HERE WE GO!!!!
1. Scott Jurek vs 5. Hal Higdon
Winner: Scott Jurek
Higdon is a legend for his writing and devotion to running. His influence can be felt at every single marathon in the US, if not world. His over 100 completed marathons are nothing shy of amazing, but Jurek is an almost mythical person in the running world. Jurek set the record for the fastest time to run, yes run, the Appalachian Trail and has a book to show for it. Jurek's influence has also been wide spread after "Born to Run" came out, which started several major running trends and turned ultramarathons into a much more common place event. It's sad to see Higdon lose in this contest, but it is an honorable defeat to one of the all time running greats.
6. Allyson Felix vs. 2. Roger Bannister
Winner: Roger Bannister
Allyson Felix is the most decorated female Olympian track and field athlete of all-time! With 6 gold medals and 3 silvers, she is not use to losing and has earned herself a solid seat among the all-time greats. That being said, Roger Bannister is and forever will be the standard for track and field with his golden 4 minute mile. Bannister did what many thought, at the time, could never be done. His 4 minute mile was to running what the Wright Brothers were to flying. It happened a long time ago, and now is common, but it set the standard that we still all use today for greatness.
1. Steve Prefontaine vs. 4. Karl Meltzer
Winner: Steve Prefontaine
Meltzer broke Scott Jurek's Appalachian Trail record, the very next year. His unquestioned durability, longevity and wins make him standout in a world of crazy people that don't know when to stop running. Meltzer breaks the mold, but his mold of recklessly setting the bar was made by Prefontaine. Prefontaine inspired millions as he broke almost every American record he attempted. Prefontaine had movies and books written about him, however his untimely death has made him the Jimi Hendrix of running. We know he was great and we loved his bravado, we just wonder in awe at how great he could have been, had he not died so young. Prefontaine is the sort of all American dream we all wish to be.
3. Florence Grffith-Joyner vs. 2. Kathrine Switzer
Winner: Kathrine Switzer
Florence Griffith-Joyner was an icon even after her death. She was the fastest and the loudest. Flo-Jo was a rock star on the track like few ever were and backed it up. Where Kathrine Switzer beats Flo-Jo is that she herself was a bigger rebel, while trying to blend in. Switzer;s iconic story of the 1967 Boston marathon is one I can never get enough of. She tried to blend in, to prove women could run with men. Switzer ended up breaking down the gender wall, allowing the women to flood the running world
1. Jesse Owens vs. 5. Kenensia Bekele
Winner: Jesse Owens
Bekele was great, no doubt. Three Olympic Golds and five world championships proves he rarely lost. Jesse Owens just never lost. Owens faced tyranny and won. Owens faced racism and won. Owens faced world records and won. Jesse Owens was a running icon like there never was.
3. Dean Karnazes vs. 2. Pheidippides
Winner: Dean Karnazes
In an interesting battle of the Greeks, Karnazes comes out on top. The irony that Pheidippides would probably beat Dean is not lost here, or how Dean wrote a book largely based on the legend of Pheidippides. For the current time, Karnazes wins purely on his influence on the sport of ultrarunning. His books have inspired millions by simply opening their eyes to the possibility that people can run more than a marathon. Sure, Pheidippides did this as well, and the marathon is named after his famously fatal run, but Karnazes has dominated the field of running books, helping design clothes and been a semi-relatable person who many have aspired to be like.
1. Usain Bolt vs. 4. Carl Lewis
Winner: Usain Bolt
In a true battle of sprinting titans, Lewis loses out, even though he is the second most decorated track and field Olympian of all time (barely edging out Felix who was also in this bracket). Lewis did this over a very long period, but he was never quite the spectacle that Bolt was. Usain Bolt shattered the records books and was evolutionarily ahead of every other competitor. It was never if Bolt would win, but by how much. He did it on the biggest stages, with the world holding their breath, even it is was for less than 10 seconds.
3. Wilma Rudolph vs. 2. Ann Trason
Winner: Ann Trason
Wilma Rudolph was an American prodigy, making the Olympics as a high schooler. She helped raise the bar for women and for minorities, at a time that this was not the most socially acceptable. She paved the way for many of young girls and women ahead of her. Ann Trason did the same but in the opposite end of the running spectrum. While Rudolph was a sprinter, Trason ran ultras. Trason didn't just run ultras, she set course record after course record, even winning the Western States 100 (the Super Bowl of ultrarunning) 14 times. If it wasn't for a legendary tribe of Indian runners, she would have won and set the overall record at the 1994 Leadville 100, having to set the women's record that still stands. Rudolph was a beast on the track, but Trason was a certifiable monster.
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