Kudos to US 1500m runners

[Half Miler]

Re: Kudos to US 1500m runners

Please, lets not compare those eras to today. That is like comparing 50's and 60's NFL with the current variety. The talent pool with which they were competing was marginal compared with today worldwide. There is virtually no chance the U.S. could ever reach a level like that nor should they ever be held to such a standard.

This is a great point, and one which is often overlooked.

[odelltrclan]

Re: Kudos to US 1500m runners

With due respect to the other runners of today, they have some way to go before they match Grelle/Burleson/Beatty/O'Hara. Here's hoping they will eventually be their match, or even better.

Please, lets not compare those eras to today. That is like comparing 50's and 60's NFL with the current variety. The talent pool with which they were competing was marginal compared with today worldwide. There is virtually no chance the U.S. could ever reach a level like that nor should they ever be held to such a standard.

[Powell]

Yes, I forgot Wurth Thomas. And mostly I was thinking about the fact they were simply over there trying, showing up for a lot of meets. Seems like too often the last 10-15 years there'd be the WC or OG and then in many (most?) of the post- meets, no USAnians in the 1500.

That's mostly because they were not good enough to get invited to the major GP meets.

[DrJay]

Yes, I forgot Wurth Thomas. And mostly I was thinking about the fact they were simply over there trying, showing up for a lot of meets. Seems like too often the last 10-15 years there'd be the WC or OG and then in many (most?) of the post- meets, no USAnians in the 1500. The ladies are doing great. Manzano is getting great experience and the next few years should be very intersting for him.

[kuha]

Re: Kudos to US 1500m runners

With due respect to the other runners of today, they have some way to go before they match Grelle/Burleson/Beatty/O'Hara. Here's hoping they will eventually be their match, or even better.

Exactly--the combination of quality and depth in that period was just incredible (and there are more fine names from that period that could easily be mentioned).

[26mi235]

Re: Kudos to US 1500m runners

Manzano, Lomong, Willard, and Rowbury are on the start lists for the WAF and have mixed it up in lot of races in Europe this summer, not just going over for Berlin and maybe one other race then coming home. Kinda like the good ol' days with Steve Scott.....

As far as the WAF goes don't forget Wurth Thomas. As far as the season our women/men could take on anybody in a 4x1500. Apart from Lagat no-one's in Scott's league...yet.
As far as male depth goes it takes me back to the 60's with Ryun, Grelle, Burelson, Beatty, O'Hara.

Current US runners are doing a good job and can be expected to improve. The Lagat - Scott comparison is fairly realistic, Ryun in 1966 and 1967 was totally untouchable. With due respect to the other runners of today, they have some way to go before they match Grelle/Burleson/Beatty/O'Hara. Here's hoping they will eventually be their match, or even better.

And Will Leer won a tactical 1500 at Decanation.

[catson52]

Re: Kudos to US 1500m runners

Manzano, Lomong, Willard, and Rowbury are on the start lists for the WAF and have mixed it up in lot of races in Europe this summer, not just going over for Berlin and maybe one other race then coming home. Kinda like the good ol' days with Steve Scott.....

As far as the WAF goes don't forget Wurth Thomas. As far as the season our women/men could take on anybody in a 4x1500. Apart from Lagat no-one's in Scott's league...yet.
As far as male depth goes it takes me back to the 60's with Ryun, Grelle, Burelson, Beatty, O'Hara.

Current US runners are doing a good job and can be expected to improve. The Lagat - Scott comparison is fairly realistic, Ryun in 1966 and 1967 was totally untouchable. With due respect to the other runners of today, they have some way to go before they match Grelle/Burleson/Beatty/O'Hara. Here's hoping they will eventually be their match, or even better.

[jeremyp]

Re: Kudos to US 1500m runners

Manzano, Lomong, Willard, and Rowbury are on the start lists for the WAF and have mixed it up in lot of races in Europe this summer, not just going over for Berlin and maybe one other race then coming home. Kinda like the good ol' days with Steve Scott.....

As far as the WAF goes don't forget Wurth Thomas. As far as the season our women/men could take on anybody in a 4x1500. Apart from Lagat no-one's in Scott's league...yet.
As far as male depth goes it takes me back to the 60's with Ryun, Grelle, Burelson, Beatty, O'Hara.

[DrJay]

Manzano, Lomong, Willard, and Rowbury are on the start lists for the WAF and have mixed it up in lot of races in Europe this summer, not just going over for Berlin and maybe one other race then coming home. Kinda like the good ol' days with Steve Scott.....