I lived in MD until I went to college a year ago. There are a lot of east Africans in the DMV in general, especially in certain areas of PG / MoCo / NoVa.
Most are too young to be elite - their parents likely immigrated in the late 1990s / early 2000s, and they wouldn't have been born until the early 2000s. Cynically, keep in mind that they're an actual 18 or however many years old, not a Kenyan "18" that actually means 25.
I believe Weini Kelati went to high school in Virginia.
Want more "American-born" runners representing the US at World XC? Get them to show up (e.g., the Bowerman guys) or just be better at running?
At my alma mater, people complained about too many Chinese students in the engineering school, and I was like, well, maybe your kids should be smarter.
Ok. But there are no American or European-born runners/students representing Kenya or Ethiopia or attending engineering schools in China. Why is it always up to America or Europe to give opportunities to them and never the reverse?
I lived in MD until I went to college a year ago. There are a lot of east Africans in the DMV in general, especially in certain areas of PG / MoCo / NoVa.
Most are too young to be elite - their parents likely immigrated in the late 1990s / early 2000s, and they wouldn't have been born until the early 2000s. Cynically, keep in mind that they're an actual 18 or however many years old, not a Kenyan "18" that actually means 25.
I believe Weini Kelati went to high school in Virginia.
Want more "American-born" runners representing the US at World XC? Get them to show up (e.g., the Bowerman guys) or just be better at running?
At my alma mater, people complained about too many Chinese students in the engineering school, and I was like, well, maybe your kids should be smarter.
Pretty much this.
Want more American born runners in WCAP? Show up.
Want more American born runners winning the USATF XC Champs? Show up.
These AMERICANS showed up.
If you would like to change the citizenship process or the WCAP requirements then write your Congressperson. If you would like USATF to not allow immigrants in their races then write them.
I believe Weini Kelati went to high school in Virginia.
Want more "American-born" runners representing the US at World XC? Get them to show up (e.g., the Bowerman guys) or just be better at running?
At my alma mater, people complained about too many Chinese students in the engineering school, and I was like, well, maybe your kids should be smarter.
Ok. But there are no American or European-born runners/students representing Kenya or Ethiopia or attending engineering schools in China. Why is it always up to America or Europe to give opportunities to them and never the reverse?
Because in general the East Africans are faster runners than Americans/Europeans. Also, American universities are very welcoming to foreign students and foreign students want to come here. If you want to change that then write to your school president.....
Ok. But there are no American or European-born runners/students representing Kenya or Ethiopia or attending engineering schools in China. Why is it always up to America or Europe to give opportunities to them and never the reverse?
Do you really not understand why there are very few Americans immigrating to Kenya or going to college in China? Talent flows to opportunity.
The US is an amazing economic engine, but it needs more hardworking talent to continue growing. There are too many whiney victims in the native born population to keep the economy humming without immigrants.
I would ask the OP where are the rest of the top 50 US runners? Seems like they chose not to even go to Virginia. Where was Mantz, where were our top track guys, Rupp, Fauble and rest of the group of 2:09 guys sans Panning? Nothing prevented them from competing.
I do not blame the athletes I blame those that are spending money to develop foreign athletes. Especially WCAP who is paying for these athletes with our tax dollars and State funded Colleges for the same reason.
They’re all Americans, why does it matter where they’re born? Most are also active duty military. What have you done for this country or in your running career OP
1. Kenya 2. U.S. 3. Kenya 4. Kenya 5. Kenya 6. U.S. 7. U.S. 8. Kenya 9. Ethiopia 10. U.S.
We are a nation of immigrants.
What is your point?
Should runners not pursue citizenship?
Alan
Yes, the US is a nation of immigrants and yes, we should welcome naturalized citizens. But nearly all of those running for the “US Army” have had their citizenship fast tracked. The US Army is recruiting Kenyans, giving them passports and paying them to be professional runners. How does that make any sense?
Ok. But there are no American or European-born runners/students representing Kenya or Ethiopia or attending engineering schools in China. Why is it always up to America or Europe to give opportunities to them and never the reverse?
Do you really not understand why there are very few Americans immigrating to Kenya or going to college in China? Talent flows to opportunity.
The US is an amazing economic engine, but it needs more hardworking talent to continue growing. There are too many whiney victims in the native born population to keep the economy humming without immigrants.
Right. Maybe we should think harder about why they all want to come here and none of us want to go there.
Do you really not understand why there are very few Americans immigrating to Kenya or going to college in China? Talent flows to opportunity.
