Here is a series of conversations with Richard Mach former Western Michigan runner about Gary Martin who recently broke Jim Ryun's high school runners only, no pacers, record set in 1965. That led to why are Kenyans so good, and digressed to other subjects.
Gary Martin
High school student runs sub-4 minute mile, breaking record
Gary Martin has gotten extremely close to breaking this record during other track meets this year, but at a meet on Monday, he finally did it.
Read in CBS News: https://apple.news/
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Richard,
He looks like a throw back from British Public School 1950's even the haircut. May have been at Iffley Road, Oxford in 1954 in another life.
Well, done, Lad, now back to the books and get ready for your O Levels.
George
Just learned that within an hour of that HS-only 3:57.98, Gary Martin posted a 1:51.29 for 800 m and then came back to anchor his school’s 4 x 4 in 49.14. That same evening he played 2 hrs of 3 on 3 BB. He’s someone to watch. Saw an interview. Likes the limelight. Level headed enough. Ran remarkably even pace. A clock in his head. Richard
Hope he doesn't burn himself out. George
Early maturation.
Ryun runs his first sub 4 as a HS Jr then 4 more in the space of 43 days in his Sr yr, 1965. Then Danielson in ‘66 and Liquori in ‘66. Then there’s a break of 34 yrs until 2001 and Webb blitzes a 3:53. A decade passes then Verzbicas. And then 4 yrs later Maton and Fisher in 2015. Then 7 different hs milers over the next 7 yrs. Early maturation.
Cultural pressures accelerating maturation socially and emotionally are pushing earlier physical maturation. A still photo of Martin underway suggests he’s 21-22.
And, as an example, we have the 17.73 yr old Kenyan 800 m runner, Timothy Kitum, clocking 1:42.53 in the London OG for bronze in the WR setting race won by his teammate, David Rudisha, the only talent ever who could run a 48.3 first 400 and look like he was jogging. Richard
And Nigel Amos, the now world class lurcher from Botswana, was but 18 yrs, 5 mos in London when he ran 1:41.73 for silver. While Eliud Kipchige is a phenomenal exception and extreme outlier when it comes down to talent,
the notion of early maturation is supported by the Kenyan phenoms also leaving the world stage early as well. Perhaps your time on the continent might engender some thoughts on the matter? Richard
the notion of early maturation is supported by the Kenyan phenoms also leaving the world stage early as well. Perhaps your time on the continent might engender some thoughts on the matter? Richard
Not sure my time on the continent makes me more of an expert, but will have a go.
1. First generalization is Kenyans growing up at altitude for many
generations and perhaps physiologically better able to carry an oxygen debt (higher hemoglobin levels, lung capacities, O2 exchange capacity?) because of that.
2. Secondly diet and lack of sitting around in front of a TV in
early childhood. Living on mom's milk, then high carbohydrate diet, of corn meal, limited protein, makes for some lean children. (Wanna solve our infant formula problem? Get back to breast feeding.)
3. Next walking barefoot for six or more years before they get their first pair of shoes, perhaps aiding foot development. Walking and running everywhere including the run to school and back everyday, for some that's five or six miles, again at altitude. Playing soccer at school, developing strength through intervals in the game. Working when they get home tending cattle, or in the fields.
4. Girls going for firewood and hauling more than half their body weight on their backs or heads, who needs a gym?
5. Kids developing an independent spirit in play sometimes out for days at a young age with their peers in the forest. That means in the bush with other kids four and five years old with knives or machetes to gather food while out there.
6. Once they discover running in competition at school and learn that it is a means out of poverty toward riches and a better life, there must be incredible incentive, it's a means of survival in a tough world.
7. Pour all that into a mixing pot and skimming off the cream and you have some incredible individuals well suited for the sport.
8. Once discovered they will then be spirited away to a couple of schools where there are some great coaches including that Irish brother ( Colm O’Connell at St Patrick’s High School in Iten ). He has coached a lot of the great ones. If you look at the map of Kenya, you are drawing these runners out of a very small area of the country. You don't find them coming from the coast or Sudanese border areas or from the slums of Nairobi. It's out in the Western highlands and Rift valley area. A few come from Eastern Uganda bordering on the Western Highlands, but they are closely related and live a similar lifestyle.
9.Of the very successful I'm not sure you will find a second generation of great runners. The successful runners now have money and live a more comfortable lifestyle that will soften the next generation. Kip Keino's son Martin was fairly good but not great. I think he went to Rutgers on a scholarship, but I don't recall him winning any national championships anywhere.
10.They say that Eliud Kipchoge lives a monastic life on a farm and houses a bunch of up and comers there.
10. Corruption is also a part of the game now in Kenya with agents and Kenya Athletics people, aka vultures, taking over a lot of the young runners and widespread doping. Anything to get in on that prize and sponsorship money available in Europe or the marathon circuit. Still a bunch of clean great ones seem to keep coming out of the woodwork.
And furthermore,
I should add that the Rudisha's (father and son) are an exception to my second generation theory. They are Masai, a very different cultural group from the Nandi, Kalinjin and other tribes that have produced great Kenyan runners. Apparently David is bulkier than the typical Kenyan distance runner. He started out as a decathlete. HIs father Daniel was an excellent 400 runner (45.5) and Olympic silver medallist in 4x400 at Mexico City 1968. He passed away in 2019, heart attack while being treated for diabetes.
David Rudisha (son)
Daniel Rudisha (father)
Having lived in Masailand in the 1960's I remember once a group of young Masai men who "borrowed" some cattle. (This is not a bad thing in their culture.) They herded the cattle overnight almost 50 miles. That takes some stamina even on a horse which they did not have at their disposal.
Your favorite, Nigel Amos, I cannot account for. Botswanans are not living at high altitude, but the influence of sport crazy South Africa is there.
South Africans, many do live at 5000 feet in the interior and may derive some benefits and there have been some very good South African marathoners. In the 400-800 range. Van Nieukirk is a whole other story, mixed race getting benefits from a wider swath of DNA and some good coaching from a seventy years old lady. What a shame he blew out his knee in a charity, low contact rugby gig.
It looks to me like Gary Martin, like Jim Ryun, has an abundance of God-given talent and plans to use it.
Bruce Geelhoed
Enjoyed these comments. Time will tell but I suspect Gary Martin will be good for a long time. His 400 & 800 times are good but probably stem from great interval training rather than speed which will eventually limit his potential. I see him being a 1500/5000 guy. Bill Schnier
PS. Anonymous is correct in his criticism of my assessment of Martin Keino. My apologies George
1 comment:
Armchair critics are often the most severe. You can say Martin Keino was “not great” if you’d like, sure. But an NCAA 5000 title (1995) and PRs of 3:33, 3:52, 7:35 and 13:21 were not chopped liver. Faster than his father at each of those distances. Better tracks, better shoes, yes. Still, Martin Keino could run. An Arizona grad, he never attended Rutgers. I believe that was his less accomplished brother Bob.
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