Lomong: Better career than Webb, Ritz, Tegenkamp, and Hall?

yes and it is a no brainer

Would also note that Teg, Ritz and Webb have crazy fast two mile PRs as well (8:07, 8:11, 8:11), while Teg has a global medal in the 5k, and Ritz has multiple (??) US XC titles and a 1/2 marathon WC bronze.

But this is interesting. I guess I wouldn't be surprised if Lomong has had an objectively better career than Ritz, Web, and Hall...For all of those guys we can wonder "What if they had stayed healthy??" or "What if they had stuck with a single coach/program that worked for them??" Chances are there would have been faster times, more consistent performances, more medals, but that's just speculation.

To answer the question, would also be interested in how many global finals (Olympics and WC) were reached by each runner. Maybe not relevant because there aren't rounds for the 10k.

Also, how often did they run fast times near their PR? IMO, runners with truly great careers run fast many times throughout their careers, not just once. For example, El-G didn't run 3:26 just once. He ran that fast frequently, over several years. Lomong's 27:30 10k PR is nice, but he has run exactly 1 fast 10k in his whole career. Likewise, Ritz's 5k PR is incredible, but throughout his career he hasn't been a very impressive 5k runner.

Just my two cents.

My mistake...forgot that Teg just missed that medal in the 5k, finished 4th.

You're not providing the full picture or Ritz - Ritz is a 3-time Olympian and won 3 US Titles in Cross Country, as well as his two (2) Bronze Medals from the World Championships (Cross Country/Half Marathon). Lomong is only a 1-time Olympian. Ritz has had the much, much better CAREER. You're suffering from "what have you done for me lately" syndrome.

fadsfadsf wrote:

Webb is faster over 800 and 1500 but less US titles (3 for Webb, 4 for Lomong).

Ritz is faster over 5000 and 10000 (so far) but no US titles.

Tegenkamp is faster over 5000 and slightly over 10000 but only had 1 US title.

Hall is faster at the marathon but nowhere close to Lopez in all other events.

Webb made one Olympic team

Ritz has made three Olympic teams

Tegenkamp made two Olympic teams

Lopez is poised to make his third Olympic team next year...Ritz has an outside chance to make his fourth in the marathon, but it's doubtful

Lomong won 2 NCAA titles

Ritz won 1 NCAA title

Tegenkamp and Webb have zero NCAA titles

Range wise, Webb has run 1:43, 3:30, 13:10, 27:34; Lopez has run 1:45, 3:32, 13:07, 27:30; Tegenkamp has run 3:34, 12:58, 27:28, 2:12; Ritz has run 12:56, 27:22, 2:07; Hall has run 13:16, 28ish, and 2:06.

Correction: Lomong is a 2-time Olympian.

Ritz also placed 9th at the 2008 Olympic Marathon, the top American finisher.

Lomong is younger and didn’t have to compete for titles against the two best American distance runners in their primes (Lagat and Rupp).

mtlno wrote:

Lomong is younger and didn’t have to compete for titles against the two best American distance runners in their primes (Lagat and Rupp).

WTF??? Rupp and Lomong both graduated HS in 2004. They both ran Footlocker XC Nats together. They ran head to head in the NCAA for a few years and as pros after.

As for Lagat, sure his FASTEST years were previous to Lomong's career, but in terms of competing as an American, the crossover is crystal clear...

