Those who are convinced that 800m is a slow-twitch fiber event, let's
go one step further. A fact that is often overlooked by many people is that
kenyans actually make fairly decent 400m runners. There has been quite
a few kenyans who have been ranked in top 10 in that event - and overall
kenyans have been more successful than any other african country, including
fast-twitch, west-african Nigeria and Uganda.
Here are some kenyans who made the top 10 ranking over the years:
'65: Kiprugut (8th)
'67: Rudisha (5th)
'69: Asati (3rd)
'70: Asati (2nd)
'72: Sang (5th), Asati (7th)
'74: Asati (10th)
'75: Chepkwony (5th)
'80: Konchellah (5th)
'87: David Kitur (8th)
'92: Samson Kitur (4th)
'93: Samson Kitur (5th), Ochien (10th)
'94: Samson Kitur (5th)
'95: Samson Kitur (5th)
Sang got bronze medal at 72 Olympics, and Kitur (the Samson one) got bronze
in 92.
Now, that's more than the REST of the Africa could place
in top 10 over the same period - the other africans to make top 10 were:
Kamoga (Uganda), Bada, Egbunike, Uti (all three Nigeria), one ethiopian and
one south african, who are actually from "slow-twitch" countries as well.
And yet another thing that seems out of order is disproportionate number of
poles in the rankings - could be that western african genes have found it's
way to Poland (but not to it's neighbours - Belorus, Ukraine, Germany,
Lithuania, Slovenia or Czech republic). The fast-twitch running gene was
also "lost" for 9.3 million Polish-Americans - polish immigrants currently
living in US (Poland has about 38 million people).
Back to Kenya.
At World Championships Kenya also finished 5th in 4x400 relay in 1991
(Morocco was 7th that year), took silver behind US in 1993.
South Africa finished 5th in 1997 and 4th in 1999.
Do those slow-twitch fibers help kenyans in 400m as well?
Kip Keino keeps saying in his interviews that he thinks too many kenyan
runners who have potential to be great sprinters follow the stereotype
of "Kenyans - distance, West Africans - sprints" and move up instead of
achieving their potential at their best event - and that similar thing
happens in reverse when other runners are "afraid" of kenyans dominating
distance events.
Is he right?
Oleg.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of alan tobin
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 7:20 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED];
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: t-and-f: Follow the money?....one last post...I promise..:)
>...than 60 percent of all top distance
>races, from the 800 meters to the marathon.
The 800m is not a distance race...repeat, the 800m is not a distance race.
Most if not all 800m runners can be/are great 400m runners. In the 800m you
see African Americans excel: Johnny Gray, South Americans excel: Joaquim
Cruz, and Kenyans excel: Wilson Kipketer. You say East/North Africans have a
lot of slow twitch fibers right? Then why are they so well in the 800m, a
race that requires a lot of speed and fast twitch fibers. Could it be 'gasp'
that the Kenyans vary just as much as everyone else? I believe our best 800m
runners are running the 400m right now, but have no desire to run 800s
because they would tarnish their appeal. If MJ developed any sort of aerobic
base at all he would demolish the AR and give Joe-Kenyan a run for his
money.
Alan
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