Craig Engels on Kejelcha Being in Wanamaker "I was kind of pissed actually. It's usually all Americans and Nick Willis"

jiaaf wrote:

I actually will slightly modify my reaction. I did not realize just how out of his league Engles is in relation to Kejelcha. Engels is right to want to avoid competition with Kejelcha. Engels should be in the slow heat in almost any race 1 mile and above, in relation to runners of the caliber of Kejelcha. I agree with Engels in his implicit confession of inferiority as an athlete in relation to Kejelcha. Engels is a very good middle distance runner in the U.S., but he is not the type who should be competing with the best in the world, and he acknowledged that in the interview.

^^^ This

Engels clarified today in the video below that he looks forward to racing Kejelcha at the mile that he more fears racing Kejelcha at 5,000 . Sub 3:50 might be the target at Millrose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtR9K6kQq48

Craig Engels wrote:

Feel like I need to address this before it becomes something it’s not.

I simply made a bad joke in the midst of an awkward interview.

I have no reservations racing Yomif in a mile, to the contrary, I am excited to be in a sub 350 race. I was simply trying to acknowledge the fitness of my teammate without talking about myself. I understand the interpretations of this but I am in no way implying racism. By genetics, I meant the dude is 6’12” and weighs 120 lbs.

Please don’t turn this into something it isn’t LetsRun.

Not wanting to race him because he's fast is not racist.

However, wanting only white guys, and no Africans allowed in the mile IS racist.

Stupid honest wrote:

not a expert but . . . . wrote:

Nick is a Kiwi.

Yes he is!

I think we should call for young Engels to be pulled from the meet. Given the current climate of sensitivity people are being fired from jobs, banned from a host of participating in various events, he should be taught a lesson and not let it just be laughed off as a joke.

Quit being so sensitive then and also go F yourself.

Go Away Snowflake wrote:

Stupid honest wrote:

Yes he is!

I think we should call for young Engels to be pulled from the meet. Given the current climate of sensitivity people are being fired from jobs, banned from a host of participating in various events, he should be taught a lesson and not let it just be laughed off as a joke.

Quit being so sensitive then and also go F yourself.

The hard spot of truth is hurtful, sorry to upset you. But the reality and gravity Engels is now trying to explain away doesn't fly. He should be punished and not allowed to race.

Given the context he was implying to the fact that he was less talented. If anything it was honoring and respectful if taken in proper context. If you guys really think the dudes racist you need to check your discernment. You are hearing things that just aren't there and projecting based on your own fears and past hurt.

Also if you pick up on anything it was definitely an awkward and kinda forced interview. You could tell the dude felt uncomfortable.

Got to love people on letsrun who wanna create drama and sour just about any situation.

Bottom line. He was alluding to being inferior to his teammate and east Africans. Another way of saying "Hey your more talented than me." An generalization or assumption...sure. Racists no...

Trying to start drama wrote:

He was alluding to being inferior to his teammate and east Africans. Another way of saying "Hey your more talented than me." An generalization or assumption...sure. Racists no...

Saying Africans are genetically better and therefore should be removed from events is racist.

Saying Kejelcha is a light weight for his height because of genetics is also racist.

Stupid honest wrote:

Go Away Snowflake wrote:

Quit being so sensitive then and also go F yourself.

The hard spot of truth is hurtful, sorry to upset you. But the reality and gravity Engels is now trying to explain away doesn't fly. He should be punished and not allowed to race.

How did Fing yourself go?

The people pretending that what Craig said is somehow racist are imbeciles. He was obviously making a joke. The only thing he'd be "pissed" about is that with Kejelcha in the race, he now has no chance of winning. It's that simple.

He didn't say either of those things. Stop reaching.