Lagat:

Seven-time USATF Outdoor 5,000m champion – 2006 (13:14.32); 2007 (13:45.87); 2008 (13:27.47); 2010 (13:54.08); 2011 (13:23.06); 2013 (14:54.16); 2014 (13:31.41)

Three-time USATF Indoor 3,000m champion – 2010 (8:12.60); 2011 (7:57.17); 2014 (7:46.01)

Two-time USATF Outdoor 1,500m champion - 2006 (3:39.29); 2008 (3:40.37)

2012 Olympic Trials 5,000m runner-up (13:22.82)

2011 USATF Outdoor 1,500m runner-up (3:47.96))

Lomong:

Two-time USA Outdoor 1,500m champion – 2009 (3:41.68); 2010 (3:50.83)

2014 USA Indoor 1,500m champion (3:43.09)

2012 USA Indoor 3,000m runner-up (7:51.75)

Third 2008 Olympic Trials 1,500m (3:41.00)

Third at 2012 Olympic Trials 5,000m (13:24.47)

Third at 2013 USA Outdoor championships 1,500m (3:45.69)

Hall, Ritz, Webb, and Teg all had/have an AR. Lopez has never had one, I believe. Just another data point.

Lopez is great though, love everything about him and his success is well-deserved and well-respected.

hbjbdsfdsfds7 wrote:

Hall, Ritz, Webb, and Teg all had/have an AR. Lopez has never had one, I believe. Just another data point.

Lopez is great though, love everything about him and his success is well-deserved and well-respected.

Didn't Lopez have the indoor 5k at one point?

Yup, I believe he's the one that broke Doug Padilla's record and ran 13:07 or so. Rupp then broke Lomong's record with his 13:01/:02

fake news wrote:

Didn't Lopez have the indoor 5k at one point?

No and it's not even close. Maybe we can talk about it if he breaks a major American record or finishes top five in an WC or Olympic final.

Best Olympic finishes:

Ritz- 9th in marathon

Hall- 10th in marathon

Tegenkamp- 13th in 5000

Lomong- 10th in 5000

American Records:

Ritz- 5000 outdoors

Hall- Half marathon

Tegenkamp- 2 mile outdoors

Lomong- 5000 indoors

I think he'll run a sub 2:10 marathon at some point. If he does that, he'll have the best range of any American ever and would have to be considered above the other three on an all-time list, especially if he makes another Olympic team.

I am happy for Lomong but I highly doubt he could beat any of them in their prime. Please dont use that embarrassment of a field Friday night as a baseline to compare. It looked more like a collegiate conference final than a national championship. Everyone good is either in the 5k, marathon training or retired.

Whichever one made the most in endorsements money had the best career

Nope. Lomong has never been a player on the world stage, the others have been.

Lomong has never been a threat to get near the podium of a global championship of a Major marathon.

Don't get me wrong he's had a great career and many would love to have it. Plus he has a great story. But the others all moved the needle in American distance running, maybe not Teg. Lomong was never at that level although he has better longevity than all except Ritz, although Ritz has had many injuries.

mtlno wrote:

Lomong is younger and didn’t have to compete for titles against the two best American distance runners in their primes (Lagat and Rupp).

Yea this is just wrong. He raced Lagat and Rupp several times during some of their peak years. Lagat may have ran faster in the 1,500, before Lomong's time but his peak 5,000m years directly crossed over with Lomong and they raced several times indoors and outdoors over 3,000m and 5,000m with Lagat winning almost all, if not all , of those match-ups.

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

Nope. Lomong has never been a player on the world stage, the others have been.

Lomong has never been a threat to get near the podium of a global championship of a Major marathon.

Don't get me wrong he's had a great career and many would love to have it. Plus he has a great story. But the others all moved the needle in American distance running, maybe not Teg. Lomong was never at that level although he has better longevity than all except Ritz, although Ritz has had many injuries.

You have a point. He's just very good at showing up at US Championships. Webb, Ritz, Teg, and debatably Hall have all at least tasted being near the top in the world. Lomong has been more consistent and even all over.

Just based on international contention, Webb, Teg and Ritz, but Ritz's 2:07 gives him the edge. Webb had range and a world class phase but didn't produce at global champs. Teg was sub 13 and had that 4th place at World's, but he didn't do a ton outside the 5k. Had a short 10k career that didn't do a ton. Ritz was sub 13, competitive at the 10k and one of the fastest American marathoners.