So being from oregon, better yet beaverton, better yet 2 miles from world HQ and a best friend from whos dad is the head of NSRL and works with Rupp AND going to central catholic....I have come to this:
You cannot compare pre to rupp...two different time periods and two different agends
Rupp has had more advantages (technology wise) then any other american runner past or present
Rupp has put up impressive times (27:33) but part of me wants to think how much of that has to do with his conditioning(a product of his environment at nike).
And as for traveling to Euro to race against the likes of Lagat...you have to look at it two ways
1. when it comes down to the last 1500 of the OT's whos going to be their? some college kids or abdi, ritz, hall, ect.? He has to be able to look the best in the USA in the eye and close on them.
2. we all know AJ, Chappa, and Waite (who ever from UO) can run faster but are any of them outside of AJ (who i dont think has a chance in hell) making the OT?
part of me says lay off the kid and let him do his work and be the best youth distance runner america has had in a fortnight but then part of me says that he has had so much that if definate results arent achieved soon then their needs to be some apparations( aka give up on him being the golden revival of american track and field).
this is just a general comment but anyone who would like to argue either way I galdly and enthusiastically oblige and look forward to your academic challange.