Kenya, like Canada, has a hard time trying to develop a pool of 100m, 200m & 400m sprinters with Olympic and IAAF “A” Standards. I can’t remember the last time Canada sent a 4x400m relay team to a World Championships or Olympics. (HINT: 1992 Olympics) The Americans are overflowing in abundance in this department.
Here is an article on Kenya’s National 100m champion Tom Musinde failing in his second attempt to secure Olympic qualifying time.
How tough are the standards for 2008?
100 Meters “A” = 10.21, “B” = 10.28
200 Meters “A” = 20.59, “B” = 20.75
400 Meters “A” = 45.55, “B” = 45.95
Here is a long list of Canadian athletes who made the IAAF A Standard based on 2007 results:
100m: Mike LeBlanc, Anson Henry
200m: Brian Barnett
400m: Tyler Christopher
Sure, Canada has Tyler Christopher, but you still need 4 sprinters for a relay. And now your relay team must be ranked top 16 in the world based on the average of the best 2 IAAF permit races.
Kenya 1968 & 1972
In the past, Kenya ranked very well in the 4x400m relay. They won a silver at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, and then a Gold in the 1972 Munich Olympics. Julius Sang also won a bronze in open 400.
Yes, that is not a typo – Kenya winning a 4x400m relay gold. That was because open 400m winners Vince Matthews & Wayne Collette did a similar demonstration like Tommie Smith and John Carlos 4 years earlier. The IOC called it a “disgusting display” on the victory stand.
And with John Smith (the same John Smith who would later co-founded HSI) injured, that left Lee Evans, winner of the 1968 Olympic 400m and 4th at the 72 Olympic Trials, watching in the stands.
Modern Day 4x400m contenders or pretenders
And let us not forget the Nigerians!
Nigerians has been a force in recent 4x400m Olympics (silver Sydney 2000, bronze in Athens 2004)
I predict USA will win the 4x400m in 2008 (a no brainer) barring a catastrophe, with the silver and bronze is up for grabs. Who will be the new silver bullets? Can Australia do it again?
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Kenyan runners have done well in long distance running because the only resource required to train is your willingness to run as many miles as possible. They dont do well in the short distances where, to be a top runner you require more resources to train.
Its an issue of cost of training
Constantine
@Constantine – I think a lot of countries are lacking in proper facilities and medical support system.
Take a look at the Africans who came to the USA on scholarship – they all excel with the proper training facilities.
I agree with Jimson. I think if other countries had the resources to train, they’d be able to compete better.
@Paolo – yes, when you think of the success of Canada’s Bruny Surin and Donovan Bailey, they were both based out of Texas, USA.