alan webb

[surfsider]

Webb looked really good in this race. World leading time. Is looking like he can compete with the Africans.

1Webb Alan USA 3:30.5420
2Baala Mehdi FRA 3:31.0116
3Boukensa Tarek ALG 3:32.7714
4Korir Shadrack KEN 3:32.8112
5Sullivan Kevin CAN 3:34.1610
6Simotwo Suleiman Kipses KEN 3:34.788
7Lagat Bernard USA 3:35.096
8Yemmouni Mounir FRA 3:35.294
9Zerguelaine Antar ALG 3:36.513
10Kennouche Abdelslam ALG 3:38.293
11Rono Geoffrey Kipkoech KEN 3:38.903

 

[white lightning]

Webb is in a very special class now.The world record in the 1500 meters is around 3.26 so he is not that far off.There are only 3 white guys that have run faster.Steve Cram,Scott,and I.Heshko. Ivan Heshko is still competing and also has an excellent chance at the record.It's good to see Allan starting to prove the skeptics wrong.He is a world class athlete and he is still just 24 years of age.

 

[Guest]

As long as he stays healthy he should get down to 3:28 at least. Men who run 1500 meters do not peak until after 30. I would also like to see him run 800 meters more often.

 

[Colonel Callan]

Nevada is right. Webb needs to run the 800 more to make sure he keeps
dropping in the 1500. If he hits 1:44 or so this season, he'll be able to hit
3:28 by August, no doubt about it. He needs to make sure he doesn't race
too much though. He's starting to get out there towards his true potential.
There are a lot more Webbs, Crams, Coes, Wariners and others out there,
they just need examples to follow.

 

[surfsider]

From article on IAAF.org after the Paris race:

His win came just five days after his personal best 1:45.80 in the 800, boding well as the World Championships approach. But Webb also knows that there's plenty of time and plenty to be done before the Championships in Osaka begin.

His upcoming program includes "probably" four races, a pair of 800s, a 1500 and a Mile. And plenty of training at his summer base near Brussels.

"I still have some work to do, and I certainly can't rest on my laurels," said Webb, who finished ninth at the 2005 Championships in Helsinki. "There's a lot of work to be done. I want to be on the medal stand in Osaka."

 

[white lightning]

Allan Webb broke Steve Scotts American Mile Record today in a small meet.He ran an incredible 3:46.93 to become the fastest man ever from this country.This kid is impressing people world wide.I'm very happy for him because he has busted his ass in training to get to this point.Another huge blow to the Caste System would be for Webb to eventually break the 1500 and the mile world records.He has a good chance over the next several years as long as he can avoid major injuries.Keep up the great running Allan and bring the US home a gold medal in Osaka!

 

[Poacher]

3:46.93!!!!

I remember watching him 6 years ago as a senior in high school running at the Prefontaine classic where he broke Jim Ryun's sterling 3:55 HS record in the mile. I never thought that record would be broken but Webb crushed it with a 3:53.

Webb is one of America's great athletes and no one even knows who he is. Hopefully he will gain some much deserved press from this.

 

[jaxvid]

BTW Poacher, great article on the front page. Really enjoyed reading it. Keep 'em coming.

 

[Guest]

Great stuff. Hopefully he can get his 800 time down too and get close to John Gray's 1:42 from 1985.

 

[Poacher]

Thanks Jaxvid. Strange seeing my handle on the front page.

Webb is the torch bearer for U.S. middle distance running.The Kenyan born Bernard Legat is here now trying to steal Webb's thunder but Alan just served notice that he isn't going anywhere.

 

[Colonel Callan]

A couple of weeks ago I said Webb would be able to hit 3:28 in the 1500 by August. Actually, he looks like he could do that now. He looked very strong as he had to finish the race all alone (you can watch the vid here: http://www.flocasts.com/flotrack/coverage.php?c=69 )

He will have to contend with the Kenyans, Moroccans and runners from Bahrain using team tactics. With the times he's posted so far this season, he has to be regarded as a threat to Ramzi (Bahrain - originally from Morocco) and Komen (Kenya). The Kenyans (well, black Africans in general) especially are noted for team tactics (they're not "illegal") but they are never, ever called on hindering another runner's progress - if they cut off and "accidentally" shove and trip people nothing happens to them. Kenyan officials will simply tell one or two runners to 'concentrate' on whoever is perceived to be the main competition while making sure their own designated top man is free and clear. This has backfired on them also, most noticably in the 1992 Olympic 1500 final. Alan's manager Ray Flynn (a sub 3:50 miler himself when he ran for Ireland) is well versed in this, believe me.

