Who is the greates miler ever ?

[Lovelock]

The mile, 4 laps of a quarter mile in track in 4 perfect minutes it is the most magical athletics event, Roger Banniester was the first to break the magical 4 minute barrier and many more have followed but in your opinion who was the Greatest ?!? Nurmii, Lovelock, Bannister, Coe, Walker, El-Gerrouj the list is endless.

[Jon Mulkeen]

the list is endless.

Yet you've listed just two?!

I think several other names need to go on that list (Cram, Bannister, etc).

[Lovelock]

Jon i have listed two athletes who in my opinion were britains greates middle distance athletes and i listed them two because there was such a definite rivalary you were either coe or ovett. Yes the list is endless but i was refering to the World's greatest miler, whereas the poll was for my personal wish to find out who most people supported coe or ovett. Please list your favourite milers from any time and any nationality.

[slowcoach]

Coe was Britain's greatest, but I think Elliott would get my vote for the world's best.

[Beatrix Kiddo]

AW did a poll in it's issue that celebrated Bannister's 50th anniversary of the sub-four-min mile last year ... and Seb Coe was judged the winner. I think about 20 or so experts all had to give their top few in order.

[Grendal]

In terms of records and success, the greatest was probably Coe - but I sincerely believe that Ovett was the better runner of the two - he always seemed to have so much in hand - in fact I think he was a really lazy runner who had he really stretched himself he would have broken 3:30 for 1500 metres and 3:46 for the mile - he had such a variety of distances as well, from 800 up to the half marathon - really an unfullfilled talent.

[Beatrix Kiddo]

I know who'd win a race nowadays. Coe looks the same size and shape he was 20 years ago. Ovett in comparison is just a tad porkier. Although to be fair to him I believe he had a mountain bike accident a few years ago and this probably means he can't run or bike ride as easily any more.

[Greysubfour]

Elliott was unbelievable. ran in his own head. the Crocodile Dundee mentality. Opponents? 'doesn't know, doesn't care!'

Post Olympic question after 3-35.7 1500 gold on cinders(45 years ago!) 13 second first 100 on last lap!

Were you worried about Jazy? (Michel Jazy, world mile, 5000 record holder later, silver in 1960)

'Who's Jazy?'

[slowcoach]

Elliott still holds the Morton Stadium, Santry, mile record. He set it on cinders on opening night in 1958: 3:54.5!!

Nearly every world class miler has been here since, and the track was upgraded to tartan, but still that record remains.

The guy was an animal (and I mean that in the best possible way).

[Greysubfour]

He wasn't a heavy trainer. Cerutty got people to extend their physical limits. Elliott beat a much faster athlete in Hewson in the 'Commonwealth' 880 in Cardiff in '58 when he ran 50ish from the front i.e. 49+ for 400 to finish on cinders again. I don't think he had ever run a 400 solo in anything like that time. It was sometime like a -9sec split! Slow times but on cinders, 47 years ago! when the 10k record was around 28-15! On a different planet like Zatopek in his own way.

[sovietvest]

In terms of records and success, the greatest was probably Coe - but I sincerely believe that Ovett was the better runner of the two - he always seemed to have so much in hand - in fact I think he was a really lazy runner who had he really stretched himself he would have broken 3:30 for 1500 metres and 3:46 for the mile - he had such a variety of distances as well, from 800 up to the half marathon - really an unfullfilled talent.

TFN's message board has a great thread in the historical category devoted to Ovett. Some great posts by marknhj (a former UK international HJer) - check out his recollection of an overheard conversation between Andy Norman and Brendan Foster.

When we talk about the greatest GB athletics moments, I know that Coe's OG 1500s will rank above anything Ovett did in a public vote but for me nothing beats Ovett in the 77 World Cup when he destroyed John Walker.

Coe has the records and gold medals but Ovett inspires far more affection. As marknhj says over on TFN - read the thread and 'feel the love'.

[Common Sense]

Isn't it funny the way nobody seems to go for present athletes but surely El G has to be up there with the best, not to mention Morcelli. As for the British milers I would go Coe, Cram & Ovett. (To the best of my knowledge and I'm probably going to be shot down - Ovett never won a global 1500m championship - the metric mile.)

[Alf Shrubb]

I'd vote for Coe over Ovett, if it's for the best British miler. Coe's '84 Olympic win really clinches it for him... Ovett had incredible talent, there's no question--if he had been alone in that era, we'd certainly view him as even greater than we now do...

I'll go with what I believe is still the hard-core historians consensus on the greatest of all time: Elliott. Sure, he retired at age 22 and could have--or might have--been ever greater (or faster) if he'd continued, but so what? What he actually did is genuinely extraordinary--he won every race that mattered, and easily. Other greats would include the usual names: Ryun, Snell, Bannister, Morceli, and El G. I will also put a strong vote in for Walter George--his 4:12-3/4 of 1886 was an astonishingly great run, and a time that wasn't beaten for nearly 30 years. Let's see if El G's record lasts that long!

[Pelle3]

For which generation?

There is the pre-rabbit era where guys like Coe, Ovett, Aouita, Maree et al stuck their necks out there and went for it. Then there is the Morceli, El G era where guys follow the leaders through 51-1.50-2.45-type splits and set big PBs.

Greatest miler ever, notwithstanding? El Guerrouj.

[mountainrunner]

Greatest miler ever - el guerrouj
Greatest sprinter ever - maurice green
greatest marathon runner ever - paula radcliffe
greatest mountainrunner ever - jonathon wyatt (although I truly believe Andi Jones has the tools to challenge him).

[alf tupper]

Neither. Steve Cram by virtue of him running faster than either of the other two!

[penguin]

Neither. Steve Cram by virtue of him running faster than either of the other two!

true but there are other's you haven't even mentioned and they are older, you have to remember the old cinder tracks, were slower. so in terms of the graetest, you would have to run it to the decades wouldn't you?

[gravymuncher]

what's the link to the tfn forum topic mentioned above?

[ronnie rhino]

John Walker

Track and field's Mr Durable, world record-breaker and Olympic champion - still going strong long after less indomitable careers were over.

National titles for 800m and 1500m. First sub-four minute mile in 1973. Commonwealth Silver for 1500m, Bronze in 800m 1974; Olympic Gold in 1500m 1976; Commonwealth Silver 1500m 1982. Held world mile record as the first man under 3 min 50 sec. First athlete to log 100 sub-four minute miles. Voted New Zealand Sportsman of the Decade (1970-79)

[alf tupper]

Since when was John Walker British?????

[sovietvest]

what's the link to the tfn forum topic mentioned above?

http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/discus ... php?t=3044

[slowcoach]

Since when was John Walker British?????

Who is his head of state?

[alf tupper]

Since when was John Walker British?????

Who is his head of state?

Still doesn't make him British.

[smokey]

George Best was British! right?

[The Bandit]

is not was

George has not left us just yet

[zen]

he will always be with us in spirit!

[alf tupper]

What was his mile time?

[The Bandit]

Although not an official time as electronic timing was not available on the occasion, George once covered the mile between his doorstep and Ye Olde Cock Inn in Didsbury in 3 mins 32 seconds in order to catch last orders. El G eat your heart out.

Georgie, Georgie, they call you the Belfast boy.