I don't think the question is whether foreign runners are good runners or good guys. Most of them are probably both, and no one can blame them for trying to win races or earn prize money using their talent.I thinks it's really a question of how you get sponsors to put up their money for prizes if they don't think they are getting value for it. There is no rule that says that races have to offer prize money and there needs to be real thought put into how to make it worth it for sponsors to put up prize money.The quote about the Baltimore Marathon was interesting in that respect:
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-10-12/sports/bal-david-berdan-wins-baltimore-marathon-20131012_1_erika-brannock-finish-line-boston-marathonThis year’s marathon didn’t offer prize money, unlike in past years, after Baltimore-based apparel company Under Armour decided not to renew its title sponsorship in August. (Under Armour stayed on as a major sponsor and provided T-shirts to participants.)
Without prize money, the race didn’t draw the elite runners it had previously. And Saturday’s pace was considerably slower than last year, when Kenyan Stephen Muange won in 2:13.08.
"It’s still awesome to win it, but ... if there’s no prize money, I guess that’s why I had a chance," Berdan said. "I still consider myself somewhat elite, and I mix it up with [elite runners]."