Steve Cram Races...12 Of The Best!!

There are few more awesome sights in the history of middle diatance running than "The Jarrow Arrow" Steve Cram going flat out on a final lap! Here's a small selection from 1982-86,his peak years,including half a dozen gold medals and a couple of world records.

[@jimmason8502]

Cram in full flight was majestic

[@sanderslongdrive]

As a student of athletics for sixty years I have to confess my enormous admiration for Herb Elliott, but being objective the best that I've ever seen is Steve.

[@olly3187]

1985 800 1.42 1500 3.29 Mile 3.46 Them time's are still world class nearly 40 years later

[@sunnyhpatel]

What I also loved about Cram, was he never forgot his roots. When he could he, always wore his 'club' (Jarrow and Hebburn AC) vest.

[@samhardy6319]

The Jarrow vest was the best in athletics.

[@1101grayzer]

What a brilliant athlete he was. Stylish, humble, brave and magnificent in full flow.

[@peartreedu]

Cram has always been my favourite middle distance runner. No-one runs races like Steve Cram did. To watch him go from the back of the pack to the front with what looked like effortless ease was just mind-blowing to watch. After his peak in 1985 & 1986, middle distance running was never the same.

[@jaimeoster60]

Hi well I am on my moms account but Steve cram is my second cousin!!

[@carolinehirst4921]

Coe at his absolute best was great runner to watch as well. 1.41.73 for 800 m and double olympic 1500 m champion.

[@jerryoshea3116]

Such an impressive runner to watch! And u have to give him credit,because in most of his big Races,there was always an impressive cast of opposition!

[@Roberto_79]

Fucking hell I don’t believe I ever gave this guy the credit he deserves… We had some serious athletes back in the day

[@ledzepman36]

i was a middle distance runner at school during these times, Cram used to just destroy the field at 200m. Great runner.

[@jeffallinson8089]

Exceptional athlete and 85 was a fantastic year for Cram.

[@gowers1972]

There weren't too many athletes that beat Sebastian Coe or Steve Ovett while in their prime years, but Steve Cram was the only athlete to have beaten each and every one of these gold medalists: Coe, Ovett, Aouita, Cruz, and Walker. And all except Cruz were a world record holder at one point. Pretty solid resume, Crammy.

[@carolinehirst4921]

The race against Ovett was brilliant edge of the seat.

[@jaimeoster60]

CRAM NOT CRAMMY

[@anitdua]

Cram's 1500m and mile WR was better than any of Coe's and Ovett times.

[@petermyerscough5211]

@@anitdua😂

[@richybatty234]

Cram never beat Ovett at his best . 78 - 81 were Ovetts peak yrs . It was a slow decline after that . Here , Cram was obviously at HIS peak .

[@martinfoster9848]

Has there ever been a better technique? Joy to watch.

[@Laygate1960]

Steve Cram isa life long Sunderland supporter & we are very proud of him. The same as we are pround of Brendan Foster, a Newcastle fan. Brilliant stuff lads.

[@oluckyman]

Not even slightly tired after any race. Incredible.

[@steve24550]

Those were the days.

[@marcosmartins7581]

When men were men😂 no, seriously, Cram was something else, all heart... Great vid

[@mattmoran4341]

I watch this compilation probably more than is healthy 😂

[@ericsolomon7149]

Just amazing... Thanks for posting this, brings back a lot of great memories

[@davidhaspell6417]

Should be titled 'David Coleman' 12 of the best, finest sports commentator ever.

[@agaskew]

Ironically now Cram is the great commentator

[@GOATAli]

In 1985 this guy was a monster. As good a year as any athlete ever. And running sub 1 mins 43 at 800 as well as owning three WRs...

[@michaellloyd6042]

Just a shame there were no Olympic Games between 1985-1987. He would have done the 800/1500m double.

[@deano27671]

@@michaellloyd6042 well he didn't manage it in the Europeans of 86!

[@andyharvey8373]

Absolute legend.

[@carolinehirst4921]

in 85 and 86 Cram was magnificent.

[@paulwhite2533]

the golden age of athletics, when athletes were household names globally.....

[@markbailey1970]

One of my heroes

[@pegasusp1569]

With all the new technology in recent days its about 3.24-3.25 for 1500m maybe even faster. 1.42 for 800m thats mind blowing

[@Splitscreen83]

Cram at his best was phenomenal 👍

[@alansamuel2454]

Hats off to Aouita as well. If he was a clean athlete he was the one of the most versatile athletes ever.

