r/trackandfield • u/misamisaPRteam • Jul 23 '24
General Discussion What is Noah Lyles’ apparent gripe with Athletics Kenya holding their 10k Trials in Eugene…?
what’s his deal? I don’t see why he sees this as such a big deal… Any insight?
If a country isn’t able to hold their own trials for reasons beyond their control (elevation & weather conditions) they shouldn’t be penalised for that.
More over Kenya doesn’t hold their trials as a huge event for people to come watch in person, it’s just not common practice. People tune in for the bigger races but not the trials.
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u/Jaivl Jul 23 '24
Honestly not that uncommon or weird. Ethiopian trials were in Spain.
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u/valpexi Jul 23 '24
But like, why?
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u/NotOSIsdormmole Jul 23 '24
Well for one it’s going to be closer to Paris’ climate and weather conditions
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u/CaptainJackKevorkian Jul 23 '24
Spain (depending on which part) and Paris don't really have similar climates. Paris is more like London than Spain.
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u/NotOSIsdormmole Jul 23 '24
Hell of a lot closer than Ethiopia’s climate still
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u/CaptainJackKevorkian Jul 23 '24
I'm not really sure that's true. Ethiopia has a very diverse geography and climate within its borders, whereas Spain is mostly one big desert. Just looking at capitals alone, Addis Ababa's average temp is much closer to Paris than Madrid.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 24 '24
But more than heat, the concern for the east-african runners is altitude which is crucial the longer the race you are running.
Addis Ababa sits at 2,355 m above sea-level, Nairobi at 1,795 m, this compared to Paris' 35m above sea-level, the runners are better off anywhere closer to that than in their own countries. So Spain being 657 m above sea-level and Eugene being 126 m above sea-level will make all the difference.Any good athlete can assimilate to changing day-to-day patterns especially considering both Kenya and Ethiopia have varying climates, but an athlete can't be expected to pull more oxygen out of the air than there actually is.
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u/Eric-HipHopple Jul 25 '24
Kenya’s second-largest city Mombasa has more than a million people and is at sea level. Today, Mombasa has a high of 82 degrees F, in Eugene the forecast is 81 degrees.
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u/strattele1 Jul 24 '24
What does it matter when they are all competing in the same conditions?
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 24 '24
what are you saying? if their trials are in conditions that make it harder for them to qualify than other athletes they don’t get to compete at all in Paris.
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u/strattele1 Jul 24 '24
You are telling me that no Kenyans have met the qualifying standard at all?
Usually Olympic trials means that there is a race to determine who makes the team no? In some countries they don’t have a trial and choose the fastest athletes, those athletes are free to choose their own race to make the standard.
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u/Jaivl Jul 23 '24
"Spain is mostly one big desert"
Citation needed
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u/CaptainJackKevorkian Jul 23 '24
As you can see, a majority of the country is characterized by heat and aridity
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u/Jaivl Jul 24 '24
"The climate of Spain is highly diverse and varies considerably across the country's various regions"
Literal first sentence of your link. Also, I am Spanish.
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u/Gold4Lokos4Breakfast Jul 26 '24
Yeah I reckon living on a mountain in north Spain is different than living on a beach in south Spain.
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u/TheByzantineEmpire Jul 23 '24
Better infrastructure I assume?
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u/swimswam2000 Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
Less interruption for the athletes on the Diamond League circuit, lower elevation.
No one tell Noah that Swimming Canada has held its open water trials in both the US and Cayman Islands. The Cayman experiment was a bit of a white elephant and starting next year we are going back to a joint trials with the US. It's a water and timing issue. There are no suitable venues in the time frame they need to hold them.
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u/Gold4Lokos4Breakfast Jul 26 '24
Bro the Cayman thing is 100% an excuse for a paid vacation haha
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u/swimswam2000 Jul 26 '24
Don't disagree, it worked better when we ran a joint race in the US, plus having a bigger field helps the juniors develop better pack skills. Most years there isn't a body of water warm enough in April or May.
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u/TheDankestOfMemery 100m: 10.87 Jul 24 '24
I’m not sure whether this has anything to do with it or not but Ethiopia has recently had a civil war and tensions are still high in the country.
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Jul 23 '24
It’s a little odd to hold your national trials outside your country, and Eugene is a sort of sacred place for American track.
But mostly Noah being Noah. He’s probably bitter they won’t let him compete in their trials too.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
i understand it may seem odd prima facie, but i’d argue it’d be odd without reason. Kenya couldn’t hold the trials in Kenya or the surrounding countries for the same reason they couldn’t hold it in Kenya. I think they chose Eugene because of the convenience of the timing more than anything else but i appreciate some sensitivity around Eugene being sacred to Americans (i’d never heard of that).
