Distance running thrills.

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

The Slaney-Wysocki 1500 at the 1984 LA Olympic Trials. Also, the most exciting 800 ever there as well, with TWO photofinishes, one for first, the other for a berth on the team: Gray & Mack 1st and 2nd, Marshall and Robinson, 3rd & 4th.

Also, Liquori's 2nd at the 1977 WC vs. Yifter in an AR.

Most thrilling US soil performance: Rono's steeple WR (I was one of 300 spectators/competitors there), and his 1978 NCAA XC win at Hangman Valley in Spokane, when he trounced the future World XC champ, John Treacy by at least 300 yards (a fairway length).

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

I was thinking of USA distance running thrills when I began this thread--but if some want to add great running by all-comers on our soil, that's great.

I appreciate many of you (above) reminding me of other USA thrills that had slipped my mind. Esp. the Rome '60 OG 5000m with Schul and Dellinger going 1-3.Can you imagine that happening now? Also I agree Tom Courtney's gutty come from behind 800m win in the '56 OG was thrilling, likewise Dave Wottle's going from dead last to Gold in the '72 Munich OG

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

Another set of thrills: just about any race with Pre trying to run fast in Eugene. His charisma and connection with the Eugene crowd could really make the place rock.

Which reminds of another thrilling Eugene race: the 1980 OT 5k when Billy McChesney tried to steal the race and then hung for 3rd. The crowd was roaring then too.

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

>I appreciate many of you (above)
>reminding me of other USA thrills that had
>slipped my mind. Esp. the Rome '60 OG 5000m with
>Schul and Dellinger going 1-3.

Sorry -- wasn't that '64 in Tokyo? Americans won the 5 & 10?

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

Salazar's arguably breakthrough race, the snowy 1978 NCAA CC meet at Yahara Hills golf course in Wisconsin, where he threw in a surge at halfway and gapped the Kenyan contingent of Texas-El Paso (including Suleiman Nyambui and Mike Musyoki!) to win what might have been the coldest, windiest, most miserable spectator event ever. I loved every minute of it!!

That was the race that broke the camel's back for Henry Rono after his long record-breaking track season of '78 (he finished third from last after turning an ankle and getting discouraged).

A big part of the fun was spending the last 15 minutes or so rushing back and forth along the course cheering like mad while wondering if American Salazar could hold his lead over Nyambui and Musyoki and looking to see if Rono or anyone else were coming up.

Lots of stars in that race: Rudy Chapa, John Treacy, Bill McChesney, Steve Plasencia, Marc Hunter, Thom Hunt, Samson Kimobwa, Josh Kimeto, Joel Cheruiyot, Jim Schankel and Dan Henderson (the D2 and D3 champs; allowed to run the D1 race in those days, these two finished in the top 12 two days after their nationals!), Maree, Sidney, and of course Steve Lacy and his all American group of Wisconsin teammates.

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

"corrector", yes, you are right...The Schul, Dellinger 5000m OG 1-3 finish was Tokyo, '64. And yes, the same OG Billy Mills won the 10,000m--thems were the good ole days!

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

Why no mention of Lynn Jennings and her bronze medal, AR in the tough conditions in Barcelona and her three world cross gold medals? Or Joanie and her gold? Why only men?

[MJD]

Re: Distance running thrills.

>Why no mention of Lynn Jennings and her bronze
>medal, AR in the tough conditions in Barcelona
>and her three world cross gold medals? Or Joanie
>and her gold? Why only men?

Good point. Actually Joanie winning the trials in 84 shortly after her knee surgery was more exciting-at least to me.

[MJD]

Re: Distance running thrills.

>Why only men?

I've seen this complaint in a couple of spots on these boards of late. There is one very good way to fix that and educate us and that is to post away.

[RMc]

Re: Distance running thrills.

>
>Why only men?

I think I mentioned the Slaney-Wysocki 1984 1500, but of course I completely blew it and forgot to mention the 1983 Helsinki races.

However, for whatever reason, there are many fewer "close" exciting women's races than men's races, at least until recently. Very often one dominant woman runner would run away from the rest of the field and the race wouldn't be particularly exciting. It seems that men race closer and there are more in contention late in the race.

However, this year's NCAAs seemed to reflect a change in that trend. The women's distance races seemed just as competitive, with just as deep of fields as the men. It's the first time I've ever seen this happen.

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

>Why no mention of Lynn Jennings and her bronze
>medal, AR in the tough conditions in Barcelona
>and her three world cross gold medals? Or Joanie
>and her gold? Why only men?

In order:
(Lynn Cannon)
>Joan Benoit Samuelson running away with the >first ever women's OG marathon (2:24:52) in 1984.

(James Fields)
>Madeline Manning in 1968,

(Bob Duncan)
>Mary Slaney winning the 1500m and the 3000m in >the 1983 World Championships.

(bf)
>The Coliseum had so many great distance races - >but that, and Slaney's disaster, were surely the >biggest crowd-displeasers('negative thrill',if >you will..)

(the kid)
>The last I can think of off-hand is Suzy Favor >H. winning a 1500 or mile a season or two ago on >the European circuit;

(RMc)
>The Slaney-Wysocki 1500 at the 1984 LA Olympic >Trials.

Illiterate, lazy, or PC? READ before you post such junk.
Same to you, MJD.
Geez!

[MJD]

Re: Distance running thrills.

Same to
>you, MJD.
Geez!

I was simply responding to the "why only men" comment and the fact that it has popped up in a couple of other places. As I say, there is only one way to fix it, if indeed it needs fixing which you don't think it does. That's all. I actually have no opinion on it.

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

Absolutely! JBS's run away win in the 1984 Oly Marathon (against a top notch field) was one of the greatest US distance running moments of all times.

MDS's 1983 WC double is also among the tops.
Along with for Shorter's marathon prowess in 1972 and 1976, these have to be high points of US distance running over the past 3 decades.

There were other great races and records but these three were really the clutch performances over the last 30 years on the biggest of stages.

M Plaatjes (Sp) WC marthon win was big in 1993 but the Marathon field at the WC has never been as strong as at the Olympics and MP never backed it up with many other top marathon wins.

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

<<Gerry Lindgren beating the Russians in '63 was great even if the time was unimpressive>>

It was 1964, and I don't think the time was unimpressive. It was 92 degrees on a dirt track and Lindgren was only a high schooler.

[Guest]

Re: Distance running thrills.

Wottles final kick in the 72 Olympic 800 final stands out most to me (after all he's from Ohio "Canton Lincoln H.S. Bowling Green University). Billy Mills 64 10,000 was incredible an Slaneys 3000 in 83 was surreal.

I have to list this race one particular race as an honorable mention.
In 1975 in a meet held in Berea, Ohio just south of Cleveland. I witnessed Miruts Yifter turn in a 53 second final 400 in the 5,000 meters. I know he had done much the same throughout his career, but t o watchthe race person was amazing.