Do you know what Sydney Maree, Arturo Barrios, Mark Plaatjes, Olga Appell, Khalid Khannouchi, Eddy Hellebuyck and Colleen DeReuck have in common? Before becoming naturalized Americans all were among the world's leaders on the track and/or roads. Two, Barrios from Mexico and Khannouchi from Morocco set world records in the track 10,000 meters and marathon respectively. Plaatjes of South Africa has won a marathon medal for the US in the World Championships while others have set American records since becoming US citizens.

However, because they're all from somewhere else, records and accomplishments won get pegged with an imaginary asterisk in too many minds. Born Americans think, "They aren't one of us."

But I get ahead of myself. While in a meeting at the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon, I met Sandra and Khalid Khannouchi. Word of a new men's US record for the track 10,000 meters by Meb Keflezighi (of Eritrea) had just been announced and I shared the info with them. As Khalid looked over a report of the race held at Stanford May 4, he said he was happy for Meb and that he'd spent time running with him in California. He added, "It's too bad Meb didn't get the recognition, as an American, he deserved for what he did in the (2000) Olympics 10,000 (meters). Maybe now he will."

I asked Khalid if he didn't know a little something about lack of recognition for his efforts. In a voice half sigh and pensive he replied, "Oh yeah, I do." (Khalid set a US marathon record of 2:07:01 in Chicago last October that fans are slow to embrace as a record. Also, many still look dimly at what they felt was an unfairly hasty naturalization process for Khalid last year, making him eligible to run our Olympic Trials Marathon. Uncertainty over his pending citizenship led Khalid to run the London Marathon 3 weeks before instead, precluding an Oly Trials appearance).

We talked a few more minutes about the lack of respect and recognition given to naturalized Americans. The Khannouchi's spoke from their hearts (Sandra is from the Dominican Republic) describing what they'd given up and how grateful they were for the opportunities of US citizenship. They weren't angry or resentful, it just seemed unfair to them that records like Meb's wouldn't be seen as worthy or accepted as readily as one by a native born son. I was touched by their sincerity and impressed that they'd be so candid with somebody they'd just met.

This story begs the question: Why are the marks of naturalized citizens like Khalid's received so poorly? Maybe I paint the picture too darkly. I think not but leave it too you to consider.

Best, Scott Hubbard