Running the rule over the runners

Nick Willis has broken the four-minute mile barrier for the 20th consecutive year. The 38-year-old has long been one of New Zealand’s greatest, and perhaps most under-rated, distance runners. Jeff Cheshire has a crack at naming the country’s top-10 middle- and long-distance runners of all time.

Peter Snell wins the 800m at the Rome Olympics in 1960. PHOTOS: ODT FILES/GETTY IMAGES/SUPPLIED

1 Peter Snell

The case: Three Olympic gold medals (1960 800m, 1964 800m and 1500m), set world records in four distances, still New Zealand 800m record-holder.

The oil: Rates as highly as any New Zealand sportsperson, let alone distance runner. Perhaps Snell did not have the longevity of others, but he was so prolific between 1960 and 1965. His 800m-1500m double at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, a feat that has not been done since, is arguably the greatest achievement by a Kiwi sportsperson. Despite all advancements in technology, science and training, his New Zealand 800m record of 1min 44.3sec, set on a grass track in 1962, has not been surpassed. It was a world record at the time and remains the fastest time run on grass.

John Walker has some admirers.

2 John Walker

The case: Olympic gold medal (1976 1500m), first man to break 3min 50sec in mile, broke the four-minute mile barrier 135 times.

The oil: Won probably New Zealand’s most memorable silver medal when he ran a world record time but trailed in Filbert Bayi in the 1500m at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games in 1974. Bayi was not there two years later, but Walker claimed a signature gold medal at the Montreal Olympics all the same. Became the first person to run 100 four-minute miles, and the 135 times he broke that barrier has been bettered just once. Ran in an era when the distance was more frequently raced, but his 1982 3min 49.08sec time remains the national record 40 years later.

Jack Lovelock after the ‘‘mile of the century’’ in New York in 1935.

3 Jack Lovelock

The case: Olympic gold medal in a world record time (1936, 1500m), Empire Games gold medal (1934, mile), set world records in mile and 1500m.

The oil: Does not have the longevity of the others and his times have long been surpassed, but both are a product of his era. His gold medal and world record-breaking performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics is the most impressive single-race achievement by anyone on this list. The field was among the finest in Olympic history, while the race lived up to the billing and his performance was dubbed a tactical masterpiece. He also set a mile world record in 1933.

4 Nick Willis

The case: Two Olympic medals (2008 silver, 1500m; 2016 bronze, 1500m), only Kiwi to break 3min 30sec 1500m mark, 20 consecutive years of four-minute miles.

The oil: Joins Snell as the only New Zealander to win multiple Olympic medals in distance running. He is also the only New Zealander, and eighth man ever, to win two 1500m Olympic medals. The first of those got bumped from a bronze to silver when Rashid Ramzi tested positive for illegal drugs. Years later, new gold medallist Asbel Kiprop also received a drug ban, making it probable Willis was only beaten by a drug cheat. His personal best of 3min 29.66 sec is an incredible three seconds ahead of the next fastest New Zealander, while he joins Walker as the only Kiwi to break the 3min 50sec mile mark. Perhaps most telling has been his longevity — running a four-minute mile for 20 consecutive years is no mean feat, while his bronze at the Rio Olympics made him the oldest 1500m medallist in history.

5 Dick Quax

The case: Olympic silver medal (1976, 5000m), Commonwealth Games silver medal (1970, 1500m), set world 5000m record.

The oil: Quax ticks the major achievement box with his silver medal in Montreal. His times still stack up nearly 50 years later. A memorable kick in the last 200m of the 1976 Olympic 5000m final took him to a come-from-behind silver. A year later, he ran 13min 12.9sec over the distance to set a new world record. It stood for less than a year, but remained the New Zealand record until it was broken by Adrian Blincoe in 2008. He remains New Zealand’s third-fastest 5000m and 10,000m runner of all time. Later in his career he showed his quality in the marathon.

Murray wins the 5000m final at the Rome Olympics.

6 Murray Halberg

The case: Olympic gold medal (1960, 5000m), Commonwealth Games gold medals (1958 and 1962, 3 miles), set four world records.

The oil: Another whose times have since been eclipsed, but again that is a product of the training and technology of different eras. Indeed, had he been active in the present era, he likely would have been a Paralympian, a rugby injury in his youth leaving his left arm withered. It did not stop him winning gold in the 5000m at the 1960 Rome Olympics, while also finishing fifth in the 10,000m. While short of two medals, it is an impressive top-five Olympic double. Halberg was New Zealand’s first four-minute miler, while also setting four world records over imperial distances.

Lorraine Moller crosses the finish line of the women's marathon in third place at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

7 Lorraine Moller

The case: Olympic bronze medal (1992, marathon), Commonwealth Games medals (1982 bronze, 1500m and 3000m; 1986 silver, marathon).

The oil: Durable and versatile, Moller’s top-level career spanned from 1974 to 1996, covering distances from 800m to the marathon. It was the latter of those distances that provided her greatest success, a bronze medal in the Barcelona Olympics — New Zealand’s only medal in the event. That she could so seamlessly switch between that and the track middle-distance races — as she did in 1982 when she won Commonwealth Games bronze in the 1500m and 3000m — showed further quality. Her times remain in the New Zealand all time top 10 for every distance except the 10,000m (she is 11th), despite being it approaching 40, and in some cases 50, years since they were set.

8 Rod Dixon

The case: Olympic bronze medal (1972, 1500m).

The oil: Got as close as you can get to being a double Olympic medallist without actually being one. After winning bronze in the 1500m in Munich, he was denied four years later in the 5000m by 0.12sec when Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand dived to pass him on the finish line. He went on to become one of the top road runners in the world through the 1980s and claimed a New York marathon title in 1983, while also excelling in cross-country. Only Willis and Walker are ahead of him on the 1500m and mile all time New Zealand rankings, while he remains fourth in the 3000m, sixth in the 5000m and third in the marathon.

9 Marise Chamberlain

The case: Olympic bronze medal (1964, 800m), Commonwealth Games silver medal (1962, 880yd).

The oil: The only New Zealand woman to win an Olympic track medal, Chamberlain is another whose times still stack up. Originally a sprinter, she turned to the 800m when the 400m was not an option for the 1960 Olympics. Her New Zealand record of 2min 1.4sec, set in 1962, stood for 34 years, and 60 years later leaves her still fourth on the all time rankings. Two years later, she overcame injury and a fast finish propelled her from sixth to third in the Olympic final, claiming her bronze medal.

10 Anne Audain

The case: Commonwealth Games medals (1982 gold, 3000m; 1986 silver, 10,000m), set 5000m world record.

The oil: Raced virtually every distance over every discipline at an international level. Audain’s early track career centred around the 800m and 1500m, but began moving towards the longer distances as they became available to women in the 1980s. Broke the 5000m world record in the early years of the distance for women, before having Commonwealth Games success in both the 3000m and 10,000m. Was dominant on the United States road circuit and became the first woman to sign with Nike.

Honourable mentions

Allison Roe

Had a superb year in 1981 and had injury not deprived her of a longer career, may have achieved so much more. Was a favourite for the marathon when it was added to the Olympic schedule for 1984, but it is hard to include someone on what they might have done.

Sam Tanner

Only 21 years old, but already New Zealand’s fifth-fastest 1500m runner of all time. Last year became the only Oceania athlete in history to break the 3min 35sec mark in an indoor 1500m. Needs to do more yet, but very much has potential to break into this group.

jeff.cheshire@odt.co.nz