Greatest Runners of All Time

This means any distance from the shortest sprint to the longest ultramarathon. The title does not say the fastest. I am referring to the runner who did their job well but inspired groups while doing it.
The Top Ten
1 Allyson Felix

The best runner of all time!

2 Steve Prefontaine

Style, grace and a true grit to overcome.. '

Best to ever come

3 Roger Bannister
4 Frank Shorter
5 Emil Zatopek

The best of his and any other generation.

6 Alberto Salazar
7 Mo Farah
8 Usain Bolt Usain St Leo Bolt is a Jamaican retired sprinter, widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time. He is a world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay.

An eight-time Olympic gold medallist, Bolt is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100 m and 200 m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012 and 2016). He also won two 4 × 100 relay gold medals. He gained worldwide fame for his double sprint victory in world record times at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which made him the first person to hold both records since fully automatic time became mandatory. ...read more.

Why is he not first have you all gone insane? Or should I say, HAVE YOU ALL GONE USAIN.

HE broke a RECORD how is he not 1st he is the fastest person in the world.

He's only number nine? That's insane! He ran 100 meters in under 10 seconds!

The fastest man to ever walk the earth! What is greater than that?

9 Jesse Owens James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete and four-time gold medalist in the 1936 Olympic Games.Owens specialized in the sprints and the long jump and was recognized in his lifetime as "perhaps the greatest and most famous athlete in ...read more.
10 Galen Rupp
The Contenders
11 Paavo Nurmi
12 Haile Gebrselassie

Can't believe he isn't even on the list. Haile G is the greatest runner of all time. He broke 61 Ethiopian National Records ranging from 800 meters to the marathon and set 27 world records over the course of his long career in cross country, indoor track, outdoors, and road racing. His form, style, guts, and kick are all both unique as they are legendary. He also gives back to his people, owns several successful businesses, speaks fantastic English, and plans to serve in his government to further spread his care for others. All-around stand-up guy. My hero & inspiration

13 Eliud Kipchoge
14 Mary Slaney
15 Kenenisa Bekele

World record holder 5000 and 10000 will go and break the marathon world record 11 times world cross country champion

16 Ryan Hall
17 Bill Dellinger
18 Carl Lewis Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis is an American former track and field athlete who won nine Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal, and 10 World Championships medals, including eight gold. His career spanned from 1979 to 1996, when he last won an Olympic event.
19 Sebastian Coe
20 Florence Griffith Joyner
21 Lasse Viren

Back to back 5k and 20k at the Olympics. Maybe not the greatest, but certainly the best Competitor of all time

22 David Rudisha
23 Meb Keflezighi
24 Kevin Hayes
25 Vivian Cheruiyot
8Load More
PSearch List