Its true that there are more Kenyans here than before because Kenya had a rapidly growing country back in the 70s. It literally has a much larger population now.
The first Kenyan in college that I knew of was a chemistry TA who conducted a lab class my freshman year. He didn't run at all. Just a grad student trying to further his education in America. I suspect that there are more of them (Mike Boit was one) than there are hired guns here to run.
Things don't have to be shaded by a nefarious intent.
I believe the first Kenyan to run at a US university was Stephen Machooka who ran at Cornell in the early 60s. John Ngeno won the NCAA six mile in 1974 the three and six in 1975, though I thought by then the distances were metric, I guess not. He ran 13:27 for 5,000 that year which I'd say was world class at the time.
And given your knowledge of the history of the sport, who do you recall as the first Kenyan to win a major US road race? The first I can think of was Philip Ndoo who won the 1974 Charleston Distance Run. And would you consider him as world class? He ran marathon and 10,000 at the 1970 Commonwealth Games?
How could I overlook John Ngeno? He was ranked #9 in the World in the 5000m in 1976. He buddy Josh Kimeto was a regular runner-up in some of the biggest European meets (Stockholm, etc) from 1973-75. So both of them were World class.
In the Summer of 1977 Rono traveled everywhere with Ngeno/Kimeto, when Rono made his breakthrough.
World class means a top ten ranking in the world in an Olympic distance or "in the hunt" for a world ranking, probably top 20. Rubbing elbows and drinking beer in faraway places with world-class runners doesn't make you world class. You're serving your apprenticeship.
Roads, especially in the 1970s when road-racing was nascent sport that was primarily confined to New England were not considered "world-class". Honestly, winning Charleston really didn't mean much outside of WV, PA and OH.
When Wilson Waigwa became the first to break sub-4 in WV at Charleston in 1976, now THAT was world class! Why? Because Waigwa was already world-class. I was invited to run that race, but the idea of running a mile under the Summer sun on a hot asphalt track didn't appeal to me.
Kenya was a British colony, English is taught at a lot of the schools there. Also, their school system is somewhat structured like the US high school system age wise. It is easier to get kids to the US and keep them eligible if they have some English background.
There have been a few more Ugandans to come over recently, more will be coming soon.
As for Ethiopia, Sudan, etc. less kids learn English in school, and it is harder to get Visas to come to the US.
There are very few Eastern Europeans in the NCAA for track for the same reasons. Those that do come over usually went to a private school where English was taught.
Less Scandinavian kids are coming because school is FREE over there
English is the official language in law, government, and education in Kenya. Of course it's taught in Kenya.
Exasperating. Why do they only prey on Kenyans? Why don't they ever bother Ethiopians, Ugandans, Eritreans, South Sudanese or anyone else?
Why do you chactorize it as "prey"? Looks like they are providing a mutually beneficial opportunity.
I suspect poverty and language might be huge barriers to those other countries? Uganda have the same Kalenjin tribes but is a much poorer country. Approx the same population but the Uganda GDP is only 42% of Kenya.
“I’m going to compete against those really top teams in my conference, I’ve got to go find other countries and other places to find athletes,” said Jon Murray, head coach at Texas Tech, which helps fund the time trials.
Fun fact: he was my coach starting my sophomore year at TTU. It would have made things easier if he would have just said this to the existing team when he got there.
Lols how many years did you score at Big XII for TTU?
You're missing my point. My point is that transparency would have been nice. I was not recruited by him (that was Burke Binning). Like I said, Murray started my sophomore year. I wasn't the fastest runner when I chose to go there, but that was also part of the selling point for the program when I was recruited - development. With the coaching change, that goal must have also changed, but it was not communicated to me or the others who were sold that.
I'm not naive. I don't feel entitled. There were other schools I was looking at, including DIII. I didn't have DI full-ride talent in high school and I knew that. I only started running as a high school sophomore and was not athletic at all prior to that. I was, however, strong academically, which looking back may have been the only reason I was kept around.
