Sam Chelanga, Liberty

2008 NCAA Cross Country Championships

LaVern Gibson XC Course  ⋅  Terre Haute, IN, US  ⋅  Nov, 24 2008   |   Coverage created by Ryan From Flotrack


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About Sam Chelanga 

Current School:Liberty University


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#31
Anonymous Coward   December 17, 2008 at 10:36pm
I think he meant he lost his cool and lost his composure when he said he "lost his balance." I'd feel pretty bad if I led a whole race and got outkicked by somebody who isn't known to kick.
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#30
Ryan Parker   December 2, 2008 at 7:27am
Thank you 'Real Runner'. Think about how the previous years went for both of them:
Rupp trained for, and raced in the Olympics
Chelanga half-assed his training until this fall because he was forced to red-shirt (read his 'quick-e' article, he talks about it)
Rupp waited until the season was almost over to race so he wouldn't get burnt out.
Chelanga ran a bunch of hard races all season.

I'm not saying either one will ultimately be better than the other, but Rupp has inarguably been training harder than Chelanga for the entire year leading up to NCAA's.
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#29
Anonymous Coward   December 1, 2008 at 10:57pm
Ohhhh, and I forgot to bring up this point...I bet Galen won the race because he was just more fit than Sam. Sam will be good in the future because I'm sure his training will progress (with or without certain "advantages").
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#28
Anonymous Coward   December 1, 2008 at 10:50pm
This entire argument sums up why Americans continue to get it handed to them in distance running by the Kenyans and Ethopians. Nobody ever wants to say, "That guy won, therefore he ran a better race," or, "That guy won so he probably trained better." Instead of just saying that the Africans are just training more and/or race better, we build some kind of space treadmill and make more technology. Just get down to what it is...running...and just do some of that.
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#27
Anonymous Coward   November 29, 2008 at 9:43pm
frankly, everyone is being a little because Rupp rapped everyone he's raced against this season. Everyone should just let it go, Rupp is a great runner great guy so is Sam. in addition he has plenty of races ahead against Galen where he could destroy him. both guys had a hard fought battle both were amazing all year. and should galen go pro...yes however who would really leave oregon ya know there's so much that being a duck has to offer someone. it's probably a great feeling and one should take in as much as possible from something thats inspiration and amazing.
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#26
Anonymous Coward   November 29, 2008 at 8:43pm
why doesnt rupp just go pro already, he already ran in the olympics. i mean if sam chelanga had alberto salazar as a coach and all the advantages rupp has, then he would be like in the top 10 in the olympics
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#25
Anonymous Coward   November 26, 2008 at 9:46pm
hey HT those are very good points. Since I started running elite I have access to those kinds of "advantages" but I do say that if someone had these when I ran nc's I'd be kinda pissed too..
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#24
SteveB   November 26, 2008 at 9:06pm
Since when are breathe strips an advantage? hah. Its interesting how no one was crying towards the video of Katie Follet of Washington when she was running on their Anti Gravity Tred.

Rupp & Follett = both have great coaches
Rupp & Follett= both have great training partners
Rupp & Follett= both have access to Anti Grav's
Maybe it is the breathe strip!!!
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#23
Anonymous Coward   November 26, 2008 at 8:18pm
In repsonse to stephen(below)
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#22
Anonymous Coward   November 26, 2008 at 8:14pm
I am sorry to say, but your arguement is inherently flawed. No one is arguing that they would not utilize advantages if they were handed to you your whole life, people are angry that he, Rupp, uses them and competes in an environment where no one else has the same advantages, NCAA's. On no level is Rupp different from any professional runner, besides that fact that he does not except race winnings when he runs unattached in Europe or on the USA pro-circuit. Rupp competing in the NCAA's is the same as say Adam Goucher or Alan Webb, who also attends graduate classes. It is almost the same as if a varsity athlete decides to run the JV race at a cross country meet, of course he is going to win and destroy the competition and when 2nd place hears about this, of course anyone in that position would be angry that they lost to a varsity athlete who obviously doesn't belong in his race. Also, you should make yourself less obviously biased.
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#21
Bryan Spreitzer   November 26, 2008 at 1:31pm
he called rupp "a parasite" hahaha. it is ok though, he is only a soph.
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#20
Anonymous Coward   November 26, 2008 at 11:44am
Didn't come off as a sore loser to me at all. Just someone who worked hard (like Rupp) and was a lil dissapointed. They both did great yesterday. Sam has two more years to win :) WE love ya Sam!!!
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#19
Anonymous Coward   November 25, 2008 at 6:30pm
I think Sam did a great job. I would be disapointed too if someone just sat on me the whole race and then outkicked me. He even said, "I don't want to be a parasite." I can understand why he has this attitude, because it is honorable, even if you don't win. I can also understand why he was somewhat disgusted that Galen was just "being a parasite" most of the way.
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#18
Anonymous Coward   November 25, 2008 at 3:56pm
He mouths the words: "I lost"
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#17
Anonymous Coward   November 25, 2008 at 3:50pm
what does he "say" with his mouth at the very end of the interview to ryan?
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#16
Anonymous Coward   November 25, 2008 at 1:15pm
sam is only going to get better too.... and now he should be more motivated than ever
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#15
Anonymous Coward   November 25, 2008 at 10:49am
he gives no props to the champion. and gives an excuse of "he lost his balance" as to being outkicked! that's crazy! maybe he's not a sore loser, but he definitely got beat by a smarter runner.
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#14
Anonymous Coward   November 25, 2008 at 8:29am
It's weird to see American talent winning American uni championships. Its just a shame that Rupp blurs the line between student-athlete and minor league
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#13
Anonymous Coward   November 25, 2008 at 12:55am
a robot Vs. a human, the robot won this time, its ok chelanga we cant beat em all the time.
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#12
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 11:14pm
RE: Luke
i think there are some young guns that might beg to differ... you'd be surprised how much a years worth of training can do buddy.
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#11
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 8:47pm
and IF he gets them.... my mistake
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#10
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 8:46pm
ha he called rupp a parasite (1:14-1:18). it was a great race and if sam doesn't go pro he can go back and have a shot at two more titles and he he gets them.... well thats one more than rupp can say
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#9
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 8:17pm
he's real chilled about how the whole thing happened. he doesn't worry about strategies he just runs.
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#8
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 7:51pm
You ran great...I will never forget this race, it was an honor to be there and see it..thanks.
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#7
4sstar   November 24, 2008 at 6:59pm
As Josh said...he himself could have ran that a thousand times and lost a thousand times to Rupp. He's an amazing competitor. It was a great race and anyone saying he's a sore loser doesn't know what they are talking about.
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#6
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 6:44pm
i love this kid. he will be the next American super star. keep up the good work sam
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#5
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 6:20pm
"I lost my balance," he says... that's why he couldn't kick.
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#4
Stephen Infascelli   November 24, 2008 at 5:54pm
everyone talks about the advantages that Rupp has and I have to say that I think its great... it seems we complain about how our top level athletes cannot compete against the east africans at big races and now that Galen has all these advantages and has had some success we rip on him. ? doesn't make sense, people. lets think... if you were in Rupp's shoes and had the chance for all these advantages would you turn it down? i don't think so.
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#3
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 5:21pm
he's not a sore loser.. has every advantage that most elite runners dont have, and he was still sitting on sam. heart of champion means to have the balls to take it from the gun. like hmmm pre, cant even believe they compare this kid to pre....
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#2
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 5:06pm
You trippin son...he isn't a sore loser. He just has the heart of a champion and is disappointed he lost. Quit hatin.
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#1
Anonymous Coward   November 24, 2008 at 5:00pm
what a sore loser! lots of excuses.
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2008 XC Season Coverage
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Race day with FSU womenRace day with FSU women
Paul Merca U DubPaul Merca U Dub
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Hayward Field, Oregon Watch Party Pt. 1Hayward Field, Oregon Watch Party Pt. 1
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Interviews

