Impressive depth: US is almost on par with Kenya in top 100 ranked athletes for mid-distance/distance track events!!!

Source?

Raptured wrote:

Source?

that list means nothing without the marathon.

Only Half Troll wrote:

that list means nothing without the marathon.

The point was about TRACK events. But you're right, and this is a trend probably. It seems like there are more Kenyans/Ethiopians on the roads, and less in the track.

Or, they're "one and done" in the track. A few appearances on the Eurocircuit ina given year, and boom, they run sub 61 or sub 2:08 in the following season.

might access to races recorded by IAAF not play an important role? how many Kenyans have ran an officiel race so far?

top 10 or 15 athletes would be more relevant.

Its quality that matters not quantity. Every one of the Ethiopians athletes is capable of winning a medal. Can you say the same about the US athletes? Doubt it!

Athlet X wrote:

Its quality that matters not quantity. Every one of the Ethiopians athletes is capable of winning a medal. Can you say the same about the US athletes? Doubt it!

Right and when a US guy medals (men, rupp, ritz at world half, leo etc..) then it doesn't matter because it is the depth where Kenya really beats us.

Only Half Troll wrote:

that list means nothing without the marathon.

If we're discounting the validity of the list based on what other athletes could potentially do, I would like to follow through with your logic and say that the list is also incomplete without factoring in all the US athletes who never try running at all, but have tremendous talent for it.

this list is bs. Kenya is the supreme running country and the us is just happy to carry its jock strap. the us has a bunch of whiny no good runners who accomplish jackshit. KENYA IS THE RUNNING EMPIRE!!

Americans have made amazing progress on the track in events over 400m in the last several years.

Here is a comparison of US runners in 1999 vs. 2012 for select events:

800m- under 1:45: 1999 (3), 2012 (6)

1500m- under 3:40: 1999 (12), 2012 (40+)

5000m- under 13:30: 1999 (3), 2012 (17)

10000m- under 28:00: 1999 (2), 2012 (14)

I am not sure of the explanation for this, but it is serious progress.

I am concerned about colleges getting rid of track programs, though.

That may cause a regression.

stick with eharmony wrote:

this list is bs. Kenya is the supreme running country and the us is just happy to carry its jock strap. the us has a bunch of whiny no good runners who accomplish jackshit. KENYA IS THE RUNNING EMPIRE!!

lol doesn't anyone even pay attention to you anymore? guess i am now.. find anyone yet?

I thought Leo was Mexican? wasn't here celebrating with the Mexican flag?

its amazing what just a little testing can do.

Well lagats a kenyan.

eliminating the doppers on the list, it would look even better.

Wrong. You never hear about the 20th or 25th best Kenyan, because they don't get to run in international meets and no one knows their name. The 30th best US runner in a given event still gets to run in meets people hear about. We're getting better, but not as good as those lists make it sound.

The questioner wrote:

might access to races recorded by IAAF not play an important role? how many Kenyans have ran an officiel race so far?

Exactly.

This happens every year, as the USA has the NCAA and indoor season, plus the USA champs already, while the euro circuit hasn't barely started. Take a look at the list in September.

No one care about May and June all-stars. It's the pro equivalent of a Tuesday all-American.

stick with eharmony wrote:

this list is bs. Kenya is the supreme running country and the us is just happy to carry its jock strap. the us has a bunch of whiny no good runners who accomplish jackshit. KENYA IS THE RUNNING EMPIRE!!

If I was seated next to you at Mercury pub in Lavington, Nairobi, or even Casablanca pub also in Nairobi, I'd have asked the waiter to give you one.

We are the running empire. So far, that is cast in iron. We hope it stays that way.