And no, I didn't "score at Big XII" because I redshirted cross country my freshman year under the prior coach (Binning) and like I already mentioned, I wasn't at that level yet in track as a freshman. Then I got a stress fracture that summer, so started sophomore year even further behind because of that. Then I was told to ignore my doctor's advice on a gradual return to running, kept getting re-injured, and made to feel like it was all in my head. So no, I did not score at Big XII.
I understand the business of college sports. I also understand how much of a college coach's job is recruiting. I also accept the fact that some coaches are better at recruiting elite talent than developing athletes. Murray literally admits which he is and that's fine. It has been a successful method for him. But a coach-athlete relationship is a two-way street.
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I am glad the Post spent the resources on the article but didn’t love the tone.
They tried to make it sound like this is a new phenomenon that is greatly linked to the NIL changes. Is that really true?
Anyone heard of Henry Rono? UTEP? Sally Kipyego? Kenyans have been coming to and dominating the NCAA for a long time
Like is the number of Kenyans really drastically up in the NCAA? I guess the NIL - which by the way is illegal for foreigners, correct? - changes have made it easier for people to let semi-pros in. No one seems to be sanctioning people who clearly were on pro deals before the NCAAs.
And I know they now let you pay for plane tickets and things above just the scholarship.
Foreigners have to leave the U.S. to receive their NIL payments. Very common in college basketball.
Lols how many years did you score at Big XII for TTU?
You're missing my point. My point is that transparency would have been nice. I was not recruited by him (that was Burke Binning). Like I said, Murray started my sophomore year. I wasn't the fastest runner when I chose to go there, but that was also part of the selling point for the program when I was recruited - development. With the coaching change, that goal must have also changed, but it was not communicated to me or the others who were sold that.
I'm not naive. I don't feel entitled. There were other schools I was looking at, including DIII. I didn't have DI full-ride talent in high school and I knew that. I only started running as a high school sophomore and was not athletic at all prior to that. I was, however, strong academically, which looking back may have been the only reason I was kept around.
And no, I didn't "score at Big XII" because I redshirted cross country my freshman year under the prior coach (Binning) and like I already mentioned, I wasn't at that level yet in track as a freshman. Then I got a stress fracture that summer, so started sophomore year even further behind because of that. Then I was told to ignore my doctor's advice on a gradual return to running, kept getting re-injured, and made to feel like it was all in my head. So no, I did not score at Big XII.
I understand the business of college sports. I also understand how much of a college coach's job is recruiting. I also accept the fact that some coaches are better at recruiting elite talent than developing athletes. Murray literally admits which he is and that's fine. It has been a successful method for him. But a coach-athlete relationship is a two-way street.
So Murray coached you intentionally into a stress fracture and re-injury cycles? He wanted to manipulate you off the roster so he could replace you with Kenyans, right? Was that your point?
Have you looked at TTU's women's xc roster today? Mostly Texas women. Huh.
If we don't count Charleston as a major road race do you have any idea of the first major US road race won by a Kenyan? Were there any in the 70s? Did Henry win Midland? Maybe Boilermaker? Bix? i'm just guessing.
You're missing my point. My point is that transparency would have been nice. I was not recruited by him (that was Burke Binning). Like I said, Murray started my sophomore year. I wasn't the fastest runner when I chose to go there, but that was also part of the selling point for the program when I was recruited - development. With the coaching change, that goal must have also changed, but it was not communicated to me or the others who were sold that.
I'm not naive. I don't feel entitled. There were other schools I was looking at, including DIII. I didn't have DI full-ride talent in high school and I knew that. I only started running as a high school sophomore and was not athletic at all prior to that. I was, however, strong academically, which looking back may have been the only reason I was kept around.
And no, I didn't "score at Big XII" because I redshirted cross country my freshman year under the prior coach (Binning) and like I already mentioned, I wasn't at that level yet in track as a freshman. Then I got a stress fracture that summer, so started sophomore year even further behind because of that. Then I was told to ignore my doctor's advice on a gradual return to running, kept getting re-injured, and made to feel like it was all in my head. So no, I did not score at Big XII.
