Kenyan "Teenager" Wins $400 at RnR Philly Half as 2nd place "American" Finisher

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eliud-Heldy-Ngetich/461301773946993

So he is currently a New York resident.

The top runners listed their residency as their native land.

He looks 19.

He lists his intentions as wanting to represent Kenya.

It's up the Philly half marathon to determine if their top US finishers are to be citizens or just residents.

My guess is that it is just about how you fill out your entry form.

They are not going to do verification checks for this.

Not 19 by a long chalk.

It's a good sort of age to pick when starting a new life elsewhere though.

Why do you care about some kid [of whatever age] picking up $400 for running a 63:55 1/2 marathon?

Hear he has designs on your local Turkey Trot too.

dkny64 wrote:

Why do you care about some kid [of whatever age] picking up $400 for running a 63:55 1/2 marathon?

Hear he has designs on your local Turkey Trot too.

Probably.

The guy races all over the country.

He won the Green Bay Marathon in May. He won the Litchfield Hills 7.1 mile race in June. He's run Parkersburg Half Marathon, the Wheeling 5k, in Newport Beach, the Boilermaker 15k, Grandma's Marathon - where he ran 2:11.

He's a road race slut.

Still 1:28 slower than the 17 year old from Eritrea.

I was at a 5k last month a runner shows up and runs 13:46 which is the fastest 5k ever in West Virginia.

Mourad Mafout, 30, Hebron, KY

Couldn't find any results in the U.S. and no listing on Iaaf of him ever competing.

He ran the race in basketball shorts and a wife beater. Here is about halfway through the race.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=559440747424578&set=a.559434217425231.1073741840.112592398776084&type=3&theater

He took home $900 for the win and another $250 for sub 14.

Crushed Alena Reta's course record of 14:11.

Back in 6th place was this guy

Eliud Ngetich, 20, Brooklyn, NY

Apparently he is a little younger now than he was in August.

Not sure what his age has to do with anything. Last I checked you didn't have to be a certain age to run road races and win money.

Oh wait, you're trying to stir the no-african-is-the-age-they-say-they-are pot again. I see. Carry on.

there is something seriously wrong with you. It's obvious to me that you hate the American dream.

Played out wrote:

Oh wait, you're trying to stir the no-african-is-the-age-they-say-they-are pot again. I see. Carry on.

I agree and there is absolutely NO POSSIBLE WAY they are taking some little helpers to run so many races so fast.

1- He is definitely not 19

2- Why does it matter? I can understand why some people were upset that Cheserek was too old for his grade in high school, as it gave him an advantage over other competitors, but this isn't high school. If this guy listed his age as 24 instead, nothing would change. He'd still be second place and he'd still get the money.

Seyta wrote:

1- He is definitely not 19

2- Why does it matter? I can understand why some people were upset that Cheserek was too old for his grade in high school, as it gave him an advantage over other competitors, but this isn't high school. If this guy listed his age as 24 instead, nothing would change. He'd still be second place and he'd still get the money.

His age doesn't matter, his status as an American does. He's taking money for Americans. The top guys in the Philly race are just as "American" as he is - only they actually listed their country.

He is listed as Kenyan is other races, and now when there is money for U.S. finishers, suddenly he is American.

Then again, if his age doesn't matter, why would he lie about it? Why tell a pointless lie? Most likely because he is trying to attract sponsors.

As for the poster who said I was against the American Dream:

If the American Dream involves lying about your age and citizenship to cheat others out of money, then yes, I'm against the American Dream.

How much cash can these guys net over the summer after you take out the rent, agents fees, ped costs, airplane fare, food, etc. 10k? 20k?

just makin a livin wrote:

How much cash can these guys net over the summer after you take out the rent, agents fees, ped costs, airplane fare, food, etc. 10k? 20k?

makes you wonder. In the DC are we having roaming bands of Ethiopians who show up for money races only and sweep the awards. Sometimes two races in the weekend. I can't really blame them for doing this since they have the talent to sweep the awards. Seems ridiculous though at some point i.e., lying about age or residency to earn more money.

LetsRunThisTheRightWay wrote:

Probably.

The guy races all over the country.

He won the Green Bay Marathon in May. He won the Litchfield Hills 7.1 mile race in June. He's run Parkersburg Half Marathon, the Wheeling 5k, in Newport Beach, the Boilermaker 15k, Grandma's Marathon - where he ran 2:11.

He's a road race slut.

So, an African races frequently = bad.

Yuki Kawauchi races frequently = Letsrun legend.

???

Castille ran 14:42 wrote:

Still 1:28 slower than the 17 year old from Eritrea.

I was at a 5k last month a runner shows up and runs 13:46 which is the fastest 5k ever in West Virginia.

Mourad Mafout, 30, Hebron, KY

Couldn't find any results in the U.S. and no listing on Iaaf of him ever competing.

He ran the race in basketball shorts and a wife beater. Here is about halfway through the race.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=559440747424578&set=a.559434217425231.1073741840.112592398776084&type=3&theater

He took home $900 for the win and another $250 for sub 14.

Crushed Alena Reta's course record of 14:11.

Back in 6th place was this guy

Eliud Ngetich, 20, Brooklyn, NY

Apparently he is a little younger now than he was in August.

Ho Hum wrote:

So, an African races frequently = bad.

Yuki Kawauchi races frequently = Letsrun legend.

???

Though the poster you quoted referred to him as a "road slut," I think the general problem that people seem to have with him is that he is clearly falsifying information in order to win money; that's typically frowned upon under most any context. Yuki Kawauchi is well-loved because he has a full time job and does within his own country what Ngeitch is preventing our runners from doing; enjoying the support of his national running community.

On a semi-related note, let's not pretend nationalism isn't a worthwhile value. This race was subsidized in part by government funding, either directly or indirectly though the city of Philadelphia. It is only right that that money should support Americans, and that money set aside for that purpose go to that cause. A Kenyan taking American money at races is not dissimilar to a governor using state highway money to buy a luxury car; he may deserve it, but that's not what that money is meant for. Too much nationalism is obviously a problem, but there is nothing wrong with people supporting the interests of those with whom they identify.

Highly suspicious.

Is the course legit? Awful lot of fast times for some modest dough. Yes, lot of dough for a charity 5k, but in real terms its not much.

I cant identify that name either. It seems improbable that some unknown dude just breaks off a 13:46.

Pseudonym? Anyone recognize him?

Ho Hum wrote:

So, an African races frequently intentionally for money while falsifying information to do so = bad.

Yuki Kawauchi races frequently while working a full-time job and proving what's possible by running marathons and HMs back-to-back-to-back= Letsrun legend.

???

Fixed.

The quote I replied to said nothing about falsifying information. It was a long negative post entirely about someone racing a lot.

You had question marks, as if asking "What gives?" So I told you the difference between them.