Professor McCall Co-Authors Article in The Conversation

Dawson McCall, an Assistant Professor of History, published an article co-written with Boston University's Chepchirchir Tirop on Kenyan athletes who regularly achieve mind-boggling, world-beating results in elite middle- and long-distance running. Such efforts inspire both admiration and suspicion, and often result in the sport being viewed through the lens of elite performance. However, a deeper look at the history and social dynamics of Kenyan running reveals a complex sport that touches on the full range of human experiences. Exploring these experiences pushes us to think critically about both the possibilities and limits of sport as a way to expand human potential and connection.