Seems like a blatantly obvious problem to me. Instead of developing domestic talent and giving opportunities to Americans, they just import East Africans.
It's a microcosm of the effects of globalization and immigration in America.
Visit Cleveland and you'll understand why this matters.
There’s an important question at the heart of U.S. college athletics: What is its purpose? While the NCAA should absolutely welcome international talent, part of its mission ought to include fostering opportunities for American athletes—especially in developmental sports like cross country, where collegiate competition often serves as a springboard to national and professional levels. The NCAA is not a mirror of the U.S. economy. Unlike economic systems, athletic rosters are inherently zero-sum: there are only so many spots on a team, and only so many scholarships to go around. When a disproportionate number of those go to older, elite-level athletes from abroad—particularly from countries with deep distance-running traditions like Kenya—it can crowd out domestic athletes who might otherwise thrive with institutional support. Reasonable limits on international roster slots and age eligibility aren’t anti-immigrant; they’re pro-development. They help preserve the NCAA’s role as a training ground for American talent, while still allowing for global exchange and competition. At the same time, it’s critical to distinguish this athletic debate from the broader issue of immigration. The U.S. economy is not zero-sum. Immigration—especially legal, well-regulated immigration—is a proven engine of growth. More people means more innovation, more labor force participation, and more demand for goods and services. Sensible immigration policy is essential to avoid the demographic stagnation that threatens long-term prosperity. We should enforce laws against illegal immigration while reforming legal pathways to better match labor market needs. Welcoming those who want to contribute—especially in sectors where native-born Americans are in short supply—is not just humane, it’s economically strategic.
I’m sure she’s doped because everyone does it and it’s apparently easy to get away with, but aside from that, I think her challenge going forward will be staying healthy because of her height and seize. Runners that tall hardly ever avoid injuries and usually their careers are cut pretty short.
I’m sure she’s doped because everyone does it and it’s apparently easy to get away with, but aside from that, I think her challenge going forward will be staying healthy because of her height and seize. Runners that tall hardly ever avoid injuries and usually their careers are cut pretty short.
I’m sure she’s doped because everyone does it and it’s apparently easy to get away with, but aside from that, I think her challenge going forward will be staying healthy because of her height and seize. Runners that tall hardly ever avoid injuries and usually their careers are cut pretty short.
Ignoring the dopey doped comment from you. About her height, it does seem like she's been doing a lot of running specific core and strength over the years. Whether it's enough to support the speed she throws down, we'll see. But she's at least doing it right from the look of it. Hopefully she's eating plenty of calories and not running a deficits.
Seems like a blatantly obvious problem to me. Instead of developing domestic talent and giving opportunities to Americans, they just import East Africans.
It's a microcosm of the effects of globalization and immigration in America.
Visit Cleveland and you'll understand why this matters.
Eliminate the foreign athletes, who pay more for college, and sports program have less money for running scholarships. Foreign have been holding up colleges since the 70s.
Not the foreign athletes we are talking about here…they are on scholarships
What is this with this tendency for American's to overstate things. Calling her GOAT after 2 races is akin to calling Ohtani GOAT. Ohtani needs 10 more seasons of 40+ home runs + another 110 wins to be called GOAT. Hedengren needs at least 3 seasons of dominance.
On a side note: very disappointing to see basically zero fans. Where's the patriotism? I thought American's liked athletics... it seems all they are is tribal for their "team".
Jane is cementing herself as the best college runner EVER, after already cementing herself as the greatest hs runner EVER. She has Olympic gold medalist written all over her. By 2028 she will be rven faster and more beautiful.
It's not that there are so many fresh Kenyans that bothers me, it's the coaches that have pressed the easy button and hired agents to get turnkey point scorers. Why are you even a coach? A mediocre HS coach could pull off your job if it meant he could just pull in experienced Africans at the rate they're doing it now.
The point of coaching is to prove your chops by turning that 4:20 miler (of which there are many) into poinr scorers.
Here's your daily reminder that you are an idiot and that you don't follow the sport.
Of course you missed the point. Apart from a cross country race, what else has she won that puts her in the company of top American women runners like Decker, or Benoit?
Silly me, I should have realized we are discussing yet another collegiate athlete, not an Olympian. It's a change from the Valby threads but until an American woman accomplishes something at an international level - the Olympics or world championships, or world records - they aren't in any GOAT discussion.
This post was edited 8 minutes after it was posted.
Here's your daily reminder that you are an idiot and that you don't follow the sport.
Of course you missed the point. Apart from a cross country race, what else has she won that puts her in the company of top American women runners like Decker, or Benoit?
The point they were making is that Hedengren has won TWO races this fall xc season, not one. But you don't follow the sport close enough to know that.
I’m sure she’s doped because everyone does it and it’s apparently easy to get away with, but aside from that, I think her challenge going forward will be staying healthy because of her height and seize. Runners that tall hardly ever avoid injuries and usually their careers are cut pretty short.
She could be the female version of the indestructible Rod Dixon (but without the beer).
Jane is cementing herself as the best college runner EVER, after already cementing herself as the greatest hs runner EVER. She has Olympic gold medalist written all over her. By 2028 she will be rven faster and more beautiful.
I’m sure she’s doped because everyone does it and it’s apparently easy to get away with, but aside from that, I think her challenge going forward will be staying healthy because of her height and seize. Runners that tall hardly ever avoid injuries and usually their careers are cut pretty short.
Everyone but the Mormons
There is a Mormon MLB player named Bryce Harper who was not averse to it.
Incredible! Only thing I don’t get is how she finished in 18:29 when, if we are to believe the clock that’s running on the tv screen, she very clearly crosses the finish in like 18:35 or so.
Like the Kipyegon sub 4 attempt, the officials went back after the race and adjusted Hendegren’s time based on her reaction to the gun, and uh, yeah…