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 Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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Abdi Surprises, Webb Adances The 2001 USATF nationals got underway in Eugene before a less than capacity crowd on Thursday. The fans in attendance witnessed some great action that was highlighted by a win from Abdi Abdirahman in the men's 10k and Alab Webb advancing to the final of the men's 1500m with a win in his preliminary heat. Men's 10k Abdirahman had struggled early in 2001 (struggled only by his own high standards as he had earlier faded to a 28:01 - still a strong 3rd in the US), but the early buzz in Eugene was that he was fit and rearing to go for the win. Never shy for confidence, Abdi had told host for the weekend Nolan Swanson (himself an accomplished runner) that he was ready to win. The race started at 6:54 p.m. and it was unbearably hot for a 10k (the official temperature was still 81 degrees 30 minutes after the race). We can't possibly understand why the meet wasn't started at least an hour later or even 1.5 hours later when the track would be covered in shade but plenty of light (remember today was the longest day of the year) and the track temperature was probably 15 degrees lower. Seriously, it's a joke (but will be the subject of another editorial by us coming at a later date) that the entire schedule wasn't moved 1 to 1.5 hours later. We know that the athletes often aren't given first priority but the later scheduling would benefit the fans as well. Thursday is a workday afterall and it was tough for people to get to the track by 6 p.m. for the 1500 heats anyways without taking off early. The field ran together as a pack at about 28:20 pace for the first two miles. Then suddenly, the three Olympians (Abdi, Meb and Culppeper) broke things open and separated themselves from the pack. Their move completely disentgrated the field almost instantly which was pretty shocking considering that you think that a lot of guys in the field would at least try to stay up there for 5k at 14:10 even if it was very hot for a 10k. The chase pack, if you want to call it that, consisted of Matt Downin and LetsRun.com's own Weldon Johnson. Normally, one would think they'd be swallowed up as they ran in no man's land for about 4 miles (about 20 meters back for the first mile) but behind them there was even less of a pack trying to hang on. A few runners from Hanson's, Chris Graff and Sean Found were still battling but they weren't running together and were strung out. Soon it became clear that what many thought would happen coming into the meet was indeed becoming a reality - Meb, Abdi and Alan were battling it out for the top 3 and unless one of them catered everyone else was battling for 4th. With about 2 miles to go, Abdi surprisingly moved to the lead which he never relinquished. He won comfortably in 28:23.82. Meb, who was battling an achilles injury and hadn't run anything at race pace in two weeks according to his coach Bob Larsen, got ahead of Culpepper a little later and finished second in 28:39.64. Culpper - bothered by a side stitch - never closed the gap and actually faded quite significantly near the end but finished in 3rd in 28:49.03. Farther back (where Rojo's eyes were focussed), Weldon (wejo) and Downin were doing a nice job of alternating leading and trying to keep enough distance on any would be pursuers to keep them thinking about moving up. Sean Found gallantly tried to reel Downin and Wejo in for the entire 5k. Running all alone, he very slowly narrowed a 6-7 second gap. In the final mile, Wejo moved ahead of a tired Downin who once he fell behind Wejo was quickly swallowed up by Found with a little over 2 laps to go. Found, however, never got closer than 3-4 seconds on Wejo and with 200 to go it looked for sure that Wejo would get 4th and Found 5th. That was until Found, who to his credit, never gave in, started to roll with 200 to go and to make a huge dent very quickly into Weldon's 20 meter lead. Weldon, however, had a little something in reserve and started to roll himself with a littte over 100 to go and finished in 4th in 29:01.40 with Found fifth in 29:03.63. Downin held on for 6th in 29:17.45. In the women's 1500 heats (which we only saw from a distance as we had trouble finding a Starbucks for Weldon's pre-race double-espresso and were busy getting ready (sorry for the lack of photos)), the three favorites, Suzy Favor Hamilton, Shayne Culpepper, and defending champ Regina Jacobs all advanced to the final automatically. More attention was on the men's 1500 heats for one simple reason - Alan Webb. Webb, who easily received by far the largest pre-race ovation, did not disappoint. Running in a dangerous situation, in the first heat of three where only the top 2 advance automatically (again we think this also is stupid and would rather have only seen 2 heats) and one in which the heat went out painfully slow (61.2, 2:05.4, 3:05.1), Webb showed that he (unlike America's best miler of the 1990s, Steve Holman) has no reason to fear a kicker's race. With 200 to go, the field was still bunched together before Webb unleashed a little of his 47 quarter speed to get the win (although it was a completely dominating win). Webb covered the final 200 in 25.5 to win in 3:45.77. Webb clearly has it all, the mental makeup, the great overall times and the great kick that are required to be a truly great miler. Coming in 2nd right next to Webb in 3:45.83 was FOLR (friend of LetsRun.com), Andy Downin, who showed that he is going to be factor in the final for the 2nd consecutive year. The second heat saw a resurgent Gabe Jennings put on an impressive show. The reigning USATF champ and 2000 Olympic semifinalist showed that despite his earlier season disappointments (2nd at NCAAs outdoors) he has to be considered a major player for not only a top 3 finish Saturday but also a second straight USATF title. Jennings ran a very impressive 55.7 for his final 400 to win in 3:40.80. Former USATF champ Paul McMullen, who qualified for this meet at the last possible minute, showed that he is rounding into shape at just the right time by running 3:41.12 to get the 2nd automatic birth into the final. Kansas' Charlie Gruber also advanced on time ( 3:41.30) as did new American Ibrahim Aden (3:41.36). Last year's 4th place finisher at the Olympic Trials, Jason Lunn, failed to advance after coming in 5th in 3:42.78. In the third and final heat, reigning NCAA champ and the would be favorite for Saturday's final if it weren't for Webb (we still have a hard time calling the Webb the favorite since he's in highschool but we guess we have to) ran very impressively. Leading from the gun, Berryhill won very impressively in 3:40.47 after opening honest splits of 59.7, 2:00.5., 2:58.9. Berryhill didn't seem content just to win, he once again, seemed to want to send a message as over the final 100 he kept the petal to the metal and won by a much larger margin than was necessary. 1997 champ Seneca Lassiter who ran a 3:55 earlier in the year but has been struggling with tendinitis was 2nd in 3:41.20. Three others also advanced on time from this heat. They were 2000 Olympian, Michael Stember (3:41.43), Clay Schwabe (3:41.80), Nick MacFalls (3:41.80) and yet another FOLR, Christian Hesch (3:42.41). Full
Results From Thursday Other News on USATF
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