Ethiopia: Fall of the once mighty Kenyan dynasty.

I invite you in looking at the results of the last two years, from when the EPO tests frightened some athletes. There is some Country, before good, that now is really worse. Look at the seasonal lists of Morocco, Spain, Russia, for example. This doesn't mean that ALL the athletes of those countries were under drug, but that in those countries there was a CULTURE of some pharmacological support from the extern. But, looking at Ethiopians (and also Kenyans, not in Cross Ch., but on track, or Ugandians, or Eritreans), we can see that there is a general improvement in their performances. Do you think that is possible to last at top level with so much continuity like Gebrselassie or Bekele or El Guerrouj or Shaheen last year using drug ? See seasons of Boulami and Shaheen, see when Bekele is able running at his top, see when Gebre is competitive, see when Tergat beated his world records in 10000m, HM and Marathon, see the careers of Tulu, Ndereba, Chepchumba, and tell me if is possible to have so much continuity using drugs. The real problem is that human limits are very better than the current WR, because old talented athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya were not so well trained like now Bekele and other Ethiopians, but with a correct methodology (and without drug : this is good for improving only for athletes not very much talented and not well trained) I think that is possible, in 3 years, running 1:40.5 - 3:24 - 12:35 - 26:10 - 58:00 and 2:03.

All those times seem very realistic.

Signor Canova,

Ringraziarlo molto per dividere la sua conoscenza. Please continue sharing your talent on this board.

sinceramente

Mr. Canova,

I think I am getting your point. I have known that for the last 3 years, there's been something wrong with Kenyans while competing for Kenya. It's quite an eye openener.

Howabout the poor Americans. They did a lot worst than the Kenyans this past weekend.

Renato, thanks for taking the time to explain.

I have one question, why can't the US get so mad when we don't win WORLD XC's?????

Seems like we've been in the "oh I am just happy to be here" phase for a long time now. I'd like to see US blow some fuses next year and then President Bush will hold a press conference...."People of the United States, this last place finish at World XCs was an absolute travesty...never have we ever finished anywhere in sight of the leaders...but still, we shoulda atleast beaten those Europeans!!!"

Dude,

People here in the US have very important things to worry about than radiculus running around on a mud or a whatever. Have little respect man! Just because a bunch of people on this board wanted to create a scenario that running is the only sport that matter, the rest of don't buy that kind of crap. It is absurd to even bring the name of the presidant of the US to talk about running.

NativeSon wrote:

Mr. Canova,

I think I am getting your point. I have known that for the last 3 years, there's been something wrong with Kenyans while competing for Kenya. It's quite an eye openener.

Their drug support falls off if they don't tow the line and hand cash over to the Federation and greedy "trainers" , coaches and managers.

Bullshit. Way too premature to declare the end of Kenya. This will probably force Athletics Kenya to get it's shit together for WC, Olympics and WXC, which will mtake time, but they'll be back. And despite the f***ed up state of the Kenyan program now, don't expect to see the US knock them off the podium any time soon.

Don't think it's due to any softer approach. As a matter of fact it's very likely the opposite. Most of the Kenyan coaches have a very old school approach - brutal workouts = better results. I've spoken w/ Kenyans who trained w/ the WXC team this year and said the workouts were brutal to begin with, but to make matters worse, every run turned into a full blown race as athletes sought to impress coaches. Apparently, the coaches don't consider that the athletes have already gotten into shape for the Nationals and just need to maintain and fine tune their fitness.

The Ethiopian system seems better at focusing on the big events, and Bekele does seem to be exceptional. Having said that, I also find it hard not to be suspicious of the near total dominance at all levels. I don't go in for the "if they're fast, they must be doping" line of thinking either.

Are the Kenyans just f***ing up or did the Ethiopians get a lot better really fast? In terms of organization, training and preparation, it doesn't seem that either country is doing anything radically different than it has for the past five to ten years. Why the turnaround?