Why in the heck did a KENYAN not break 4:00 before roger banister?

Because Kenyan kids had cell phones and video games and played soccer, while a British kids were running to school and loved track.

And Kenya boycotted two consecutive Olympics in 1976 and 1980.

Absolutely agree. Knew as soon as Sir Roger's passing was announced this morning that this particular thread would inevitability appear on this "running" site. Horrible cesspool mentality here. V disappointing that this hasn't been removed. R.I.P. Sir Roger.

Rono. wrote:

the430miler wrote:

Were white people genetically and physiologically superior in that time period?

Have a bit of respect please, of all days you post this. DIsgusting pondweed that frequent these boards.

What commonwealth games and european championships were the USA allowed to compete in?

the430miler wrote:

Were white people genetically and physiologically superior in that time period?

You guys seem to think that Kenyans today are on a different level to Europeans, like 20 seconds faster or something. The best Kenyan today, Kiprop, at his very best ran a time ( high 3:261500m) that Coe, Ovett, Cram were probably capable of 30 years ago with a bit more luck regarding pacemakers, unfortunate injuries and ill health etc, never mind with today's Nike shoes, Mondo Monaco tracks, EPOd up Moroccan competition etc Not to mention Kiprop's dodgy biological profile and connections with coaches that have been busted for supplying PEDs.

Also, and I know this is a bit complex for some of you, but demographics play a part too. The population of Kenya in 1954 was 6 million. Today it's 60 million. It's quite probably that in 1954 there was not one Kenyan alive who had even the potential to run a 4 minute mile, at least not on a cinders track in plimsoles with the limited training knowledge at the time and studying 60 hours a week at Oxford to become a world renowned neurologist.

Earlier today I posted about Ronnie O'Sullivan, a full time Snooker player (and the best in history), who after a lifetime of cocaine and alcohol addiction turned to hobby jogging at 30 and ran a 34 second 10K within a couple of years (and, according to his biography, going out on a bender the night before the race). Kenyans compete in one sport - distance running. Europeans compete in 101 different sports. If you take one country (Kenya) with 20 million young, healthy males all dreaming of being Olympic champion at 1500m, and compare it to another (the UK) with maybe 3 million young, healthy (as in active and not obese) males who have 100 different sports to choose from, then you must be retarded (or more likely an inverse racist) to assume that because only one or two Brits now would get into the top 10 Kenyan 1500 list, it means Kenyans are genetically superior and could have run sub 3:50 miles 70 years ago.

Kip Keino (1965) was the first Kenyan to run sub-4

truefacts.org

The first established Track in Kenya wasn't even until the early 60's man. Those guys just ran around dirt circles and had no clue how far it was or anything. Also the assistance of GPS is what has really launched Kenyans into the spotlight.

BECAUSE IT wrote:

The first established Track in Kenya wasn't even until the early 60's man. Those guys just ran around dirt circles and had no clue how far it was or anything. Also the assistance of GPS is what has really launched Kenyans into the spotlight.

Exaggeration. The Kenyan Athletics Association was created in 1951 thanks to evil Whitey and was quickly staging international meets. The first Kenyan medalist was in 1964.

As far as GPS is concerned, Kenyans have gone backwards since the 1990's relative to population size (which has doubled since the 90s while Europe and even white USA is falling). Actually, it's clear that the standard of white running is improving again now, probably due to fitness trackers (as well as social media) making it cool for young white kids.

Before the EPO era, Kenyans where much more human. They appear much more god-like when they can dope in Kenya without the fear of being tested. Ruth Jebet thought the same ... lol.

Good answer. I'm amazed and often not in a good way at people's weak knowledge of history. Why the heck didn't a Kenyan break 14:00 for the 5,000 before Hagg did, or 29:00 in the 10,000 before Zatopek, or 28:00 before Clarke, or 2:10 in the marathon before, Clayton did, or 3:50 in the mile before Walker did?

the430miler wrote:

Were white people genetically and physiologically superior in that time period?

A Sherpa who paced Bannister on that historic day actually broke the time just ahead of Bannister.

I think it's safe to say that Kenya in 1954 as a colony of Britain had zero competitive athletic opportunities (including running). Unless someone was in the elite ruling class and went tho school in England, then we would have heard of them.

These posts explains why it's difficult to get a great thread going on LRC. It has to be gossipy for LRCers to participate.

Obveeous wrote:

There was no EPO back then.

That's my line.

Well with improved testing there were only 7 Kenyans under 4 minutes LAST YEAR. In 2001 there were 23 Kenyans under 3:56. At this rate, we will see the last Kenyan break 4 minutes at some point in the next decade, unless Nike bring out their currently in design 'Kangeroo 400%' shoes which promise to improve performances by over a minute a mile.

The reason why you see few Kenyans racing sub-4 for mile is due to fewer and fewer people around the world caring about English Imperial measured events. Kenya produces new sub-3:30 1500m athletes every year. Bring the 1500m into the scenario and your argument falls apart.

Yes it is all about population, body shape and choice of sports. My nephew had brilliant talent 3 years ago (uncoached with a beautiful stride), he then spent more time playing tennis, other kids started beating him so he spends even more time playing tennis.

Culture plays a part too. Western & Southern Africa should have more great milers (Southern Africa is also at altitude) but soccer steals all the fit kids for obvious reasons.

Very illogical ... wrote:

The reason why you see few Kenyans racing sub-4 for mile is due to fewer and fewer people around the world caring about English Imperial measured events. Kenya produces new sub-3:30 1500m athletes every year. Bring the 1500m into the scenario and your argument falls apart.

?? This!!!

What a total waste of your time that was.