Wonder if Kipchoge and some of his training partners would be interested in running cross-country for a semester or two, in exchange for an honorary degree, of course.
The NCAA women's field is a lot weaker than the men's. A 14:40 5k is not that fast on the world stage, but it is compared to the weak NCAA field.
There are very few "random East African" 22 year old men that could compete for a men's NCAA XC title. You need to be in sub 13:10 shape to win an NCAA XC title these days.
It's ridiculous to say that 14:40 is not fast on the world's stage.
Only 10 runners have a 5000m track time faster than 14:40 in the 2023 season. Only 21 under 14:50.
Only Alicia Monson has run under 14:40 this year in the US.
Wonder if Kipchoge and some of his training partners would be interested in running cross-country for a semester or two, in exchange for an honorary degree, of course.
The NCAA women's field is a lot weaker than the men's. A 14:40 5k is not that fast on the world stage, but it is compared to the weak NCAA field.
There are very few "random East African" 22 year old men that could compete for a men's NCAA XC title. You need to be in sub 13:10 shape to win an NCAA XC title these days.
How well would Dylan Jacobs compete on the world stage? Answer: not at all better than a 14:40 woman.
How is this allowed? We dont need pro's or 30 year olds in the NCAA.
I cant believe Alabama is going to risk the integrity of the entire athletic department, which includes a near billion dollar value football program, for something as sketchy as this on multiple levels.
Wow, interesting. A professional East African athlete that competes in the Diamond League, and evidently was on staff at a university, decides to go to a Div 1 NCAA school.
So NIL is ready to go full tilt, and collegiate amateurism is no more?
Possibly there are more East African pros barely making a living from Athletics that would consider running in the NCAA if NIL (boosters, alumni) money foots the bills.
For those tuohy-ites thinking tuohy should stay in the NCAA where there is less competition than in the pro ranks, what say you now?
We say we give up! Our golden girl emperor has no clothes.
How is this allowed? We dont need pro's or 30 year olds in the NCAA.
I cant believe Alabama is going to risk the integrity of the entire athletic department, which includes a near billion dollar value football program, for something as sketchy as this on multiple levels.
1) 21 is NOT 30
2) Have you heard of NIL? Some college athletes are making $millions$, some before they even step on the field for the first time to represent their university. There are lots of "Pros" in college today.
3) Henry Rono was 26 when he smashed four world records in less than three months while in college. I think he was a junior at the time. Being a few years older than the typical college age is not unusual.
You might want to look into the Army football teams in the years after World War 2. Some of those guys went off to war, fought in combat for four years, then came back and played football. There were 22-yo freshman who had killed Germans and Japanese. I don't think I would want to face off against them. Any wonder why they had five undefeated seasons in a six-year span after the war?
I also don't understand how she's about to be a FR with a listed WA age of 21.
Why even have the age rule and 5 year clock you're basically just punishing kids from western counties for not training full time for 4 years then showing up to college
How is this allowed? We dont need pro's or 30 year olds in the NCAA.
I cant believe Alabama is going to risk the integrity of the entire athletic department, which includes a near billion dollar value football program, for something as sketchy as this on multiple levels.
1) 21 is NOT 30
2) Have you heard of NIL? Some college athletes are making $millions$, some before they even step on the field for the first time to represent their university. There are lots of "Pros" in college today.
3) Henry Rono was 26 when he smashed four world records in less than three months while in college. I think he was a junior at the time. Being a few years older than the typical college age is not unusual.
1) I agree 21 is a far cry from 30, however a Kenyan “21” isn’t far off.
2) NIL is not for having some European agent flying you to France for a race and certainly not for prize money. This girl almost certainly has had pay for play which should make her ineligible for NCAA. If Alabama wants to turn a blind eye towards this, that’s their prerogative but they are without a doubt cheaters and should be treated as such.
3) You’re only allowed one grey shirt year post high school. If she wasn’t in school how is she academically qualified as freshman now at 21, I had a Canadian friends child get his Kansas basketball scholarship offer pulled for being deemed not academically qualified by the NCAA for having attended an incorrect high school. I certainly would like to see the details on how they time this out and get the grades sufficient for qualifying with Freshman eligibility.
Wow, interesting. A professional East African athlete that competes in the Diamond League, and evidently was on staff at a university, decides to go to a Div 1 NCAA school.
So NIL is ready to go full tilt, and collegiate amateurism is no more?
Possibly there are more East African pros barely making a living from Athletics that would consider running in the NCAA if NIL (boosters, alumni) money foots the bills.
I don't get it. Trotting out a bunch of pros and foreign ringers does nothing for me, for track/xc, or for graduating US High School athletes. What people want to see is the top former HSers from the past 2-4 years battling each other.
Last year was excellent. But who is going to be excited to see Doris the Pro come and dust everyone at NCAA? WHo will remember the race even 5 minutes after it ends?
I don't get it. Trotting out a bunch of pros and foreign ringers does nothing for me, for track/xc, or for graduating US High School athletes. What people want to see is the top former HSers from the past 2-4 years battling each other.
Last year was excellent. But who is going to be excited to see Doris the Pro come and dust everyone at NCAA? WHo will remember the race even 5 minutes after it ends?
I don't understand the reactions. This has been going on since Rono, UTEP w/Nyambui, Ondeike, Kipyego, Kurgat, Cheserek, Chelangat so why the outrage now.
This lady will be good, but the 14:40 was in a short road 5k, so she'll just be another competitor w/ Valby and Touhy, not a lock for the win.
