* Japanese runners do not have three plus generations of consistent living above 5000ft. elevation.
* Japanese T&F athletes often have less than ideal height to inseam ratio. [There have been others with less than ideal height to inseam ratio with Olympic 1500m medals. Japanese are not the only ones.]
* Is it cultural? Japanese T&F athletes have been elite or near elite 100m and 10000m & Marathon. I don't feel like overly analyzing.
The course and weather conditions were as perfect as they possibly could be in Chicago. The Japanese trials were in gusting wind and pouring rain and they still had four guys right around 2:09:00. That's more impressive than what the American squad did at Chicago. It'll be a good head to head at the Olympics with heat and a very hard course
The course and weather conditions were as perfect as they possibly could be in Chicago. The Japanese trials were in gusting wind and pouring rain and they still had four guys right around 2:09:00. That's more impressive than what the American squad did at Chicago. It'll be a good head to head at the Olympics with heat and a very hard course
I hope U.S. Marathoners don't play cat & mouse with Marathoners representing Japan. That's unethical point shaving.
The course and weather conditions were as perfect as they possibly could be in Chicago. The Japanese trials were in gusting wind and pouring rain and they still had four guys right around 2:09:00. That's more impressive than what the American squad did at Chicago. It'll be a good head to head at the Olympics with heat and a very hard course
Would be the first time in decades other than the one where broken Hall and Abdi quit.
A world or Olympic medal is no longer the holy grail it once was for the marathon. World Marathon majors are just so much better.
Anyway, the top American would have been no better than 20th in those absolute nutty conditions in Japan yesterday. There are at least 30-40 Japanese men better than Mantz.
A world or Olympic medal is no longer the holy grail it once was for the marathon. World Marathon majors are just so much better.
Anyway, the top American would have been no better than 20th in those absolute nutty conditions in Japan yesterday. There are at least 30-40 Japanese men better than Mantz.
In actuality, Mantz is better than any Japanese. The top Japanese is behind about 70-80 Americans
There were another 4 Japanese men under 2:10 at the trials but only one other USA man under 2:10 at Chicago.
When you consider the conditions it is likely when all racing on the same course that all 8 of those Japanese men would run faster than the fastest American man.