Obviously, they want to win. But just recruiting older foreigners doesn't seem right. It's against the spirit of a college competition. I'm glad they didn't win and the championship went to Georgia instead.
Silan Ayyildiz is 26 (born Oct 10, 1999) and Wilma Nielsen, the winner of the women's mile, is 24 and she'll be 25 in June. (born June 2, 2001).
Obviously, they want to win. But just recruiting older foreigners doesn't seem right. It's against the spirit of a college competition. I'm glad they didn't win and the championship went to Georgia instead.
Silan Ayyildiz is 26 (born Oct 10, 1999) and Wilma Nielsen, the winner of the women's mile, is 24 and she'll be 25 in June. (born June 2, 2001).
Pretty sure most everyone agrees that athletes at that age should not be competing in NCAA.
Obviously, they want to win. But just recruiting older foreigners doesn't seem right. It's against the spirit of a college competition. I'm glad they didn't win and the championship went to Georgia instead.
Silan Ayyildiz is 26 (born Oct 10, 1999) and Wilma Nielsen, the winner of the women's mile, is 24 and she'll be 25 in June. (born June 2, 2001).
With hordes of over age Africans packed into the NCAA and you pick these two to whine about? Oy vey.
Obviously, they want to win. But just recruiting older foreigners doesn't seem right. It's against the spirit of a college competition. I'm glad they didn't win and the championship went to Georgia instead.
Silan Ayyildiz is 26 (born Oct 10, 1999) and Wilma Nielsen, the winner of the women's mile, is 24 and she'll be 25 in June. (born June 2, 2001).
Look, I'm also not thrilled about bringing in athletes that are closer to 30 than 20. But are they age cheats if they are competing under their actual birthdates and ages?
I think the rules should be reconsidered, but Age Cheat implies something like what WA has penalized Ethiopia for doing (see Birke Haylom, Melknat Wudu and Medina Eisa). Not what Oregon is doing with Wilma and Silan.
Look, I'm also not thrilled about bringing in athletes that are closer to 30 than 20. But are they age cheats if they are competing under their actual birthdates and ages?
I think the rules should be reconsidered, but Age Cheat implies something like what WA has penalized Ethiopia for doing (see Birke Haylom, Melknat Wudu and Medina Eisa). Not what Oregon is doing with Wilma and Silan.
These programs need to be shamed publicly every time a 25 year old wins a title. Same with all the overage sprinters, jumpers and throwers too.
Look, I'm also not thrilled about bringing in athletes that are closer to 30 than 20. But are they age cheats if they are competing under their actual birthdates and ages?
I think the rules should be reconsidered, but Age Cheat implies something like what WA has penalized Ethiopia for doing (see Birke Haylom, Melknat Wudu and Medina Eisa). Not what Oregon is doing with Wilma and Silan.
These programs need to be shamed publicly every time a 25 year old wins a title. Same with all the overage sprinters, jumpers and throwers too.
Then shame them for what they're doing. Don't accuse them of falsifying their ages for competition or eligibility purposes.
Obviously, they want to win. But just recruiting older foreigners doesn't seem right. It's against the spirit of a college competition. I'm glad they didn't win and the championship went to Georgia instead.
Silan Ayyildiz is 26 (born Oct 10, 1999) and Wilma Nielsen, the winner of the women's mile, is 24 and she'll be 25 in June. (born June 2, 2001).
In regards to Nielsen, 24 is definitely much older than average, but to be fair, it does seem like at she was still 18 when she graduated HS, and was 19 when she enrolled at Bradley the following fall. I believe she is a sixth-year due to one COVID year and one redshirt year.
On the other hand, Ayyildiz was already 23 by her first XC race for South Carolina in the fall of 2023
26 is ridiculous. 24 is borderline. i think 23 is ideal.
The NCAA and athletes don't really care what age you find ideal. The rules are the same for any college sport. Go whine about something else or better yet get a life
The NCAA cannot put an age limit on participation in college sports. They used to have a limit and it was overturned in court as age discrimination.
Okay, I understand "age discrimination" but in cases like this - where being older and having more years to develop athletically is clearly an advantage - it seems like age discrimination shouldn't apply.
To be the devil's advocate: why does the high school system have a tighter rein on age though? IIRC, some states don't allow people over the age of 19 to participate in high school sports? I'm thinking of Weini Kalati - I believe she was 19 and then had to stop competing (correct me if I'm wrong, I believe she went to school in Maryland) in high school sponsored sports, even though she was still in high school.