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2008 LetsRun.com US Men's 800, 1,500 Rankings June 19, 2008 This is our fourth week of the LetsRun.com mid-distance rankings. Our previous two rankings can be found here (Week #3, Week #2, and Week #1) The ranking are based on current form and are supposed to reflect how we think they'd end up if you lined them up and had them race right now - it's not a cumulative yearly ranking. Our stats came from a combination of TrackandFieldNews.com US leaders lists, USATF.org's leaders, our own adjustments, and incredible individual stats at tilastopaja.org Email us at letsrun@letsrun.com with any comments you have.. If anyone has some photos they'd like us to use, please email us. Men's 1500: Steve Sherer Vault Into the Rankings Changes this week: Alan Webb returned to action in the 800 with his 1:47.41 for 5th. An hour later he rabbited the 1500 in 2:53 for 1200. In that race Steve Sherer got the biggest win of his career as he defeated past World Champs team members Rob Myers (3:38.73) and Chris Lukezic (3:37.51). (For a letsrun indoor profile on Sherer click here). Sherer's rise outdoors has been quick. On May 24th, he ran 3:48 in Boston. Last weekend he ran 3:40 for the win in California and now this run. In 2nd place, was another big surprise Andy McClary. McClary runs for the University of Arkansas and was fifth at USATFs last year, but did not even qualify for the NCAA meet. Obviously a bit inconsistent, but a huge talent. 1 Sherer, Steve Unattached 3:36.81 Leo Manzano continued his undefeated 2008 season (in the 1500 and mile) by winning NCAAs after controlling the whole race. Shane Stroup ran 3:40.51 to win the Monday American Miler Series Meet. Gabe Jennings won in Oregon in 3:41.12 Previous ranking appears in (). Big movers have arrows.
#1 (1) Bernard Lagat - DOB: 12/12/1974 Personal Best: 3:26:34 2008 Best: 3:35:14 Last Race: 3:35:14 2007 Best: 3:33.85 So far in 2008, he's done pretty well for himself as he currently sits at #1 on the US list at both 5k (13:16.19)and 1,500 (3:35.14). Lagat is a stud but he's far, far from a sure thing at the Olympics. Given the heat that is expected, we think he's probably a more sure thing for a medal at 5k than he is at 1,500. Given the fact that Bekele isn't going to double, if the Africans don't work together to push the pace in the 5k, it's likely to come down a kick which makes it easy pickings for Lagat. #2 (2) Leonel Manzano - DOB: 9/12/1984 Personal Best: 3:35:29 2008 Best: 3:56:98 mile or 3:41.80 1,500 at altitude Last Race: 3:41:80 2007 Best: 3:35.29 The only drawback for Manzano is the fastest race he's been in all year was the 3:56.98 he ran at Texas Relays. There's one thing to be said about dominating a bunch of 3:40 guys but trying to dominate a bunch of 3:36 guys is much harder. #2 (2) Lopez Lomong - DOB: 1/1/1985 Personal Best: 3:36:36 2008 Best: 3:36:36 Last Race: 3:36:36 2007 Best: 3:37.07 After falling at adidas before the restart, he rebounded well with the biggest win of his pro career at Reebok. At Prefontaine, he beat Rankin once again. #4 (4) Jon Rankin- DOB: 2/9/1982 Personal Best: 3:35.26. 2008 Best: 3:36.61 Last Race: 3:36.61 (6th adidas) 2007 Best: 3:35.72 But Rankin is running well so far this year and was only .25 behind Lomong at the adidas meet. But in that meet, Lomong was up front all along, Rankin moved up late. He finished behind Lomong yet again at adidas but ahead of Webb. #5 (5) Alan Webb - DOB: 1/13/1983 Personal Best: 3:30.54 2008 Best: 3:30.54 Last Race: 3:55 Mile Best: 3:30.54 The problem is Webb's 2008 season started terribly. A 16th place showing in the US 8k championships and then a DNF in the Carlsbad 5k. The knock on Webb in the past has been that he doesn't know how to peak properly when it counts and that he doesn't know how to not overtrain. The early season results certainly don't assuage those fears. His 3:55 opener at Pre didn't answer any questions and neither did his 1:47 800. Webb has all the talent in the world and is one of only 3 guys in a US distance event who could win a gold medal, but if you don't make the team you can't win gold. #6 (8) Andrew Wheating - DOB: 11/21/1987 PB: 3:38:60 (2008), 2008 Best: 3:38:60, 2007 Best: 3:45:17. #7 (NR) Steve Sherer DOB 5/5/1981 PB: 3:36.81 (2008) 2008 Best: 3:36.81 2007 Best 3:41.05 #8 (9) Chris Lukezic: DOB: 4/24/1984 ,PB: 3:33.28 (2006), 2008 Best: 3:37.51, Last Race: 3:37.41, 2007 Best: 3:36.95. #9 (NR) Andy McClary DOB: 10/31/1985 ,PB: 3:33.28 (2006), 2008 Best: 3:36.91, Last Race: 3:36.91, 2007 Best: 3:39.81. #10 (7) Said Ahmed: DOB: 12/10/1982 PB: 3:35.94 (2006), 2008 Best: 3:38.26, 2007 Best: 3:39.00 #11) (NR) Rob Myers -DOB: 8/5/1980 PB: 3:34:89 (2005), 2008 Best: 3:38.73 Last Race: 3:38.73 2007 Best: 3:36.49. Out: Matt Tegenkamp, Gabe Jennings. Men's 800: Super Impressive Men's NCAA Meet Action this week: Jacob Hernandez ran 1:45.31 to edge Andrew Wheating (1:45.32) and Duane Solomon (1:45.71) at NCAAs. A great, great race. Alan Webb ran 1:47.41 for 5th at the Indiana Miler Series event. Webb is the big loser this week in the rankings (dropping out) and Solomon is the big gainer. Previous rankings appear in (). Big movers have arrows.
