Muir had kinda the year from hell, and probably got as far as she could under a pretty speed-heavy/VO2 system. She is as fast/faster than these women (maybe not Welteji). Seems she is finally working on her strength (threshold+mileage), and that could pay huge dividends. I think Hull is closer to the Americans than peak Laura Muir and what we saw out of Mageean last year.
How many of the U.S. sub-4 high schoolers have been 1st or 2nd generation from Africa? Only one out of 25, if Matsatsa's parents were African immigrants. Zero if they weren't.
HS is too soon. We are talking collegiate and national level success.
But you are right, the best can come from all walks of life (Nico, Centro, Nick Symmonds, Paul McMullan, Alberto, Frank Shorter, etc.) and hopefully this will always be true.
But given the tiny % of the US population that comes from Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, it is impressive that about half of the best US men were from East Africa or first generation. To deny that is to not give them the credit they deserve.
It is hard for some people to admit it, but not every cultural or ethnic or phenotypic group is precisely as good at running as every other group. That was be a crazy coincidence if it were true!
Here are some of the best American runners ever:
Nuguse (mile record holder)
Hassan Mead
Paul Chelimo (multiple time national champ and OG medalist)
Meb (OG medalist)
Abdi (defeated Father Time)
Bernard Lagat (record holder)
Betsy Saina
Aliphine Tuliamuk
Lopez Lomong
Hillary Bor
Stanley Kebenei (8:18 steepler, podium at USAs)
Shadrack Kipchirchir (multiple medalist as USA nationals)
Cheserek (never got citizenship but lived here since HS and dominated the NCAA)
Athing Mu (women's team, obviously)
Khanouchi (North Africa)
Sam Chelanga
Leonard Korir (just made the Olympic Team! Good for him after getting 4th last time)
Sydney Maree (he was not born in the Horn of Africa but rather in S. Africa at 5,000 feet of elevation) - ran 3:29 in 1985 (and 13:01)
Look at the results from Nationals this year. Not too shabby! Nice job! Some people might say, "well, that's barely over half the top-ten..." but there were only 7 African born runners in that race and 6 of them were in the top-ten. What does that tell you?
Emmanuel Bor 28:44 Andrew Colley 28:48 Anthony Rotich 28:49 Leonard Korir 28:49 Sam Chelanga 28:49 Dillon Maggard 28:49 Reid Buchanan 28:49 Hillary Bor 28:57 Abbabiya Simbassa 29:02 Zachery Panning 29:06
This post was edited 14 minutes after it was posted.
Help us build the best running shoe review site for a chance to win a LetsRun t-shirt.Help us build the best running shoe review site for a chance to win one of 10 LetsRun t-shirts.