Where is Kennedy Kithuka?

The NCAA is a graveyard for young Kenyan talent. I'd stay the hell away if I was the athletes. Get your education by all means, but don't run for them.

El Keniano wrote:

The NCAA is a graveyard for young Kenyan talent. I'd stay the hell away if I was the athletes. Get your education by all means, but don't run for them.

El Keniano, you probably do not understand the system. It works fine. Most USA runners went through NCAA and they are very successful. Also Blessings Ogb of Nigeria, Chris Brown of Bahamas, Kirani James and others went through NCAA. And don't forget Bernard Lagat, the great Henry Ronoh, Samson Kimombwo, Peter Ronoh, Paul Ereng nurtured their talent through NCAA as well. It is the best system. The problem with the likes of Kithuka and many other Kenyans is financial support. While in college, their meals and rent is paid for by the scholarship and that is why they can afford to just study and train. After college, they are on their own. They have to get an 8 hour, 5 days a week job to afford food and rent. In addition they have financial obligations back home in Kenya where they support their younger siblings and parents. They end up doing not just one but several jobs to get by. That hardly leaves any time and energy to train. That is the real reason why a lot of Kenyans disappear after NCAA. Get them a full sports sponsorship that guarantees some good pocket money straight after NCAA and you will see how these guys and girls will spring to the top of the running world. Sally Kipyego and now the guys in WCAP are lucky and shows what support can do. Some of those guys in WCAP weren't even the best in NCAA but look where they are now.

El Keniano wrote:

The NCAA is a graveyard for young Kenyan talent. I'd stay the hell away if I was the athletes. Get your education by all means, but don't run for them.

Is this a joke?

Bernard Lagat who has probably the longest and best track career of any Kenyan (now American) is a product of the NCAA system. Sally Kipyego has had a fabulous career as well. Paul Chelimo has an Olympic silver medal and he was nothing special in Kenya.

Brother Colm even talked to my brother about it. Unless you are a superstar at 17 in Kenya, it's very tough so the NCAA is great if you want to develop.

rojo wrote:

El Keniano wrote:

The NCAA is a graveyard for young Kenyan talent. I'd stay the hell away if I was the athletes. Get your education by all means, but don't run for them.

Is this a joke?

Bernard Lagat who has probably the longest and best track career of any Kenyan (now American) is a product of the NCAA system. Sally Kipyego has had a fabulous career as well. Paul Chelimo has an Olympic silver medal and he was nothing special in Kenya.

Brother Colm even talked to my brother about it. Unless you are a superstar at 17 in Kenya, it's very tough so the NCAA is great if you want to develop.

Seriously I wonder, at times, if anyone has sat down with you and helped you learn how to have constructive conversations with people rather than just starting things off by firing out your opinions.

Yes, this is probably not a joke. For all the examples you just gave, I'm sure the poster could name a number of Kenyan athletes who have not done well under the American system. Look at the thread title. A better question is why some very talented Kenyan runners do not go on to have success at the next level after moving through the American system?

For every Kenyan runner who succeeds after NCAA, there are three others who were over-raced and burned by their college coaches.

Case in point Peter Rono

http://kenyapage.net/commentary/kenya-sports-commentary/1988-olympics-glancing-peter-rono-shocks-a-world-class-field/

Didnt Chelima quit after 2 years?

The real key is to not go to a track team competing for national championships or trying to score a ton. Actually, it seems like all of the guys who were competing for wins at NCAAs early on and then double and tripled at conference and nationals are done. This goes for Americans (hi AJ and Mac!) as well as Kenyans (Boaz, Lalang, et al.).

I wonder if its an adrenal gland issue.

Joplas wrote:

For every Kenyan runner who succeeds after NCAA, there are three others who were over-raced and burned by their college coaches.

Case in point Peter Rono

http://kenyapage.net/commentary/kenya-sports-commentary/1988-olympics-glancing-peter-rono-shocks-a-world-class-field/

This is true of collegians in general, not Kenyans specifically.

Surprise, it turns out it is hard to move to the next level of the sport!

The letter why wrote:

[quote]Joplas wrote:

This is true of collegians in general, not Kenyans specifically.

Surprise, it turns out it is hard to move to the next level of the sport!

+1

My guess is that he decided to capitalize on his college education, utilize his degree (you know, why you are SUPPOSED to college), and got a real job making real money.

+1but but bernard lagat! so there! point proven

Higher Ed wrote:

My guess is that he decided to capitalize on his college education, utilize his degree (you know, why you are SUPPOSED to college), and got a real job making real money.

So what visa is KK currently operating on? Since his student visa has expired. You people assume foreign collegians can stay in USA for eternity.

Last I saw him he was walking on the side of the road at the Falmouth Road Race last year

I more closely agree with OP than rojo. All of you who are fans of the NCAA concept will remain so. It accomplishes little to try to convince e everyone that it is a waste of talent and whatever physical resources are in finite supply. That is what I think, however, and Lagat is an exception. KK is not - Chez is just another recent example of someone who was a big fish due solely to being in a small pond - which NCAA is now. Once upon a time this was less true - remember Rono - but like German Fernandez, Rono's peak years were spent in collegiate competition.

If you consider it to be the highlight of your life or running career (think of the other guys in Running with the Buffaloes) then it's worthwhile perhaps. If you consider it a stepping-stone to something greater, I would say look at world record lists and get back on the Board if you find any 800 or longer set by someone who participated in any school-based competition at any point. Lagat and Webb were in the record ballpark but Webb realized it was a mistake and Bernie is the lone exception.

roadracewalker wrote:

Last I saw him he was walking on the side of the road at the Falmouth Road Race last year

Same with ches. Done with school and as far as we know no contract yet. So how is he allowed to stay in the USA and who is paying his bills?

Yeah because Kenyan "juniors" who stay in Kenya have a great chance of developing. How's Timothy Kitum, Robert Biwott, Leonard Kosencha, Abraham Kipchirchir, Geoffrey Barusei... etc doing.

Barnabas Kirui is the real winner in life. He got 6th at NCAA's in cross country, while training under the older Walker, and went on to get his masters in accounting and CPA. He then went to work for PwC. Very intelligent and very kind human being. I met him at a meet in Texas where Ole Miss was competing after he had graduated and was working for PwC. He was the nicest guy, and very personable. He made us laugh, as he was wearing cowboy boots and had clearly adopted Texas as his new home. All of the people on the Ole Miss team loved him, and considered him a good friend.

Mombasa Camp wrote:

El Keniano wrote:

The NCAA is a graveyard for young Kenyan talent. I'd stay the hell away if I was the athletes. Get your education by all means, but don't run for them.

It is the best system.

No its not. Far more runners are getting burned out by the system than they should. Which isn't strange as they are running weekend after weekend after weekend. Its a reason runners who live in other nations or go pro early doesn't do that, its not the best way to reach the top. It doesn't mean you won't be able to get good athletes from the system, but it is not the BEST system. Its a great system for people who are sub par talents and aren't going on to be pro runners.

I saw him win the 5K at the Baltimore Running Festival a few years ago.

https://marathons.ahotu.com/archives/2534-results-baltimore-running-festival

Didn't realize it was him until they announced the results.

I hate it when people here rip Brojos (when it makes no sense to) just to exercise their rights to "free speech". Should be kicked off.