Lopez Lomong Is No Venuste Niyongabo

Cliff Clavin · 2012-05-03T00:03:44-04:00

I see Kellogg says Lomong reminds him of Niyongabo. I don't see it, other than that both are African. Niyongabo was a special talent, having run 3:29.18. Lomong hasn't broken 3:32 yet. I think Lomong could make the U.S. Olympic team at 5000m, but he hasn't shown he's the caliber of runner who can medal on the world stage. If he could run 3:30 or faster, then perhaps, but until then, Lomong is no Niyongabo. I am willing to be proven wrong, but I don't see it.

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14 years ago 05/04/2012 9:57am EDT

re: rojo

rojo wrote:
If you don't think he's a medal contender. You don't understand the sport. Sorry.

Wow. Strong statement. Pretty rude.

Robert convinced me Lomong could be a medal contender but smoking a bunch of 13:15 guys is very different from beating a bunch of 12:55 guys.

Having said that it was his first pro 5k ever and he likely would have run under 13:10. Very, very impressive.

The lap short thing also changed everything.

If some 12:58 Kenyan smoked that field we wouldn't think much of it. Yes, I guess they would be a possible medal contender but Lomong still has to make the team first.

Tegenkamp nearly medaled in 2007 so I guess all the Americans are medal contenders with the right circumstances if you want to view it that way.

14 years ago 05/04/2012 11:13am EDT

re: wejo

A bit disrespectful to Teg! He was a remarkable runner in 2007, with a 13:04 5k best (but clear sub 13 potential realised 2 years later), 3:34 1500m wheels and an 8:07 2mile (probably the strongest mark of the lot!). I wonder could Lomong run 8:07 right now? Perhaps, but not guaranteed.

I know he's not "2007 Teg" now, but don't let his current form fool you into thinking Teg was any random American.

14 years ago 05/04/2012 4:44pm EDT

re: Ignorant Burundian

Ignorant Burundian wrote:Kwizera did not qualify for the Olympics in 1996, but was still chosen as the flag-bearer in the opening ceremonies anyway. He was allowed to enter the heats of the 1500 meters in lieu of Niyongabo

of course v-man with 3'29-flat gave up his place to this 3'40.35'er

just wish i coud recall the name of that 12'45 burundian shit-kicker ejected to make way for v-man...

14 years ago 05/04/2012 4:53pm EDT

re: Dennis Reynolds

Dennis Reynolds wrote:
Lagat ran amazingly well in the winter and ran like pure sh*t last weekend. Lomong ran like pure sh*t in the winter and ran amazingly well last weekend. Which one bodes better for the trials and Olympics?

Bahahahahahaha....this is a joke right? It's a pretty good one. No one can actually think this.

14 years ago 05/04/2012 5:16pm EDT

re: ventolin^3

I think he believed he could not kick with Morceli, Hicham or Cacho perhaps.The interesting thing is that he tried the 5K with at least 3 other huge kickers, Baumann, Bitok, and I think Bayissa too. The 5K was not slow by historic standards, certainly not to that point. It was also a warm, humid night in Atlanta. But he tore the race open on the backstretch of the last lap. Amazing, unique performance.

ventolin^3 wrote:
rojo wrote:Also what made him do the 5k in Atlanta over something else?
In '95/'96, the heirs apparent to Morceli were Hicham & V-Man.
They raced each other a lot in '95/'96 & IIRC Hicham whupped him every time, with his typical race pattern of kicking at 400 out & not being caught ( albeit times weren't spectacular - best was 3'29 )
Hicham dished out most thumpings to him in '96 & it was pretty obvious V-man knew he had no chance to win gold in 1500 & just moved up to the 5k for Atlanta. I don't know if he had any 5k background worth mentioning in Atlanta; my impression was he was a "pure" 1500 guy who had just moved up to the 5k for this 1 race ( + heats ).
His only hope was for a slow race & for him to kick to the win.
If Komen had been running & likely wouda run <12'50 solo, V-man wouda been completely dead & buried, but selectors woudn't pick Komen ( who showed his prowess late season with a little matter of 7'20.67 ).
V-man was very lucky that year - slow 5k with no Komen or Geb, who had blisters after the 10k & DNS the 5k.
His 5k win shoud be considered more a footnote in the sport rather than celebrated like a red-letter day.

14 years ago 05/04/2012 5:47pm EDT

re: Sponge

Sponge wrote:The interesting thing is that he tried the 5K with at least 3 other huge kickers, Baumann, Bitok, and I think Bayissa too

1500 guys usually have 47/48 basic

5000 guys usually have 51/52 basic

it was such a shit slow race he couda only lost if he fell over

here are decent 1500 guys kick against the "biggest" 5k kicker of all time in semi-fast 1500s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtR4aaLEZjE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBEuU7-3D3A

14 years ago 05/05/2012 12:36pm EDT

re: rojo

What are you talking about? Medal contender? Some of you really need to get your panties out of your crack each time someone runs a decent race. (0ne of the brojos called it the best 5k ever. Really?)

The fact is there are a dozen Africans who can exceed his time and are certainly as talented or better.

Sometimes I wonder if you understand the sport. Lets see how others are running, the season is just beginning.

14 years ago 05/05/2012 3:59pm EDT

re: ventolin^3

Ventolin, I'm curious to know why you don't think Marion Jones cheated?

13 years ago 06/28/2012 11:05pm EDT

re: Barakus Obama

No, I guess Lomong is overrated by some.

13 years ago 06/29/2012 4:11pm EDT

re: ventolin^3

ventolin^3 wrote:
Sponge wrote:The interesting thing is that he tried the 5K with at least 3 other huge kickers, Baumann, Bitok, and I think Bayissa too
1500 guys usually have 47/48 basic
5000 guys usually have 51/52 basic
it was such a shit slow race he couda only lost if he fell over
here are decent 1500 guys kick against the "biggest" 5k kicker of all time in semi-fast 1500s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtR4aaLEZjE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBEuU7-3D3A

BS.

How soon you forget Miruts Yifter.

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