The Kenyan kids who run super fast at age 15-16, are often older than their stated ages. This is to win championships at cross country and world cross. They are closer in age to 17 or 18 or even older.
When some Kenyans came to Canada to run in the Toronto area, doctors were intrigued by the fact that tests done on their bone structures (there are tests for those) did not match the ages given. In other words many Kenyans who wish to run overseas claim they are younger than they actually are, to gain attention. Because the younger you are, as a Kenyan, the more attention you will get from Universities, and recruiting countries like Qatar and Bahrain.
I spent long enough in both Iten and Eldoret to know that there are few, if any, child runners training on a regular basis. In fact, in Iten, on that old cinder track, which all the international runners use, located some 2km from the town center, no kids are allowed to run, during the times all those guys train there (many internationals).
Yes, children develop decent aerobic base, but there is no systematic program to develop kids at young ages. This would start at age 15 - 16 in the schools system.
Ironically, during my two visits to Assela, Ethiopia (the locale where Gebreselassie comes from) I saw much more children being trained by coaches, compared with Kenya. From 5.30am to about 8am, that stony track in Assela was besieged by hudreds of kids, from different clubs, training alongside the senior runners. In Bekoji, Ethiopia, were Ken Bekele comes from - same deal with many child runners.
Ethiopia is about 15 years behind Kenya in terms of development, and school dropouts are tolerated there. Not in Kenya.
When staying at the White Rock Hotel in Eldoret, any street kids there were quickly picked up by authorities and taken to reception centres. Not allowed. In Ethiopia, on the other hand, street kids are everywhere and tolerated. Kenya to Ethiopia is like - U.S. to Mexico, with much more development in the former.
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