East Africa's Athletes: Long-Term Perspectives

The Perceived or Real Reasons for the Success of East African Runners

Abstract

Runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Morocco have been performing well in international athletics competitions for decades, especially in the middle and long distances, while in the short-distance running, the laurels are clearly given to black athletes from West Africa, Jamaica, and North America. Of course, the latter runners also mostly come from West African ancestors.