The US Olympic Trials Aren't the Only Ones in Eugene

The Kenyan Olympic Trials for just the 10,000 meter run are being held in Eugene, Oregon, USA, the day before the Pre Classic this June.  I think that this is very strange.  Shouldn't the Olympic Trials be a source of pride for a country?  Especially for the Kenyans in the 10,000 meters?  The country isn't known for much outside of its long distance running tradition and the 10,000 may be its best event.  The list below is the list of Kenyans that are better than the second American ran last year  The depth of Kenyan distance running is staggering especially when you consider the range of their athletes from David Rudisha in the 800 to Patrick Makau and company in the marathon.


Back to this year's 10,000 meter trials.  They are held in Eugene, the home of Nike.  Nike also happens to sponsor nearly all of these athletes as well as the whole Pre Classic weekend.  Nike has great relationships with Kenyan athletes and often their coaches and agents as well.  It is going to be more about brand promotion than about the actual track and field which might push it too far.  Maybe Nike is going to say that Galen and Dathan get to run in the Kenyan Trials to get pulled along to fast times?  I'm not really sure why the Kenyan Olympic Trials 10k is being held in Eugene but it is.

1	26:43.98			Lucas Rotich	KEN	16 Apr 90	Bruxelles
2	26:48.99			Josphat Bett	KEN	12 Jun 90	Eugene OR
3	26:50.63			Paul Tanui	KEN	22 Dec 90	Eugene OR
4	26:51.95			Emmanuel Bett	KEN	30 Mar 83	Bruxelles
5	26:53.27			Eliud Kipchoge	KEN	5 Nov 84	Bruxelles
6	26:54.25			Mathew Kisorio	KEN	16 May 89	Eugene OR
7	26:54.64			Mark Kiptoo	KEN	21 Jun 76	Eugene OR
8	26:55.29			Leonard Komon	KEN	10 Jan 88	Eugene OR
9	26:55.73			Geoffrey Kirui	KEN	16 Feb 93	Bruxelles
10	26:59.81			Titus Mbishei	KEN	28 Oct 90	Bruxelles
11	27:06.35			Geoffrey Kipsang	KEN	28 Nov 92	Eugene OR
12	27:10.05			Moses Masai	KEN	1 Jun 86	Eugene OR
13	27:13.67			Bidan Karoki	KEN	21 Aug 90	Stanford CA
14	27:21.62			Paul Lonyangat	KEN	12 Dec 92	Bruxelles
15	27:22.09			John Cheruiyot	KEN	5 Jul 90	Eugene OR
16	27:22.53			James Rungaru	KEN	14 Jan 93	Yokohama
17	27:23.85			Martin Mathathi	KEN	25 Dec 85	Kobe
18	27:23.99			John Thuo	KEN	27 Nov 85	Kobe
19	27:24.18			Edward Waweru	KEN	3 Oct 90	Fukuroi

List from Letsrun.