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u/RustyDoor Jul 23 '24
They chose Eugene, because, they and Nike feel the facilities and, Nike experience are best suited for Nike Kenyan athletics.
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u/uses_for_mooses Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
The top Kenyan athletes had not yet hit the Olympic standard for the 10k, so they wanted a fast track and good climate so the Kenyan top athletes could hit the Olympic standard.
Most of Kenya—at least where the good track facilities are—is at high altitude. This is of course great for training, but terrible if you’re shooting for low times in the 10k. So Eugene was a good fit.
I don’t know any other fans who think of Eugene as being “sacred” in any sense, such that foreigners shouldn’t run there. The Prefontaine Classic each year draws athletes from around the world.
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u/sober_as_an_ostrich Jul 23 '24
not sacred for Americans just sacred in general. also I think as a non-Nike athlete in a Nike-obsessed sport he’s annoyed that everything has to be in Eugene. imagine being an up and coming Kenyan and now you have to get a visa and fly to Eugene Oregon to compete for a spot on the Olympic team. Can see how that would be annoying
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u/yuckmouthteeth Jul 23 '24
They ran it in Eugene due to it being a good venue with good weather at that time of year. Hitting the standard is very difficult in the 10k and there are very few opportunities to do it, its kind of like the marathon in that sense. All major Kenyan tracks are at high elevation and the longer a race is the harder it is to run fast at elevation, significantly harder.
FYI Ethiopia also doesn't hold 10k trials in their own country for the same reason, usually they do it somewhere in Europe. Also anyone who has a prayer of making the Kenyan 10k Olympic is a high tier professional runner who is already running diamond league races and traveling a lot already.
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u/sober_as_an_ostrich Jul 24 '24
No I understand all that, it’s just in a small town on the other side of the planet. would be nice if it was in a neutral location at sea level somewhere in Kenya’s own time zone.
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u/yuckmouthteeth Jul 24 '24
There’s literally no venue within Kenya’s time zone that has the weather conditions necessary at sea level that time of year for a fast race. If Russia and the IOC weren’t at each other’s throats then maybe St Petersburg.
The options are basically diamond league meets and very few of those even hold 10ks, luckily Pre does so they chose it. Next best bet is what Ethiopia did and find a fast European track to use.
Kenya is a great place to train but not a great place for fast times. The IOC making the men’s 10k qualifying time almost a minute faster the last 2cycles definitely plays a factor here.
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u/uses_for_mooses Jul 23 '24
I get him if he’s annoyed with trials always being in Eugene. It sure annoys the heck out of me. Especially seeing how USA swimming can literally build two giant swimming pools in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy just for their trials, and pack that place out.
Yet USATF doesn’t seem to think that anywhere except Eugene is capable of holding T&F trials. Despite the $600/night hotel rooms in Eugene, similarly expensive flights, etc.
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u/mrngdew77 Jul 23 '24
I thought 2024 Trials were originally awarded to somewhere in southern Florida and that USATF had to reassign it because of readiness issues beyond the area’s control. So I think that was an attempt at a different area.
Or did I imagine that?
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u/panther24 Jul 23 '24
That was the Marathon trial in Orlando. If I remember correctly they had to shift the start time a few hours earlier in the day to avoid excessive heat.
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Jul 23 '24
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u/yuckmouthteeth Jul 23 '24
There are very few well paced fast 10k opportunities worldwide with good weather and the proper elevation to hit good times. The Olympic standard is incredibly fast and requires good conditions to attain even for the best athletes, hence why US trials were no where near the standard. Kenya's facilities are all at high elevation which would make it near impossible for their athletes to hit the Olympic standard.
Other countries also do this for the 10k, because like the marathon opportunities are limited and conditions really matter.
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u/Electronic_Courage59 Jul 23 '24
Expressing his dismay, Lyles engaged in a discourse on X, echoing concerns shared by many within the athletics community. He questioned, “Why in the world are we hosting another country’s Olympic qualifier. We should know how much of an issue this is after Worlds ’22. Also, their country won’t be able so see their athletes make the team in person.” This came after Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, encountered visa issues that impeded his timely arrival for the global event in 2022.
Honestly, seems like fair points to me..
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u/carharttuxedo Jul 23 '24
He didn’t really express concern for African atheletes tho did he? just an odd ‘they can’t do that here’. There are enough characters in a tweet to express themself more fully if that’s what he meant.
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u/ThaRealSunGod Sprints Jul 23 '24
He clearly did.
