American athletes will have any number of brilliant moments going forward, but why not honor the athletes that had such moments in Beijing. Why not understand that in Usain Bolt we are watching an athlete for all ages, and be grateful no matter what country Bolt represents?
For some of us, Nancy, track is a lifelong interest. Your feel good comment seems to me like a comment urging everybody in Congress to be grateful for their esteemed positions, rather than arguing about issues. The fact of the matter is that when you know a lot about a subject, you don't just gloss over the facts.
The upside:
1) track is the most international of sports. The emergence of South Africa, China and the first medal ever for Bosnia at this world championships are all positive developments for the sport.
2) as always, some of the most interesting and talented athletes in the world compete in track. Usain Bolt, Genzebe Dibaba, David Rudisha and Dafne Schippers are great examples of amazing skill and compelling personal stories.
3) while the US did not dominate the medal count (and that's just fine in my book), we did have several amazing performances, including Ashton Eaton's world record in the decathlon, Christian Taylor's gold in the triple jump and the second longest jump in history and Allison Felix's gold medal in the 400 and silver in the woman's 4x400 relay where she ran the fastest 400 ever run by a woman, an eye popping 47.7.
The downsides:
1) Track is not a clean sport. The testing protocols and frequency vary dramatically from country to country and the international federation is very weak on drug controls. Until this situation is improved, track will remain in trouble.
2) The IAAF (international federation) and USATF (national federation) are poorly run. The IAAF appears to be as corrupt as FIFA. I have some hope that the election of Sebastian Coe as federation president will prompt some long overdue changes, but I will believe it when I see it. The USATF isn't as corrupt as it is incompetent. Its fixable, but it needs to happen soon.
1) track is the most international of sports. The emergence of South Africa, China and the first medal ever for Bosnia at this world championships are all positive developments for the sport.
2) as always, some of the most interesting and talented athletes in the world compete in track. Usain Bolt, Genzebe Dibaba, David Rudisha and Dafne Schippers are great examples of amazing skill and compelling personal stories.
3) while the US did not dominate the medal count (and that's just fine in my book), we did have several amazing performances, including Ashton Eaton's world record in the decathlon, Christian Taylor's gold in the triple jump and the second longest jump in history and Allison Felix's gold medal in the 400 and silver in the woman's 4x400 relay where she ran the fastest 400 ever run by a woman, an eye popping 47.7.
The downsides:
1) Track is not a clean sport. The testing protocols and frequency vary dramatically from country to country and the international federation is very weak on drug controls. Until this situation is improved, track will remain in trouble.
2) The IAAF (international federation) and USATF (national federation) are poorly run. The IAAF appears to be as corrupt as FIFA. I have some hope that the election of Sebastian Coe as federation president will prompt some long overdue changes, but I will believe it when I see it. The USATF isn't as corrupt as it is incompetent. Its fixable, but it needs to happen soon.
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Track and field to some degree gets punished for actually going after drug cheats. If MLB, NHL or the NFL tested athletes as thoroughly as the IAAF does, where would they be?
And lets not forget medals aren't everthing; US women went 3rd, 4th and 6th in the 10,000 meters, an incredible achievement. Galen Rupp was 5th in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, barely beaten by the medalists. It's not a case of "winner- huge gap - loser."
And lets not forget medals aren't everthing; US women went 3rd, 4th and 6th in the 10,000 meters, an incredible achievement. Galen Rupp was 5th in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, barely beaten by the medalists. It's not a case of "winner- huge gap - loser."
How sad. We don't celebrate track anymore in the US. We have all these so call sports stations and you cannot watch the World Games! How can we hold American kids to a high standard and let the rest of the world cheat!
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"How can we hold American kids to a high standard and let the rest of the world cheat!"
Haven't more US athletes been caught doping than any other nation?
Haven't more US athletes been caught doping than any other nation?
What happened is that Kenya confirmed its superiority over the US in track and field for the second year in a row. (Last year, in the Track & Field News' year-end tally, Kenya was the country with the most overall points, ahead of the US). I mean Kenya won even the javelin !
As for Jamaica, their victory in the 4x400 women's relay is not that much of a surprise, given that all 4 runners made the 400 m final while the US had only Felix in the 400 m final. Felix alone could not win the relay race.
As for Jamaica, their victory in the 4x400 women's relay is not that much of a surprise, given that all 4 runners made the 400 m final while the US had only Felix in the 400 m final. Felix alone could not win the relay race.
There have been plenty of drug cheats and suspicious performances from US athletes since a while back. Gatlin, Gay, Merritt have all failed drug tests. Now Rupp is under a cloud. A while back there was Marion Jones and her husband. And many years back Griffith Joyner set these still unbreakable records. It all looks pretty systematic to me.
@ JP: Don't flatter yourself Jamaica does not have "extremely limited drug testing on the island". If you're going to make these statements like that at least provide proof. There was uproar because Jamaica's testing was seen to have lessened coming up to the London 2012 Olympics. This was thoroughly investigated by WADA to the joy of people like you.
