in highschool had to guard future NBA All-star Carlos Boozer (6'8" 260 in in NBA) when i was 6'2 160.
in highschool had to guard future NBA All-star Carlos Boozer (6'8" 260 in in NBA) when i was 6'2 160.
I beat Lance Armstrong at Boston. When I was passing him after the start he said to his two security guards, "This feels kinda fast!"
Charles Alexander, Kinney Cross Country HS Champ ‘82 was a teamate in high school. He didn’t lose a meet from Sophmore year on and ended up at Stanford; I think he made the OT in the marathon in 92 w/ 2:18
I went to the U in the 80s. Was routinely dunked on playing pick up basketball by Michael Irvin.
Alan Webb - Open 800 in HS
Justin Gatlin - Anchor leg of a 4x4 when I was in college and he had gone pro
Alistair Cragg - Same leg of a 4x8 at Penn Relays.
Rickey Harris - 300m in HS
and ALMOST my HS running hero Rich Kenah in an 800 my freshman year of college when he was in the twilight of his career. I didn't quite make the fast section.
Played against Trae Young. Made a three in his eye. He proceeded to cross my ankles the next possession. Then ran XC the next fall and figured out I wasn’t a basketball player.
I happened to be in the race when Yiannis Kouros ran his last road record over 24 hours in Basel, Switzerland.
That was pretty cool and it's still my PR.
For any Canadians out there...
The summer after I graduated high school, I played for the development squad of a Regina rugby club. Future HOFer and then current all-star Rider slotback Ray Elgaard used to play for the senior team to keep himself in shape before the football season started.
On a summer afternoon in 1989, our squad lined up against the senior squad for a gentle game. That monster didn't care that we were a tad out of his athletic league. I had a great line on him for a tackle. He saw me closing from about 5m out, then turned into me, smiled, and flattened me like a pancake. I didn't even slow him down. He scored the try, then came back and stood over me to gloat. Gold.
Did many races and field events back in high school against former Pro Bowl quarterback Trent Green.
I ran against Filip Ingebrigtsen in a 800m once. He beat me.
At this point I'm just a high school sophomore so I don't have as many stories. But my friend, teammate, and rival Gage Sumerlin is probably the best competition I will ever have. Dude goes out at the 5:10 pace and gaps everyone (in a JV 5k) even when I'm "close" to beating him I'm still 20 seconds off. He's going to do great things one day and Ill be damned if I never beat him, he pushes me to improve more than anyone else in my life and for that I really value are rivalry and friendship.
Zack (hansons hopeful) wrote:
At this point I'm just a high school sophomore so I don't have as many stories. But my friend, teammate, and rival Gage Sumerlin is probably the best competition I will ever have. Dude goes out at the 5:10 pace and gaps everyone (in a JV 5k) even when I'm "close" to beating him I'm still 20 seconds off. He's going to do great things one day and Ill be damned if I never beat him, he pushes me to improve more than anyone else in my life and for that I really value are rivalry and friendship.
Also his current pr in the 5k is 17:38
Lasse Viren in the Perrier 10K in central Park un I believe 79 or 80 . He went out in 422 I was out in 434
In high school XC I ran against Mike Tate who just ran 29:09 and 13:34 at SUU.
Luv2Run wrote:
The thread on GOAT and a conversation last night with my brother prompted me post this.
Who is the best athlete you ever directly competed against? It could be in any sport. What are his/her bona fides?
Not acceptable: running a major road where you were so far back that while you were in the race, you were not really competing.
College and high school races are acceptable. But you had to be in the event against the person.
Mine is a guy named Larry Kinnebrew. He played several years in the NFL. I played basketball against him as a kid in youth leagues. The guy won state championships in the 100m, one of the throws, wrestling state champion and starred on 2 state championship football teams.
I was in 10th grade, and our HS played Revis' HS (Aliquippa), our teams were the top 2 teams in the state in fall 03. Revis had a relatively quiet game, made some plays but nothing breathtaking until the final few minutes. 4th quarter, we're up 7-6, I downed a punt on their 3 yard line and the crowd was electric. For a smaller school, there was an estimated 9,000 people there watching, it was something I'll never forget. First play we rushed their qb to throw the ball out bounds, 2nd down, their coach put Revis in at qb..he dropped back and with heavy pressure, in his own endzone and off his back foot, he launched a perfect spiral about 50-55 yards as their WR (Michael Washington, played at Hawaii) made a diving catch at the 50 yard line. Their side went nuts, and our side was like we just saw a ghost. He did the SAME thing the very next play, and Washington made a another highlight reel catch and was tackled down at the 3 yard line. In a matter of 2 plays, we went from one of the biggest wins in school history, to one of the biggest heartbreaks. Revis or their RB (can't remember who) snuck up the middle on that 3rd play to take the lead and win the game, 13-7. Something I'll never forget. Was awesome to see him have a Hall of Fame career.
In 2013 I raced against Kenenisa Bekele at the Chicago marathon
Matthew Centrowitz...ran against him enough times to not remember them all. I did beat him in a two mile once. The more medals he wins, the higher my bragging rights go
1973 vs. Cheryl Toussaint 1972 Olympic silver medalist in the 4 x 400. They had these summer meets sponsored by Miller High Life around NYC. Some of the meets were at Springfield Gardens HS. Some of the distances were weird like 500y even though it was outdoors. Women were not doing track too much in those days. So it was a bunch of guys and Cheryl
The gun goes off and the guys are out fast. Cheryl starts moving up and just as she is going to pass someone, he drops out with a phantom muscle pull. I beat her but barely.
A couple guys on my little league football team made it to the NFL, one as a player and the other as a coach which made for some intense practices and scrimmages for the delicate at heart.
Played with and against a few internationals, include US Eagles, during college rugby at Ohio State in the late seventies and early eighties.
I had to cover a wide receiver from a high school in Akron, Ohio in man to man coverage in a pre-season game who had run around 47 sec for the 400 the previous year. I spent the entire game expecting a rocket to explode down the field as I had no appreciation then of track and field times.
Luv2Run wrote:
The thread on GOAT and a conversation last night with my brother prompted me post this.
Who is the best athlete you ever directly competed against? It could be in any sport. What are his/her bona fides?
Not acceptable: running a major road where you were so far back that while you were in the race, you were not really competing.
College and high school races are acceptable. But you had to be in the event against the person.
Mine is a guy named Larry Kinnebrew. He played several years in the NFL. I played basketball against him as a kid in youth leagues. The guy won state championships in the 100m, one of the throws, wrestling state champion and starred on 2 state championship football teams.
Wesley Korir before he won Boston in 2008 at The Barnyard Dash 10km in Starlight, IN. He was running at U of L at the time. He still holds the course record to this day.
Levi Leipheimer (never talked to him), Tyler Hamilton (very genuine guy, which makes the whole drug thing hard to wrap your mind around), Ryder Hesjdal (total dbag)