Clifford O Clavin wrote:
A Canadian is better at the same age than this supposedly legendary U.S. distance runner.
False.
Rupp is three years older than Levins. Three years ago, in spring of 2009, this was Rupp\'s resume:
2007 World Championship finalist 10,000 meters
2008 Olympic Games finalist 10,000 meters
13:18 indoor 5,000 meters (American record)
7:44 indoor 3,000 meters
27:33 10,000 meters
2009 NCAA XC champ
2009 indoor champion at 3k, 5k, and anchor of winning DMR
2009 outdoor champion at 5k & 10k
14-time All American, 5-time individual champion
Even if Levins wins the 5,000 tomorrow, and he is the favorite, here is his resume so far:
13:18 5,000 meters
27:27 10,000 meters
7:45 3,000 indoor meters
2012 outdoor champion at 10k and possibly 10k
6-time All American, 2-time individual champion
With Rupp\'s deep resume, I don\'t think you can call Levins better based on 6 seconds in the 10,000. And that 27:33 pr for Rupp in spring of 2009 was an old pr from 2007 anyway. Do you remember how dominant Rupp was his senior year? NCAA champ, destroyed people indoors, destroyed people outdoors. This year Levins didn\'t win XC and came in 3rd and 4th in his events indoors. This one is crystal clear.