Can someone explain Ian Kebenei (ASU)?

Sun Devilled wrote:

Comes in to Arizona State with PB's of 8:54 steeple and 14:02.

https://thesundevils.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8133

Went to famed St. Patrick's High School in Iten.

Turns out 235th @ Pre-Nats in 27:21 for 8km. Over 1 minute behind ASU #6 guy.

Does this at Stanford Invite 2 weeks ago

https://thesundevils.com/news/2018/9/29/cross-country-sophomores-take-center-stage-at-stanford-invitational.aspx?path=cross

Another over 27 minutes for 8km at Stanford.

And this guy boasts a 14:02 5k. Can anyone explain such a drop off? And these are at top-tier college races.

Uummm, gonna need an assist from ASU x-c squad to keep this thread alive.

Will Ian Kebenei be on the travel team for conference meet/Pac 12?

Either he stopped running from the time he got a scholarship offer to when he got to ASU, he was injured, or he isn't even the same Ian Kebeni. I'm curious now.

Interesting that I had never heard of this guy him being Stanley's brother. Crap times considering he's straight from Kenya and should be good.

Wolf's Bane wrote:

Either he stopped running from the time he got a scholarship offer to when he got to ASU, he was injured, or he isn't even the same Ian Kebeni. I'm curious now.

Not injured (unlike the Brit Furghal and Garrett O'toole). Ian Kebenei has run 3 meets so far. Am gonna give him a pass for Dave Murray Invite (100F on a Friday eve in Tucson). There is no injury issue.

Again, should be deprive an American kid a spot on the conference team?

There's a lot of bait and switch that goes on with this kind of thing- he's "so and so's brother, and has run...(insert amazing time)". We had the exact same thing happen with us. Kid showed up fat, and never even broke 17 minutes over 5k.

Sun Devilled wrote:

Again, should be deprive an American kid a spot on the conference team?

Or an Australian kid....

One of the risks of bringing in foreign athletes. This isn't unique to ASU/Kebenei - you'll always find a few duds each year that don't seem to live up to whatever their alleged times were overseas.

SloppyMeatHole wrote:

Sun Devilled wrote:

Again, should be deprive an American kid a spot on the conference team?

Or an Australian kid....

What Australian kid is on Arizona State x-c roster? The only ones left not already on travel squad are American.

How can Ian Kebenei afford ASU if not on full ride?

Add Garrett Otoole’s prenats performance and wonder if they even have been training in Tempe?

Spaced out good wrote:

Add Garrett Otoole’s prenats performance and wonder if they even have been training in Tempe?

As I made clear, Furghal & Garrett O'toole have been injured. Pre-nats was the first race for both of them. That is not the case with Ian Kebenei.

Not sure what's going on. I know that he only arrived in America in mid August. Maybe he's having difficulty adjusting? He did not come in fat and/or out of shape. He's a freshman. Though he came in with great stats, let's give the kid a break for now.

How about we tone the keyboard courage back a bit and come to terms with the fact that he is only 4 races into his college career and is a FRESHMAN. Clearly he is adjusting to the program/coaching/environment... as are the others. No need to jump the gun and make assumptions about his fitness/background based on a few races. His time will come.

MAYBE HE IS PARTYING TOO HARD WE NEED TO DRUG TEST THIS KID HE'S PROBABALY ON WEEDS

What excuse for the two 5th year seniors from Princeton Running terrible? When did ASU get so desperate and bad?

Louie bolting for OSU was the beginning of the end for that program.

Kebenei seems to be a big miss for the Devils (along with Curtin and O'toole). It's safe to say ASU will continue to be bottom feeders against PAC 12 distance programs, and the shape Quintana left the program in is a big reason why. My guess is we'll continue seeing lots of coaching changes in Tempe over next few years.

Relax wrote:

How about we tone the keyboard courage back a bit and come to terms with the fact that he is only 4 races into his college career and is a FRESHMAN. Clearly he is adjusting to the program/coaching/environment... as are the others. No need to jump the gun and make assumptions about his fitness/background based on a few races. His time will come.

Can't you read? He was over 1 minute behind the ASU #6 guy. 27:21 for 8km on the Wisco course. This from a sub 9 steepler, and more importantly 14:02 5,000. Kebenei is not injured like Furghal and Garrett O'toole. O'toole may still be injured.

I am just stating facts/times, and asking an explanation for such a big a downturn. WHY is Kebenei running so bad?

No one has offered an actual explanation why, just vague subjection. Shouldn't a 14:02 guy run 27 minute 8km in his sleep?

Sometimes Kenyan recruits don't live up to their times. Anyone who has been around collegiate running for any amount of time knows this.

I think it's a shame that someone went out of their way to create a thread on LetsRun evidently to slam this kid, regardless of whether his performances live up to expectations. Think about how that feels.