Who is the a track and field athlete you miss most who doesnt compete today?

Webb

/thread

Henry Rono - EOT

Prefontaine

Gabe Jennings. He was only on the international scene for like one season, but he was bat$hit crazy, which made for good interviews and good short TV features during the Olympic cycle.

Rod Dixon

Dave Bedford.

The guy was amazing and maybe a little nuts. He took the 10000 out in 1972 for 61 on the first lap and strung that field right out. He was 6th at the end, but somehow a WR was recorded by Viren. Bedford ran 27:53 in the heats and considered going for the WR, as I recall from Track & Field News, asking Emile Puttemans (eventual silver medalist) if he wanted to push it with him. Puttemans talked Bedford out of it, saying that they still had the finals and then heats and finals of the 5000.

Bedford set some hot paces and affected his races aggressively, unlike some of our modern sit-and-kickers.

He did get the 10000 WR to 27:30 in 1973.

He was often described as "colorful."

Pat Porter

Gvl wrote:

Prefontaine

I bet you only saw Jared Leto's or Billy Crudup's version of pre

The one with the greatest stage presence , Mary Decker.

Jordan Hasay.

Zing!

Old Ultra Guy wrote:

Dave Bedford.

I can't assure accuracy but interesting; I remember reading something that said over a several year period Bedford lost to Viren only 4 times, the 4 Olympic finals.

Asker of questions wrote:

I would have to go with Paul Tergat. He always made for an amazing race.

I grew up in the e 80s and came of to love running in the late 80s early 90s when the US was God Awful.

I always appreciate runners from that era Bob Kennedy, Todd Williams.

I was looking at the 800M from the 1992 trials. Wow.

Johnny Gray 1.42.80 CR

Mark Everett 1.43.67

Jose Parrilla 1.43.97

poootty pie wrote:

I was looking at the 800M from the 1992 trials. Wow.

Johnny Gray 1.42.80 CR

Mark Everett 1.43.67

Jose Parrilla 1.43.97

I remember watching this one: 1984 800 Olympic Trials

1. Earl Jones 1:43.74

2. Johnny Gray 1:43:74

3. John Marshall 1:43.92

4. James Robinson 1:43.92

Same time for 1-2 and 3-4. Sub 1:44 doesn't go to the Games.

wow is right on the NOLA 800

not to hijack thread but here it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD0TI58oxms

Daniel Komen. I would love it if I could go back in time and convince him to come to 2016 so he could dominate all the weak pro runners of today.

Usain Bolt

Webb or Solinsky

just the facts wrote:

Old Ultra Guy wrote:

Dave Bedford.

I can't assure accuracy but interesting; I remember reading something that said over a several year period Bedford lost to Viren only 4 times, the 4 Olympic finals.

I liked Dave Bedford. Enjoyed a number of beers with him after the comm games in 1974.

Francie Larrieu Smith