Who's the best??

That 7:20 is....blazing so is that 19.32! lets not forget the 43:18

Man you all are stretching it here. The original question asked for 1500 and up. Then, some of you added the 800 which I didn't do because I was living within the parameters of the question - because I am better than you :). Now we're down to the 400 and the 200? Ok, I don't really care, just making an observation.

Don't forget............

Ovett had a VERY long 1500 undefeated streak as well as WR's, olympic medal etc.

Zatopek's most amazing stat is he ran 20K in sub 60:00 when the 2nd best 10K runner in the world(behind himself) had not broken 30:00.

Snell, Coe, Kipketer, & Jauntorena dominant in 800 (Wohlhuter for US)

Bikele in the marathon

Half Marathon - Tergat

Although the Flying Finn name I believe was created for Nurmi, the term was broadened to include all the Finnish great of that era. Volmari Iso-Hollo was one of many "Flying Finns" including Ritola (the one everyone forgets), Kolehmainen, Stenroos, Katz, Berg, Loukola, Lehtinen etc...

I think Nurmi is a tough pick because it was so long ago. If he hadn't been dumped by the IAAF for being a "professional," I think his performance in the 1932 marathon would have solidified his greatness. Unfortunately it's just left to speculation. I think people here are more inclined to reach back for Zatopek, but not all the way to Nurmi. Nurmi would be a "wild-card" in my book, or perhaps an "honorable mention." I would also slide Juantorena into that category -- I think if he legitimately trained for the 800 he would have held the record for much longer and would be #1 on this thread instead of Kipketer, Snell, or Coe.

Let's open up the field a little.

100m- Carl Lewis

200m- Michael Johnson

400m- Michael Johnson

800m- Peter Snell

1500m- Nouredine Morceli

5000m- Gebrisilasse (no champs but big races)

10000m- Geb

Marathon- Abebe Bikila

110 HH- Allen Johnson

400 IH- Edwin Moses

HJ- Javier Sotamayor

LJ- Carl Lewis

TJ- Jonathon Edwards

PV- Sergei Bubka

SP- Randy Barnes

DT- Lars Riedel

Jav- Jan Zelezny

800m - Joaquim Cruz - how come no-one has mentioned him???? His 1984 has to be the best 800m season ever - OR in best Olympic 800m ever then went on to run 6 sub 1.43 races in Europe incl. what should have been the World Record (long story but he missed the "official Coe record" by 1/100th of a sec and apparently Coes original was actually hand timed or something)

1500m - Coe/ Elliot for longevity - you can't be the best if you haven't won an Olympic gold in my book - for a single season Cram in 85.

3000m - not a proper Olympic event so gotta go with Komen

5000m - Aoutia - sorry Geb - no golds means no No.!

10000m - definately Geb

Mar - Bikila closely followed by Carlos Lopes - no offense to those that chose KK but how can you pick a runner as the greatest ever when he hasn't even finished a Major Championship let alone won one?

Steeplechase - Malonowski - though probably doped so give it to Kiptanui

USA

800m - Rick Wohulhuter (spelling?)

1500m - RJim Ryuan

5000m - Kenedy

10000m - Abdi / Meb ??

Marathon - Shorter

Scooter,

in the discuss I think the 4 time Olympic champ Al Oerter deserves the nod over Lars Riedel. I mean that one isn't even a contest. Other than Carl Lewis Oerter is the ONLY person to ever win one event in 4 Olympics.

-Clay

World

800- Coe

1500- Coe

Mile- El G

3000- Komen

Steeple- Boulami

5000- Geb

10000- Geb

U.S.

800- Johnny Gray

1500- Maree

Mile- Scott

3000- Kennedy

Steeple- Henry Marsh

5000- Kennedy

10000- Virgin

Ok now I'll be the one who always asks this this time:

What determines what is the best? An argument could be made that you take the WR for each race and then you have a winner. Is it most dominating during their era? Is it most championship wins? Is it superiority over a long period of time. What's the criteria Kenneth?

Lets keep it simple and say "personal opinion" - and in my personal opinion.......see above

I'd say most dominating over a long period. I think utter dominance of an event for at least 5 years would be a good place to start.