HALL-2:08.24

Swofford11 wrote:

Actually it is a little racists and discriminatory.

Because if you are a true American (which I don't believe you are by your statement) then you believe in the Constitution of the United States of America and what it stands for.

Oh please. Keep your shirt on.

Instead of injecting old Commie cant into the discussion ('racists [sic] and discriminatory'), just accept reality.

Ryan Hall is a nice-looking recognizably all-American type, and people are happy to have one of their own up there. Not some 'instant American' who just got a USA passport the day before yesterday and has no roots in this country. Hats off to Khalid and Meb and others, but their taking of American citizenship did not change their DNA or suddenly graft some forebears at Valley Forge onto their family trees.

irun wrote:

He went through the first half in 1:03:45, which is 2:08:30 pace, so he finished the seconds half in 1:03:39, which is great pacing and a great performance on his behalf, but it makes me wonder if being smart by being conservative for his first marathon, if he could've been in the very front and maybe won it. Time will tell.

No, 1:03:45 is 2:0*7*:30 pace.

Think about it: his first half was something under 1:04, yet his final time was something over 2:08, which is equivalent to two 1:04's. That means his second half HAD to be something over 1:04, yes?

Strangely enough, however, this doesn't necessarily negate your point, because a 1:03:45 followed by a 1:04:39 is still pretty strong pacing: I'd love to have had that small a positive split in any of my marathons (though I once had a four-second negative split in a 50k)!

What IS the white American born record in the 100-meter

dash? Now you have piqued my curiosity.

I invented the 100-meter dash.

I think the first 8 is more than enough to indicate that a race was ultra competitive. How many people have a shot at winning most marathons? 2 or 3?

Also, I know this has been covered ad nauseum, but I can't really help myself: the reason it's important that Hall was born in the US is because his performance validates American distance running. It proves that something good is happening here as more strong runners come up through the ranks. It doesn't mean I'm not proud of a naturalized citizen who wears our colors; it's just that their performances don't necessarily say anything about our running culture, dedication to the sport, or our long-term "prognosis" for improving distance running in this country.

Jeez, you're so stupid, Swofford...you always have the dumbest things to say. He said, "Accept it for what it is--The fastest time run by an American-born." Said nothing about "real" Americans or the legitimacy of those originally born in another country. You're the one who made the ignorant statement, as usual, so accept it for what it is.

YAY RYAN!

Ryan Hall is a nice-looking recognizably all-American type, and people are happy to have one of their own up there. Not some 'instant American' who just got a USA passport the day before yesterday and has no roots in this country. Hats off to Khalid and Meb and others, but their taking of American citizenship did not change their DNA or suddenly graft some forebears at Valley Forge onto their family trees.

Meb doesn't match this description at all. He's spent most of his life here. His case is completely different than Lagat's and KK's

Hall was dropped, but he was dropped along with the best in the world. Good for him. Everyone got dropped in those last few miles except for Lel.

The pace was 5:01 when Hall was leading in mile 22. It happened to be an easier pace which is why he was leading and looking around wondering what was going on. When the rest of them woke up from their naps, the pace dropped to 4:53. So Hall was maintaining, and may have even dropped his pace, but just not enough.

His future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.

Mr. nut wrote:

Saying that someone was not born in America not or not being an American is not a racist comment.

Erbli wrote:

But, always a "but", none of these comments would have been made if it were an ex-British, Canadian, Australian, or any of the lighter complected nations. It is only when the African continent is involved does the 'murcan born silliness start.

I love how people like Erbli use their magical crystal ball to tell us how it wouldn't have been any different if Khannouchi was white.

This is an easy game to play. I can say with equal conviction that these observations would still stand if Mottram was a naturalized American citizen. While his 12:55 5,000m PR is certainly impressive, his Australian heritage wouldn't signify a new "golden era" of U.S. distance running.

In other words, you are wrong. Now, please leave all of the unnecessary racial overtones out of this conversation and go back to watching Rush Limbaugh.

If Meb's parents came here from Eritrea when his mom was pregnant with him and he was born on American soil, would you consider him to be 'an American runner?" And my other question, how do you think being born in Eritrea (or Somolia in Abdi's case) but receiving all your schooling and running support in the United States compares to Ryan Hall's background and his abilities as a runner? In other words, what competitive advantage does Meb have for being born in Eritrea even if he never competed or trained there?

It is only important because we have been told for the last 20 years that East Africans have a "genetic advantage" when it comes to marathoning. When a person that is not from East African decent is knocking heads with the East Africans it gives all of us hope. Khalid and Abdi and Meb ARE DEFINITLY AMERICANS. However, they don't help us in proving that we can compete with people of East African decent.

So there is only racism against Africans. You don't think hispanics, asians or any other people have to fight racism? I say Prove it! Now, name one white track athlete formally of another country to be celebrated as an American the way an American born would be record holder or not... The reason that it only has to do with African's is because they are the only ones coming over to become citizens and setting records. If it were Brits and Canadians dominating people would still be fascinated with American born records. would that still be racist? Now, name one American born record holder of african decent to to be treated as a non American. When Lewis, Greene, Montgomery, and Gatlin set the American and world record no one said oh it is because he is black what it the white record.

IT IS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE BLACK OR AFRICAN IT IS BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BORN IN AMERICA! THAT MAKES IT A NATIONALIST COMMENT NOT A RACIST ONE!

I'm ticked off. I voted for Hall to win. He let me down bigtime!

Ha ha.. just kidding. Congrats, Ryan!

East African Dominance wrote:

It is only important because we have been told for the last 20 years that East Africans have a "genetic advantage" when it comes to marathoning. When a person that is not from East African decent is knocking heads with the East Africans it gives all of us hope. Khalid and Abdi and Meb ARE DEFINITLY AMERICANS. However, they don't help us in proving that we can compete with people of East African decent.

Yes! However, you will be accused of being a racist for making such a factual, not politically correct statement. As for the guy that posed the hypothetical about Meb being born here; well, he would still possess superior African running genes. Either way, he would still be AMERICAN.

I agree.

where are the results? Why didn't you post or link them? hmnnn..

Al GORE wrote:

I invented the 100-meter dash.

100-M and the internet. What a bad ass. Al F'ing Gore. You HARD mother.

It would be racist to assert that "those dark-skinned guys will never beat our fair-haired, genetically superior white boys". Racism is the belief that one group has INNATE SUPERIORITY over another. In running it is actually teh opposite, an inferiority complex if anything.

Cheering the underdog (Hall, in this case) is not racism. Whites are seen as having a disadvantage in distance running, and any evidence that seems to "even the playing field" gives hope to the "disadvantaged" (who, given the examples of Mottram and Hall, may not be so disadvantaged after all).

Running is a sport for the entire world, and seeing all peoples represented in the front can only be healthy and exciting.

KudzuRunner wrote:

Here are a couple of things that haven't been said and deserve to:

1) Hall not only hung with one of the greatest, if not THE greatest marathon fields of all time, but he LED THE RACE, albeit briefly, around the 22-23 mile point;

Dude, he wasn't leading just "briefly," it was more like 3 miles - late in the race. From 25k on he was tucked in right behind the pacers.