Just Another Hobby Jogger wrote:
600yd/600m man wrote:
Look again at data of Japanese runners. Japanese runners have no talent past 200m. They never place anyone in 400m, 800m, 1500m final, T&F.
Umm... ever heard of Nozomi Tanaka? If she can make the final (at age 21), why can't Japanese men do the same?
All previous posts on this thread were about men. Nozomi Tanaka is a good 1500m runner, correct. O.P. started this thread stating "we." I assumed this was a U.S. to Ethiopia, Kenyan & Uganda comparison and contrast. Another poster brought Japan into the discussion. U.S. does not need to copy Japan in regard to such a high percentage of Japanese men racing 10000m to ultras and having little success to show for the efforts of Japanese men striving for long distance success. Japan is not a large nation. Every dollar spent on developing Japanese male 5000m runners is a dollar not spent on recruiting and developing 100m talent in Japan. Japan is having success with 100m and 4 x 100m relay. I do not care where U.S. citizens were born, but U.S. men who came up through U.S. high school system do make it to 5000m final on occasion. I do not really consider that to be successful. Are men of Japan making it to 5000m final on a regular basis? I have stated on other threads, U.S. is a 100m to 800m nation plus hurdles, jumps and throws. I believe resources in U.S. should go towards developing athletes for events U.S. will medal at Olympics & W.C. Men of Japan have demonstrated some success as 100m sprinters and 4 x 100m relay. If Japan places more resources on 100m, Japan will do even better at 100m then possibly demonstrate success in events a bit longer than 100m. I could have and should have stated my analysis in regard to men of Japan better hours ago.