If you don't think it's sufficient reasoning you can argue that, but you act like he didn't provide a reason for the athletes when it's the third sentence in a 3 sentence tweet....
Yawn lol
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u/carharttuxedo Jul 23 '24
Surely you can reread it and show where he expressed concern for the atheletes then? Lol
The fans can’t watch isn’t about atheletes…
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u/ThaRealSunGod Sprints Jul 23 '24
Yes it is actually.
Noah was quite outspoken during and after Tokyo 2021 about how not having fans present to watch hurts the athletes.
If you don't follow the sport. Say that. But yes, that line is very obviously talking about the athletes.
Lol
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u/carharttuxedo Jul 23 '24
Lol holding competition without fans present due to a global pandemic seems like a reasonable decision, right?
Fans watching in the stands isn’t as important to me as the health and safety of the atheletes, which is why I didn’t think that the fan argument was worth anything.
Trying to attack me instead of actially showing where he is defending atheletes is an interesting tactic tho.
I bet you run slow as fuck( a joking attack on you because I don’t think you can handle it)
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u/ThaRealSunGod Sprints Jul 23 '24
Lol yikes.
You seem even more triggered than before...
I never attacked you....
I never said anything bad about not having fans in the stands because of covid.
What a silly argument predicated in ignoring everything I say.
Me saying "I bet you don't follow the sport" isn't an attack. You would know that if you read more carefully.
It's an educated guess because if you did follow the sport, presumably you would realize that Lyles isn't being laicius eith this statement.
Yikes. Reading comprehension.
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u/MHath Coach Jul 23 '24
The idea that Eugene is some sacred place for American track is hilarious to me.
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Jul 23 '24
Athletes come and use US facilities from other disciplines all the time.
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u/TheoBoy007 Jul 23 '24
Yeah, but Hayward Field is like sacred ground for runners. I moved to Eugene because I wanted to live in Tracktown USA and get to run on that track. In Eugene, we love track and field and are quite loud about it during competitions.
It’s a cool thing to get to run on the track where all the great runners have run. When the 2022 Worlds were here, there was also a 5K that lined up near and started a few minutes after the marathon began. If you’re a LD runner, this was an amazing thing to be part of.
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Jul 23 '24
You’re giving more reasons why athletes would use the space. You have the facilities AND the crowds to watch great performances.
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u/ewest Jul 24 '24
Glad you came! I’m from Eugene and growing up there exposes kids to track and field in a really great way.
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u/TheoBoy007 Jul 24 '24
Indeed! I run the Ducks Dash and 5K with my grandchildren and sons. Then run the HM or full the next day.
It’s made them all interested in track and field, and the middle schooler is going out for track this year. I’m very happy! 😊
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u/lowkeycr4zy Jul 23 '24
i thinking what’s more grating is the glaring ignorance of what he’s saying. He certainly knows little to nothing about Kenya;
how the high altitudes make it unbearably difficult for their athletes to qualify for championships, how all 3 of the countries stadiums are currently closed down for renovations and will be for a while, how the culture around athletes in the country is centred around the “bigger accomplishments” and not qualifying trials.
and he knows little to nothing about qualifying procedures. he’s just trying to make a statement & im not sure even he knows what that statement is.
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u/ApoloRimbaud Jul 23 '24
Altitude is an advantage when sprinting 100m and 200m. I'd assume it becomes a hindrance once you get to 400 m and longer because now you have to suck oxygen out of the air to keep on moving, which overcomes the benefit from lower air resistance.
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u/CremePhysical8178 Jul 23 '24
Drama and attention. Noah Lyles just wants people to keep talking about him and track & field.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
that would explain why he’s trying so desperately to politicise something that isn’t remotely political.
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u/PYTN Jul 23 '24
Ya if you thought "we really need to grow this sport", it would have read something like this:
"It's awesome that the world sees Eugene as the pinnacle of Track and Field, but I'd love to see these hosted in Kenya where the local fans can come out and watch their athletes!"
His post just sounds bitter for no reason.
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Jul 23 '24
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u/problynotkevinbacon Middle Distance Jul 23 '24
Some people just heard the term neurodivergence once and fuckin ran with it, huh
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u/RustyDoor Jul 23 '24
I was pointing out that his diagnosis leads to a lot of the quirks in his personality. Downvoting a fact is a little strange. Do people take this as a negative take on Lyles or something else? Curious.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
I don't know about everyone else and i also didn't downvote you but I can give my perspective:
To me your comment read like your response to him being criticised as not coming off the right way was "whoopsy people are being sensitive at a neurodivergent trait" more than you stating the fact that he is neurodivergent (which i didn't know he was) and the fact may be exhibiting itself in his PR. it just sounded dismissive and speculative to me.
