jesseriley wrote:Additionally, three known exceptions prove the rule:
Thompson Magawana moved up & got the 50K WR in ‘88. They thought others would break it, but it’s stood since then, I think. Not so easy.
Salazar won Comrades in his only ultra. Convicted doper.
Tomoe Abe’s 100K WR, they changed the rules postrace to ratify it.
PLEASE Jesse - you're grossly oversimplifying and your biases are blinding you. Salazar was convicted as a coach (and mostly for obstructing justice, or something along those lines). To date I don't believe he has ever been convicted as an athlete (not saying he didn't dope either, but some nuance and precision is your friend in these discussions).
Magawana? come on - Thompson was a great runner, but few runners of his caliber race Two Oceans the way he did. He set the WR as a split in that race. Not one 2:08 guy is running 50 Ks or Two Oceans. Yes, others could break it if others were to race it. They have more monetary incentive to be journey -men marathoners and place respectably in IAAF Gold Label races than to race Two Oceans. The only elite participants are locals - they're good, but they're not world class level marathoners.
Tomoe Abe's 100 km WR is as I mentioned, another conversation for another time. She was a much faster marathoner than Camille. Yes, the IAAF allowed 50% separation instead of 30% start-finish separation, which accommodated her record. I don't think there was any corruption or any malicious planning to specifically include it (pray tell, who in the IAAF remotely cares about the 100 km WR). More significantly, that rule change allows NYCM to be record eligible. Yes, it is likely that mark was possibly wind aided, but Camille on her best day never had the wheels Abe did.