I understand the business of college sports. I also understand how much of a college coach's job is recruiting. I also accept the fact that some coaches are better at recruiting elite talent than developing athletes. Murray literally admits which he is and that's fine. It has been a successful method for him. But a coach-athlete relationship is a two-way street.
So Murray coached you intentionally into a stress fracture and re-injury cycles? He wanted to manipulate you off the roster so he could replace you with Kenyans, right? Was that your point?
Have you looked at TTU's women's xc roster today? Mostly Texas women. Huh.
That's not at all what I said. And did you even read the Washington Post article?
Long before John Chaplin was recruiting Kenyans to WSU, Wayne Vandenburg at UTEP had athletes from all over, including Jon Bednarski and Kerry Pearce.
Forget? Never recall hearing of Bill Silverberg until now. Just read he ran track at Kansas back in the early 1960s, becoming ENMU's head t&f coach in 1968 or 1969. Boit & Ndoo enrolled in the fall of 1972. Kiwi Maddaford preceeded them, being an ENMU student from 1969-1971 after having completed for New Zealand at the Mexico City Olympics. Boit & Ndoo apparently were Silverberg's first Kenyan recruits.
Wayne Vandenburg is a name I vaguely recall. Yes, he did recruit worldwide. However, UTEP didn't begin recruiting Kenyans until Ted Banks became head t&f coach in 1972. Wilson Waigwa was his first Kenyan recruit, finishing 34th as a frosh at the 1973 NCAA xc meet.
So, Chaplin becomes WSU's head coach in 1972, bringing in John Ngeno that fall. Silverberg recruits Boit & Ndoo to ENMU in 1972. Ted Banks becomes UTEP's head coach in 1972, bringing in Waigwa in 1973.
Appears that Kip Keino's and his Kenyan teammates' successes at the 1968 & 1972 Olympics caught Chaplin, Silverberg and Banks' attention. There it began.
Freedom New Mexico: Thomas Garcia Former ENMU Greyhound distance runner Rex Maddaford looks through photo albums containing images of his participation in the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City at his home near Tucumcar...
So Murray coached you intentionally into a stress fracture and re-injury cycles? He wanted to manipulate you off the roster so he could replace you with Kenyans, right? Was that your point?
Have you looked at TTU's women's xc roster today? Mostly Texas women. Huh.
That's not at all what I said. And did you even read the Washington Post article?
Yup. Your post was long, convoluted, and highly self-referential. So WTF was your point?
You're missing my point. My point is that transparency would have been nice.
You make a great point. No doubt you asked some direct questions about your future upon meeting him, which he apparently dodged.
If you are a back of the packer on a bottom of the barrel team in a low ranked conference and thats your future, then your priorities are really screwed up. I'm sorry but thats the transparency that was needed. Go ahead blame me for the reality check.
When Kip Keino — a policeman back in his native Kenya — defeated Jim Ryun in the 1,500-meter run at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, it spawned a revolution which is in evidence a???
A separate NY Times article mentions Machooka was a foreign exchange student. However, could not find a corroborating story or any mention of a Cornell or other Ivy League student going to study in the then-British colony in exchange.
Well, obviously a one-off. Machooka somehow managed to acquire the academics necessary to be accepted into a Ivy institution which virtually no 3rd world country athletes -- then or now -- could ever hope to achieve.
And, he did this during the final year of the Mau Mau uprising, a then-unreported revolt by several Kenyan tribes against their British rulers.
So, the timeline now reads: 1960 -- Machooka to Cornell; 1963 (Dec) -- Kenya gains independence; 1965 -- Kip Keino sets his first WR; 1968 -- Kenya dominates distance races at the Mexico City Olympics; 1972 -- first wave of Kenyan athletes (Boit & Ndoo/ENMU, Ngeno/WSU) enroll in US universities.
Note: Machooka was the first Kenyan athlete to compete for a US university. However, he was not the first Kenyan to study at a US university. That distinction belongs to one Molonket Ole Sempele -- way back in 1909:
You make a great point. No doubt you asked some direct questions about your future upon meeting him, which he apparently dodged.
