Jimmy21 said: but there (NOP) goal is not to win B level races. Its to win A level races.
my understanding is that the objective of NOP was the rather grand idea to, "improve the standard of American distance running." I don't personally think they have achieved that, and I don't think they have showered themselves with glory either. Nike probably expected their efforts to be appreciated by the runnerati but in this they have been disappointed and I fully expect that when Galen Rupp retires Saladbar will shuffle off into the long grass and the whole thing will be mothballed. an inglorious and expensive failure on many levels.
Also, sure, Suguru broke the Japanese national record but hes also part of NOP, so doesnt that make the point moot?
I don't think it does, because Suguru breaking the Japanese record doesn't improve the standard of American distance running. the last time an American set a world record on the track at a distance longer than 1 mile, was in 1965. Galen Rupp took a silver medal at the London Olympics, but before that the last American to win a medal at 10,000m was Billy Mills in 1964. that probably means your next medal winner's parents are currently six years old, and neither you or I will live to see it happen.
cheers.