Five Kenyan-born runners have been named in the United States team for the upcoming World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark starting March 30th.
Among those who have been named in the 28-man US team is 2016 Rio Olympic 10,000m finalist Shadrack Kipchirchir.
Shadrack will represent the US in the competition alongside other former Kenyan teammates Leonard Korir, Hillary Bor, Stanley Kebenei and Emmanuel Bor.
The five will be seeking glory in the senior men 10km race alongside US-born Mason Ferlic.
The inclusion of the five athletes in the US team doesn’t come as a surprise as many Kenyan athletes who have struggled to make it to the national team have resorted to switching countries.
Athletics Kenya vice chairman Barnaba Korir has, however, downplayed the move, stating that the country still has unmatched world-class talent.
He has exuded confidence that Kenya will eclipse the US and other countries that have poached Kenyan athletes.
“Don’t castigate them as traitors to our national flag. They have been naturalized and followed all the laws to compete for the United States of America,” Korir says.
“Instead let Kenyans appreciate them like we have previously done before with sportsmen with Kenyan roots including Divock Origi (Liverpool striker playing for Belgium) and Chris Froome (cyclist for Britain).”
Korir has labeled the USA team as a Kenya ‘B’ line up. Several Kenyans are currently representing different countries including Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain.
“This huge Kenya representation across the globe means the country is exporting top talent. It shouldn’t be a concern for us since those are personal decisions for them to change allegiance,” Korir says.
Athletes who ditch Kenya to run for other countries are paid handsomely and enjoy better training facilities than those in Kenya.
And why shouldn’t they; like…
And why shouldn’t they; like we did ourselves? Talent will still emerge from the same cauldron these ones came from, so we have enough to export while keeping the very finest. Have fun guys.
I support such athletes. Let…
I support such athletes. Let them explore opportunities outside the countries where they can realise their talents. Opportunities are really tough in Kenya. There’s corruption everywhere, even in the bodies that could support such athletes. There is corruption in selection, corruption in time trials, corruption in securing passport…even the Kenya’s Airport is riddled with corruption!!!
Kenyan is corrupt
Kenyan is corrupt
“This huge Kenya…
“This huge Kenya representation across the globe means the country is exporting top talent. It shouldn’t be a concern for us since those are personal decisions for them to change allegiance,” Korir says.
True it should not be a concern to us,but who wants to see Kenyans running against Kenyans all the time. This is what would kill the sport.Yes these Kenyans may don uniforms of their adopted countries but they are still ‘kenyans’.The were not born in those countries.And yes there is adifference. Americans will clap for these athletes because they are running for their country,but deep in their hearts,they know that these athletes are “imports”.
When the American-Eritria won Boston Marathon for USA,there were rumblings in the media that he was not an”original american”.
Nothing against these athletes who are changing their nationalities to better themselves,but if cross country,or marathon will be dominated by athletes from particular part of the globe, it will start loosing its luster.Further more as these athletes are aptly called Kenya B,there is more reason to believe that they would not have made it in Kenya A. Consider this;the RIO marathon selection had over 400 kenyan runners attain olympic qualifying time,but only 4 were selected.The forth one as a backup.
The only way to reduce”nationalism” in sports is to have clubs,but that would defeat the purpose of the events such as the oympic games.My two cents.