Khalid Khannouchi: Legitimate Reason for not even attempting to compete for the U.S. in the WC Helsinki Marathon?

I have no personal beef against Khannouchi...I used to be a fan in fact. Until it became apparent that, despite his professed love for the US, he could not find time in his schedule for a race that did not pay him a big appearance fee.

He's not running in the World Champs because they won't pay him handsomely to. Just like he was "injured" for the February 2004 Trials but competing two months later.

Elden Campbell wrote:I have seen no USATF official call Khalid out about this;

Maybe because he doesn't live in East Germany?

I'd love to represent my country (Canada), but that doesn't mean everyone has to. It's a bit like working in the private sector for much more money, although it's certainly much more distasteful in KK's case.

Seriously, if someone is going to tell me to say that to his face, or to ask for my PBs, please don't, it's a really lame counter-argument.

OK OK im NOT a big K.K. fan(or even a small one) , never was.

But since win does being a good runner mean you HAVE to do what the USATF wants you to do.

Hell. i can shout a gun and follow orders , but i dont want to be drafted.

Competing just for the money is very American, so I don't see anything wrong with it. Many of you think KK owes something to you and America for some dam reason. Why don't we ask the wealthy of this country to donate their earnings for the next 20 years to charity! Obviously it is an absurd request, but that is about what you are asking KK to do. KK has/had about 10 years worth of serious earnings power and you guys want him to give up half of it.

I just wanted to say that the post above has terrible grammar. And KK would get owned. That is all.

I agree completely. I recall the flak Mac Wilkins took in 1976 after he won the Olympic discus and said afterward that he competed for himself, not his country because his country had done nothing to help him win the medal. And Wilkins was right.

KK can run where he wants and not run where he doesn't want. It's his business. USATF isn't going to set him up for life if he wins a gold medal.I don't begrudge him the chance to make piles of money. You won't see a major league baseball player sitting out the season in an Olympic year so that he can go help Team USA win a baseball gold medal and no one criticizes MLB players for staying where the money is.

On the other hand, Khalid and his fans should not cry when he/they feel as though he's underappreciated, that he doesn't get the endorsement deals some other fast marathoner with a non-Moslem sounding name would get, or when people wonder if he's using illegal performance enhancing drugs. I assume that he's managed his career so that his best interests are covered, but that doing that will not necessarily buy a lot of good will.

HRE, you've just written the best post on this subject ever; perhaps the most cogent argument to date on letsrun. Kudos!

E wrote:

HRE, you've just written the best post on this subject ever; perhaps the most cogent argument to date on letsrun. Kudos!

Gosh. And I've just knocked back two 16oz beers. Maybe I'll get a third and see what I can manage. Thanks.

First of all, he isn't qualified to be selected to the team. The order is:

Twin Cities winner (Scott Larson) he did run under the standard of 2:18, so he goes if he wants to.

Then, the go down the list from the OLY Trials marathon. All those who ran under 2:18. Since KK didn't run the trials, and I'm sure we can find two others who ran under 2:18 on that day who wants to go, KK isn't running.

Incorrect. Khalid cetainly does qualify for that team. As do many other top USA athletes. However it is far more complicated than just picking from a list. A lot of variables come into play.

Please get your facts correct before making such bold statements. You are correct about Scott Larson, but he still has to prove fitness.

Please see below for team selection procedures. Selection procedures are slightly different for men and women.

All of the top guys on this list have been informed that they have until April 30 to declare their interest in representing the USA at the WC in Helsinki. Some athletes from the top of this list have already said they are not available, and some are available, and some will let us know their decision by the deadline. It is complex, and athletes and coaches have a variety of reasons for wanting to, or wanting not to run in Helsinki.

The team will be selected in early May, and athletes will have to demonstrate fitness in the eyes of the selectors.

Below those selection procedures is the list of top USA athletes from 2004. But athletes still have until April 30, 2005 to qualify for this team. This timeframe allows the selectors to take into consideration the Spring marathon season.

http://www.usatf.org/events/2005/IAAFWorldOutdoorChampionships/entry/

Marathon Selection Procedures

Team size: 5 men, 5 women

Team Composition

Men's automatic selections: Two (2) positions will be chosen (based on rank order of finish) from among the top ten (10) finishers at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon, and one (1) position will be chosen (based on rank order of finish) from the 2004 Twin Cities Marathon, provided the performance is sub-2:16.

Women's automatic selections: Two (2) positions will be chosen (based on rank order of finish) from among the top ten (10) finishers at the 2004 Twin Cities Marathon, provided the IAAF "A" standard is met.

