World Cross Problem (?)

Largely agree. One excuse you didn't mention is the "bad timing" one hears so often. In a vacuum, and coming from a pro who has to worry about such things, its seems quite defensible. But then when one considers ALL of the spring road success and summertime track victories and WRs that running World Cross clearly DID NOT cost the likes Tergat, Bekele, Radcliffe, and way too many other greats to mention (including a guy named Salazar, I think!), it appears nearly-infinitely weak.

See my thread on Mo and Galen. A sad, sad state

The other problem facing World Cross is the location of the 2017 event. Not only was Uganda a problematic site because of its poor infrastructure, the recent oppressive social laws will for sure lead to boycotts. Already the Irish federation is talking about an outright boycott over this, and I expect the calls for this to grow in other nations as well. My only hope is that the IAAF will realize they are in danger of killing the event off for good and change the site while also reinvigorating the event in general, including returning it to an every-year schedule.

treacy'78 wrote:

The other problem facing World Cross is the location of the 2017 event. Not only was Uganda a problematic site because of its poor infrastructure, the recent oppressive social laws will for sure lead to boycotts. Already the Irish federation is talking about an outright boycott over this, and I expect the calls for this to grow in other nations as well. My only hope is that the IAAF will realize they are in danger of killing the event off for good and change the site while also reinvigorating the event in general, including returning it to an every-year schedule.

I don't think an Irish boycott would have much of an impact considering they didn't bother sending anyone this year.

1) It is a conundrum. The interest in the event is in decline, and it's the marquee event in what historically is a huge branch of the sport, so the conundrum is on how to restore it to where it was 10-20 years ago when the likes of Bekele, Tergat, Radcliffe, etc prioritised it, even when they were aiming to peak in the summer.

2) Yes, it needs an African focus, but it's an American based site, so is understandably focused on why many of the best Americans are opting out of it, and our teams are clearly weaker than they could be, given that we could theoretically have Huddle, Rupp, Ritz and many many more out there. Btw, the truly best Africans are not running, but as we all know, that's the same reason they're not running the 10k any more, because most of them have migrated to the marathon for the bucks.

3) fully agree, there is a notion of being pampered about some of their excuses, which could also boil down to 'i don't want to get my ass handed to me by east africans in an event that won't garner much exposure internationally for my sponsor, and i've lttle chance of winning prize money.

4) at least they're addressing the debate and raising the issue that needs to be looked at, if the trend continues, it will soon either be an anonymous or, at worst, an obsolete, event.

Jonathan Gault wrote:

treacy'78 wrote:

The other problem facing World Cross is the location of the 2017 event. Not only was Uganda a problematic site because of its poor infrastructure, the recent oppressive social laws will for sure lead to boycotts. Already the Irish federation is talking about an outright boycott over this, and I expect the calls for this to grow in other nations as well. My only hope is that the IAAF will realize they are in danger of killing the event off for good and change the site while also reinvigorating the event in general, including returning it to an every-year schedule.

I don't think an Irish boycott would have much of an impact considering they didn't bother sending anyone this year.

While that is true, I think you missed the bigger picture. It won't just be Ireland who consider a boycott.

That article actually makes me dislike Salazar more than I did. Have always been disappointed that Ritz and Rupp make the decision not to run. Derrick puts his finger on it, Cross is wall-to-wall racing and requires all facets to excel. Sit and kick is neutralized.

Jonathan Gault wrote:

treacy'78 wrote:

The other problem facing World Cross is the location of the 2017 event. Not only was Uganda a problematic site because of its poor infrastructure, the recent oppressive social laws will for sure lead to boycotts. Already the Irish federation is talking about an outright boycott over this, and I expect the calls for this to grow in other nations as well. My only hope is that the IAAF will realize they are in danger of killing the event off for good and change the site while also reinvigorating the event in general, including returning it to an every-year schedule.

I don't think an Irish boycott would have much of an impact considering they didn't bother sending anyone this year.

Greenland is also boycotting

You got to be a total moron to even fly those airlines on that side of the globe. Got family and friends got deathly sick from everything from insect bites, food, sickness and disease. Have an Aunt picked up some weird lung disease outside of Italy. Huge connected kidnaps are getting big time. Crime against the STUDY ABROAD idiots has become a main focus. Forget about any competence from governments or courts or Law Enforcement. Heck they are the perps, the ones making the coin on us SURREAL Americans. Hey hold it in Mexico, now there is a real nice, safe, healthy place. What a government! Just wait till a bunch of our athletes go down. Then it will be all kind of questions and blame.

Hasay says. “I miss it a lot. I’m a huge fan of Paula Radcliffe\"

It is fitting that the young Hasay, who only has a few years of doping under her bunhuggers, idolizes the old hag queen of doping.

They should hold the meet ONLY in the US. Then our best athletes might show up, with better press coverage to boot. It is easy to put on this meet, when was the last time? 1992 in Boston. Given that the US is becoming the global leader in running (the africans may be better at the marathon but are getting caught by the emerging Americans now on the track/xc), it makes sense to have the meet in the safest country in the world (just don't put it in Oklahoma in the spring).

Change the Date to the fall, after NCAA XC, when people are more focused on XC anyway - why would anyone want to run it in the spring when there are no lead up races to it. Get rid of the XC circuit in Europe (no one goes anymore anyway and it is a silly time to have it), and move it to the US in the Fall for our Pro's to be able to compete without having to travel.

Everyone from other countries always wants to come to the US anyway - even if it is just to become an illegal alien. Just restrict participation to non-muslim countries to avoid terrorists, who wouldn't be allowed into the US anyway.

Hey "they quack". You have no idea what is really happening in the real world do you? You think just because someone can run faster than you, they must be doping. People like you are sadly pathetic and should get out of the sport if you honestly think this way.

2/10 Troll

Actually, Kenya, with maybe a couple of exceptions, does not send it's best athletes to World Cross. But their Plan B, Plan C, and Plan K work pretty well.

Uganda should be boycotted. So, in other events for other reasons, should Qatar. Why is the IAAF doing business with these monstrous regimes?

Oh yeah, money. Thanks.

I know the United States is far from saintly, but Uganda's horrifying.