Has U.S. distance finally arrived?

Yes. Let's see, 10 000 AR and 5000 AR already this year, and possibly a 3000 AR, half-marathon AR from Ritz, and marathon AR from Hall.

American distance running in 2010 is as good as it has ever been.

It was just a few years ago that a few of us were listing off 5-6 potential guys that could go under 13 and it seemed like most people who responded thought that was simply fantasy. Solinsky was just one of the runners mentioned and most would have laughed him off along with Rupp and Ritz. Just last summer a few of us were saying that Ritz and Rupp have the ability to break both 13 and 27 and very few would acknowledge that, and now Chris Solinsky has gone and done it. Times have changed.

Haven't you heard?

Track is dying sport.

People keep saying that. Why, I don't know.

I'd say it has. Just bought my tickets for the Pre Classic, can't wait to watch Solinsky and co. break 13 on American soil!

I think it might even go back to Meb and Deena Kastor winning medals in the Olympic marathon. It's a very exciting time for U.S. distance running.

yep that's right

at pre.

3 of em.

Solinsky, Lagat, Galen.

I thought Rupp hadn't committed to the 5 at Pre and was leaning toward the mile?

Wondering what the status is on Teg, Jager and Ritz at this point. Kind of sucks that along with Webb 4 of our top 7 are hampered.

I know know what you are talking about but the only major outdoor U.S. distance medalists in recent times are Meb, Kastor, Rowbury, Flanagan, Lagat, and Kara Goucher. The others you mention still haven't won anything. Lagat is a 7-time Summer Olympic and World Outdoor medalist.

toro wrote:

Haven't you heard?

Track is dying sport.

People keep saying that. Why, I don't know.

From the Oslo Diamond League website:

Most Popular Events:

1. 100m Heat 1

2. Discus

3. 100m Heat 2

4. Pole Vault

5. 800m

More sports Stories from SI:

June 4

Powell wins 100 in Oslo in wind-aided 9.72

Powell wins 100m in Oslo in wind-assisted 9.72

TRACK is doing better than in a long time, thanks to Bolt.

Distance running is being phased out (see the IAAF World Cross biannual)

Yes, right about the level where the Africans were running at the beginning of the '90s. So we've arrived at being behind the best in the world by 20 years instead of 30?

Perspectivation wrote:

I thought Rupp hadn't committed to the 5 at Pre and was leaning toward the mile?

Wondering what the status is on Teg, Jager and Ritz at this point. Kind of sucks that along with Webb 4 of our top 7 are hampered.

But how awesome is it that with 4 of our top 7 hampered we have 2 under 12:57 and 2 under (1 at) 27:10?

And Fernandez is having an off year...lots of other great college guys...meanwhile in HS times are still great...

It should be a great decade...

Except that the Africans haven't gotten much better in the last decade (except the marathon)...but yeah the hill is very steep at the top...long way to go but heading in the right direction.

I was around in late 80s early 90s where having an American on the T&FN top 50 times at the end of the year was not a given...I recall a year where 28:20 was the top US time in the 10k...

Well Lagat won a lot of those medals while running for Kenya. Nothing wrong with that - it's just that they are medals that belong to the Kenyan medal count, not the U.S.

he's been here a long time. the dude is old now. he won 4 out of his 7 major medals for the usa.

4 out of 7 wrote:

he's been here a long time. the dude is old now. he won 4 out of his 7 major medals for the usa.

KEN

Sydney bronze

Edmonton silver

Budapest gold

Athens silver

USA

Osaka gold

Osaka gold

Berlin bronze

Berlin silver

Doha gold

Webb needs to get his ass in gear and soon. He's been nonexistent for the last 2 yrs. I hope he can get his training and dietary programs fixed. The clock is ticking on his career @ 27.

Yeah, I only said I don't see the point of claiming his medals won while wearing the Kenyan singlet in international competition. He's won 5 medals for the U.S. and 5 for Kenya. Again, nothing wrong with that. Congrats on the AR in the 5000!

The survey sez Summer Olympics, IAAF Outdoor Worlds are major medals. WIC nor WXC aren't majors. Lagat has:

KEN

Sydney bronze

Edmonton silver

Athens silver

USA

Osaka gold

Osaka gold

Berlin bronze

Berlin silver