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 Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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Day 1 Preview: Men's 10k Final, Alan Webb Gets Started (or maybe finished) The 2001 USATF national championships which not only crowns the United States' track and field national champions, but also serves as qualifying for the IAAF World Championships later this year in Edmonton, Canada, get underway today. There are three finals on tap today (the women's long jump, the women's discus, and the men's 10,000m), along with a slew of qualifying rounds including the rounds in the men's and women's 1500m, and the men's and women's 800m. The men's 10,000m The favorite this year is Keflezighi, the hottest runner in American distance running. Not only did Keflezighi shatter Mark Nenow's nearly 15- year old American record at 10,000m by running 27:13.98 on May 4th at Stanford, but he also had convincing national title victories at 15k on the roads, and at 12k over cross-country. No one in America has shown the ability to run with Keflezighi as any distance over 5k this year. Keflezighi however will have his work cut out from him, not only because he is a marked man being the favorite, but because he will not have the aid of rabbits to pull him from the field as he did in his American record at 10,000m. The man most likely to challenge Keflezighi is Alan Culpepper, the 2000 Olympian at 10k and former NCAA 5k champ at Colorado. Culpepper has been the bridesmaid to Keflezighi three times this year, at the 12k cross-country championships, the 15k road championships, and in Keflezighi's record run at 10k. Nonetheless, Culpepper is known for his punishing kick the final 100 meters, a kick that nearly erased Keflezighi's seemingly insurmountable lead at last year's Olympic trials the final 100 meters. Culpepper has run fast in 2001 (27:33.93 #6 all-time US) at 10,000m and considering his kick, Keflezighi will have to try and pull away in the later stages of the race to ensure victory, just like he did at last year's Olympic Trials. The favorite for the third spot is Abdi Abdirahman, who was the top finisher for the US at 10k in last year's Olympics (10th). Abdirahman has not been as sharp in 2001 as he was in 2000, as he has had to deal with the death of one of his brothers, but the real racing season is just beginning, and Abdi appears to be getting in better and better shape. (He ran 7:47.63 for 3k largely unnoticed last time out, right behind Culpepper) Based on his performances last year and even his performances this year (he still has run 28:01 for 10k), he is the favorite for the final World Championships spot. There are a slew of other talented runners who could challenge Abdirahman for the final ticket to Edmonton. But if they want to go to Edmonton, they will have to not only finish in the top 3, but hope the race is fast and that they finish under 28 minutes as that is the minimum standard to go to Edmonton and none of the other runners in the race have met this mark. But with the talent in the 10,000m this year, and decent weather expected that is a likely scenario. Heading the group of challengers is 2000 Olympian at 5k and NCAA champ at 5k and 10k, Brad Hauser. Despite being an Olympian at 5k, many regard the 10k as his best event and if he can regain some of the form that he had last year he could be a factor. Leading the remaining contenders to watch is recent 5k winner as Stanford, Chris Graff, who not only is running well of late, but sports the fastest pr (28:07) in the field outside of Culpepper, Keflezighi, and Abdirahman. The Hanson's team from Michigan could put any number of a few runners up front as they not only can work together but are running well. Leading the pact this year is Chad Johnson who had an impressive victory at the US 25k championships. And don't forget 2000 5k Olympian Nick Rogers who has really
struggled this year, NCAA champ Ryan Shay of Notre Dame, or
this site's very own, Weldon Johnson (WEJO), who had an impressive
early season victory at 10k, and has retreated to his secretive
training in the mountains of Flagstaff. Men's 1500m qualifying Coaches and favorites traditionally hate qualifying rounds because all that can happen is something can go wrong and the athlete can miss the final. That holds true for Webb, who on paper looks to be a top 3 finisher in the final (it is unlikely he will run under 3:36.2 to qualify for the World Championships at this meet, although he can try and get the mark later in Europe if he is in the top 3). But qualifying for the final is no sure thing, especially since the way the heats are set up at USATF this year. This year there are 3 heats, with the top 2 finishers in each heat, then the next 6 times advancing to the finals. Webb drew the unenviable position of the first heat. This could be a good thing, if the athletes decide to push the pace and get a quick time, unsure of how fast the other heats will be. But if no one pushes the pace, and the time is slow, the possibility exists that the other heats will go faster and knock Webb from the finals if he is not in the top 2. Andy Downin and Jason Pyrah are both in Webb's heat. How will he react to a championship style qualifying round where the pace is slower, and athletes kick for the finals? How will he react to being a marked man by the other competitors? Check back tomorrow to find out. On another note, Olympian Gabe Jennings is entered in the 1500m and in heat 2. There was a lot of speculation that he would not run. Other News on USATF
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