Americans holding distance WR's

[4:24-miler]

I thought this list was interesting. The last American runner to hold a distance world record.

MEN
800- Dave Wottle (July 1, 1972, broken June 27, 1973)
1,500- Jim Ryun (July 8, 1967, broken February 2, 1974)
Mile- Jim Ryun (June 23, 1967, broken, May 17, 1975)
3,000-never
3,000ST- Horace Ashenfelter (July 1952, broken ???)
5,000- never
10,000- never
1/2 Marathon- Mark Curp (Sept. 15, 1985, broken Sept. 16, 1990)
Marathon- Khalid Khannouchi (April 14, 2002, broken Sept. 28, 2003)

WOMEN
800- never
1,500- never
Mile- Marry Slaney (August 21, 1986, broken, July 10, 1989)
3,000- Dorris Brown (July 10, 1971, broken July 16, 1971)***
3,000ST- Courtney Meldrum (June 23, 1996, broken April 18, 1998)
5,000- Mary Slaney (July 5, 1982, broken June 28, 1984)
10,000- Mary Slaney (July 16, 1982, broken May 29, 1983)
1/2 Marathon- Joan Benoit (Sept. 16, 1984, broken March 9, 1989)
Marathon- Joan Benoit (April 18, 1983, broken May 13, 1984)


*** Brown's WR came before the IAAF officially recognized the women's 3,000 WR.

[dj]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

If you're listing best performances from before the events were granted WR status (Doris Brown's 3000), you ought to include Horace Ashenfelter's 8:45.4 steeplechase in the '52 Olympics.

There's also the matter of Sydney Maree's 1500 WR in 1983. This was run before he became a U.S. citizen in 1984, but nearly two years after he was first allowed to represent the U.S. internationally ('81 World Cup).

[lovetorun]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

Didn't Jim Ryun break the 880 world record in 1966 with his 1:44.9?

[4:24-miler]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

If you're listing best performances from before the events were granted WR status (Doris Brown's 3000), you ought to include Horace Ashenfelter's 8:45.4 steeplechase in the '52 Olympics.[/wuote]
I some how missed this. I'll add it to the list.

There's also the matter of Sydney Maree's 1500 WR in 1983. This was run before he became a U.S. citizen in 1984, but nearly two years after he was first allowed to represent the U.S. internationally ('81 World Cup).

This seems to be a gray area.

Didn't Jim Ryun break the 880 world record in 1966 with his 1:44.9?

Good call. I hadn't thought to list yard records. I believe Billy Mills and Gerry Lindgren raced to a tie to set a new 6-mile world record (27:11.6) at the AAU Nationals in 1965.

[Double R Bar]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

Mills was given the win with Lindgren second, however they were given the same time.

[ed gee]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

Arturo Barrios

10,000 m (27:08.23, set on August 18, 1989)

World English Dictionary
American (??m?r?k?n)

...a native or inhabitant of any country of North, Central, or South America

[kuha]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

...a native or inhabitant of any country of North, Central, or South America

I've never bought into that definition/usage. "Western Hemisphere" is far more precise and understandable--and still, no one EVER has much need for even that!

[Bruce Kritzler]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

Rick Wolhuter, 880?
Bob Schul, 2mi
Buddy Edelen, marathon

[4:24-miler]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

Arturo Barrios

10,000 m (27:08.23, set on August 18, 1989)

World English Dictionary
American (??m?r?k?n)

...a native or inhabitant of any country of North, Central, or South America

That's not my definition for this thread.

[4:24-miler]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

Rick Wolhuter, 880?
Bob Schul, 2mi
Buddy Edelen, marathon

Edelen is not the last American to hold the marathon world record. Khalid Khannouchi was.

[basslop]

Re: Americans holding distance WR's

Arturo Barrios

10,000 m (27:08.23, set on August 18, 1989)

World English Dictionary
American (??m?r?k?n)

...a native or inhabitant of any country of North, Central, or South America

:wink: I could have added a lot of comments on this, but that would lead this thread completly out of topic.