#1 (1) Khadevis Robinson - DOB: 7/19/1976 Personal Best: 1:43.68 (2006) 2008 Best: 1:44.55 2007 Best: 1:44.27 That was before they raced. At Reebok, Robinson looked good as #2 (2) Nick Symmonds - DOB: 12/30/1983 Personal Best: 1:44:54 (2007) 2008 Best: 1:46.14 2007 Best: 1:44.54
Symmonds gave the fans in Oregon a thrill as he made a big move towards the lead at Prefontaine between 500 and 600 meters in, but it proved to be too much too soon as he ended up 4th in 1:45.01. If Symmonds wants to learn how to make the next level, he needs to watch a replay of the race and realize the move was way too big and way too soon. He needs to watch how patient Yego was and how it's better ideally to be positioned a little closer to the front. Symmonds run from the back style is the perfect way to go for a bronze (like Rich Kenah at worlds in 2001) but a real hard way to win . #3 (3) Jacob Hernandez 9/8/1985 Personal Best: 1:45.68 2008 Best: 1:45.31 2007 Best: 1:48.10 #4 (5) Andrew Wheating - DOB: 11/21/1987 PB: 1:46.83 (2008), 2008 Best: 1:46.83, 2007 Best: 1:50.17 But he's the real deal. And his 1:45.32 for 2nd at NCAAs may have been the first race he lost outdoors but it showed he's plenty fast. #5 (11) Duane Solomon - DOB: 12/28/1984 Personal Best: 1:45:69 (07) 2008 Best: 1:45.71 2007 Best: 1:45.69 #6 (6) Jebreh Harris - DOB: 9/22/1978 Personal Best: 1:45:56 (08) 2008 Best: 1:45.56 2007 Best: 1:45.92 #7 (8) Matt Scherer- DOB: 11/21/1983 Personal Best: 1:46.11 (08) 2008 Best: 1:46.11 2007 Best: 1:47.89 #8 (7) Sam Burley - DOB: 2/13/1981 Personal Best: 1:45:39 (02) 2008 Best: 1:46.97 2007 Best: 1:47.42 Last race 1:47.00 For all of the college runners who assume they'll just run faster and faster as they get older, take note: Burley's PR came when he ran 1:45.39 to #9 (9) James Hatch - DOB: 9/271982 Personal Best: 1:46.27 (08) 2008 Best: 1:46.27 2007 Best: 1:50.50 The NCAA indoor runner-up from 2005 certainly wouldn't have been on anyone's radar heading into this year as his seasonal best was 1:50.50 last year. But he's at a new level this year. 5th indoors at USAs, Hatch has opened up outdoors with a lifetime best and US leader. Talk about a great time to open in a PR - how about the Olympic year. Not sure why he hasn't raced since early May. #10 (10) Jonathan Johnson - DOB: 3/5/1982 Personal Best: 1:44:69 (07) 2008 Best: 1:46.90 2007 Best: 1:44.69 Thus people may not have noticed but Johnson actually set his PR in Europe (1:44.69) last year. Earlier in the year, he finished 4th at USAs. We guess it makes more sense that not nearly as many people are noticing because 4th in USAs 3 years after winning it, isn't likely to create a lot of publicity. Johnson ran poorly in his last outing, finishing 7th at Reebok in 1:47.29 Unranked (6) Alan Webb - DOB: 1/13/1983 Personal Best: 1:43.84 (07) 2008 Best: 1:47.41 2007 Best: 1:43.84 Dropping Out: We're sure we made a few errors as this is our first attempt at this. Comments, suggestions? Email us at letsrun@letsrun.com We rushed to put this up and didn't include photos. If anyone has some photos they'd like us to use, please email us.
Runner's World &
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