Can we stop the talk that a white American can't medal at the distance races in a WC or OG?

Part of it comes down to who is less afraid of the risks that come with doping. The person who can accept more risk when drugging up will be in the catbird seat...bottom line.

Teg doesn't run the 10k but he I'm pretty sure he runs a decent 5000.

here you go wrote:

Teg doesn't run the 10k but he I'm pretty sure he runs a decent 5000.

He got 4th you dolt.

Shalane Flanagan however does run the 10000

As does Kara Goucher.

uhmm..no. the Africans will be ready when it matters, and they will never allow a mzungu to beat them in the Olympics or WC.

I'm with you. It is amazing how much different US distance running is now than 1 year ago at this time. While Africa is obviously deeper it seems like US depth is improving a lot while the Africans are barely improving or improving very slowly.

I'm not predicting that US will be the distance capital of the world any time soon or that a US guy will breaking the WR. I'm just saying watch out for a few of the Mzungos.

Well it's already happened with Kastor and Flanagan. It sure looks like there's some quality depth on the men's side that will give the U.S. men a solid shot at winning some medals.

I will tell you why. The top guys can hang at championship pace after all the rounds and then drop a 52 second closing 400 in the 5K and 10K. No American Whiteboy can. Pretty simple and that is why. I hope I am proven wrong in the future, but that's about it.

dude. it's not an issue. already done did it. shalane, shannon, kara, and deena have won major medals at recent outdoor worlds, olys, and major marathons. the white race will survive ;-)

XC 2010 wrote:

I'm with you. It is amazing how much different US distance running is now than 1 year ago at this time. While Africa is obviously deeper it seems like US depth is improving a lot while the Africans are barely improving or improving very slowly.

I'm not predicting that US will be the distance capital of the world any time soon or that a US guy will breaking the WR. I'm just saying watch out for a few of the Mzungos.

Blame Salazar.

"Can we stop the talk that a white American can't medal at the distance races in a WC or OG?"

What idiot says that? White Americans have won middle or long distance medals at the 2003 World Cross Country Championships, 2004 World Indoor Championship, 2004 Olympics, 2007 World Championships, 2008 Olympics, 2009 World Championships, and 2009 World Half Marathon Championships. Great Britain would kill for half of that.

And by the way, a lot of America isn't white.

latently homosexual teenager wrote:

I will tell you why. The top guys can hang at championship pace after all the rounds and then drop a 52 second closing 400 in the 5K and 10K.

List who can so that today besides Bekele. A healthy Sihine can come close, but Tadesse can't do that. Gebremariam can't, Merga can't. The former Albert Chepkururi did it off of a reasonable pace in 2003 but he's done now. Chebii is also done, and Shaheen isn't yet is former self.

So who are "all these guys" that can run 13min pace and run 52 foe the last 400m. Lagat hasn't even done that, not in London or Berlin or in Oslo.