Chelanga's Lack of Experience Shined Through!

Ok, I admitted yesterday to having a new found affection for Rupp, but you people are way to defensive of him. This thread was most notably about how CHELANGA blew his shot by running foolishly, a couple of people come on to A) make legit points about Rupp's future and B) praise Chelanga for being gutsy while, smart and powerful as he was, Rupp was NOT--And you get your panties in a bunch.

Is Rupp a great talent who probably has a bright future ahead of him? Yes.

Will he compete at the top of US distance running for many years to come? Most likely.

Does that mean he's going to be winning Olympic medals? Absolutely not.

Look at the list of top American's in the Olympic 10k you boneheads. You have THREE top 10 performances and none since 1972. I am not taking ANYTHING away from Galen Rupp right now, but the world (i.e. East Africa) is THAT much better than us. I agree we should slightly applaud Galen's accomplishments thus far, he ran well in Bejing and he will prove himself beyond that I believe, but to blindly say he's going to be the first white man to run sub27 and rail against the rationale of doubt simply because you think he deserves to be praised every second is ignoring all sense in the conversation. Guys, I'm proud of Rupp and happy for what he has accomplished, but he has a LONG way to go if he wants to be the best.

P.S. This is in no way bashing Rupp, it's simply a study on logical argumentative thinking.

Off the Grid wrote:

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.

Why on earth would we compare Chelanga to all-time kenyans?

We'd have to start comparing Rupp to all-time Americans to keep it equal...which would be pointless to begin with.

Actually I believe Sammy should have pushed the pace more at the start. The wind was NOT in their face at the start -it was at their back. During the first kilometer when they were heading into the wind - they had some protection while running along the woods, and the first k is actually about 10 meters short for someone like SC who had a good line. So 2:35 sounds pretty hot, but with the wind and huge down hill that really isn't a killer for him, and obviously wasn't enough to hurt Rupp or make him panic. Hats off to Galen for a well executed race, and working on his weaknesses so he didn't have a repeat of '07. Also big props to Sammy for also making it another memorable NCAA Championships - already looking forward to next year!

Ocin wrote:

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.

That is kind of like saying that "so-and-so sprinter couldn't even make the US Olympic team". That doesn't mean that you aren't still REALLY fast.

Sean Nunn

Raytown MO

Ocin wrote:

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.

You guys do realize that Chelanga has done all he's done on only a couple years of running? He wasn't even brought up running to school every day, he literally just started running 3 years ago. Calling Sam an E team Kenyan is showing that you really have no clue how talented he is. Sam and Galen are both amazing runners who are capable of competing on the world stage. They battled it out at Nationals and Galen came out on top, probably in large part due to the fact that he's been running for a long time and has learned a lot about racing. Just watch out for Chelanga in the future, he has a lot of improving left to do.

Chelanga will improve for sure. So will Rupp. Hearing his voice in interviews, I'm convinced he won't be completely finished with puberty 'til he's 24-26. This is not to rip on him, I was a late bloomer too.

Your right. He isn't a E team member. More like F teamA team12:50.55 Moses Ndiema Masai13:02.06 Eliud Kipchoge13:02.86 Silas Kipruto13:03.04 Levy Matebo13:03.71 Micah Kogo13:05.27 Mang'ata Kimai Ndiwa13:06.17 Josphat Kiprono MenjoB Team13:06.22 Edwin Cheruiyot Soi13:06.25 Isaac Kiprono Songok13:06.41 Vincent Kiprop Chepkok13:06.60 Mark Kosgei Kiptoo13:06.61 Joseph Ebuya13:07.88 Abraham Chebii13:09.75 Augustine Kiprono ChogeC Team13:09.84 Mike Kipruto Kigen13:11.24 Jonas Cheruiyot13:11.57 Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio13:12.02 Jonathan Kipkoech Komen13:12.18 Alex Oleitiptip13:13.23 Boniface Kiprotich Songok13:13.51 Shadrack KosgeiD Team13:14.36 Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa13:15.54 Lucas Kimeli Rotich13:17.07 Robert Sigei Kipngetich13:17.48 Leonard Patrick Komon13:18.41 Bernard Kipkemoi Rotich13:19.21 Boaz Kisang Cheboiywo13:19.59 Yusuf Kibet BiwottE Team13:21.75 John Kariuki13:22.06 Peter Kamais13:22.27 Micah Jelagat Njeru13:22.68 Peter Bomo13:22.76 Cyrus Gichobi Njui13:23.11 Josephat Muchiri Ndambiri13:24.39 Daniel Kipchirchir KomenF Team13:24.45 Edwin Kipkorir13:24.73 Samuel ChelangaThis isn't even counting:13:04.70 James Kwalia C'Kurui13:07.57 Sultan Khamis Zaman13:08.02 Essa Ismail Rashed13:09.97 Ahmad Hassan Abdullah13:16.11 Felix Kikwai Kibore13:16.29 Bernard Lagatplus any steeple, 1500m, 3k, 10k, road racers, and guys that never had the chance to race a 5k sea level. Chelanga has a lot of talent. But there are 30+ of him back home. When he runs a 13:05 we can reevaluate his position.

what? ? wrote:

Calling Sam an E team Kenyan is showing that you really have no clue how talented he is.