If you are a back of the packer on a bottom of the barrel team in a low ranked conference and thats your future, then your priorities are really screwed up. I'm sorry but thats the transparency that was needed. Go ahead blame me for the reality check.
I think you've topped me by mentioning Sempele. I knew about Machooka from seeing his name in college results from the early 60s in old issues of Long Distance Log. If I was doing your timeline I'd have the '64 Olympic 800 where Wilson Kiplugat won Kenya's first Olympic medal and the '66 Commonwealth Games in Kingston where Keino and Naftali Temu won the 1,3, and 6 mile.
I think you've topped me by mentioning Sempele. I knew about Machooinika from seeing his name in college results from the early 60s in old issues of Long Distance Log. If I was doing your timeline I'd have the '64 Olympic 800 where Wilson Kiplugat won Kenya's first Olympic medal and the '66 Commonwealth Games in Kingston where Keino and Naftali Temu won the 1,3, and 6 mile.
No, you've topped me, again. You must have worked in a library or museum.
Long Distance Log? Never heard of that, either. I thought old issues of T&F News were the sport's only ephemera. Now, I've got something new to collect.
Also, wasn't aware of the Kenyan win in the 1964 Tokyo Olys. Was aware that Keino finished 5th in the 5000 but narrowly missed making the 1500 finals.
So, yeah, 1964 Oly should have been included in the timeline as that year was Kenya's emergence on the world athletic's scene.
Should also note that Keino's 7:39.6h/3000 WR in 1965 was the first WR set by a Kenyan athlete.
I watched the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. My introduction to t&f outside of hs running. Jim Ryun, of course, was the 1500 favorite and all the rage. Keino was painted as his nearest rival but the US press didn't give him much of a chance. Then, the race happened and Ryun was painted as a loser. With perspective on how accomplished globally Keino was, along with his altitude advantage, Kip should have been the clear favorite -- and probably was in the minds of anyone who knew the sport.
Again, thx for all the cool beans on Machooka & Long Distance Log.
I think you've topped me by mentioning Sempele. I knew about Machooinika from seeing his name in college results from the early 60s in old issues of Long Distance Log. If I was doing your timeline I'd have the '64 Olympic 800 where Wilson Kiplugat won Kenya's first Olympic medal and the '66 Commonwealth Games in Kingston where Keino and Naftali Temu won the 1,3, and 6 mile.
No, you've topped me, again. You must have worked in a library or museum.
Long Distance Log? Never heard of that, either. I thought old issues of T&F News were the sport's only ephemera. Now, I've got something new to collect.
Also, wasn't aware of the Kenyan win in the 1964 Tokyo Olys. Was aware that Keino finished 5th in the 5000 but narrowly missed making the 1500 finals.
So, yeah, 1964 Oly should have been included in the timeline as that year was Kenya's emergence on the world athletic's scene.
Should also note that Keino's 7:39.6h/3000 WR in 1965 was the first WR set by a Kenyan athlete.
I watched the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. My introduction to t&f outside of hs running. Jim Ryun, of course, was the 1500 favorite and all the rage. Keino was painted as his nearest rival but the US press didn't give him much of a chance. Then, the race happened and Ryun was painted as a loser. With perspective on how accomplished globally Keino was, along with his altitude advantage, Kip should have been the clear favorite -- and probably was in the minds of anyone who knew the sport.
Again, thx for all the cool beans on Machooka & Long Distance Log.
HRE didn't work in a library, he lived and breathed the sport.
Nobody thought Keino was going to beat Ryun because Ryun easily beat Keino in every race they ran.
No library jobs but I was probably suited for it. And I'm old. I remember reading about the '66 Commonwealth Games in Sports Illustrated. Yes, they used to cover things like that.
"Long Distance Log" was probably the first running magazine and was in print from the mid 50s to mid 70s. For a while it was archived at the Roadrunners Club's website. It seems to have vanished now.
