Slow Bro wrote:
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.
I am a big fan of Ritz's Bronze in the World Half behind the GOAT in that distance, Tadese. To me more impressive than Rupp's Silver in the [healthy] Bekele-less Olympic 10k.
And unrelated, when exactly did Hall hold the AR in the marathon?