world record race is the six mile dual between Billy Mills and Gerry Lindgren on June 27th, 1965 in US AAU Championships in San Diego. It was a step for step race the whole way. The lead changed several times. Both runners were given the same world record time with Mills being given the win. It is not often that the spectators do not know who will win a six mile race right to the finish line.

All three world record races gave me greater than normal thrills!

1965 Ron Clarke at the White City in London becoming the first person in history to run under 13:00 for 3 Miles - 12:52.4

1973 Dave Bedford at Crystal Palace, London 27:30.80 solo for 10,000m.

Khalid Khannouchi, 1999 in 2:05:42 at Chicago

Paula Radcliffe, 2002, in 2:17:18 at Chicago

Khalid Khannouchi 2:05:38 at London in 2002;

Paula Radcliffe at London in 2003 in 2:15:25

saw Santa Monica TC set the 4x200m WR in 94 or 95. lewis threw his hands up and ran the last 15m showboating for the crowd. they would have put it out of reach forever had he actually run through the line. only one i have ever seen live.

i did see our school record in the 4800m set a few weeks back when one of our kids was stopped a lap short. wasn't as exciting.

I saw Flojo break the 100 record at the 1988 trials and it was awesome. Her ass whas hanging out of her outfit and she killed the field.

Apparently the ass was not natural.

same track we used to have indoor nc's on every year. mulit colored yellow and orange board track. changed to indianapolis then now to fayetteville.

looks like these guys:

7:20.67 Daniel Komen KEN 17 05 1976 1 Rieti 01 09 1996

7:23.09 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 14 09 1974 1 Bruxelles 03 09 1999

7:25.09 Haile Gebrselassie ETH 18 04 1973 1 Bruxelles 28 08 1998

7:25.11 Noureddine Morceli ALG 28 02 1970 1 Monaco 02 08 1994

7:27.18 Moses Kiptanui KEN 01 10 1970 1 Monaco 25 07 1995

7:27.59 Luke Kipkosgei KEN 27 11 1975 2 Monaco 08 08 1998

7:27.72 Eliud Kipchoge KEN 05 11 1984 1 Bruxelles 03 09 2004

7:27.75 Tom Nyariki KEN 27 09 1971 2 Monaco 10 08 1996

7:28.28 James Kwalia KEN 12 06 1984 2 Bruxelles 03 09 2004

7:28.41 Paul Bitok KEN 26 06 1970 3 Monaco 10 08 1996

7:28.45 Assefa Mezgebu ETH 19 06 1978 3 Monaco 08 08 1998

7:28.67 Benjamin Limo KEN 23 08 1974 1 Monaco 04 08 1999

7:28.70 Paul Tergat KEN 17 06 1969 4 Monaco 10 08 1996

7:28.93 Salah Hissou MAR 16 01 1972 2 Monaco 04 08 1999

7:28.94 Brahim Lahlafi MAR 15 04 1968 3 Monaco 04 08 1999

7:29.09 John Kibowen KEN 21 04 1969 3 Oslo 09 07 1998

7:29.34 Isaac Viciosa ESP 26 12 1969 4 Oslo 09 07 1998

7:29.45 Saïd Aouita MAR 02 11 1959 1 Köln 20 08 1989

7:30.09 Ismaïl Sghyr MAR 16 03 1972 2 Monaco 25 07 1995

7:30.36 Mark Carroll IRL 15 01 1972 5 Monaco 04 08 1999

Saw Mike Powell break Bob Beamon's record in Tokyo. Lewis also jumped more than 29 feet. The two went back and forth for the lead. The intensity of the competition was palpable, even in that huge stadium. Indescribable.

Good Thread--I was lucky enough to see Coughlan's 1st sub-3:50 indoors @Jack in the Box meet in San Diego early 80s(Jeff Nelson's 8:40 2mi also).To top that, two weeks later I saw him top that @ Vitalis in the Meadowlands,NJ.Most impressive

Henry Rono breaking the 5k record in a duel meet at Cal, no rabbits just Henry and the clock.

Sadly, the only world record I've ever witnessed was via the television....I saw Donovan Bailey break the 100m record in 9.84. Not exactly awe inspiring.

Worst WR - Yelena Isinbayeva... i've been following her progress for about a year or so now, a huge fan, but come on, talk about in it for the money bonuses, I think she shouldve just cleared the 5m barrier that she knows she can at the olympics, that wouldve been huge!

Hicham El Guerrouj - His WRs are amazing, I only realised the other day that his 4:44 2000m WR, he would've ran 1500m in 3:33 or faster! that is pretty good considering its his weakest.

Never witnessed a WR myself, just seen a few replays

....666.... wrote:

I saw Flojo break the 100 record at the 1988 trials and it was awesome. Her ass whas hanging out of her outfit and she killed the field.

Apparently the ass was not natural.

Not only was this almost certainly a drug-aided performance, but there was also a hurricaine wind at her back, which anybody in the stadium could attest to--I'm talking 4.0 type wind. Yet the officials posted a 0.0 mps wind reading, if I remember right. For that reason, I would put this as the worst world record I witnessed.

I've seen just about every men's WR on video but only three in person and all three were Dragila's, back in 2000 at the Trials and twice at the US Open in 2001. Hopefully I'll see some in the near future.

I have been witness to a few...but I think the coolest was Deena breaking the 5K WR on the roads at Carlsbad. What an atmosphere! She simply ran away from a DEEP field...pushed the whole way. Crowd went nuts!

trackhead wrote:

I've seen just about every men's WR on video but only three in person and all three were Dragila's, back in 2000 at the Trials and twice at the US Open in 2001. Hopefully I'll see some in the near future.

If you want to see one, just try to get into Hengelo or almost any Golden League this year where Bekele, El Guerrouj, or Shaheen is running the 5K or Sihine or Kemboi is running the 10K.

This could be a big year in the distances (3,000-5,000-10,000) for records.

Racer1,

You don't have to tell me -- I'd love to go to Hengelo or Ostrava -- it's just the missing work and expenses that are stopping me!

Hopefully I can catch one this weekend, but it may be a bit much to ask.

weltklasse will be out of this world in 2005. truly. el g vs. bekele over 5km? expect to see 26.10 this year over 10km by the little ethiopian. i never thought i'd say that in my lifetime. i remember we thought ondieki was superhuman when he cracked 27.00!

Portsea, what track was that in Oklahoma City that the 500m record was run on?

was a wooden orange and yellow track- small track- approx 160m i think. we used to come to the myriad every year when they held the nc's there.