Leo Manzano
Leo Manzano
Played against former Lakers star Byron Scott in high school in LA. It's ridiculous how much better a future NBA player is against a bunch of so-so white kids.
Former dolphin OJ McDuffy. I actually tackled him once. He may have tripped but I’m taking credit.
Lee Evans
Tommy Smith
John Aki-Bua
Craig Virgin at a college XC meet in the 80s. Might have been 1984.
Got off the bike just ahead of Heather Fuhr at Ironman Lake Placid in 2001. Ran the first two miles just behind her thinking it was my day. It was still my day, but she ended up about a half hour ahead of me.
Diet Pepsi 10K Wash Park, Denver, 1980 or 81, I can't remember. Boston Billy was there. Every HS kid and local road racer who fancied himself a hotshot (myself included) tried to go out with the lead pack. I lasted less than a mile-my mile PR at the time was 4:40 and change-I'm guessing I ran that first mile just under 5, and the last mile just under 8.--but I can say I ran in a pack with Boston Billy. Tiny little dude.
I freakin' smoked Bill Romanowski (former Bronco and Raider roid eater) at a 5K Hospital fundraiser about 25 years ago. He was surprisingly fast for a 280 pounder, had a hot wife, and was a genuinely nice guy in the beer garden.
In the 800 meters, at an all-comers meet at Hayward Field, several years ago, I ran against Mike McGrath (sub4 UofO miler), Lauren Fleshman, Eric Van Halen . I ran around 2:30 (age 60) . . . they ran faster. I think McGrath was low 1:50's, Fleshman was 2:10. The beauty of all-comer meets in Eugene. Never know who you might run against.
Centro beat me by like 4 minutes in this year's Cherry Blossom 10-Miler. That's kind of like getting dusted though.
Also got dusted by Ben Blankenship and Kirubel Erassa in a mile a few months ago.
It may have been when Alan Page was playing for Chicago Bears or immediately after. He was 6'4" (220 to 225) lbs. Through about 1.5K to 2K of small 5K, Page was in 3rd or 4th. I was 4th or 5th. Page passed the 1st. mile in about 5:20 (yes-net down hill 1st. mile). My 1st. mile split was about 5:25. I passed him, so I guess this counts.
I raced lance armstrong in a 5k one time. Does that count?
I played basketball in jr high against a future nba head coach. He was 2nd at the state meet in the 800 in the small school division.
I beat Scott Fry at a xc meet before he got really good. Beat Bill Rodgers in a roadrace long after he was really good.
Ran with Pat Porter but never raced against him. (Wouldn't have been much of a race)
Henry Rono and Alberta Saladbar. 5,000 at a Hayward Field all comers meet. Got lapped a bit. Some time in the early 80s.
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.
in hs
Between Andres Arroyo, Kirubel Erassa, and craig engels or maybe even bailey roth.
I was 3 seconds back from Engels in xc.
27 seconds behind arroyo in xc
not remotely close to erassa in xc.
5 seconds behind roth
In college
Kennedy Kithuka, and erassa again
Same here- freshman on Cal’s water polo team, Biondi was a senior, we won NCAA’s that year, and he already had some world records + golds, IIR. One day in practice, I out-touched him on a 50. He was just cruising, and I was full gas.... never got within a body length of the dude again.
Rene Herms.
Died much to early. RIP.
Had no chance against him...
Raced against Kyler Merber and craig lutz back in college a few times. Ran against Merber in an indoor 800. Ran against Lutz in an indoor mile.
I ran against World Series champion Nate Bump in a 15k trail race.
Ran a horrendously muddy XC race in Austin about 5 years ago that Lance Armstrong happened to enter. I only ran 26 low for the 7.5K race and still beat him handily. The drugs had obviously worn off.
Well, I ran against Herb Elliott - sort of - in the 1962 English Cross Country Championships.