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Andrew Ledwith (airport) IonaAndrew Ledwith (airport) Iona
Galen Rupp CHAMP!Galen Rupp CHAMP!
Karen Harvey, FSU 3rdKaren Harvey, FSU 3rd
Sam Chelanga, LibertySam Chelanga, Liberty
Sally Kipyego CHAMP!Sally Kipyego CHAMP!
Shadrack Songok, Texas A&MShadrack Songok, Texas A&M
Racheal Marchand Iowa 5th PlaceRacheal Marchand Iowa 5th Place
Ricardo Santos, IonaRicardo Santos, Iona
Andrew Ledwith & Mohamed Khadroui, ionaAndrew Ledwith & Mohamed Khadroui, iona
Pete Watson, AuburnPete Watson, Auburn
Mel Lawrence, Washington 25thMel Lawrence, Washington 25th
Luke Puskedra, FlofroshLuke Puskedra, Flofrosh
Mick Byrne, Wisco 4thMick Byrne, Wisco 4th
Katie Follett, WashingtonKatie Follett, Washington
Kyle Perry, BYUKyle Perry, BYU
Lauren Holesh, UNC 30thLauren Holesh, UNC 30th
Jordan Kyle, ColoradoJordan Kyle, Colorado
Jason Dunn, StanfordJason Dunn, Stanford
Gavin Kennedy, Iona Asst. CoachGavin Kennedy, Iona Asst. Coach
David Kinsella, PortlandDavid Kinsella, Portland
David McCarthy, ProvidenceDavid McCarthy, Providence
Chris Derrick, StanfordChris Derrick, Stanford
Christine Babcock FloFrosh, 6th WashingtonChristine Babcock FloFrosh, 6th Washington
Angela Bizarri, Illinois 2008 NCAA XC ChampsAngela Bizarri, Illinois 2008 NCAA XC Champs
Brie Felnagle 4thBrie Felnagle 4th
Alex Kosinski & Nicole BloodAlex Kosinski & Nicole Blood
Andrew Wheating, OregonAndrew Wheating, Oregon
Vin Lananna FloCoach of the YearVin Lananna FloCoach of the Year
Coach Greg Metcalf, WashingtonCoach Greg Metcalf, Washington
Susan Kuijken, 2nd FSUSusan Kuijken, 2nd FSU
Josh McDougal on Rupp & ChelangaJosh McDougal on Rupp & Chelanga
Karen Harvey FSU preraceKaren Harvey FSU prerace
Sam Chelanga Liberty preraceSam Chelanga Liberty prerace
Greg Metcalf Washington preraceGreg Metcalf Washington prerace
Dave Smith OK State preraceDave Smith OK State prerace
Joe Franklin New Mexico preraceJoe Franklin New Mexico prerace
Jake Schmitt Washington preraceJake Schmitt Washington prerace
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Ryan Vail OSU preraceRyan Vail OSU prerace
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Pete Watson Auburn preracePete Watson Auburn prerace
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Jason Dunn Stanford preraceJason Dunn Stanford prerace
Ricardo Santos Iona preraceRicardo Santos Iona prerace
Peter Farrell Princeton preracePeter Farrell Princeton prerace

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