Men's at-large selections: Two (2) athletes will be chosen from a time list for the marathon from February 7, 2004, to April 30, 2005.

Women's at-large selections: Three (3) athletes will be chosen from a time list for the marathon from April 4, 2004, to April 30, 2005.

Team Selection Process

Priority for at-large selections will be given to performances at USA Championships and/or events named as selection races.

Road performances used to evaluate potential team members must be run on USATF-certified courses.

Track performances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Performances at similar distances may be used for specific team selections (e.g., 20 km for half marathon).

For promotional and travel purposes, all teams will be named at least 30 days prior to the event (unless otherwise noted), with the exception of substitutions based on illness, injury, or fitness.

Athletes must accept or reject an offered team position within 48 hours after receiving an invitation.

In the case of the need for a substitute, the team coach/manager and USATF will agree on a replacement athlete.

Active athletes on the selection committee will exclude themselves from decisions regarding teams for which they hope to be selected.

USATF reserves the right to name athletes who have demonstrated exceptional fitness, provided the athlete has expressed interest and demonstrated fitness at least 30 days prior to the selection of the team. When and where applicable, any selected athlete must show proof of fitness to the satisfaction of the selection committee.

Final selections will be made by USATF at the discretion of the selection committee.

http://www.arrs.net/PY_Mara2.htm

Year 2004 Performances- Marathon Road

USA Men

2:08:44 ( 5) Khalid Khannouchi (NY) 22 Dec 1971 10 Oct 2004 Chicago IL USA

2:09:53 a ( 2) Mebrahtom Keflezighi (CA) 05 May 1975 07 Nov 2004 New York NY USA

2:09:55 ( 3) Mbarak Hussein (NM) 04 Apr 1965 07 Nov 2004 Seoul KOR

2:11:29 a ( 2) Mebrahtom Keflezighi- 2 05 May 1975 29 Aug 2004 Athens GRE

2:11:42 a ( 1) Alan Culpepper (CO) 15 Sep 1972 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:11:47 a ( 2) Mebrahtom Keflezighi- 3 05 May 1975 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:12:02 a ( 3) Dan Browne (OR) 24 Jun 1975 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:12:35 a ( 4) Trent Briney (MI) 18 Aug 1978 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:13:22 (11) Brian Sell (MI) 11 Apr 1978 10 Oct 2004 Chicago IL USA

2:14:00 ( 3) Mbarak Hussein- 2 04 Apr 1965 12 Dec 2004 Honolulu HI USA

10

2:14:02 a ( 2) Peter Gilmore (CA) 11 May 1977 05 Dec 2004 Sacramento CA USA

2:14:08 a ( 9) Ryan Shay (MI) 04 May 1979 07 Nov 2004 New York NY USA

2:14:11 ( 3) Scott Larson (CO) 24 Dec 1969 03 Oct 2004 Saint Paul MN USA

2:14:37 a ( 5) Clint Verran (MI) 17 May 1975 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:15:03 a ( 6) Scott Larson- 2 24 Dec 1969 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:15:18 a ( 7) Josh Cox (CA) 09 Aug 1975 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:15:26 a (12) Alan Culpepper- 2 15 Sep 1972 29 Aug 2004 Athens GRE

2:15:44 a ( 8) Peter Gilmore- 2 11 May 1977 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:16:27 a ( 9) Jason Lehmkuhle (MN) 04 Oct 1977 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:16:28 ( 6) Teren Jameson (UT) 26 Apr 1977 03 Oct 2004 Saint Paul MN USA

20

2:16:50 a (10) Keith Dowling (VA) 04 Jul 1969 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:17:00 a (11) Kevin Collins (NM) 10 Mar 1971 07 Feb 2004 Birmingham AL USA

2:17:06 ( 7) Christopher Banks (VA) 03 Mar 1978 03 Oct 2004 Saint Paul MN USA

2:17:09 a (14) Abdihakim Abdirahman (AZ) 01 Jan 1977 07 Nov 2004 New York NY USA

2:17:17 a ( 8) Nick Cordes (OH) 1979 05 Dec 2004 Sacramento CA USA

USA Women

2:27:20 a ( 3) Deena Kastor (CA) 14 Feb 1973 22 Aug 2004 Athens GRE

2:28:25 ( 1) Colleen deReuck (CO) 13 Apr 1964 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:28:33 ( 7) Marla Runyan (OR) 04 Jan 1969 10 Oct 2004 Chicago IL USA

