rojo wrote:
Doubtful Pre Doubtful wrote:"The 77 fastest runners in the world this year at 26.2 were all born in Africa."
What is that statement based on? I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that Galen Rupp finished 3rd at Rio! The USA also had a guy named Ward who also finished in the top 10.
Marathons are run in all kinds of weather, courses, and conditions.
What is it based on? It's based on fact.
Here are the 77 fastest marathoners in 2016 according to the subscription service tilastapaja.org.
Marathon
1 2:03:03 Kenenisa Bekele ETH
2 2:03:05 Eliud Kipchoge KEN
3 2:03:13 Wilson Kipsang KEN
4 2:03:51 Stanley Biwott KEN
5 2:04:24 Tesfaye Abera ETH
6 2:04:33 Lemi Berhanu ETH
7 2:04:46 Tsegaye Mekonnen ETH
8 2:05:13 Wilson Loyanai KEN
9 2:05:16 Sisay Lemma ETH
10 2:05:21 Daniel Wanjiru KEN
11 2:05:31 Evans Chebet KEN
12 2:05:44 Mule Wasihun ETH
13 2:05:45 Sammy Kitwara KEN
14 2:05:47 Marius Kimutai KEN
15 2:05:54 Laban Korir KEN
16 2:06:07 Ezekiel Chebii KEN
17 2:06:10 Kaan Kigen Özbilen TUR
18 2:06:11 Marius Kipserem KEN
19 2:06:22 Solomon Deksisa ETH
20 2:06:25 Felix Kandie KEN
21 2:06:26 Festus Talam KEN
22 2:06:27 Geoffrey Kirui KEN
23 2:06:40 Tadesse Abraham SUI
24 2:06:45 Abayneh Ayele ETH
24 2:06:45 Bernard Kipyego KEN
26 2:06:48 Mark Korir KEN
27 2:06:51 Frankline Chepkwony KEN
28 2:06:53 Samuel Kosgei KEN
29 2:06:56 Feyisa Lilesa ETH
30 2:06:58 Felix Kiprotich KEN
31 2:07:11 Cybrian Kotut KEN
32 2:07:20 Philemon Rono KEN
33 2:07:21 Luka Kanda KEN
34 2:07:22 Martin Kosgei KEN
35 2:07:24 Lawrence Cherono KEN
36 2:07:30 Asbel Kipsang KEN
37 2:07:34 Dickson Chumba KEN
38 2:07:37 Stephen Chemlany KEN
39 2:07:39 Victor Kipchirchir KEN
40 2:07:46 Stephen Kiprotich UGA
40 2:07:46 Ghirmay Ghebreslassie ERI
42 2:07:47 Eliud Kiptanui KEN
43 2:07:48 Abera Kuma ETH
44 2:07:49 Ernest Ngeno KEN
45 2:08:03 Micah Kogo KEN
45 2:08:03 Robert Kipkorir KEN
47 2:08:04 Gilbert Koech KEN
48 2:08:06 Abel Kirui KEN
49 2:08:07 Joel Kimurer KEN
50 2:08:11 Tilahun Regassa ETH
51 2:08:12 Amos Kipruto KEN
51 2:08:12 Peter Kirui KEN
53 2:08:14 Cosmas Lagat KEN
53 2:08:14 Dino Sefer ETH
55 2:08:17 Gebretsadik Adhana ETH
56 2:08:19 Sammy Korir KEN
56 2:08:19 Wilson Chebet KEN
58 2:08:20 Ishmael Bushendich KEN
59 2:08:23 Hillary Kipchumba KEN
60 2:08:28 Alfers Lagat KEN
61 2:08:31 Solomon Yego KEN
61 2:08:31 John Mwangangi KEN
63 2:08:34 Thomas Kiplagat KEN
64 2:08:35 Gideon Kipketer KEN
65 2:08:38 Kenneth Mungara KEN
66 2:08:39 Raymond Choge KEN
67 2:08:41 Asefa Mengistu ETH
68 2:08:47 Emmanuel Keter KEN
69 2:08:48 Limenih Getachew ETH
69 2:08:48 Yemane Adhane ETH
71 2:08:51 Pius Dominic Ondoro KEN
72 2:08:53 Yitayal Atnafu ETH
72 2:08:53 Lucas Rotich KEN
74 2:08:55 Ezekiel Omullo KEN
75 2:08:56 Jacob Kendagor KEN
76 2:08:57 Patrick Makau KEN
77 2:08:58 David Kiyeng KEN
78 2:09:01 Yuki Kawauchi JPN
78 2:09:01 Ronald Korir KEN
80 2:09:05 Reuben Kerio KEN
81 2:09:06 Edwin Koech KEN
82 2:09:16 Hisanori Kitajima JPN
82 2:09:16 Laban Mutai KEN
84 2:09:19 Alphonce Felix TAN
84 2:09:19 Nobert Kigen KEN
84 2:09:19 Philip Kimutai KEN
84 2:09:19 Chala Dechase ETH
88 2:09:20 Seboka Tola ETH
89 2:09:21 Barnabas Kiptum KEN
90 2:09:24 Mesfin Teshome ETH
90 2:09:24 Elijah Kemboi KEN
92 2:09:25 Suehiro Ishikawa JPN
92 2:09:25 Duncan Maiyo KEN
94 2:09:27 Melaku Abera ETH
94 2:09:27 Birhanu Addisie ETH
94 2:09:27 Dickson Tuwei KEN
97 2:09:28 Dominic Ruto KEN
97 2:09:28 Tujuba Megersa ETH
99 2:09:29 Geoffrey Ronoh KEN
99 2:09:29 Justus Kimutai KEN
A top 10 finish in the marathon at the Olympics is GREATLY helped by the fact that only 3 Kenyans and 3 Ethiopians are allowed to enter the race.
Let's run a marathon where 1st place gets 1 million , 2nd place 990,000, 3rd place gets 980,000 all the way down to 50th place getting 500,000 and see where Jared Ward winds up. I promise you it won't be in the top 10.