The US is an amazing economic engine, but it needs more hardworking talent to continue growing. There are too many whiney victims in the native born population to keep the economy humming without immigrants.
Right. Maybe we should think harder about why they all want to come here and none of us want to go there.
What do I need to think harder about? I want america to be full of hard working people, not whiney entitled victims. The people who fear competition from immigrants are almost always a drain on the system.
I never met an elite runner who complained about competing against foreign born athletes.
This is one of the reasons running in general isn't bigger as a spectator sport. The naturalized runners don't click with the fans. The one off immigrant making good is a feel good story, the majority of top finishers with similar stories and relatively anonymous doesn't help. Look how Mollie winning got even the casual fan talking in mainstream media. We need more of that.
This is one of the reasons running in general isn't bigger as a spectator sport. The naturalized runners don't click with the fans. The one off immigrant making good is a feel good story, the majority of top finishers with similar stories and relatively anonymous doesn't help. Look how Mollie winning got even the casual fan talking in mainstream media. We need more of that.
This is exactly right. Relatability is a huge part of mass appeal.
Cheers to our Kenyan born runners who are eager to represent their country at a World Championships while our top American born runners stay home and run 10k time trials with their teammates.
Why did Connor Mantz, Grant Fisher, Woody Kincaid, and Joe klecker, prioritize indoor track, base building, and a non world major half marathon over international competition?
This is one of the reasons running in general isn't bigger as a spectator sport. The naturalized runners don't click with the fans. The one off immigrant making good is a feel good story, the majority of top finishers with similar stories and relatively anonymous doesn't help. Look how Mollie winning got even the casual fan talking in mainstream media. We need more of that.
This is exactly right. Relatability is a huge part of mass appeal.
Almost no one knows or even remembers Molly at this point. Distance athletes in the sport are not compelling at all for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with being from Kenya or Wisconsin.
I believe Weini Kelati went to high school in Virginia.
Want more "American-born" runners representing the US at World XC? Get them to show up (e.g., the Bowerman guys) or just be better at running?
At my alma mater, people complained about too many Chinese students in the engineering school, and I was like, well, maybe your kids should be smarter.
Pretty much this.
Want more American born runners in WCAP? Show up.
Want more American born runners winning the USATF XC Champs? Show up.
These AMERICANS showed up.
If you would like to change the citizenship process or the WCAP requirements then write your Congressperson. If you would like USATF to not allow immigrants in their races then write them.
Alan
All the people complaining about taxpayers dollars going to WCAP ... I agree maybe not the best use of money ... but have you ever actually looked at how much it costs in comparision to all the other crap the U.S. pays for? WCAP is a drop in the bucket and not the cause of the 31 trillion of debt the nation is in.
1. Kenya 2. U.S. 3. Kenya 4. Kenya 5. Kenya 6. U.S. 7. U.S. 8. Kenya 9. Ethiopia 10. U.S.
Fine with me? Like others have said, many of the top "American-born" guys weren't interested.
Also, the level of entitlement of (I assume) American-born folks. I'm American born but the child of an immigrant, and this kind of complaint would never be acceptable to her. My American-born dad was always complaining about immigrants and women taking jobs, but at the end of the day he was laid off at 58 because he never did continuing education and felt entitled to his job because went to an elite school 35 years prior ... when it was easier to be admitted.
Why do I still come here? For the *occasional* good running advice and news.
This is one of the reasons running in general isn't bigger as a spectator sport. The naturalized runners don't click with the fans. The one off immigrant making good is a feel good story, the majority of top finishers with similar stories and relatively anonymous doesn't help. Look how Mollie winning got even the casual fan talking in mainstream media. We need more of that.
Agreed. But in order to have 'more if that', maybe the American born pros need to start showing their a$$ up.
Right. Maybe we should think harder about why they all want to come here and none of us want to go there.
What do I need to think harder about? I want america to be full of hard working people, not whiney entitled victims. The people who fear competition from immigrants are almost always a drain on the system.
I never met an elite runner who complained about competing against foreign born athletes.
Yes, the US is a nation of immigrants and yes, we should welcome naturalized citizens. But nearly all of those running for the “US Army” have had their citizenship fast tracked. The US Army is recruiting Kenyans, giving them passports and paying them to be professional runners. How does that make any sense?
Because it is within the rules.
Nothing is preventing our best collegians from joining the Army and WCAP after graduation.
'Fast Tracked' Citizenship via military service has been a thing for a very long time. 150,000 over the last 20 years.