The 1980's decade was an era in which male middle distance running was dominated by Britain. This dominance was total and overwhelming, much like the stranglehold that the Kenyans have today over the 3000m steeplechase or the Ethiopians have over the 10,000m. In 1983, at one stage in the 1500m, Britain had the Olympic champion (Seb Coe), world champion (Steve Cram) and world record holder (Steve Ovett then Steve Cram). The argument as to who was the best out of Coe, Ovett and Cram will long be debated but never resolved.

Steve Cram was born in Jarrow, Tyneside, England in 1960, with a whole lot of talent. Over a 19 day period during the European summer of 1985 Cram, nicknamed "The Jarrow Arrow", set the running world alight, clocking world records in the 1500m, 2000m and the mile. Still considered one of the best middle distance runners ever, Cram had the honour of being the first man to run under 3:30 for the 1500m. Cram's championship highlights include winning the 1500 metre gold medal at the 1983 World Championships, winning three Commonwealth Games gold medals, two European Championship gold medals and silver in the 1984 Olympic Games 1500m.

Here we take a look back over Cram's career and rank his five top performances of all time.

Number 5: Crystal Palace Mile 1983, Cram Vs Ovett

"It was a cat-and-mouse affair - we both started off running at the back of the field. I beat him by little more than the thickness of a vest." - Steve Cram (Quoted in "Face to face: Steve Cram", by John Gibson, May 2, 2006, The Sunday Sun.

No race throughout Cram's career exemplifies his courageous nature better than this cat-and-mouse duel with Steve Ovett. Cram took off with 350 metres to go and led Ovett by a mere whisker all the way to the line. The style of race is a truly tactical style that is not seen so often amongst today's professionals. A quarter of a century later this race is still considered by many to be one of most memorable of all time.

Number 4: 1985 Zurich Golden League 800m - 1:42.88

Cram was without doubt more suited to the 1500m/mile rather than the 800m. Whereas many of his competitors such as Ovett and Coe had brilliant accelerations, Cram was more of a runner who wound up over the final lap of a race, gradually increasing the pace during a drawn out kick for the line. His overwhelming talent for the longer distance and his lack of true top-end speed is what made this victory over the reigning 800 metre Olympic Champion, Joaquim Cruz, in 1:42.88, so special.

Number 3: 1985 mile World Record 3:46.32

It was hard to not elevate this race to a better position than number 3. However, hopefully the quality of the top two selections will help to justify the decision.

This race, at Oslo's Bislett stadium in 1985 produced a world record for the mile of 3:46.32. The record stood for eights years and is still today the European record. Furthermore, the race is famous as being a true tactical affair against Seb Coe which saw multiple changes in pace. It has been speculated that if Cram had run the race with even splits, he would have recorded a time around 3:45.00 - 3:45.50 (equivalent to 3:28.33 - 3:28.80 for 1500m using the accepted conversion factor of 1.08 ).

Number 2: 1983 world champs 1500m

The 1983 Helsinki World Championships marked an epic duel between Cram, Ovett, Steve Scott and Said Aouita. In what turned out to be a tactial affair, Cram managed to outkick Scott and Aouita over the last 200m to become a world champion for the first time. The kick was brutal, but it was the scalps he took to take his first and last world crown that make this race one of Cram's greatest triumphs.

Number 1: 1985 Cram Vs Aoutia, sub 3:30 for the first time, World Record - Bislett Stadium, Oslo

Few races in history compare to this epic encounter between Cram and the rising Moroccon star Said Aoutia in Nice, July16, 1985. Cram (3:29.67) narrowly held on to eclipse a fast finishing Aoutia (3:29.71.) as both men became the first to break the 3:30 barrier. Cram's drawn out surge for the line was mesmerising, whilst Aoutia's final 100m was astonishingly fast. The intense battle with Aouita and the breaking of the daunting 3:30 mark for the first time, handed Cram the world record and made this race our choice as the highlight of Cram's career.