correct answer wrote:
altho it's confusing, the correct answer is that the coaches association recognizes the top 30 overall and the top 30 AMERICAN-BORN competitors (not american citizens as previously stated). the only exception is if an athlete was born to american citizens who were out of the country (e.g. military families). it has nothing to do with citizenship.
confusing, yes, but that's what it is.
if this is the right answer, then aren't there multiple guys who wouldn't count as americans in the top 30? apparently kinsella, manzano and lomong at the least.
so the original question of whether the coaches got it right would remain.