10k runners have never been favored by the agents who exploit the Kenyans because there are so few 10k races on the track with good prize money and appearance fees. Agents prefer marathoners, road races and 5/1500 runners and push the better talent in that direction.
They got outkicked by a white native born American so it is the ultimate humilation. I wonder if Kenyans will make fun of the team when they get home.
Yes, the $ for 10k on the track isn't there. I think 5k guy could step up at the Olympics given the slow start / fast finish better then a road guy. Mo and Galen have been better about not just racing for dollars/euros and it paid off for one night at least. They had a level sacrifice and dedication for this specific event that the Kenyans don't have.
Precious Roy wrote:
10k runners have never been favored by the agents who exploit the Kenyans because there are so few 10k races on the track with good prize money and appearance fees. Agents prefer marathoners, road races and 5/1500 runners and push the better talent in that direction.
I bet the Kenyan version of Let's run.com is full of posts theorizing about how Rupp must be doped and Salazar has come up with a undetectable PED.
The world is catching up with Kenya and Ethiopia. Americans, at least, have figured out that the secret is super hard work and not low mileage and cross-training like RW used to promote.
Seriously,
The big problem I see is Kenya deep down doesn't care about the 5000-10000M distances. How else can you explain a country so great at 800, 1500, and marathon.
They look like the University of Kentucky trying to win football games.
I am not sure what all this hulabaloo is about. Kenya rarely wins the 10K at the games. Not in most of our lifetimes anyway. For that matter, Kenya rarely wins more than 3 gold medals at each Olympics. Putting things in perspective, Kenya are right where they have been at most Olympics. Actually slightly better. If you are a Kenya fan , there is nothing to be dissapointed about.
Perhaps the only dissapointing thing was that one of their 10K runners came to the games with an injury. He should have been replaced.
Simba: was it seriously viewed as a national calamity?
There may be some doubt in the west as to how seriously t & f it taken in Kenya; akin to how seriously soccer is taken in Brasil.
The electrifying finale saw England’s Mohammed Farah struck gold, USA Rupp Galen taking silver and country’s perennial arch rival Kennenisa Tariku from Ethiopia taking bronze.
Wait, who?
sub3over40 wrote:
They got outkicked by a white native born American so it is the ultimate humilation. I wonder if Kenyans will make fun of the team when they get home.
Pffft. The Kenyans I've met all appear to respect anyone who's willing to throw down and not whine.
bill the cat wrote:
[quote]sub3over40 wrote:
They got outkicked by a white native born American so it is the ultimate humilation. I wonder if Kenyans will make fun of the team when they get home.
Pffft. The Kenyans I've met all appear to respect anyone who's willing to throw down and not whine.[/quote
I would agree that the Kenyans are not whiners. Can we at least have some fun here and celebrate Rupp's silver medal?
sub3over40 wrote:
bill the cat wrote:[quote]sub3over40 wrote:
They got outkicked by a white native born American so it is the ultimate humilation. I wonder if Kenyans will make fun of the team when they get home.
Pffft. The Kenyans I've met all appear to respect anyone who's willing to throw down and not whine.[/quote
I would agree that the Kenyans are not whiners. Can we at least have some fun here and celebrate Rupp's silver medal?
Why? He lost the race.