Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

[Bruce Kritzler]

European television is no longer interested in broadcasting World xc champs, because of East African domination. So the IAAF has dictated that World xc meet will only be held every other year.
Hope Jamaican and American domination of sprints doesn't kill Grand Prix meets.

[Friar]

So in the off-year Kenya and Ethiopia have a duel meet?

The Euro meet in December has been the most anticipated CC races for the last few years. Even if it's not the most prestigious.

[Powell]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

Hope Jamaican and American domination of sprints doesn't kill Grand Prix meets.

Americans have historically always dominated sprints, and it hasn't killed interest up to now.

The problem with long distances isn't just that Europeans aren't winning medals. It's the fact that the African runners are so anonymous for most of the sport's followers. Other than Bekele, none are generally recognizable personalities. To a more casual fan, they all blend into one.

I have a feeling that where two US Americans are fighting for gold (a la Merritt vs Wariner), most European fans will still be interested in the outcome. But when it's Kemboi vs Koech vs Mateelong, hardly anyone cares which one of them finishes first.

[Flumpy]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

To a more casual fan, they all blend into one.

To a completely obsessive fan they all blend into one.

Quite simply they all look the same, have similar names and don't stay around long enough or win consistenly enough to make an impact.

If the IAAF can wangle Xc into the WO's it will be a masterstoke and I can deffo see it happening. Surely it's in the IOC's bext interest to open up the WO's to more territories. Exactly how many African/black people have won WO medals?

[Marlow]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

To a more casual fan, they all blend into one.

Quite simply they all look the same, have similar names and don't stay around long enough or win consistenly enough to make an impact.

:shock: Yeah, and all sprinters look the same the same too. :roll:

I appreciate great talent regardless of national origin, so I have ZERO problem with E Africans dominating distance. If someone has a problem with that, all they have to do is beat them.

[Flumpy]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

To a more casual fan, they all blend into one.

Quite simply they all look the same, have similar names and don't stay around long enough or win consistenly enough to make an impact.

:shock: Yeah, and all sprinters look the same the same too. :roll:

No they don't. They come from various countries, have varying names, different hairstyles and even skin tones. They also tend to have more longevity which enables the general public to get to know them. Most importantly they don't usually (Although it has happened) all compete in one event wearing the exact same strips.

I'm not blaming the athletes in the slightest but as a fan have absolutely no interest in the 3000sc for example as I have no clue who any of them are or what they actually look like.

[kuha]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

Quite simply they all look the same, have similar names and don't stay around long enough or win consistenly enough to make an impact.

A number of us have been saying this for quite some time. The Gebs, Tergats, Komens, etc., are utterly distinctive and memorable personalities,in their different ways. Beyond this, however, the majority of the distance guys--and road racers--border on the utterly generic, and completely interchangeable. I hate saying this (again) but sadly it's true...

[TN1965]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

I think that problem is mostly limited to Kenyan men. Ethiopians (of both genders) and Kenyan women make the World / Olympic teams more consistently. Kenyan men have too much depth, although that's no one's "fault."

[Marlow]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

Quite simply they all look the same, have similar names and don't stay around long enough or win consistenly enough to make an impact.

:shock: Yeah, and all sprinters look the same the same too. :roll:

No they don't. They come from various countries, have varying names, different hairstyles and even skin tones.

I think you missed my point . . . to Africans, they are VERY distinctly different looking. Your statement was akin to 'all them Chinese look the same to me.'

[Dutra]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

I think you missed my point . . . to Africans, they are VERY distinctly different looking. Your statement was akin to 'all them Chinese look the same to me.'

There's an element of truth to what the poster was stating and an element of truth to what you are saying. It adds up to the same end result.

[rasb]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

Marlow, buddy...
Please try not to "pick nits" on this one --- it's much too important an issue, for you to be calling "racist", just like the guy who calls "fire" in a crowded movie theatre...
Cross Country Running has been the backbone of distance running around the World for a long, long time. Virtually all of the wonderful distance running track athletes have a very significant background in cross-country. It's a huge sport at the school level and the University level in North America --- perhaps the biggest sport, participation wise, if you count all those who are running with the teams, but not actually allowed to race, because of numbers restrictions...
So, with the Sport dying at the International Level, I see it as a crisis. Many Countries have, or are considering virtually eliminating the sport of Cross-Country within their National/International Programs, and that is a disaster for people who know about and care about distance running, sir...

[mump boy]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

firstly i'd say that it's not Ken and Eth that are killing XC it's everyone elses fault for being crap in comparison

and Marlow maybe you could help me out by identifying these athletes



i know Eliud Kipchoge as he's been around for donkeys but the others leave me at a loss :?

or maybe you could enlighten us as to the names of these wildly diverse and individual group



it's much easier with the women though

[nevetsllim]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

firstly i'd say that it's not Ken and Eth that are killing XC it's everyone elses fault for being crap in comparison

and Marlow maybe you could help me out by identifying these athletes



i know Eliud Kipchoge as he's been around for donkeys but the others leave me at a loss :?

or maybe you could enlighten us as to the names of these wildly diverse and individual group



it's much easier with the women though

Masai, Ebuya, Kipchoge and Choge in the top photo.

Mutahi (?), ???, Kipchoge, Kogo

I can recognise Momanyi, Masai and Wangui from the bottom photo but not sure about those in red (one of them might be Jepleting).

[Jon]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

I can identify the same as Nevets on the first and third pic. On the second one, I'm pretty sure it's Edwin Soi who is leading (not Kogo). I don't know who the guy on the left is, but I know it's not Mutahi as I know what he looks like (only because I have a photo of him from the Bham indoor GP).

This illustrates mump's point perfectly, though. If the seasoned track nuts on this forum struggle to identify the leading current crop of world-class Kenyan athletes, then what hope is there for the casual sports fan? I'm sure fans in Africa have less problems identifying these athletes, but unfortunately for the IAAF there isn't exactly a strong commercial sports market in Africa.

[mump boy]

Re: Kenya and Ethiopia killing cross country!

for the record

according to the credits in the Kenyan Daily Nation newspaper the first lot are

(PIC 1) Eliud Kipchoge (right) leads Joseph Ebuya and Edwin Soi in a past 5,000m trials at the Nyayo stadium.

http://www.nation.co.ke/sports/athletic ... index.html

if the kenyan newspaper can't even get it right then there is no hope for the rest of us. even i know that Kipchoge is centre

(PIC 2) Men's 5000m - (r-l) Edwin Soi wins from Eliud Kipchoge 2nd, Thomas Longosiwa 3rd and Boniface Songok 4th

if Edwin Soi is winning in this photo then it's not the same person at the back in the first shot :?

(PIC 3) the women are apparently :shock: :? :shock:

Group shot of 10,000m with (r to l) Lucy Kabuu (2250), Peninah Arusei, Linet Masai (2253), Grace Momanyi (2650), Alice Timbilli (2667)

i think my work is done :P