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I wish Mr. Greer the best of luck. There were a few years where he was SO much better than any other American. In 2007 he threw 299-6 and the next best American was at 269-0! I wonder if using the IAAF (or Portugese) scoring tables there ever was a greater disparity in ANY event between the first and second best American for a season? Maybe Randy Matson 40 years ago?
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
This is a fabulous question.
Maybe one of Lance Deal's hammer seasons in the '90s?
On the women's side, Maren Seidler in the shot around ’80? -
Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
I'd guess that there was a big gap between Buddy Edelen, in his best year(s) and the next best American marathoners...Comment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Including his WR time of 2:14:28 in 1963, even by 1967 Edelen still had the 4 best US performances of all time and no one was within 4 minutes of his best. Also as late as April 1967, there were only 8 US performances under 2:20 and Edelen had 5 of them.Originally posted by kuhaComment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Thank you! Yes, I'd call that a [very] big gap...Comment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Jim Ryun in 1966 and 1967; 3:51 and change , was anyone in the U.S within 4 seconds of him. Related to Buddy, I believe that he ran all of his fast marathon times outside the United States.Comment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Warmerdam was way ahead of anybody in the world from the early 40's until the mid 50's.
In the early 40's he had almost a 10 inch gap to anybody else.Comment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Warmerdam's gaps since his first AL season:
1940, 5"+, 15-1 1/8 - 14-8
1941, 10"+, 15-5 3/4 - 14-7
1942, 13"+, 15-7 3/4 - 14-6
1943, 14"+, 15-8 1/2 - 14-6
1944, 11", 15-0 - 14-1Comment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Edelen ran the first US sub 2:20 at Fukuoka in 1962, Tokyo in 64 and the Trials in Yonkers, NY in 64. All the others were in Europe, primarily the UK where he taught secondary school. Injuries ended his career in 1965 at 27.Originally posted by slowcat
As for the US, outside of Boston in those days there weren't many places to run a high quality competitive marathon. As late as Jan. 1971 the all time total number of US sub 2:20 performances, in the US, outside of Boston, was 4.Comment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Regarding your comment of Buddy Edelen and his 1964 Olympic Trials win at Yonkers. He ran 2:24. It was at least 95F that day and probably felt like 120 F. It was a disastrous day for long distance running.Comment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Yes, the infamous 1964 Death March. Started at noon. Edelen won by 20 minutes. Sub 2:20 runner Norm Higgins got woozy and ran into a tree. A truly horrible day, that probably didn't help Edelen in Tokyo where he was 6th.Comment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
He did, but his most dominating performance in the US was the 1964 Olympic Trials race at Yonkers - held in brutal heat in May of all times, he ran 2-24:25.6 to win, with second American John J Kelley at 2-44:46.4 (in third). (Adolf Gruber [AUT] ran and finished second, but also over 2-44)Originally posted by slowcatComment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Jackie Joyner-Kersee in heptathlon.
Jenn Suhr in pv
Guessing Jesse Owens had a pretty big gap in lj.Comment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Not really. Bob Beamon did, though. :wink:Originally posted by Bruce KritzlerComment
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Re: biggest gap between Americans [split]
Trevor Barron is 6:00 faster @ 20km than any other US walker from 2010 performances.Comment
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