 

[waterbed]

Rank Lane ID
NAME PB TEAM RESULT
1 8 280 WEBB ALAN
1:45.80 USA 1:43.84
2 5 276 REED GARY
1:43.93 CAN 1:44.03
3 11 273 MADI NABIL
1:44.83 ALG 1:44.54
4 6 271 JOHNSON JONATHAN
1:44.77 USA 1:44.69
5 7 278 SYMMONDS NICK
1:44.54 USA 1:45.49
6 4 275 OKKEN ARNOUD
1:45.64 NED 1:45.88
7 10 277 SOM BRAM
1:43.85 NED 1:46.00
8 2 279 KANDIE DANIEL
1:48.3 KEN 1:46.27
9 3 274 MATTHYS THOMAS
1:45.75 BEL 1:46.77
10 13 285 KRUMMENACKER DAVID
1:43.92 USA 1:47.01
11 14 282 ROSSEEUW MATTHIAS
1:47.63 BEL 1:47.19
12 12 291 CHAMNEY THOMAS
1:46.46 IRL 1:47.20
13 1 281 NDIWA LINUS
1:46.30 KEN 1:47.29
9 297 NAHASHON RUTO
PACE KEN DNF
What a good new PB time from him in the 800

 

[Guest]

Holy crap! 1:43! Gray's 800 record might not be safe!

How long has it been since an american ran that fast?

 

[Guest]

800 Video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=F1M4d5qYoyg

 

[mastermulti]

now he's starting to fulfil that promise. He's always had the talent

 

[mastermulti]

hey Nevada. If you click on the little "world" pic (next to the underlined U)
you can paste the link you have copied and it'll come up as a "clicky"

<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=fo94KFvDcPo" target="_blank">http://youtube.com/
watch?v=fo94KFvDcPo</a>Edited by: mastermulti

 

[highschoolcoach]

Good article about Alan Webb in the August 27, 2007 issue of Sports Illustrated (p.68-70).

"Webb has already had a summer for the ages. He won his third U.S. 1,500 meter title on June 24 in Indianapolis. Twelve days later, at a race in Paris, he ran a personal best of 3:30.54 in the 1,500 (the world's fastest time this year) for his first-ever Golden League victory. Two weeks after that, on a quiet, tree-shrouded track in Belgium, Webb ran a 3:46.91 mile, shattering Steve Scott's quarter-century-old U.S. record of 3:47.69. And on July 28 Webb ripped off a personal best of 1:43,89 in the 800 meters, the second-fastest time in the world this year, to win another race in Belgium."

 

[Guest]

Has anybody seen an interview with him? He is pretty smart.

 

[mastermulti]

unfortunately another major meet where it didn't work for Alan.

He faded in the straight and was passed by several runners to finish well
down (8th I think).

The honour went to another "American" , albeit a BOUGHT one!

 

[yanling]

A devastating, world class athlete like Alan Webb deserves more press and recognition, but because he is white and not a criminal and not a trash talker, he isn't exciting and therefore not marketable.

Remember Bob Kennedy, the first non-African to break sub 13 for the 5k? Well the average American doesn't.

Look at Craig Mottram. From a physical standpoint, he's all wrong for a "modern" 5000, and yet he's competitive.

Where is the American (real American, and not some transplanted East African) Craig Mottram?

This country cannot produce him?

Of course it can, but American society does not want to. Instead we want to focus our energy on lamenting why baseball should be as black as basketball.

Where is the attention for Tom Pappas? Shouldn't he for all intents and purposes have at least a little notoriety for being America's best all around athlete?

There is none, and of course not, because America's greatest athlete must be black. If he's white, then it's a lie.

Lame.