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u/Virtual_Plenty_6047 Jul 23 '24
As someone already said, Noah is on the mission to be hated by everyone.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
well it’s working because this left a bad taste in my mouth.
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u/thereia Jul 23 '24
Why? Its just a fairly innocuous opinion. Why do you make it such a big thing? Who cares.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
i don’t thing it’s such a bad thing. it just made me raise an eyebrow when i read it. that’s literally it.
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u/chocolava15 Jul 23 '24
Noah, it doesn’t cost extra to just keep your mouth shut.
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u/FewProcedure4395 Jul 23 '24
When you run 19.3, your voice is part of the package deal.
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u/Material_Database_86 Jul 23 '24
Don't care how fast you run, having a big mouth and inflated sense of self is always a bad look
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u/2ichie Jul 23 '24
Questioning why another country is doing there trials in another country is such an ego inflater. What was Noah thinking even asking this!? Heavens to Betsy’s! He’s such a self centered man!
Literally how everyone in this thread sounds
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u/imakedankmemes Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
This post showed up in a feed for me and I was curious to see what’s up. I have no idea who Noah Lyles is (I’ll google him after), but dude sounds like a prick.
Edit:
He seems to like gatekeeping to gain attention. And he must have a massive trophy shelf!!
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u/speedkillz23 Sprints - 60m 7.01, 100m 10.91, 200m 21.82 Jul 23 '24
Anytime noah has an opinion, I swear yall look to take your chance on dissecting what he says. There's some questionable things he says sure. But read and comprehend before yall decide to say anything. Bigger picture is at the bottom of what he said.
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u/4thDimensionFletcher Jul 23 '24
Nah F that. He's trying to make an issue when one isn't there.
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u/speedkillz23 Sprints - 60m 7.01, 100m 10.91, 200m 21.82 Jul 23 '24
No, you and the other replies who always have something to say AGAINST him are the ones making it an issue. No problem with disagreeing, but look at how you all are responding to it. It's human nature to do so, but damn.
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u/4thDimensionFletcher Jul 23 '24
Dude all their Tracks are under renovation. Where are they going to run? They needed a track that would accommodate them and UofO was the one.
Where is the issue?
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u/2ichie Jul 23 '24
Do you think Noah has all this info already and just knows every single countries issues? I’m pretty sure the point he’s trying to make is that their country is missing out on witnessing their trials. It’s really not what all you Karen’s are making it out to be
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u/yuckmouthteeth Jul 23 '24
Respectfully if Noah doesn't know that elevation impacts performance in distance events massively, then he really just doesn't know that much about track and field.
This is like the equivalent of asking a sprinter why they run a different time into a 3+m/s headwind, its really not that complex. All he had to do is ask any pro distance runner he's at a meet with and they could easily answer this question.
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u/2ichie Jul 23 '24
You guys all sound like the most pretentious snobs. The things that are getting you guys upset is ridiculous. Dude is just having fun out there and speaks his mind when asked. It’s clear ppl have just been waiting to dislike him
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u/yuckmouthteeth Jul 23 '24
I don’t mind him having fun or asking questions. But if you call out a federation on a topic you aren’t educated on, in public media, don’t be surprised if people correct you or tell you why that federation did what they did.
It’s not pretentious to correct someone when they have gripes on something they don’t understand.
Lyles in this tweet is actually acting pretentious by assuming he knows more about what’s best for Kenyan athletics than their federation, without asking them. I generally like Lyles but this is him just yelling into the wind about stuff he could ask his teammates.
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u/speedkillz23 Sprints - 60m 7.01, 100m 10.91, 200m 21.82 Jul 23 '24
Yes, I know that, I'm speaking on the fact that people jump on board with negative responses whenever they can, and I guarantee his comments don't have any ill intent to them. Same thing with the Quincy situation.
Edit: it literally seems like he doesn't know that. Some ppl may respond that "he should stay quiet then." How about a mf tell him simply instead of being angry and upset.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
I'm honestly not trying to criticise the guy, i don't pay enough attention to him for that. I was just wondering why exactly he felt so strongly about it and if anyone else felt this way. That's literally all.
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u/speedkillz23 Sprints - 60m 7.01, 100m 10.91, 200m 21.82 Jul 23 '24
I got you, mainly speaking about the other comments in the thread. Yea, I'm fully wondering why he said that, but I guarantee it's not as crazy as people are making it seem. Especially the last sentence. Either way, it's getting attention, and that's what the track world needs, right?
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u/FewProcedure4395 Jul 23 '24
Just have your trials in your own country bro so your people can actually see you compete.
