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VIPAM · Junior Varsity Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 118

Samuel Wanjiru (Ken) 10 Nov 1986

He is actually racing more in Japan then most 5000m/10000m Kenyan top athletes. This teenager started of the 2005 season by winning the prestige Chibi X-Country and have continued on to an impressive track season which he hasn't been challenged at distance 10000m and up.

27:32.43............1r2)Kobe..........23 Apr
27:08.00...............1)Shizuoka....03 May
27:41.64...............1)Tokyo........05 Jun

59:43....................1) 1/2 Mar....10 Jul
passing 10km in 28:02 and winning by over 3 minutes ahead of a 2:06 marathoner. While its not concrete proof Samuel actually looks like a teenager which is refreshing but confusing why Kenya won't bring him home. He wasn't even required to run Kenya Championship for a spot on the Kenya World Team 10000m.

Samuel would DEFINITELY been a contender for the silver or bronze against the Ethiopians and certainly the first sub 27 minute 10000m by a junior.

http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=30212.html

Dan · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 3:40 pm Post subject:

It's a shame your passion isn't the sprints. Conway and you (and X-King) would be talking up a storm! Smile

Dan
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VIPAM · Junior Varsity Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 118

You sound like my former coach. I had pb of 21.4 in the 200m and never ran it in high school or college or even train for the sprints. I instead choose the 800m as I wish I could have run the 10000m but genetics would not allow it (and be competitive).

I do however know just as much about sprinting as I do any event.

VIPAM · Junior Varsity Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 118

Does anyone think Kenya suffered a big brain *art in not getting Samuel to try out for the Worlds 10000m squad?

Dan · Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 7:42 pm Post subject:

You ran 21.4 without focusing on it? Shocked

How fast were you in the longer stuff??

Dan
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Conway · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:38 am Post subject:

How old were you when you ran 21.4 ???? That's good speed for a whole lot of things ... And depending on how old you were when you ran it you might have done well in the sprints !!!!
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Conway
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VIPAM · Junior Varsity Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 118

21.4 at age 22

pb
500m....1:02.30
800m....1:49.79
5 mile X-C.....26:02 won by 2 min

only ran competively for 2 - 2 1/2yrs.

Conway · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:08 am Post subject:

Nice ... I think the 800 may have been a good choice ... Though if you ran 21.4 without a lot of work you may have been very good in the 400 ... I'd say under 46 somewhere ... Nice PRs though ... Congrats ...
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Speed Thrills

Dan · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:33 am Post subject:

Definitely good range. I'd have to say your times were fairly even across the spectrum, so perhaps no lost opportunities by moving up. Smile

Dan
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Micah Ward · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:02 am Post subject:

Any thoughts on returning to competition?
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VIPAM · Junior Varsity Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 118

Honestly I hate competition I ran for the fun and went to college and was spotted by a coach who asked me to join. I would often run 5-10 miles a day before I even went to college because I loved to run. My workouts were often mindboggling but in competition it was just new and something I didn't like.

I remember my first meet at McNeese in Louisiana 800m indoors. I forget the guy who was the runner-up at NCAA that year but by 600m I was clocked at 1:18. something and felt good over 25 meters ahead of 2nd and I heard someone (yelling spilts) say, "He's not supposed to be doing that?". So for some unknown reason I slowed almost to a crawl and still finished 5th in I think 1:57. No specific training and 1st competition ever.

I will be going back to competition because my mindset thrives for the competition now to see how good I can get, but my best day are definitely behind me. I had workouts:

500m: 1:02.3 (4 min jog/walk rec)
300m: 35.0
-----
5 x 400m all under 53 (200m SLOW jog rec)
15 minutes later
a jamiacan friend (1:47 guy) need someone to help him so I led everyone of his in the under 52 to 53.5

Many of my world class teammates told me I could run 1:44- 1:45. I routinely hammered our 1:46 guy from Moz. but he took me to the line in practices. In competition I wasn't scared I just didn't know how to race and didn't like it. Now I have the competitive instinct I think I can get back to at least sub 1:50.

VIPAM · Junior Varsity Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 118

Back to Samuel Wanjiru I think he is far more amazing than I ever was and now Kenya have a 15 yr girl who placed 2nd in their Championships at altitude 15:13 and not going to the World Championships. Kenya instead sent Veronica to World Youth were she walked over the competition in winning by 4 seconds in MR 9:01 (far off her personnal best).

Dan · Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:16 pm Post subject:

You're a coach's worst nightmare! What college did you attend?

Dan
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VIPAM · Junior Varsity Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 118

Why do you say I'm a coaches worst nightmare, Dan?

Dan · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 2:28 am Post subject:

Loads of talent in multiple events but no single area of focus, hard worker but not keen on competing, analytical to a fault... Imagine yourself in a coach's shoes, trying to figure out what button to push to realize all that potential. That's the sort of thing that keeps coaches from getting any sleep...

Dan
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