the mighty rcs wrote:
longjack wrote:that was podium rupp right there.
As long as the best African runners keep ignoring the 10,000 and the distance is a B-level event?
OK.
Yes, it's always talked about how the half-marathon and marathon, or distance road races (5k, 10k) all draw the East African talent away from the track. But? How will we ever know? Because if you change the variables--more money on the track--then it's hard not to have to consider ramifications/possibilities of that logic... what if there were more money and attention worldwide on distance running and track events? If track were as supported and monied as professional team sports in America, there surely would be some American home-grown talents in the upper echelons of distance running. Although, the facts seem to support that the paltry money and intense competition seems to obscure from worldview the insane talent pool in East Africa, even for all the athletes who manage to get out and compete in/for other countries. ...In an alternate universe, with track and field a billion dollar sport, ... 300 East Africans a year running under 26:50, 12:50, 3:32, etc. Whew!