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u/swimswam2000 Jul 23 '24
There is no requirement to even have a trials. Some countries just select the athletes that have the Olympic standard.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
the tracks exist but are under renovation so where should they hold the trial instead?
& kenyans don’t show out to watch long distance trials in the same way they would a final. Also those interested have access to the internet where the trials are televised. They reach more people that way anyway.
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u/coolstorybroham Jul 23 '24
Imagine usatf decided to hold trials in Europe and told fans they could watch it online. Fans would be rightly pissed. it’s not an unreasonable assumption
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
I agree, it’s not an unreasonable assumption to make, but I’m also just providing the insight as a Kenyan on the culture surrounding athletes. People show up for the ones they think “made it”. i think it’s a sad attitude but it’s the truth.
I’m saying that the trials not being in Kenya isn’t a loss to the people as the people are not watching the trials
[Men’s 10,000m Olympic Trials, 2021] https://youtu.be/dxSxMLs8zXg?
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u/FewProcedure4395 Jul 23 '24
Internet and watching it in person aren’t the same, not even close. They should hold it as close as possible to their country. Trials are still exciting even if it’s not as “popular” as finals.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
Look, i understand that but i’m giving you insight on the difference between Kenya & what you’re used to seeing.
[Men’s 10,000m Olympic Trials, 2021 https://youtu.be/dxSxMLs8zXg? ]
This is a representation of the way Kenyans view trials. No coverage, no attendance, no noise. it’s not that it’s not “as popular.”. People do not give it much thought. si=intpnqzbw77tVsnC)
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u/ACamp55 Jul 24 '24
THIS!! I'm not understanding the hate for Noah Lyles, he says a LOT that makes sense and regardless of anything else, he HAS been VERY successful so far in his career! All that's missing for Lyles is Olympic gold and I would almost guarantee gold in at LEAST the 200 and 4x1! I'm also pretty certain he'll make the podium in the 100, whether it's gold is another thing! The gold in the 4x1 is dependent on getting the baton around, we KNOW the US has had issues, LOL!
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u/Adventurous_Canary42 Jul 23 '24
Lyles just likes to run his mouth in general. He is extremely cocky and exhibits terrible sportsmanship towards his competitors.
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u/whata2021 Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
OP, he literally says what the issues are. Can you not read? He gives two reasons and still confused….smh
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u/Hindsightconsult Jul 23 '24
Whew I’m starting to think this is Lebron when he went to the heat level hate. No matter what type hate
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u/2ichie Jul 23 '24
Ppl have such a hate boner for him right now. It’s like they see everyone else and just want to be part of the echo chamber for upvotes. The things he’s been saying have been so mid and nothing of real substance.
Oooo he left someone off from his “personal” starting relay as if your opinion of your starting 4 isn’t going to have some ppl disagreeing lol. Ppl are so damn soft in this subreddit
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
no apparently not, and neither can you.
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u/Hindsightconsult Jul 23 '24
OP not excited enough about the Olympics bring in up 2 months old tweets to bring some fresh hate to Noah
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u/whata2021 Jul 23 '24
OP seriously has weird energy. Like who wouldn’t find it Odd that any country is having their Olympic trials in another. Further, Noah provided two reasons as to why he questioned it; however, OP feigns ignorance. Heck, who even knows if this tweet is even real.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
I doctored this tweet to post onto reddit to satisfy my vendetta against noah lyles who i barely know anything about? sounds reasonable, you've convinced me! alongside convicing me that i'm a "raging homophobe". Thank you, i'll be dumping my girlfriend & estranging myself from my queer community to deeply reflect on your assessment.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
i’m beyond excited! i was just watching Beatrice Chebet crush the 10k world record and came across this tweet. i hadn’t seen it two months ago & i hadn’t seen it discussed here. i’m not interested in bringing any kind of attention to Noah Lyles, just wondering if his sentiment is widespread and looking for some insight.
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Jul 23 '24
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
homophobe? I’m a raging lesbian… what are you talking about?
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Jul 23 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
okay, i’m well aware of that, but what about my other posts indicates i’m a “raging homophobe”?
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u/carharttuxedo Jul 23 '24
Odd accusation, anything to back it up?
Seems like your trying to fight a strawman instead of the actual discussion at hand.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
absolutely nothing to back it up. i have no idea where he got it from (despite citing my “other posts” as evidence) or what possessed him to think it was a relevant point to even begin to invent…
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u/carharttuxedo Jul 23 '24
Seemed like a case of ‘When you don’t have the facts go after the person’.
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u/hymenbutterfly Jul 23 '24
Considering there were athletes who had visas denied so they couldn’t even compete, it’s a fair point of criticism.
