Personally, looking at Tegenkamps most recent and past performances, he is the best American athlete in both the 5k or 10k distance. He could win either at the USATF championships and for some reason everyone is so hyped about Ritz having run 8:11 that it seems to overshadow Tegenkamps 8:07 in the same race. He is at a far more superior level than any other American right now.
Because Teg is BORING!
I don't know where you've been, but there's been A LOT of people on this board talking about his 8:07. If Ritz gets slighty more attention for his slower time its because it came out of nowhere after an injury, and nobody would ever predict that he was capable of running such a short race so fast. Teg ran 13:04, so 8:07 is not so surprising but it's still damn fast.
i do agree that the 8:07 puts him as one of the top 5k runners in the country but not the best 10k
He's not under-rated. People know he's good. The fact that they don't spend much time on here debating WHETHER he's good is probably a tribute to him.
People don't hold him to the same high expectations that they have for big names like Ritz and Webb. Its difficult to disappoint when you've already exceeded everyone's expectations. Now most fans are curious more than anything... we want to see how far he can go.
I think the OP meant that Tegenkamp is better in the 5k than any American is in the 10k, not that he is the best in both.
I'm with you bro.. Teg is stone cold killer who would beat any North America born American right now.. He would do work on ritz, webb, rupp, fam, hall, etc.
What does Marc Nenow and Bob Kennedy...Bob Kempanan (sp) and others of this breed have in common with Teg?...boring?...they just trained and raced and did well...they did not die young after being brash forever leading people to worship like dead rock stars...nope they just did well for a great number of years...never winning a medal but setting american records or placing high versus the best ....nike talks about rock star runners in their posters but the todd williams and the ed eyestones and the kennedys (bob not ted ) did well without the tatoos and mohawks and self promotion...just like eddie murray did in baseball...or johnny unitas did in football...the more emotional the runner the more erractic the performance seems to be the rule of thumb so the cool calm and collected are passed over by the jon drummond...how many times do we have to see him visit schools in the ustaf promo..because he clowned around...coulda woulda shoulda style wins over substance in the minds of the way too many people
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