If you want to point fingers look no further than your own team which sent so many drugged up athletes to championships in the 80s and 90s when they were at war with an equally drugged Russian team that Janaica and other countries had to make do with their 3rd and 4th place finishes in all major championships. In fact the IAAF and WADA have taken a policy of not bothering to look back at these past travesties because the fallout would be too great. Yet whenever USA loses you drug accusers invariably come out of the woodwork. Track and field has been plagued with doping violations and since WADA and the IAAF have become more strict other countries have been able to get in for medals. I challenge you: Make a list of all the athletes who have tested positive for anabolic steroids in the last 30 years and watch the USA DOMINATE. Go back to the 90s and 80s and see who was coming in 2nd, 3rd and 4th to some unbeatable athletes like Flo Jo... Yes Jamaica was always there.
Kudos to clean all over the world including athletes in the USA and fans who don't just throw stupid unfounded allegations when their team loses.
If you want to point fingers look no further than your own team which sent so many drugged up athletes to championships in the 80s and 90s when they were at war with an equally drugged Russian team that Janaica and other countries had to make do with their 3rd and 4th place finishes in all major championships. In fact the IAAF and WADA have taken a policy of not bothering to look back at these past travesties because the fallout would be too great. Yet whenever USA loses you drug accusers invariably come out of the woodwork. Track and field has been plagued with doping violations and since WADA and the IAAF have become more strict other countries have been able to get in for medals. I challenge you: Make a list of all the athletes who have tested positive for anabolic steroids in the last 30 years and watch the USA DOMINATE. Go back to the 90s and 80s and see who was coming in 2nd, 3rd and 4th to some unbeatable athletes like Flo Jo... Yes Jamaica was always there.
Kudos to clean all over the world including athletes in the USA and fans who don't just throw stupid unfounded allegations when their team loses.
I've followed track for a long time. And I've been to the US championships. I believe this article understates the change in the reigning powers of track. In the history of the modern Olympics, the US has been dominant. And they have owned the relays -- when they haven't fouled, they have always medaled and, over the years, they have collected almost 50 golds, when no other country has won more than a few. This year, Jamaica -- a country of 2 million people -- won 3 of the 4 golds. And for all the talk about Jamaican track history, they never medaled in a relay before Bolt. Jamaica's recent rise to dominance is unprecedented.
While Jamaica is the biggest story of these championships, Kenya is next. Its dominance over the distance races is unlikely, but does have a longer recent history.
As for the Americans, they have a few superstars, including Felix, Gatlin, and Merritt. I think they have as much depth as ever, but the only runners who are competitive with the deep Jamaican and Kenyan teams are the superstars.
As for drugs, I believe Coe is whistling in the dark. Virtually every country has had users. And testing should be more aggressive. Whether any particular country is a worse abuse than the others is unknown. Still, I simply do not believe that a country of two million, like Jamaica, can come out of nowhere and suddenly dominate the speed races from top to bottom without magic.
While Jamaica is the biggest story of these championships, Kenya is next. Its dominance over the distance races is unlikely, but does have a longer recent history.
As for the Americans, they have a few superstars, including Felix, Gatlin, and Merritt. I think they have as much depth as ever, but the only runners who are competitive with the deep Jamaican and Kenyan teams are the superstars.
As for drugs, I believe Coe is whistling in the dark. Virtually every country has had users. And testing should be more aggressive. Whether any particular country is a worse abuse than the others is unknown. Still, I simply do not believe that a country of two million, like Jamaica, can come out of nowhere and suddenly dominate the speed races from top to bottom without magic.
It is quite amazing how being a nation of 2 million people means you have to be doing "magic"...to excel in track and field.
Anyone who have questions about jamaica being a track power house, i invite you to visit at the end of march early april to see the work in progress. Or just simply google boys and girls championship.
Our track program starts from primary/prep school level to high school to college. All of our athletes come from and through this system...and there is more to come. Take note of names like Michael Oharo...Akeem Bloomfield...Christopher Taylor...coming soon. They did not "come out of nowhere" they have been there all along. Just not noticed by you.
Anyone who have questions about jamaica being a track power house, i invite you to visit at the end of march early april to see the work in progress. Or just simply google boys and girls championship.
Our track program starts from primary/prep school level to high school to college. All of our athletes come from and through this system...and there is more to come. Take note of names like Michael Oharo...Akeem Bloomfield...Christopher Taylor...coming soon. They did not "come out of nowhere" they have been there all along. Just not noticed by you.