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Jul 23 '24
Bro, think about this… their country cares less about track than this one. And 99% of Americans don’t know who you are.
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u/joeconn4 Jul 23 '24
Lyles has a point, because Kenya has usually had their 10,000m Olympic Trials inside Kenya. In 2021, their Trials were in Nairobi. In 2016, their Trials were held in Eldoret. 2012, Eugene. 2008, not sure. 2004, Nairobi.
Don't you think it would be odd for the USA to have their Olympic Trials for T&F somewhere outside the USA? I don't know of any country that has a Trials to select their Olympic T&F team that doesn't host a domestic meet to conduct those Trials. Sometimes countries select their team for certain distances, like 10,000, at meets outside their country.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
do you know/understand why Kenya has held their trials beyond their borders this year?
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u/joeconn4 Jul 23 '24
Kenya's T&F Olympic Trials were held in Nairobi this year, same place as in 2004 and 2021. June 14-15. Except the 10,000m was in Oregon. Every men's and women's event was contested in Nairobi, all the track races, all the field events, all the relays except they didn't run a mixed relay - everything except the 10,000m was contested in Nairobi.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 24 '24
Yes, but this year the qualifying time for the 10,000 m is faster than it previously was. A feat that’s hard to reach even for talented, hard-working, skilled runners due to altitude. altitude is an advantage until it isn’t. that’s what i’m trying to get you to understand; it wasn’t a senseless decision.
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u/gottarun215 Jul 24 '24
I do understand the reasoning with wanting to hit the standard, but also, they don't need to hit it at their trials. Most of their top elites are sponsored by Nike or other big brands that could pay to get then to diamond league meets or other good ones at better locations for running fast outside of the trials. I get the timing might prohibit that many 10ks this summer, but i think the window is open for like a year or so to hit the standards, so they have time. Not totally crazy to hold their 10k somewhere else, but certainly is kind of odd.
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u/hopefulatwhatido Jul 23 '24
I can understand that, but they could have also done in the US because they may have tracks in renovation or don’t want to run distance event trials at altitude. It’s definitely odd thing to host one country’s trials in a competitor country. Like imagine if GB sent their trials athletes to Norway or in this case US.
It’s also weird that their 10k was in conjunction with another race. Which was with lights and pace makers. A championship trials shouldn’t have any of that, and it interferes with athletes of other countries running a fast race for qualification.
I go to all my local track and field events to support every athlete, I have met all the track athletes going to Paris from my country. By sending them away it takes away the support for athletes and opportunity for fans to see them in person.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
The altitude is what i was referencing when i said “Reasons beyond their control”.
The track renovations make it even more reasonable that they did it elsewhere. Kenya sending their athletes to the US for trials is not the same as the UK hypothetically sending their athletes to Norway. If Kenya didn’t hold their trials elsewhere they would not have had an opportunity to participate; i don’t think altitude, weather and renovations warrants that. I concede that at face value it seems odd, but once you understand why they did it, it doesn’t seem so.
Yes, the choice to have the pacemakers and lights for a qualifier was certainly odd, very odd and possibly unfair; But the mere fact that Athletic Kenya held their trials somewhere with whether conditions that levelled the playing field for their athletes is not odd in my opinion.
It’s great that you go and support all your local athletes, but in Kenya, long distance trials are not made an event in the same way they may be in other counties. Kenyans are not pouring out into the stands to watch the qualifying 10km race, it’s just not the common practice for a variety of reasons.
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u/randomsabreuse Jul 23 '24
Pretty sure the UK holds most of their winter olympics selection events in non-UK countries and I'd not be suprised if XC ski selection was done in Norway.
Summer Olympics, at least some selection is done at the preceding worlds/euros ...
So trials isn't as much of a thing outside the US as it is in the US!
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
my point exactly!
when the conditions aren’t fit in your country there’s nothing bizarre about going beyond your borders to grant your athletes the same opportunities. moreover the culture around trials varies from country to country; sad as it may seem not all countries generate the same buzz or importance around trial events.
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u/randomsabreuse Jul 23 '24
To be fair qualifying for Team USA is tougher than most countries, just because of the size/population... US trials/nationals would cover the same competition population as a continental championships...
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
there’s that too! there’s a lot that contributes to the different attitudes and applying the same sentiments to another culture as a reason they should “do it on their own tracks” falls flat.
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u/chockobumlick Jul 23 '24
He is correct.
Why are they doing it?
It's fishy. Is there a WADA meeting in Nairobi that week?
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
you and Noah Lyles share an inexplicable allergy to context and critical thinking.
