Khalid Khannouchi had only modest track credentials and was a no name runner when he came to the U.S. Like most immigrants, Khalid came here looking for a better life. He was married to an American woman, and working as dishwasher; he started to move up in distance and the longer the distance the better he got. Khalid spent many years in the U.S. training by himself and running local road races; all of his significant achievements happened many years after he came to the U.S.
Becoming an American citizen is not a simple process, if it was easy you wouldn’t have so many illegal immigrants. Becoming a U.S. citizen is longest and most bureaucratic processes you could imagine. You have to pass an exam, it cost money; the INS has fees and most countries also make you pay money to them for giving up your citizenship. Some of the eligibility requirements are:
• A period of continuous residence and physical presence in the United States
• An ability to read, write and speak English
• Good moral character
• Knowledge of the principles of the U.S. Constitution
• Favorable disposition toward the United States
That’s one reason why I am not in favor of simply making people who came here illegally citizens. If U.S. citizenship was simple you would have hordes of Africans representing us. Guys like Med, Abdi, Khalid, Lagat and Sidney Maree did not become U.S. citizens to capitalize and their athletic ability. Sidney Maree came here to escape apartheid in South Africa, Meb's came here as a child fleeing the war in his homeland, Abdi is from Mogadishu, Somalia-no explanation s/b necessary; Lagat has been living in the U.S. since he was 19, he is now 30 years old and has surely given Kenya his best years. Lagat anchored the U.S. distance medley at the Penn Relays and lost to the Kenyans; he said that was one most difficult losts of his career because he wanted to win for the U.S.
As an American, I under the romanticism of having someone who was born here and shares your heritage representing the U.S., but if any of us go a few generations back, you will find that you more in common with these guys than you think. I am not in favor of nation jumping, but you can’t blame someone for wanting a better life for themselves and just so happen to become a great athlete. It is noting wrong with being Black and feeling an extra sense pride seeing Tiger Woods tear up the golf course or being White getting a little extra excitement about Jeremy Warier’s success in the 400. But, to take away from Tiger or Jeremy because they don’t look like you do is the same as taking away from like Meb because his citizenship was obtained differently.
I hope Adbi breaks the U.S record in Chicago, but I will be cheering for Brian Sell, Clint Verran, Torres and all of the other AMERICANS as well.