For the record, the best time by an East African in the 100 meters is
10.28 seconds. That stinks for an elite best, to put it mildly.
There are no East Africans in the top few thousand top times in the 100
meters and 200 meters. In the 400 meters, a time in which aerobic skills
come in to play, East Africans represent about 2 percent of the top
times while West Africans represent about 97 percent of the tope times.
I think that's a pretty strong record.
People like Martyn continue to show a lack of understanding of
population genetics. Even if one Kenyan should somehow break into the
elite of 400 meters (unlikely, but certainly possible), it would not
contradict the overwhelming evidence based on overall performances:
relative to whites and West Africans, East Africans are notoriously poor
runners. Moreover, it has everything to do with their body types, which
are genetically proscribed (though not genetically determined).
What do you think can explain it Martyn: Are Kenyan sprinters just lazy
and not up to the demanding training regimens of whites and athletes of
West African ancestry?
Martyn de Lange wrote:
>
> What a load of nonsense! "For the record..", What record?
>
> THREE kenyans made it to the 400m final at the '93 WC, one even ran
> 44.34 in the semis! Only a few athletes have run faster and only a
> couple of nations (I guess USA, UK and maybe Jamaica) have done better.
>
> How could anyone call these performances of notoriously poor sprinters?
> I'm aware of the fact that east africans do not win medal after medal in
> the sprints but surely their performances are worthy of more than your
> description.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Martyn
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--
Jon Entine
RuffRun
6178 Grey Rock Rd.
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
(818) 991-9803 :: [fax] 991-9804
http://www.jonentine.com
For background on Jon, reviews and commentaries on his book, TABOO: WHY BLACK ATHLETES
DOMINATE SPORTS AND WHY WE ARE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT IT, and background on his writings
on business ethics and brand marketing, click through to his web page at:
www.jonentine.com.