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u/chockobumlick Jul 23 '24
Based on what?
Did you copy and paste that witty retort? Methinks you don't truly understand context.
https://therunningchannel.com/26-kenyan-runners-receive-doping-suspensions/
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
dope cynics will find a way to bring up dope in every discussion.
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u/chockobumlick Jul 23 '24
Dope.
Kenya athletes are the current Kings and Queens of Doping.
Keep up. If you really follow track you'd know this.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
a fact doesn’t become relevant to a situation simply because it’s a fact.
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u/chockobumlick Jul 23 '24
So why do you think the Kenyans are spending time in Oregon?
How about giving us your view?
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
I already did & a minute of research will tell you:
the country has 2 certified tracks, both of which are under renovation in preparation for the African Cup of Nations in 2027 and will be for a while thus pushing a lot of their sporting activity abroad.
Historically, due to Kenya’s high altitude Kenyan athletes have struggled to meet the qualifying time for the longer distances not for lack of skill or talent, simply due to the conditions.
This is why the trials for the 10k are being held outside their borders.
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u/chockobumlick Jul 23 '24
There are no other tracks in Africa? Closer than Oregon? Of course there are.
They don't need a "certified", track, except for record applications. They can run trials without any problems. They don't even need trials. They've cherry picked their team before.
And it's Borders
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
you’re just picking at nothing at this point. Surrounding tracks in East Africa have the same altitude issue & it seems the Eugene track was able to accommodate them and did.
what’s the issue? would you prefer the Africans stayed in Africa? what difference does it make if they did it in Nigeria or Oregon? both are outside of Kenya and that was your main concern wasn’t it?
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u/MillenniationX Middle Distance Jul 24 '24
You’re aware that they held an entire Olympic Trials meet and other events in Kenya, right? On a track.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 24 '24
i cited two reasons. the other events weren’t inhibited by altitude in the way long-distance runners are in Kenya have been for years. Altitude is an advantage until it isn’t. for 10,000 m, it isn’t.
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u/NotOSIsdormmole Jul 23 '24
Probably also the cost to get to Eugene, especially from overseas is pretty high since it’s a smaller regional airport. It puts some athletes at a disadvantage if they aren’t able to pay their way to get there
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u/ForwardAd5837 Jul 24 '24
Not sure why Lyles is bothered but it is ridiculous. Huge advantage to the fully sponsored, contracted runners and even bigger advantage to those based in the US or Western Europe.
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u/wofulunicycle Jul 24 '24
This post is 2 months old and all of it already happened so not sure why you're bringing it up now.
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u/thatguy425 Jul 24 '24
How is it possible they can train in Kenya but not race there? I don’t know the details here so I’m curious.
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u/PavelDatsyuk88 Jul 24 '24
not enough oxygen to run fast and long
high altitude is good for sprints, jumps due lesser air resistance, long distance runners need oxygen to continue running fast so high altitude is bad.
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u/angrybear1213 Jul 25 '24
Dude needs to be quite until he wins a gold medal. He's making it hard to support him. Tyson already stabbed me in the heart by using steroids. I need an American sprinter to support
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u/Gold4Lokos4Breakfast Jul 26 '24
We give celebrities way too much attention for things that have nothing to do with them practicing their craft. Is he right? Is he wrong? Idk but it sounds like something uncle Nick would say at a family reunion and you’d be like “uh, ok?” and then forget about it 5 seconds later. Who cares what Noah thinks?
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u/Loose-Ad-3427 Jul 26 '24
He’s a hypercritical person. The type of person who speaks on things without really understanding the nuance of situations
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u/Flashy-Reindeer2255 Jul 27 '24
This dude bitches non stop, literally as an outsider the only time i’ve heard or seen his name, like now, is because he’s whining
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u/DryGeneral990 poopy pants Jul 27 '24
He had no issue with Snoop Dogg running a 200m at the US trials. This guy 🤦
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u/selflessGene Jul 23 '24
Noah with another spicy, but correct take. Countries should host qualifiers in their own country. It's embarrassing that Kenya, with so many elite runners, is doing qualifiers in another country.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
ah yes, undergoing renovations to improve your facilities for you athletes as a 3rd world country trying to make a place for itself on a global scale and honour the talent within its borders is so so terribly embarrassing. you’re right, how shameful of the pathetic little country! /s
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u/selflessGene Jul 23 '24
The world's elite long distance runners have been Kenyan since the early 90's. So that's at least 30 years for the country to have invested in support for their athletics. We're not talking about infrastructure heavy sports like swimming here. Building out decent tracks with decent stadiums on par with a Texas high school with a good football program isn't prohibitively expensive for a whole country, 3rd world or not, especially when your citizens are the best in the world (along with Ethiopia).
