Official 2016 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Live Discussion Thread

Seyta wrote:

Anbessa wrote:

Not going to continue arguing. You're missing the point. Either way, somebody who is capable of a 7:40 3k, isn't burnt from running an opening mile of 4:17 in a 5k. His last 2 miles avg'd about 4:30 pace. Stop getting caught up in apparent impressiveness of the actual numbers.. A 15min 5k'er go's and runs a 15:30. 30minutes later, runs a 4:15. Doesn't sound impressive does it? It's relative to the ability of the athlete. There's no reason an athlete with his talent SHOULDN'T have run close to his potential in a 1600m leg.

Now watching him toy with the 3k field, he has a subtle smugness to him. Sure he's a great kid, but, at this point, it appears he's content with being a big fish in a small pond.

Makes perfect sense from a financial and career standpoint:

1) He's not a US citizen and wants to compete for the US. Him going pro right now means he can't compete for the US. If Cheserek's feelings for wanting to represent the US are genuine, then it's perfectly reasonable for him to not want to tarnish that by spending a chunk of his career first competing for Kenya.

For those who might argue against it, think about it for a moment. In Kenya, he had nothing. However, upon coming to the US, he received the following:

- A proper HS education

- A supportive HS team. He was absolutely the biggest team player when he was in HS. In case many of you have forgotten, he ran relay legs in almost every major meet his team entered, and basically ran his heart out while doing it. He would open up in something absurd like 1:53, and then die off to something like a 4:10+ after. He didn't have the slightest clue about tactics.

- A college education (which he probably couldn't dream of in Kenya)

- A supportive college team. He's much more tactically minded now, but he has ALWAYS done whatever he could to help his team.

No reason to doubt why he would want to represent the US.

2) He'll be more marketable if he manages something like "the greatest collegiate distance athlete", which could indeed be possible if he keeps winning titles like he has been so far. Right now, he's "one of the greatest". If he manages another XC win, that'll mean that he'll be the only collegiate athlete to win NCAAs all four years that he ran. Tack on his huge assortment of individual victories and it's very hard to contest his standing.

aaa Duck wrote:

Seyta wrote:

Makes perfect sense from a financial and career standpoint:

1) He's not a US citizen and wants to compete for the US. Him going pro right now means he can't compete for the US. If Cheserek's feelings for wanting to represent the US are genuine, then it's perfectly reasonable for him to not want to tarnish that by spending a chunk of his career first competing for Kenya.

For those who might argue against it, think about it for a moment. In Kenya, he had nothing. However, upon coming to the US, he received the following:

- A proper HS education

- A supportive HS team. He was absolutely the biggest team player when he was in HS. In case many of you have forgotten, he ran relay legs in almost every major meet his team entered, and basically ran his heart out while doing it. He would open up in something absurd like 1:53, and then die off to something like a 4:10+ after. He didn't have the slightest clue about tactics.

- A college education (which he probably couldn't dream of in Kenya)

- A supportive college team. He's much more tactically minded now, but he has ALWAYS done whatever he could to help his team.

No reason to doubt why he would want to represent the US.

2) He'll be more marketable if he manages something like "the greatest collegiate distance athlete", which could indeed be possible if he keeps winning titles like he has been so far. Right now, he's "one of the greatest". If he manages another XC win, that'll mean that he'll be the only collegiate athlete to win NCAAs all four years that he ran. Tack on his huge assortment of individual victories and it's very hard to contest his standing.

Wise points.

Not to mention he has a great personality, and is about as charismatic and personable as Meb (his interview about running 50 or 100 miles over two days, or whatever it was to get to his qualifying exams to earn a scholarship to USA high school is hilarious. He's genuine, natural, and appreciates everything given and earned.

He's approachable and very kind to fans as well.