It's frustrating that runners of old didn't have the same kind of competition possibilities that modern runners have; it would make their resumes look more impressive. Benoit, Rodgers, Shorter. There is very little mention of the road races they may have competed in; races like Bolder Boulder, Quad Cities or Lilac Bloomsday. I remember that Shorter and Rodgers agreed to tie on one race. Anyway, their resumes are longer than what is mentioned.
I'm saddened that I've met women runners who didn't know about Joan Benoit. Shocking. I think the images of her running alone on the L.A. freeway and her entrance into the Coliseum are a couple of the greatest in USA athletics history.
I didn't find a video of her Olympic win, so I uploaded mine. I think this should be required watching for anyone running competitively in the U,S, She boldly stole the gold medal early in the race and ran, what I think, is the greatest marathon of any American runner ever- male or female. That is what makes her the GOAT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY4N5cgcrDY&feature=youtu.be