[@musik102]

It's funny hearing Coleman say that he thought Steve might have gone too early! 200m fro home? Too late would have been a more obvios thought.

[@mostafanafi3578]

Great runner one of the best

[@jamesryan7090]

He deserves Knighthood.

[@keithmckeith]

Great footage. My personal favourite was Ovett. Watching Ovett run the fastest final 200m (faster than Rudisha) while waving to the crowd as he breaks world records is unmatchable. He did it over and over.

[@davidshannon2860]

Cram and Coe were better than ovett

[@APBCTechnique]

I really think Coe cram and ovett couldn’t be separated on their peaks Ovett 77-81, Coe 79, 80, 81 & (84 after Olympics in Zurich) cram 85 & 86.

[@stephenreeds3632]

Considering he wasn't born at altitude unlike many of his rivals, his achievements are even greater.

[@Grantpeebles]

That aouita race to the line, epic!

[@LPCLASSICAL]

Walker must have been well pissed off with that commonwealth 1982 final - he would have at least silver if he hadn't got into a mess on the bend.

[@eamonnca1]

Remarkable

[@philipmurphy2]

Fastest ever, North East Legend.

[@paulwhite2533]

timed his injuries to coincide with the olympics....damn unlucky

[@APBCTechnique]

Cram was a good level headed racer and taught well by his coach. I think Steve Scot had a chance to win this if his tactics was more aggressive and Scot waited on the front from 500m out - not allowing Cram to pass him. Once Cram has gone and he’s stolen 2-3m on you it’s difficult to run him down in last fast lap, Coe and Ovett had trouble with Cram getting the jump on them. Scot looked good, poor tactics

[@joemcm1]

cram vs ovett at crystal palace was the best ever.cram beat him fair and square but ovett was the more talented runner,just.gawd i loved these two.coe would never have had the bottle to turn up and go for it like these two did

[@darrenshaw767]

Joe McMullen I remember Coe racing Cram in 85. He was the only guy to defeat Cram in 85, albeit over 800m. He also took Cram on when Cram took his mile world record after only just coming back off an injury. I always found it odd that Coe and Ovett swerved each other but were prepared to race Cram. Such a shame we never had a couple of season where the three of them were all fit and healthy and at their peak powers.

[@deano27671]

In 81 Ovett twice had the opportunity of racing Coe over a mile (Oslo and Brussels) and on both occasions it was Ovett who prevented a head to head clash.

[@joemcm1]

@@deano27671 deano-hi mate,got a question unrelated to this post but itll get to you anyway.la 1500m ovetts v ill before the race and takes a chance.realistically hes not going to win in that shape after being in hospital so hes after a medal any medal-if he doesn't get the arm pains etc during the race and drop out ive got him even just beating cram for the silver.would love to hear your take on it.to see abaskal get the bronze makes me think even an ill but finishing ovett would have beaten him?

[@deano27671]

@@joemcm1 It is very hard to tell as it is impossible to know how ill Ovett was. He lost contact at the end of the 800m final when things heated up, so it would have been quite likely that something similar was about to happen in the 1500m final. Had Ovett not had the problems in LA, and with the 1500m run as it was, I believe he would have been good enough to edge Cram in the home-straight.

[@johnrogan9420]

Cram...the fastest ever!

[@viceminerrr4802]

Meet him at motram hall years ago no body else had a clue 🕵️‍♀️ who he was lol 😂

[@deano27671]

Cram was capable of running faster than Mo's new UK record. Just never got as good a pace as Mo did when he (Cram) was at his best.

[@APBCTechnique]

Agree

[@djc0108]

Agree

[@davidharris3914]

Fuckin Farah never ever raced against fields of this quality and that was when he was on drugs. What would these fields have done to him when he wasn't on drugs

[@carolinehirst4921]

Coe ran 3.29 in 1989 so if he hadn't had his injuries and illness he would have been very close with the record as well.

[@horseracingstuff]

Cram won't thank you for calling him a Geordie!

[@andywallace1220]

Geordie boy!

[@carterwilson4605]

Here are some.....not here is some

[@jaimeoster60]

STEVE CRAM IS MY SECOND COUSIN BUT I AM ON MY MOMS ACCOUNT

[@alansamuel2454]

I think walker should have been disqualified in the second race.

[@kiwiauldphart]

I agree with you, and as a New Zealander, I was then/am now appalled by Walkers arrogance in that race.

[@deano27671]

Hey AthletixStuffChannel , have you deleted the 20 race compilation of Coe? I was looking for it after watching Ovett's but couldn't find it!?

