I'm happy for him. Hope he makes some US teams now.
Cool. Welcome Sam. Delighted to have you aboard. Now please run fast and make the Kenyan team wish they had kept you.
So the 10000m team will be Rupp, Sam, and a toss-up between True and Derrick?
Chelanga and Rupp for 1-2
What's the waiting period for changing alliegence? 12 months? Today is August 14, 2015. The Olympic 10,000m final is August 13, 2016...
HardLoper wrote:
What's the waiting period for changing alliegence? 12 months? Today is August 14, 2015. The Olympic 10,000m final is August 13, 2016...
Actually it probably starts last time he competed in which case he would be fine, so never mind
He'll be 31 by the Rio trials.
Welcome Sam. Have always enjoyed watching you race.
Would love to see him destroy Rupp. He's so much nicer and more personable.
"So the 10000m team will be Rupp, Sam, and a toss-up between True and Derrick?"
No, not True. He has made his intentions clear he "does not like the 10k." His own words, stated in his Heusden-Zolder post-race video last month. With the Oly Trials having a 5k semi, look for him to not even be entered in the 10k which comes first.
However, Chelanga does add considerable intrigue to the 10k, especially if can stay injury free for the next 10 months and arrive at the Trials in good shape. Chelanga, Rupp, Derrick, Mead, Estrada (presuming he's not on the marathon team by then) would be the 5 favorites for the 3 spots with Kipchirchir, Rono, Vail (again, presuming not on the marathon team) pretty close behind.
At this point, only Estrada & Mead (and True) have the 28:00 Oly Q time within the Q window which began this year. Rupp & Kipchirchir could get it in Beijing if the pace allows and they are on. Chelanga & Derrick will have to wait until next year's Payton Jordan or Pre or the Trials itself.
Curious what took so long. Was he contradicted about cutting ties to Kenya?
Lagat & Khannouchia were fast-tracked; can you say Sen. Alphonse D'Amato.
Sam has been in USA since 2006; out of college since 2011.
Sworn in? I didn't even know there was a vote.
messi wrote:
Curious what took so long. Was he contradicted about cutting ties to Kenya?
Lagat & Khannouchia were fast-tracked; can you say Sen. Alphonse D'Amato.
Sam has been in USA since 2006; out of college since 2011.
You obviously have no experience with the INS bureaucracy.
I have foreign friends wrote:
messi wrote:Curious what took so long. Was he contradicted about cutting ties to Kenya?
Lagat & Khannouchia were fast-tracked; can you say Sen. Alphonse D'Amato.
Sam has been in USA since 2006; out of college since 2011.
You obviously have no experience with the INS bureaucracy.
Well Sam had an American wife & kid for starters........plus an exceptional skill.....and Dr. James Li...........and Jerry Falwell.
If he'd gotten sooner, he could of bunped Rupp of the 5k team.
I hope he can reignite their old xc rivalry.
Congratulations, Sam Chelanga!
Hey, congratulations Sam !
Welcome to the greatest country in the history of civilization.
What a beautiful family.
For all of you nativists: Sam Chelanga chose to be an American.
What have you ever done, besides being born?
messi wrote:
Curious what took so long. Was he contradicted about cutting ties to Kenya?
Lagat & Khannouchia were fast-tracked; can you say Sen. Alphonse D'Amato.
Sam has been in USA since 2006; out of college since 2011.
Lagat took approximately as long, arrived in 1996, became a citizen in 2004
Interesting to see Americans excited about a Kenyan becoming American given the xenophobic trend fueled up by presidential hopefuls and other politicians sweeping your country.
My question is: does Sam Chelanga now have to renounce his Kenyan nationality or is dual citizenship allowed in America as it is in Kenya?