BekeleKip wrote:
I am biased as US runner but we should have world records from the 800m to the 10000m. We should be winning gold in every single middle and long distance events. The probabilities that this can happen with a population of 332 million are too high for this not to happen. We need to strive for excellence and not just "happy to be here" BS.
We have the largest farm system in the world with highschool athletes, USATF, etc... yet we still suck at championship meets. We have the best facilities. The biggest budgets. Best social media presence to attract more athletes. The best olympic kits (as shown by multiple US athletes on Youtube). Much larger pool to pluck talent. Best everything but results in races that matter.
We just don't have the depth in the few events we have a shot.
Agreed. Emphasis on "develope." We have an abundance of talent. Some phenomenal. But something doesn't developed after high school glory. Maybe it is the need to succeed. They get a taste of success as teenagers in small ponds. But when they get into the wotld arena with the big dogs, the fire in the belly just doesnt burn as bright. Maybe it's that too many--certainly not all--have not known deprivation or desperation beyond a pretty comfortable life.