Who's Running Career would you rather have? Solinsky, Webb, Ritz, or Hall

MustBeHALL wrote:

Ryan Hall. Love a guy who marches to the beat of his own drummer.

So far, the Hall, Webb, Ritz class tandem is still the greatest to come out of high school together since 2000, or ever?

They also broke out as the internet was breaking out... It would be interesting to count the number of threads which mentioned these guys... They all 3 certainly had incredible careers...

Les wrote:

Ritz. Although the other guys all had more talent, he got more out of his talent than they did, despite his injuries. When all is said and done, Ritz can retire satisfied. The other guys won't be able to say that.

I go with Ritz as well for this same reason.

I'll go ahead and say Solinsky because I think that 26:59 race is my favorite ever. Chills every time.

Webb's mile? Floreani goes a little over the top, and no pizzazz with that small meet.

Ritz's 5k? Extremely impressive, and I'd rank close to Sol's 10k with how he an so strategically.

Hall's HM? Again, broke through what American's thought we could run, but something about no one expecting Solinsky, and then him closing like a train being the first white dude to break 27:00 (by .4) makes that race historic and memorable.

Ritz because whenever he finished a race. He finished knowing he gave it his all. He's so mentally tough. He always overcame whatever position he was in during a race. And would push himself to finish the highest position possible. He never succumbed to not being first. He simply gave it his all.

Lenny Leonard wrote:

Easy.... wrote:

Ritz has physical proof that he has had made the sweet-sweet-love, not once, but twice. That's more than the other guys, or any Letsrunner with less than 2 kids, can say. I vote Ritz.

Webb also has two kids.

Webb wins because his AR will stand a long time and he is one of the best ever in any country, not just the US

The wiki is wrong! Sound the alarms!

They are all very different from each other, my favorite of the three is Hall by miles but they have all done impressive things in different events

Hmmm...

Solinksy: great in college, went kind of dormant for a while, had as great of a track season in 2010 as anyone could hope for...but no world or olympic teams...best days are behind him

Webb: superstar in high school, American record in the mile, best days are behind him

Hall: Ran some great marathons, but never put it together at the olympics, best days are behind him

Ritz: Always been good, never great though, has made teams at a variety of distances, always a competitor, versatile, hasn't burned out yet, best days are yet to come, he's still got some left in the tank.

I pick Ritz. He's my pick to win the olympic marathon trials.

I really started to get into distance running around the time Hall broke the HM AR and when he ran that insane marathon trial in Central Park. I was actually there in the stands to watch it. There was so much fire, so much potential there. Ryan Hall was really and inspiration for me when I got into the sport, so I have a bit of a bias. For me it's either Hall or Ritz.

I'm not sure why you say Ritz was only good and never great- 12:56 AR, NCAA champ, world junior xc medal, a real 2:07!

My reasoning-

Agreed with above poster about Solinsky's 10k- that is my favorite race to rewatch (but partly because of the crowd/commentating)

Webb- loved him in HS, but hard to get on his bandwagon post HS

Hall- Loved Houston half and London, otherwise meh

Ritz- Most consistent and longest career with close to the same highs as everyone else (AR, albeit not in the 10k/mile, which were unique for their own reasons)

The thing I hate is that I really can't point to any younger American who could turn into what Hall was. It wouldn't surprise me at all if there are a bunch of runners in shorter distance events that are competitive and run fast times but I just feel like it will be a long time until we see another runner at that marathon level. If Ritz wins the trials that's nice I guess, but we know what he is and he isn't going to get anyone excited about what he can do on a world stage the way Hall did at Central Park. I'm hoping on the women's side Abbey D goes to the marathon as I think she could be solid!

I'd rank Solinsky last. He has some good times on his resume but has no medals. 5 NCAA championships. Briefly the american record holder in the 10k. I think he only qualified for one World Championship (2009) and no Olympics. I am not sure he has won any American Championships (I believe some road championships, but those are so haphazard in terms of who competes).

Honestly, and no disrespect to Chris as he had some great accomplishments, I think he is last by some distance. The other three are really tough to rank.

Ritz has two world medals--a junior world XC and a Half-marathon championships. Those are significant medals in large fields, if falling short in prestige of the Olympics and World Championships. He held the American record in the 5000m, don't know if you knock points off for it being relatively short lived before it was broken. Multiple US championships in XC. Qualified for Olympics 3x (and counting). Mutliple WCs. OK placings in a number of big city marathons. Good PRs across the board. A lengthy and distinguished resume.

Alan Webb has two of the most iconic runs (and records) in American history with his High School record and his American record in the mile. Actually the high school run was more iconic as a run, but the mile is more iconic as a record. Those records have proven to be pretty long lasting. He also held the American record in the 2 mile for a couple of years as well. He only competed in one Olympics and (I'm pretty sure) 2 World Championships. He had a number of US championships, including some very impressive 1500m wins. He won a Golden League race, which is probably the best competitive result of any of the guys under consideration here. Short prime. Some would give him credit for impressive range, but I discount that a bit. I mean 13:11 and 27:34 are impressive for a 1500m runner running an off event, but are honestly not terribly competitive in those events. Although his highs are high, his longevity really counts against him.

