Pretty bored with the whole African dominance thing now...

Fail.

If your'e bored with the Africans success, then do something about it!!! It could be "grassroots" work locally or supporting Track and Field nationally, but please don't just set on your computer and whine about it!!!!!!

Completely agree.

American have given up. They are now simple joggers.

Africans, and some other countries, are real, actual, runners.

There are no excuses. Man-up and learn how to run and race.

Why do you make the assumption I'm NOT doing something in grassroots athletics?!!!!! Why do you assume if I'm putting a post on a messageboard, then that's ALL I actually do?!!!!! And finally, why do you use so many freaking exclamation marks?!!!!!!!

they will dominate even more in the future - particular

when women enter in large numbers!!!

Watching distance races on the tracks in Europe these days is a depressing business.

A long line of African runners, looking very much like each other, especially as they’re usually all wearing the same coloured gear (usually Nike) - one doesn’t have a clue as to who most of them are - and don’t really care.

Used to be different when races involved all nationalities, with runners you knew and could identify with.

It’s no good ranting about non Africans training harder to match them - we all know by now, they simply have genetic and physiological advantages over white runners.

It’s pointless trying to compete with them.

And anybody contesting that sort of observation - please explain to a European who watched your Superbowl - with only, what, 12% of the population? - how come blacks were by far in the majority in both teams - indeed in the whole of the NFL.

'A long line of African runners, looking very much like each other,'

They probably think the dame about us - well the ignorant ones like you

'It’s no good ranting about non Africans training harder to match them - we all know by now, they simply have genetic and physiological advantages over white runners.

It’s pointless trying to compete with them.'

How come Paula Radcliffe managed it?

What a loser. America is closing the gap and showing the way forward. A lot of it is just a numbers game. EA has hundreds of full time athletes - UK & US are down to dozens. Even then they spend 3 yrs-5yrs at college falling behind. UK's Mo Farah was not born at altitude but he did what the rest of our runners should do - train with the Kenyans both over here and at altitude

You get a few of those sub 13 US guys in a championship race and one of them can medal

Yeah, if you consider 3 athletes=to about 100-200 almost completely no-name Kenyans.

I agree. Look at NBA basketball as well. Blacks are clearly endowed with better athletic abilities. Putting a chunky legged American kid on the track next to these Africans is like putting a pit bull on a track with a bunch of greyhounds. I don't think this is a racist comment or observation. I'm white but married to a black/Hispanic woman. Different groups of people in the world have clearly evolved different strengths, just as different groups of horses, dogs, etc are more suited to particular activities. You wouldn't race a draft horse. Genetically all the same species. Just certain traits selected differently depending on environment. Plenty of whites train as hard as Africans. They will not win. Choose a different sport, or better yet, just run because you like to run and forget comparing yourself with others.

I want to praise the non-Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes trying to compete with their dominance. Flanagan, Solinsky, Augosto, and many others are really producing some inspiring performances and deserve a lot of respect for taking on the challenge.

get track, not football - either version to be the dominant sport in britain and the us

The first time I saw a talented African race was in the year 2000 in a Houston indoors meet. I forgot the guy's name but I think he died of a heart attack at a young age. What was his name?

Anyhow, watching that guy run erased any doubts I would ever have as to whether Africans like him are genetically advantaged for distance running. My Italian teammate looked like a troll running next to him. He would soon get lapped as the African went under 7:55 INDOORS IN JANUARY ON A CRAPPY TRACK.

Disagree on a couple of levels:

First off, it is not a question of 'black' vs 'white'. American blacks are nowhere in the distance running picture either. It's a question of east Africa vs everywhere else in the world.

Secondly, it should be obvious that there will be people who are trying to break into the Olympic distance scene who are not east Africans, and yes, they HAVE to compare themselves with others.

I do agree with some of this. Really what is worse is that every time I see times for good runners they are compared to record holding runners. They will say they are not as good as Webb or not as good as Hasay. So if you are a boy and can only run 4:05 at 17 or 18 should you quit? How about a 13 year old girl that runs 4:40 1500. Should she quit because she wasn’t as fast as Hasay at 13? It can be very discouraging to some of the better runners.

'Plenty of whites train as hard as Africans'

Not nearly as many and even less at altitude which is what you need. If half the training camps in EA where European I might agree with you

How come Kenyans born away from the Rift valley never do anything. They are genetically the same but not born at altitude.

If you are not born at altitude you need to narrow the gap by training extensively at altitude

If you look at the build of a typical EA its the same as a working class kid from the UK 100 years ago. Thats down to diet or lack of it

The other thing you are making the mistake of thinking an elite athlete is anything like the general population. The ability to do 100m well under 12 seconds linked to fantastic natural endurance is not something 99% of the population in any country has.