It is amazing the nonsense that emanates from these pages. Let me inform you that Jamaica didnot suddenly appear out of nowhere. Jamaica has been winning gold medals from 1948, yes 1948 when it was still a colony of Britain. Since that time we have produced
Arthur Wint
Herb Mckenly
Dennis Johnson
Lennox Miller
Don Quarrie
Merlene Ottey
Donnvan Bailey who ran for Canada
Linford Christie UK
Deon Hemmings
Won several relays 1991 sprint
All before Bolt was even born
Arthur Wint
Herb Mckenly
Dennis Johnson
Lennox Miller
Don Quarrie
Merlene Ottey
Donnvan Bailey who ran for Canada
Linford Christie UK
Deon Hemmings
Won several relays 1991 sprint
All before Bolt was even born
1) Many of these Great atheletes train at American
Universities
2) The Drug issue has to be addressed in these countries!
Universities
2) The Drug issue has to be addressed in these countries!
You have it wrong, Majority of the Jamaican athletes train in Jamaica, I dont know about the others
Wrong almost all the Jamaican athletes train in Jamaica
Rudyard you are wrong most of the Jamaican Athletes trained in the United states. about 85% went to American universities. superstars such as Usain and Shelly ann are about the only two that didn't train in the states. Asafa Powell even trains in Texas.
Ahhhh....Jamaica has a history of extremely limited drug testing on the island - and its athletes tend to train only on Jamaica for long periods of time between major meets. Does anyone really believe that a country of 2.7million people is producing this many drug free world leading athletes?
Kenya is in the middle of a huge doping scandal - some of their top runners (e.g., marathon star Rita Jeptoo) haven't had a blood test since 2006 (urine only; much easier to avoid detection).
Russia has cheated so blatantly that their entire athletics federation faces suspension if there is not immediate, wholesale elimination of doping. they are scared by the threat and trying to obstensively go clean, as their team's almost complete elimination from the medal stand shows.
US track and field may have individual athletes that dope (and often get caught), but there is a huge difference b/w the US trying to run a clean program and countries in which their federations sanction and participate in institutional cheating. Tough to compete effectively against that.
Kenya is in the middle of a huge doping scandal - some of their top runners (e.g., marathon star Rita Jeptoo) haven't had a blood test since 2006 (urine only; much easier to avoid detection).
Russia has cheated so blatantly that their entire athletics federation faces suspension if there is not immediate, wholesale elimination of doping. they are scared by the threat and trying to obstensively go clean, as their team's almost complete elimination from the medal stand shows.
US track and field may have individual athletes that dope (and often get caught), but there is a huge difference b/w the US trying to run a clean program and countries in which their federations sanction and participate in institutional cheating. Tough to compete effectively against that.
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Cheating has never been institutionalized in Jamaica, as it was in the days of the East Germans and the Americans. America's sprinting decline from the days of the great Carl Lewis can be attributed to the fact that American Track and Field authorities can no longer cover up their positive drug tests. Do you not see the parallel between USA's World Championship performance and Russia's "almost complete elimination from the medal stand"?
The suggestion that a small country of 2.7 million cannot produce drug free leading athletes is insulting to say the least. Jamaican schoolchildren have dominated the sprints at the Penn Relays for decades. Are we to conclude that these children are already on drugs, or should we be open to the possibility that Americans do not have a God-given right to the top of the medal table?
The suggestion that a small country of 2.7 million cannot produce drug free leading athletes is insulting to say the least. Jamaican schoolchildren have dominated the sprints at the Penn Relays for decades. Are we to conclude that these children are already on drugs, or should we be open to the possibility that Americans do not have a God-given right to the top of the medal table?
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Why do you find so many excuses. Is is drugs why the USA men team cannot pass the baton. Since 2007 they have rarely finished a relay without being disqualified.
Secondly if USA was so concerned about drugs why did it allow so many who failed tests to run in the 1988 olympics
Thirdly, size does not matter saying that because Jamaica is small it is strange that they produce so many world class athletes could be turnaround this way, China has many more people than the USA how come they dont produce more world class athletes
Secondly if USA was so concerned about drugs why did it allow so many who failed tests to run in the 1988 olympics
Thirdly, size does not matter saying that because Jamaica is small it is strange that they produce so many world class athletes could be turnaround this way, China has many more people than the USA how come they dont produce more world class athletes
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I would like for persons casting aspersions on Jamaica's track program or athletes to speak from an informed position.
Yes we are a nation of 2 million people. However we have a sound track program with some of the best coaches...I would invite you to google boys and girls championship to see why we excel at track and field or maybe you cant handle the truth that yes we a nation of 2 plus millions are naturally that good...
Our program starts from prep/primary level so what you see manifested on the international stage has been nurtured through hardwork and guidance through high school to college.
We take pride in our athletes doing it the right way.
Yes we are a nation of 2 million people. However we have a sound track program with some of the best coaches...I would invite you to google boys and girls championship to see why we excel at track and field or maybe you cant handle the truth that yes we a nation of 2 plus millions are naturally that good...
Our program starts from prep/primary level so what you see manifested on the international stage has been nurtured through hardwork and guidance through high school to college.
We take pride in our athletes doing it the right way.