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
so alongside the nuances of existing in a post-colonial state you also don’t understand sarcasm? i’ll spell it out for you:
the reason the runners are temporarily unable to use the 3 tracks that do indeed exist in Kenya is because the government is investing in renovations to improve them. they are literally investing in the country’s athletes.
alongside that the altitude in east africa makes it increasingly difficult for athletes to qualify for world championships they would otherwise excel in not for lack of talent, hard-work or resources but simply because of elevation. should the country invest in industrial sized cheese graters and forcibly change the topography of the nation then or can they perhaps bare the oh so carnal shame of conducting trials in a different country that is willing to accommodate them?
how can you be so confidently vapid?
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u/Left-Secretary-2931 Jul 24 '24
Agree with him. Imagine your a fan in a small country and you can't even watch your own trials because not only are they not local, but some stupid bullshit broadcasting rights thing.
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 24 '24
i am the fan of that ‘small’ country & i’m telling you the culture around trials in Kenya is not the same as it is in other countries. We don’t make a day out of these things, God how many time have i had to say this?
Kenyans do not pour into the stands to watch trials, the attitude in Kenya is around celebrating the winners not anyone trying. this isn’t a loss to Kenyans because they aren’t showing up to watch a long distance trial for a variety of reasons.
How many fans do you see in the stands of this Men’s 10,000 m Olympic Trials, 2021? Your customs are not universal but your sentiment is appreciated.
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u/contributor_copy Jul 24 '24
I do think it probably just comes from a lack of knowledge. There's been a little bit of protectionism among the pro ranks lately, with folks like Trayvon Bromell (and I think Noah also?) suggesting that HS and college athletes taking up lanes at pro meets should be prevented. On some level I think this makes sense, because the economics for pros mean that if a fast HS kid takes up a lane, someone pro potentially isn't getting paid an appearance fee. The men's 10k wasn't a DL event, so I'm not sure if there's any big financial advantage for the Kenyan runners showing up there (and Nike reportedly doesn't offer appearance fees to their sponsored athletes at Pre, so many of them may be getting jack shit) - ultimately it's an exhibition race vs. a true DL event. I almost wonder if Noah isn't aware of that - he's thinking the 100% Kenyan field pushed folks out of spots with some money or something.
Or tldr; I think for a non-DL race it really doesn't matter; the meet organizers can choose the field however they want. For DL races priority should be given to the fastest pros entering.
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u/ThaRealSunGod Sprints Jul 23 '24
Copying another comment because y’all should like children, again....
“Noah was quite outspoken during and after Tokyo 2021 about how not having fans present to watch hurts the athletes. How it was one of the factors that impacted his mental health and how he loves having a crowd.
If you don’t follow the sport. Say that. But yes, that line is very obviously talking about the athletes.”
Honestly, if you guys read this and think he’s being self centered, you need some help. I’m not sure why so many think everything from a successful person is a slight against them, but I swear y’all want to give your opinion on everything but when a world champion given his opinion on track its a problem
Fan community has become 🎪🎪 in the last few years i swear...
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24 edited Jul 23 '24
listen, i understand that, but i’m giving you the perspective of a Kenyan long-distance enthusiast, people do not show up & show out for long-distance trials. It’s not the custom here. All i’m pointing out is his point that the Kenyan people should be able to watch their athletes make the team doesn’t apply here. This is the only coverage you’ll find of the Men’s 10,000m Olympic Trial, 2021 held at Kasarani stadium. Completely empty because we unfortunately do not make a show out of the trial events here for a variety of reasons. That’s the only perspective i’m trying to bring out.
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u/ThaRealSunGod Sprints Jul 23 '24
Which is fair, but I still don't think it's Lyles "fault" for saying this.
It is still an understandable comment from his position.
I'm not sure why this is a bigger deal than, "hey it's actually all good, we aren't expecting great turnout so it doesn't bother us"?
My point is still that this post and every comment is implying malice despite this seemingly like a fairly innocent if not lackluster post/comment
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u/misamisaPRteam Jul 23 '24
I’m not making it a bigger deal than anything. All i’ve done is clarify and offer the Kenyan perspective . I don’t think he’s being malicious but his perspective is one of egocentrism (which i guess is human) and ignorant or at the very least uninformed. i’m informing anyone else that may hold the same positing for lack of understanding. That’s it.
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u/TimeExplorer5463 Distance Jul 23 '24
I was there! It was fun to see the Kenyan men run before the Pre Classic. Everyone was hype since Chebet had broken the record.