After weeks and dozens of posts from both Coevett and Armstronglivs in this thread, none of the two has said a single word (other than: it's nonsense) to the fact, that Kenya was the most successful nation in men's track distance running in the period 1964 - 1979. Not a single word.
For the readers who havn't read all this unbelievable nonsense which was coming from those two, look at this new (old) statistic from Armstronglivs.
After I have told him maybe ten times in this single thread, that Kenyans have set
10 world records
before 1980, he has to contribute this:
World records till 1980 by Kenyans:
800m - zero.
880y - zero.
1500 - zero.
Mile - zero.
2k - zero.
3k - Keino.
3k steeple - zero
2 mile - zero.
3 mile - zero.
5k - Keino.
6 mile - zero.
10k - zero.
Marathon - zero.
He lists this stat for the 2nd time. Since the first time he just has found some more events (but still his list is not very meaningful when lacking important distances like the 3/4 Mile, 1600m, 15km road, where Kenyans have set no world records).
10 world records by Kenyans in the standard track events (Olympic events plus the Mile and 3000m).
How should rational thinking people interested in the question how success in middle and long distance running is spread over the various nations handle something like this?
But such a list just fits completely to his position regarding doping:
On a single day just a few days ago, he has to contribute this to this forum
1) practically anybody at the top is doping
2) the majority of non Kenyans (or was it non East Africans?) try to be successful legitimately (because of the many Kenyan positives)
Coevett has compared the Olympic medalists (men, 800m to Marathon, no steeple) from the 64 and 72 Olympics on a point basis (has anybody ever seen a scala like 5 - 2 - 1 which he used?).
I have not checked his result carefully (any, really any statistic presented by him has to be checked). But he now has contributed to this thread that for the 64 and 72 Olympics the USA was the most successful nation regarding Olympic medals in the events 800m - Marathon. Next successful nation was Finland. This is true.
What's the connection to my initial claim, that Kenya was the most successful nation in the men's track distances in the period 1964 - 1979? Almost no connection at all.
For the full 16 year period I have checked:
- world record in all events
- African records in all events
- Olympic medals, Olympic Golds
- Commonwealth Games medals
- Olympic top 8 ("final") placings
- best all-time position in all events
- comparison of the national records of the leading nations in a five year rhythm
- Kenya's "international success" in the 1977 season
Looking objectively on this facts, there is only one possible solution: Kenya was the most successful nation.
(1964 - 1979, without the Marathon).
If we include the Marathon, the USA probably was most successful. Great Britain also would be closer to Kenya.
Looking for an even longer period (1964 - 1984) Great Britain maybe would come out 1st (also I doubt it).
But for 1964 - 1989 Kenya's no. 1 position would be even more undisputed than for the period 1964 - 1979.
xemptyzHere are the medals at the Commonwealth Games in this period (64 - 79) for the men's track distances:
Kenya: 11 - 6 - 8
New Zealand: 2 - 2 - 2
Australia: 2 - 4 - 0
England: 2 - 3 - 6
Scotland: 2 - 1 - 2
Kenya has more Golds than the rest of this nations combined and almost as many medals.
Here Armstrong has made a correct statement (a rarity): Commonwealth Games are no World Champs.
But the by far next important Championships after the Olympics in this period for Kenya, Australia, New Zealand (the UK also has had the Europeans).
The starting point of my period (1964) was choosen because it was the first year when a Kenyan athlete - Kiprugut and Keino - has reached world class. I could have choosen 1968 and Kenya's advantage in any point system would have been much greater, since Kenya in 1964 has had just a single Bronze medal. Or in any early year of the 1970s.
To start earlier would not be helpful to demonstrate Kenyan success when the country just has started to compete at Olympic level in 1956 and Kenya became independent in 1963. Kenya just had not the background of any more developed country from Europe or some other more developed parts of the world. I choose 1979 as last year, because Kenya lost little bit of his power then (new British "superstars", two boycotts) but we can change 1979 with 1989, Kenya's lead just would increase.
And the question which remains: how was a"third world" country like Kenya able to be successful on such a high level just a few years after they started to compete internationally? This is the question which should be debated her. Mentally ill people like Armstrong and Coevett are not helpful for such a debate.