• Bekele
      • Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 2:43PM
      • Bekele
      • Chelanga ran a brave but not smart race, and treated Rupp like he Rupp would not have the capacity to match him over 10K ? Rupp's credentials should have been brought into the equation more, and although I beleive a fast start to separate the men from the boys was good tactic, Chelanga should have let Rupp take some of the pace. Rupp simply outclassed him and was the clear professional in this one !
    • The_Big_Mazungo
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 3:28PM - in reply to Bekele
      • The_Big_Mazungo
      • Ok so Chelanga lost by 5 seconds to a guy who is basically a pro, went to the olympics, didn't run a full college season, and to top it all off Chelanga ran, strategically, a terrible race. he must suck. Rupp should have DOMINATED this race, he's a god damn OLYMPIAN, the fact that chelanga was even there is amazing.
    • Vins Secret Sauce
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 3:37PM - in reply to The_Big_Mazungo
      • Vins Secret Sauce
      • The_Big_Mazungo wrote:
        Ok so Chelanga lost by 5 seconds to a guy who is basically a pro, went to the olympics, didn't run a full college season, and to top it all off Chelanga ran, strategically, a terrible race. he must suck. Rupp should have DOMINATED this race, he's a god damn OLYMPIAN, the fact that chelanga was even there is amazing.
        Yes, the fact that the man who destroyed the pre-nats record (previously held by last years NCAA champ, who happened to beat Rupp after Rupp returned from the world championships) is mind boggling.

        No it's not. Chelanga trained with McDougal last year and had a full summer to prepare for this race. He ran very well and only one person was capable of beating him. Rupp was the better runner, and though most of us felt that way going in nobody knew for 100%. Both of these guys could have been 10-20 seconds (minimum for Rupp) further ahead of the chase pack if they didn't get tactical over the last 5K. Don't discredit Chelanga or Rupp by using hindsight to say it was a no brainer and Rupp is clearly world class where Chelanga is not.

        Last time I checked (if you are only using previous track results for reference) Chelanga has a much better 5K pr.

        Chelanga was beaten by a world class runner, but he may well be one himself.
    • Ocin
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 3:43PM - in reply to MontyXC1
      • Ocin
      • When you consider that MANY of the Kenyan world class runners have ran high 12's or low 13's than yeah I think E team isn't too far off, maybe he's C team on a good day. Its almost like Sally Kipyego getting all this glory over here winning all these championships. She ain't shit in her own country. Couldn't even make her Olympic team.
    • dumbness shows
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 3:44PM - in reply to The_Big_Mazungo
      • dumbness shows
      • The_Big_Mazungo wrote:
        Ok so Chelanga lost by 5 seconds to a guy who .... went to the olympics, didn't run a full college season, .... the fact that chelanga was even there is amazing.
        were you using this to discredit Rupp's win over Chelanga? Have you ever run a competitive season in your life? This actually makes it more impressive that Rupp had to taper for the olympics in august, then take a break afterwards, then come back and get in two races prior to NCAA's. You kind of shot yourselve in the foot with this.
    • ripvanracer
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 6:26PM - in reply to dumbness shows
      • ripvanracer
      • I got the feeling Rupp could have run much faster. I think the only "tactical" part about the last half was Chelanga hanging on and Rupp running just fast enough to win. Just past the 7k, Rupp intentionally slowed down a half step to stay behind Chelanga. He looked like he could have gone then and won easily.
    • goethe
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 6:36PM - in reply to Bekele
      • goethe
      • Rupp ran smart.

        Chelanga ran like a numbskull. crazy fast start, random surges, random stops
    • dante
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 6:38PM - in reply to goethe
      • dante
      • And how should he have run? Do enlighten us since you clearly know the exact tactical decisions which would have resulted in a different outcome.
    • U of O fan
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 6:41PM - in reply to dante
      • U of O fan
      • The goal is to win. Rupp ran a smart race and won.
    • ripvanracer
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 6:46PM - in reply to dante
      • ripvanracer
      • Chelanga got second. Rupp would have won regardless. Chelanga's fast start was really only in the first k, so it didn't have any affect compared to the rest of the field.
    • CassdeFrance
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 6:53PM - in reply to dante
      • CassdeFrance
      • dante wrote:
        And how should he have run? Do enlighten us since you clearly know the exact tactical decisions which would have resulted in a different outcome.
        Are you actually going to debate that Chelanga ran the race he should have? It doesn't take a tactical genius to recognize when a runner is in over his head, not running smart. Chelanga may believe his strategy was ideal and that Rupp was simply that much better, but most of us who have run more than 5 road races probably have enough experience to know that running away from someone as good as Galen Rupp isn't smart.

        And for the record, I would like to throw my name onto the Galen Rupp bandwagon. In July, I watched the Trials 10k hoping he would stumble and fall. In August, I was furious he ran well. He was nothing more than a prepubescent golden child who was spoon fed and had EVERYTHING handed to him. I think the last few months have changed my opinion because, although much of that description is true, it is something we runners should desire. No, I've never won an NCAA championship and I'll never run at the Olympics, but if I could sell my soul (or any other possession, both physical and hypothetical) in order to be as good as Rupp or some of the other top runners in the world, I would. So I'm done hating the kid for having something I wish I had. Regardless of the magic beans he is handed, he is tough as nails when it comes down to it.

        That got lengthy, but I stand by it. :-)
    • dante
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 6:54PM - in reply to U of O fan
      • dante
      • the comments and questions are not about Rupp...again, what should chelanga have done differently that would have made the outcome different. I think it's fair to ask if people are giong to say his race was not smart. Do you have any input other than that the guy who beat him ran a smart race?
    • Bryn_R
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 6:59PM - in reply to goethe
      • Bryn_R
      • To be fair- the same could be said of Wanjiru at the olympic marathon- he's now hailed a hero and revolutionising championship marathons.

        Rupp was smart but he's clearly in awesome shape.
    • dante
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 7:10PM - in reply to CassdeFrance
      • dante
      • No one is trying to debate. I'm just trying, unsuccessfully, to get some info from people who apparently think another tactic would have brought different results. I'm still waiting, however. I guess these are the same folks who though Ryan Hall ran a brilliant tactical race at the Olympics. So again, what should CHELANGA have done today? It's easy to say he ran a stupid race and not offer your 'smart' plan. Fire away.
    • U of O fan
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 7:11PM - in reply to Bryn_R
      • U of O fan
      • Dante, Chelanga should have studied the Divine Comedy more seriously in college. He would have destroyed Rupp had he been more diligent in his studies. Running tactics can be detected throughout the poem. I think he only read Cliff Notes.
    • Off the Grid
      • RE: Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through! 11/24/2008 7:20PM - in reply to MontyXC1
      • Off the Grid
      • MontyXC1 wrote:
        im not sure a 13:20 5k runner is Kenyans E team
        '08 Kenya list 13:20 would be 29th Kenyan

        All time:

        30 under 13:00
        another 45 under 13:10
        another 63 under 13:20

        Chelanga is 180th on the Kenyan all-time 5k list, 37th fastest Kenyan in '08.