2:29:38 ( 2) Deena Kastor- 2 14 Feb 1973 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:29:57 ( 3) Jennifer Rhines (PA) 01 Jul 1974 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:30:32 ( 4) Blake Russell (MA) 24 Jul 1975 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:30:50 ( 5) Magdalena Lewy (CA) 01 Aug 1973 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:31:53 ( 6) Heather Hanscom (VA) 16 Nov 1977 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:32:04 ( 9) Blake Russell- 2 24 Jul 1975 10 Oct 2004 Chicago IL USA

2:33:15 ( 7) Sara Wells (MN) 19 Mar 1979 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

10

2:33:36 (10) Jenni Spangler (IL) 20 Jul 1963 10 Oct 2004 Chicago IL USA

2:34:21 ( 8) Deeja Youngquist (NM) 30 Mar 1977 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:34:44 ( 9) Susannah Beck (ME) 01 May 1968 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:36:07 ( 5) Jill Boaz (CA) 21 Jan 1967 03 Oct 2004 Saint Paul MN USA

2:36:30 (10) Jenni Spangler- 2 20 Jul 1963 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:37:28 (11) Linda Somers (CA) 07 May 1961 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:37:36 (12) Jennifer Crain (WI) 12 Feb 1968 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:37:38 ( 6) Turena Lane (GA) 20 Jul 1975 03 Oct 2004 Saint Paul MN USA

2:37:49 (13) Cori Mooney (ID) 1973 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:38:15 ( 7) Liz Wilson (OR) 09 Jun 1968 03 Oct 2004 Saint Paul MN USA

20

2:38:18 (14) Liz Wilson- 2 09 Jun 1968 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:38:44 (15) Lori Stich (TX) 01 May 1970 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

2:39:54 ( 1) Emily LeVan (ME) 15 Jan 1973 03 Oct 2004 Portland ME USA

2:40:08 ( 8) Janelle Kraus (NY) 13 Dec 1977 03 Oct 2004 Saint Paul MN USA

2:40:14 (16) Beth Old (GA) 05 Oct 1974 03 Apr 2004 St Louis MO USA

Last Updated on 10 Jan 2005

Why the need to pick on Khalid for his lack of patriotism?

2:08:44 Khalid Khannouchi

2:09:53 Mebrahtom Keflezighi

2:09:55 Mbarak Hussein

2:11:42 Alan Culpepper

Those are the next 4 that should be selected 2 from the trials and 2 from a timed list. Any bets on how many will choose to wear the Red-White and Blue?

The best route to riches for an american marathoner is to win the Olympic marathon and other world events subsequent to that olympic medal. Internationally, including the US, KK's appearance fees would have gone through the roof, along with endorsements had he copped a gold in 2000. He would have been the human interest story during build up and coverage for 2004. A second medal would have made him a household word. It's hard to imagine any agent advising a world class american marathoner that if he wants to maximize his earning during his peak years he should avoid the national team and the international spotlight.

He's a Muslim and doesn't want to represent the US.

Against my better judgment, I am responding to an anonymous troll, but this type of racism is totally inappropriate.

Absolutely wrong. Totally stupid comment.

And very likely Khlaid will be representing the USA in international competition this year. Discussions have already taken place.

Well, big boy, I've been saying this for quite some time now and he still hasn't represented the US in anything.

Watch those negotiations to break down or for something to "suddenly come up" that prevents him from running.

Just an opinion.

HRE, I agree, that was a good post. You are definitely one of the few voices of reason on this board.

And for all of the people busting KK's balls about not representing his country when he gets the chance, I didn't hear the same outcry when Webb and Broe turned down their spots on the 4k World Cross team.

Jamey Carville wrote:

Well, big boy, I've been saying this for quite some time now and he still hasn't represented the US in anything.

Just an opinion.

Yes, you are wrong...Khalid HAS represented the US in int'l comp. This is not an opinion.

The nut of your argument, as Glenn has noted, is specious and w/out merit.

I agree that Khalid has the right to run wherever he wants, but you also have to admit that his fans have a right to feel let down when you read the comments he has made on his desire to represent his adopted country. A few quotes from khannouchi.com before Sydney:

I have meant everything I have said about how important it is for me to run for the United States.

I'm happy to think about representing the USA the way that I really promised and the way that I wanted.

Right now the Trials and a chance to make the Olympic team is my main priority.

The only thing that disappoints me about Khalid is how his body is so injury prone the last four years. I truly believe that if his body were in one piece for the Olympic trials he would have run it and gone to the Olympics. If he were always skipping Oly and WC events to make money we wouldn't have seen him drop out of London this year. Also there are a ton of other Americans who routinely deny going to World Cross champs (as another poster notes) but they hardly get any grief.