I agree- 27 kenyan athletes ran under 13.20 this year for the 5km in what turned out to a relatively poor season for fast times.

Fastnbulbous wrote:

leroyisgood wrote:

yeah...and the guy in 13th today was right in the thick of things with Chelanga and Rupp...just like Rupp was right in the thick of things at the Olympics when he was 13th.

People should really look at the context. Rupp was "only" 13th, but it was in the deepest Olympic 10k field in history, lead by the greatest performance ever. At the end of a brutally tactical race full of surges, Bekele ran the last 1600 in 4:02 and the last 400 in 53.42 for an Olympic record. Rupp was just 35 seconds back in 27:36.

You are right, 13th really reflects all of the runners in the world... I remember the Olympic committee distinctly letting all 20 Kenyans that ran faster than Rupp throughout the year into the Olympic finals... 13th... please like 113th when you include everyone... when you are out of the top 4-6 at the modern Olympics you really can't say you are the Nth best runner in the world.... pleazzzeee

Let's see, he goes into a semi state of oxygen deprivation and then follows that up with ridiculous mid race surges after Rupp had made up so much ground that maybe, just maybe, he would bury him again with still 6K to go. Here's the answer. When Rupp made up the distance, you listen intently for his respiration as that doesn't lie. If he's breathing like a Thoroughbred at the State Fair, it's his own suicide for trying another surge. If he's breathing like John Madden in a marathon, then yes, by all means, try to bury him once and for all but for crying out loud don't break the wind for him for the rest of the race and expect a decent chance of outlasting the best distance runner the collegiate ranks have seen in a very darn long time.

so how do you suggest he not break the wind? you people who have all the answers make me laugh...

So, whether you like Rupp or not, people find ways to criticize him because he won a race? He should have made sure he had better competition at NCAA Nationals?

Reminds me of an old Woody Allen movie when he's talking to some pretentious NYC women and one of them said that she had an orgasm once, but hre analyst said it was the wrong kind. And Woody said (before he was evil) "That's interesting, even my worst orgasm was just right."

Winning a national championship race is just right in my book.

What does any of this have to do with Rupp? Winning is great but don't extrapolate beating a top 50 kenyan with being able to run with a top 10 one. Maybe Rupp can but this race does nothing to demonstrate it.

sanfrany wrote:

So, whether you like Rupp or not, people find ways to criticize him because he won a race? He should have made sure he had better competition at NCAA Nationals?

Reminds me of an old Woody Allen movie when he's talking to some pretentious NYC women and one of them said that she had an orgasm once, but hre analyst said it was the wrong kind. And Woody said (before he was evil) "That's interesting, even my worst orgasm was just right."

Winning a national championship race is just right in my book.

That is my point; what does this list have to do with Rupp? He ran NCAA XC not Worlds Championships.

Why didnt chelange shwo up to the awards ceremony?

I heard he was out running the 40/30 to prove to himself that he is better than Rupp.

you guys are getting too caught up in this.

BOTH RUNNERS WERE DOING WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD WIN THEM THE RACE.

chelenga knew the only way he could win would be if he could out-gut rupp.

and rupp knew the SIMPLEST AND EASIEST way for him to win would be if he sat and kicked on chelenga.

guys c'mon. rupp was just trying to win the NCAA XC championship, not to make a statement on the world stage. he did it. he was happy. if he won by .00001 seconds he would have been happy.

chelenga has next year.

oh and by the way, i doubt many of those A through E team Kenyans have gone to college, sadly. at least chelenga is doing what is best for his future by getting an education.

If you can get a job that will give you enough money to retire in 4 years, college might not be the right choice.

U of Chicago wrote:

oh and by the way, i doubt many of those A through E team Kenyans have gone to college, sadly. at least chelenga is doing what is best for his future by getting an education.

all running will do for these guys is get them about 10 free pairs of shoes and a chance to get out of a country that is in disarray. i wish they all could get a chance like chelenga did.

[quote]OR wrote:

If you can get a job that will give you enough money to retire in 4 years, college might not be the right choice.