RQ: There were a significant number of marathoners capable of running under 2:20 years ago in America. Recently, those numbers have dropped of significantly. What do you attribute that to?
>Wetmore: I?m not a student of the marathon nor do I coach any marathoner runners. I know that twenty years ago, we had two guys runs 2:09 - 2:10. We don?t have any Americans that could run that right now. I think that the culture to some degree has lost it?s infatuation with
sport. I think that there are many other more intriguing recreational activities. We are a completely different culture than we were twenty-five years ago. People head different directions.<
Although admittedly not a student of the marathon I am surprised to see that Wetmore does not believe that there is anyone capable of running 2:09-2:10. I believe there are many, including Culpepper (coached by Wetmore?) who is reported to be running Chi.
Twenty years ago we had way more than two running this fast.
Salazar,Beardsley,Rodgers,Durden,Tabb,Pfeffer,Sandoval,Wells,Heffner,Bjorkland,off of the top of my head.