Lagat - helping or hindering US distance running?

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16 years ago 09/04/2007 9:58am EDT

Okay – here’s one for you. Putting aside the arguments over whether or not Lagat is American – has Lagat’s US citizenship helped or hindered distance running in America?

Does seeing Lagat in a US vest competing at the highest level inspire other American runners? Have US distance guys learned things from Lagat – perhaps through competing against him and seeing him training and being part of the team with him etc

Or is it the case of US guys thinking ‘he’s in an American uniform but his performance just proves that Kenyans are naturally better than we are’?

16 years ago 09/04/2007 11:09am EDT

re: Bingo Lingo

Bernie Lagat is helping the only person he's ever helped before - himself.

16 years ago 09/04/2007 11:23am EDT

re: Bingo Lingo

I think both Teg and Webb would say he helps. Better competition is going to inspire people to run faster. Any US guys thinking "he's in an American uniform but his performance just proves that Kenyans are naturally better than we are" are people who aren't going to succeed anyway. If they can't run against him in a US uniform, they aren't going to be able to run against a Kenyan in a Kenyan uniform. Then you just have a bunch of guys who can pat themselves on the back for being the best in the US but not even being in the final.

Webb has beaten Lagat and Teg was pretty damn close in the final. Neither of them are acting like they are particularly intimidated by him.

16 years ago 09/04/2007 12:25pm EDT

re: some facts.

Bernards selfishness is serving a dual purpose. First and foremost, he is helping himself by waving the american flag around and flashing his pretty USA jersey as the US has much deeper pockets than Kenya. Competing for the US allows Lagat to be a Nike whore in a much more lucrative market than the deserts of Kenya. In the US there is only one fast Kenyan, but in Kenya there is a lot. As a bi product of Lagat seeking monetary gain and crediting himself with the revival of distance success, Lagat is getting gaining US headlines which will ultimately help the sport here. He is at the top reaping all the benefits while guys like keith and kevin hanson, who are in the trenches doing the grunt work, get a pat on the back.

16 years ago 09/04/2007 1:08pm EDT

re: jerry mizner

If the Hanson's want more than a pat on the back they should beat Lagat then. The goal is to be the best not get a pat on the back. It is not Bernard's fault that he has more talent than everyone else. He is most definitely helping US distnace running, it is the best internationally it has ever been even without Lagat, but it is because people are chasing him and reaching a higher level. Now if Webb could just learn to race like Lagat everyone could get off of Bernie's back!

16 years ago 09/04/2007 3:47pm EDT

re: JW

Lagat is not as selfish as people think. A friend of mine was his teammate at WSU. Lagat's senior year, his coach told the team that he would only run 4 people at regionals because he thought that a team score would be embarassingly high. Lagat thought that this plan was unfair to the other guys who had worked hard and were now being robbed of their last race of the season. He told the coach that if a full squad did not run, he would not run--which would mean he'd blow a good shot at winning nationals.

The coach folded and the team ran.

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Lagat - helping or hindering US distance running?

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