It's not solely due to lack interest in the sport, as evidenced by their winning bids to host both major championships this year. Their population is over 4 times that of the U.S. yet their national 10K record is only 28.08, fittingly by a fellow named Ren "Longyun" who also holds their marathon record. Any reasonable theories as to why they have had so few world class performers in track and field?
800 m 1:46.32 Teng Haining 21 May 2014
1500 m 3:36.49 Dou Zhaobo 24 October 2003
3000 m 7:56.19 Zhang Guowei 23 June 1987
5000 m 13:25.14 Xia Fengyuan 23 October 1997
10000 m 28:08.67 Ren Longyun 1 November 2007
10 km (road) 29:02 Chen Hongyu 10 October 1999
Half marathon 1:02:51 Dong Guojian 26 April 2009
Marathon 2:08:15 [5] Ren Longyun 21 October 2007