Thank you for focusing on pros and helping America get its balls back.
I've been a distance fan since 1996, and for most of that time, it was impossible to be a fan of American runners.
Remember the 2004 documentary, 5000 Meters? A story of a bunch of dudes who couldn't hit the A standard and debating who would actually get to go based on B standards?
Or 2003 when the USA sent ONE runner to worlds in each the 1500 and 5000m?
Or 2005 when we only had two men advance through heats into finals of distance events, and only one man in the top ten of any distance race?
Or 2008 when Fam won a domestic steeplechase in 8:18 and the flotrack dudes lost their minds yelling "track is back"?
And while Ritz running 12:56 in 2009 may be seen as the symbolic moment the flood gates opened, its a fact that your move to Portland has done more for American distance runners than any other moment in history.
Thank you.