Hall has a couple of iconic moments in terms of his Houston half marathon win and American record and his win in New York in the marathon trials. A depth of times at the marathon which are superior to anything I think anybody else on this list accomplished in a main event. Also a string of high placings in big city marathons, although without ever quite competing for the win. Two Olympics. Also I think he has a couple of US XC championshiips.

It's really a good question and I didn't end up where I thought I would prior to typing that all out. Like a lot of ranking questions, the answer is mostly determined by the criteria you are ranking on. I've settled on:

4. Solinsky

3. Hall

2. Webb

1. Ritzenheim

Honestly Webb and Hall could be flipped. I think 1 and 4 are pretty clear cut for me, though.

Hall dropped out at the Olympics. That alone instantly disqualifies him. Total cowardly move.

DNF how many other races?

Purely in terms of athletic accomplishment, I think this question has a clear answer:

1. Ritz

2. Webb

3. Hall

4. Solinsky

In terms of their importance for American running, I think the answer is also clear:

1. Webb

2. Hall

3. Ritz

4. Solisnky

Webb had the greatest cultural and inspirational impact. He revived interest in the mile for lay people, and inspires thousands of young runners (myself included, I'm I think one year younger than Webb).

Ritz was not nearly as inspirational/culturally important, but his achievements are probably more impressive than Webb's in their breadth and depth over the years, and over events. Ritz has run elite times from the 2 mile to the marathon.

In an overall list, whether to place Webb or Ritz first hinges on how much you value holding a current AR and how much you value inspiring the young. Webb wins if you go for the current AR/inspiration, Ritz wins if you go for the broad and deep resume.

I think Hall is clearly 3rd in terms of athletic accomplishment. His half marathon AR was and is impressive, as were his elite marathon performances. He has a couple Olympics, too. His consistency beats out Webb a little, but Webb still has plenty of ARs, an Olympics, and some solid world-level results not too far from Hall's. Hall *surprised* people with his marathon and half performances, but they still were really no better than Webb achieved in some of his great Diamond League performances and his 9th place World championship.

Solinsky, for better or worse, will be remembered for his 10k record. It was incredible. After Webb's mile, this was the one American performance that still just gives you chills to think about and watch. Incredible. His 12:55 later was quite impressive, but I don't think it's leagues about Ritz's 5k. He has no Olympic performances and few American championships.

I think I have to go, overall, with

1. Ritz

2. Webb

3. Hall

4. Solinsky

Lot of different answers here...Great thread OP!

4. Solinsky - wasn't part of the Webb-Ritz-Hall class that changed the culture of the USA distance running. Great one year, which end up not being a championship year. Maybe the best of the group as able to win a medal at a Olympic event, but never had a chance. 10,000m AR was amazing but shortly afterwards crushed by Rupp. Fastest ever 5,000 American born also. Right now has to be so frustrated,

3. Webb - HS career I put #1, talent I put #1. His 3:53 is still off the charts, was even known outside the running world. Had the talent to win gold at the 1500. Greatest range. But how frustrating post HS, starting with Michigan and never doing anything at worlds/Olympics. At least he has his mile American record, but that is an non Olympic distance and was done in the middle of nowhere in Europe.

2. Hall - great 4 year span. Somebody who had a shot to win a major marathon. Half American record. Fastest ever American born marathoner. His Olympic Trials win in NY gave me chill. But his career is ending frustrating and embarrassing. Also never did anything on the track.

1. Ritz - still the standard to compare XC high school runners to. Short but great college career. 12:56 gave me chills, open the flood gates to American born sub 13. Also agree slowest ever runner to break 13. Great range. Successful xc, track, and roads. Numerous USA teams, but never felt he was a true contending to win a medal. But had the junior XC and half marathon medals. Maybe the least talent of the group, but got the most out of the talent. Still running and competing for another USA team. Least regrets. Successful xc, track, and roads. I do think it's a shame that he never broke 27 for the 10K.

pin racer wrote:

This includes everything, from grade school through the present.

Can't believe we're 2 pages into this thread and no one else has said it - I'd pick the runner who knew how to correctly use who's and whose.

Engrish wrote:

Can't believe we're 2 pages into this thread and no one else has said it - I'd pick the runner who knew how to correctly use who's and whose.

Their is no such runner.

Let's look at the positives and negatives.

Solinsky

+

First non-African under 27:00.

One time AR holder.

-

Never made an Olympic team.

Had a brutal injury that still hampers him.

Ritz

+

Lots of HS titles and records.

Briefly held 5K AR (I think?).

Still competitive.

Two-time Olympian

-

Injured a lot.

Doesn't have a singular achievement (like a current AR, barrier broken, or signature win) outside of high school.

Hall

+

AR holder in the marathon.

Olympian.

-

Seemingly washed up.

Webb

+

AR holder in the mile.

Olympian.

Back, baby!

-

Definitely washed up.

You know, I think I take Webb. He still holds a significant AR and has competed at the highest level -- Olympics, Worlds, Diamond League, etc... He's washed up now, but it's not like any of these other guys are really in the mix at this point. Ritz is still kinda competitive, but not at the level he once was.

Hall