(Overage or not) Africans are infiltrating HS running.

oucher wrote:

I have no problem with kids coming to the US for a better life but I also understand the angst of some posters. There is nothing wrong with the Americans rooting for American born kids who are developed in our system. Also I think everyone understands the difference between perception of LV and Chez. LV is white and I'm sure there is something to that, but more then that I think the difference is the amount of time LV has been here and the fact that he for all intensive purposes grew up here, his lack of accent, ect. ect.. I want Chezto succeed (heck he’s is an adopted NJer) but to ignore the root of angst about East African infiltration by accusing those who feel it of being racist is just silly (except for the few who actually are racist).

How dare anyone ever, ever, ever, ever call you or anyone on Letsrun a rascist.

trollism wrote:

oucher wrote:

I think the difference is the amount of time LV has been here and the fact that he for ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES grew up here, his lack of accent, ect. ect..

I'm almost shocked nobody noticed that one.

I’m sorry, I made a usage error. I must be a freaking moron. My bad, you are clearly a intellectual superstar. I’ll try my best to do better next time but that doesn’t change the fact that my comments were and are legit.

This is only going to make americans stronger you do realize this right?

There are clearly racists on letsrun. It takes about a five minute scan to realize that but that does not mean that every person who is a little upset about the state of American born distance running is a racist. I like your sarcasm though. thanks.

Craig Lutz is the U.S. High School Champion. He finished third to two Kenyans, one of whom happens to be from Lithuania.

Rakanishu wrote:

This is only going to make americans stronger you do realize this right?

I have no problem with Chez or those in similar situations and I hope he and they succeed and make this country look spectacular but still I understand why people root for American born runners. Those who root against the implants because they are implants are idiots but I don't see a problem with rooting for Ritz to succeed over some guy I didn't grow up watching. If that makes me a racist so be it, but that’s how I see things. Still, I would rather see a great performance from an African born American then an average or mediocre performance by some American born kid. I am more intrigued by a world record then by an American record but I would like to see someone born in this country compete on the level necessary to accomplish such a feet. I suppose this is an unpopular stance but to me it makes sense. I love distance running and to me a great distance runner is a great distance runner. All are extraordinarily entertaining to me but I relate the most to the individuals who grew up in the same society as I did. I enjoy watching the many divergent cultures come together in our sports but I enjoy most watching those I can relate to.

Lithuania has legit birth certificates. The majority of Kenyans that come over do not. It's one thing to be beaten by a better guy, it is another situation to be beaten by a guy that could be a lot older than you.

Danny Almonte wrote:

Lithuania has legit birth certificates. The majority of Kenyans that come over do not. It's one thing to be beaten by a better guy, it is another situation to be beaten by a guy that could be a lot older than you.

Eh maybe maybe not. Looking at Chez, and despite what some have said, he doesn't look older then 16 17 years old. I understand the skepticism but I think kids should be given the benefit of the doubt. This doesn't however change the opinions I put forth in other posts.

oucher wrote:

There are clearly racists on letsrun. It takes about a five minute scan to realize that but that does not mean that every person who is a little upset about the state of American born distance running is a racist. I like your sarcasm though. thanks.

I'm not racist, I just think its perfectly normal to hate people with accents.

Arcadia just won the national championship without a single white guy on the team. The problem is not Africans, the problem is you bitches just suck!

the tooth hurts wrote:

Arcadia just won the national championship without a single white guy on the team. The problem is not Africans, the problem is you bitches just suck!

Actually, most of their team was white as usual, so go back to Hillel House for more practice with the Hasbara Playbook.

The funny thing about the Chez's story is the usual claims by the media of running for weeks and days over hills and from lions and leopards to reach his parent's mud hut. Most of that crap is made up, more often by the media than any of the Africans. Then again, most of the media is comprised of the same lying bastard bunch "the tooth hurts" is part of.

"infiltrating".

Youn racist SOB.

Where is your rant on the foreign born Lukas V?

give me a break. there are few automobiles and buses in rural Kenya and low population density, so it is a fact that most kids have to walk or run pretty long distances to school. In Cheserek's case, it was just 2M each way, and he'd come home for lunch, making 8M per day, from 1-8 grade, and then he was sixty miles away for the part of high school he attended, and would run home at semester breaks to save on bus fare.

You don't like LV's Lithuanian accent? How about the governor of California? George Bush's accent? JFK's Boston accent?

warmuptime wrote:

Right. That's why American's love Meb so much because he was here for so long as a kid. Oh wait...the US doesn't love Meb?

You have to work on your sense of perspective if you think that a handful or people on Letsrun represent the opinions of the entire US population.

Most Americans have never heard of him and never will. Of the Americans that have heard of him, I would wager that the vast majority of them love Meb for what he has done representing our country. Only a few vocal detractors are out there, so don't pretend that the US doesn't like Meb.

The Real UncleB wrote:

"infiltrating".

Youn racist SOB.

Where is your rant on the foreign born Lukas V?

I wasn't ranting and if that word has a racial connotation i apologize. I was explaining why the perception LV (right or wrong) is different. I have no problem with LV or Chez or any other foreign born runner I just chose to root for individuals born in this country unless of course there are none capable of doing so. Anyway I’m done. I tried to present a logical argument but I suppose this isn’t the place for that kind of thing.

oucher wrote:

The Real UncleB wrote:

"infiltrating".

Youn racist SOB.

Where is your rant on the foreign born Lukas V?

I wasn't ranting and if that word has a racial connotation i apologize. I was explaining why the perception LV (right or wrong) is different. I have no problem with LV or Chez or any other foreign born runner I just chose to root for individuals born in this country unless of course there are none capable of doing so. Anyway I’m done. I tried to present a logical argument but I suppose this isn’t the place for that kind of thing.

Yikes never mind I didn't even use the for infltrate. Every other post seemed to be an attack on my comments so I went into defensive mode. I'm still done but I think my statements made sense.

Having Africans enter the HS running scene won't help native kids get better - that is a common misconception. That happens over the summer putting in the miles. It won't motivate the native kids to train harder. It will only discourage them and make them settle for 1st native (American born) guy. Or maybe quit the sport altogether, conceding that "I'm never going to be that good."

Do you think these kids step into the race with Lukas or [insert African name here] and believe they can beat them? Especially with allegations of age fraud (re: Solomon)?

The Solomon Haile debacle was a travesty that took a lot away from normal HS kids that competed against him. It's no different than if a runner used EPO and cheated others out of a medal.

Solomon had set a precedent and we need to be vigilant against others following his path. Of which, Cheserek MIGHT be an example, unless he has a birth certificate to prove his age.