[@AthletixStuffChannel]

Hi,Deano...taken down by the Copyright Police,I'm afraid.Not sure if it was the 1980 Olympic Final or one of his 800m WR's,but hey,it's gone. Hardly a day goes by without a copyright claim on one of my videos...get a bit cheesed off as I don't claim ,just wanted to share stuff I love but having done all the hours of editing someone else monetises them and shoves a load of crappy ads all over them.Ah,well,winge over.Hope all good with you?

[@deano27671]

AthletixStuffChannel Hi! Thanks for messaging me back. That’s a shame! Surely they were seen on terrestrial tv at the time and are therefore in the public domain!? I can imagine it must be frustrating for you! I’ll have to be careful myself, as I plan to put a few more races on here in the summer. Cheers for the great races you post. 😀

[@johnbuell8035]

@@deano27671 I don’t think being aired on terrestrial makes it public domain, does it?

[@rc2869]

The race is Nice is still his best - he anihilated the Olympic 800m champion and best the 5000m champ (albeit just)

[@joemcm1]

what i would have given to see cram,coe and ovett race over 800/mile and 1500 at their absolute own peaks.ovett would win all three

[@djc0108]

At their peaks I’d personally go for Coe in the 800m and it being a toss up between Cram and Ovett over 1500m and the mile.

[@stonekeeper86]

he did ,@7:45, what Coe couldn't seem to do: beat Cruz.............

[@deano27671]

+Stone Keeper Cram beat Cruz in 85 when Steve was at his career peak and Cruz was coming back from injury. Cruz improved with every race in late 85, but he wasn't in the same majestic form he had been in LA or on the European circuit at the end of 84. Coe wasn't quite at his peak over 800 in LA 84, and was also coming back from injury when he faced Cruz at end of 85. Coe did beat Cruz, very easily, in the World Cup 800 in 81, when Cruz was on the up.

[@Harry-ux5dw]

Stone Keeper I

[@jeansilvas]

Its just so hard to make a carreer I guess, and work to money ratio in track distance running is pretty poor unless you are the best on earth, ie you cant be fourth or fith best but if you were the fifth or fourth best footballer in the world.

[@Wilko710]

here cos of bolt

[@ledzepman36]

he went early against said auita cuz he knew he would lose over 100-200m

[@samhardy6319]

Cram was slowing because he went earlier. He blew past Aoutia in 83 in the 1500m final, as I recall, and ran the last 200m of his mile WR in 25.5, so he had pace enough.

[@keithbate9405]

Cram/Coe /Ovett all great . But Cram beat Cruz over 800m and Aquita over 1500m when the later were at their best . Coe lost to Cruz in 1984 over 800m. Never met Aquita (avoided him ) For me Cram was a combination of Coe and Ovett. A great racer like the later and a winner against the clock like the later.

[@tedallison6112]

It's pretty obvious Cram is WAY better than the arrogant Coe.------more consistant,more successful & definitely faster!!

[@mohammedgarouj1318]

Said auita the best

[@jeansilvas]

Why have the white athletes not improved since these days infact they are all slower now than 30 years ago.

[@garetht9666]

That was the last generation who lived their childhood outdoors. The young white population in Europe has also been shrinking since then. Also most talented teenage athletes will go into football now as the pay is ridiculous even for the lower leagues. Cram's uncle was a professional footballer btw.

[@adamd4390]

jean silvas cos they more interested in smoking dope and playing video games

[@davidharris3914]

Same as Farah

[@veridicusmaximus6010]

Funny, as of today Sep.23, 2020, only 3 people in the WORLD have improved upon Cram's Mile time in 35 yrs. Only 12 people have improved upon Cacho's 1500m time in 23 years except this year he was passed by Jakob I. who set the Euro record of 3:28.68 (#8 all-time). Only 2 people have bettered Coe's 800m time (run on a dirt track) in 39 yrs. Fact is there is not much room for improvement bro and when you have thousands of East Africans trying every year for 30+ years - you should understand how great these runs are. Not too many Europeans with similar body types are running anymore. But even if they did these times are nuts.

[@John-1505-]

@John Nada if that is true can't some decent journalists uncover it like they did Armstring and the Russians. If you are just speculating maybe leave them alone.

[@musik102]

Dreadful music!

[@veridicusmaximus6010]

I know ruined the whole classic feel of the videos.

[@Baskerville22]

Unwatchable because of the horrible 'music'.

[@bluerfoot]

cause they are white.