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 Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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Where Your Dreams Become Reality |
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by Robert Johnson Lockhart, the two time Footlocker finalist who will be the #3 returnee next year (13th in 2000), took over the lead after a 2:06 opening 800. Lockhart extended his lead to about 10 meters and seemed poised to run away with things as no one seemed to making a move as they entered the final lap. Curtis, the #2 Footlocker returnee (10th in 2000), started to gain a little ground with 150 to go, but things still seemed secure for Lockhart even as late as midway through the final turn until Curtis really started to pour it on and the crowd quickly rose to its feet. (Check back soon for video highlights of the exciting final turn and stretch run). Curtis caught Lockhart right at the line, but it appeared that Curtis didn't realize he got Lockhart as he slapped the cushioned wall just beyond the finish. However, the scoreboard quickly showed that Curtish indeed was the winner. "I just went as hard as I could at the end and had the best kick I've ever had in my life," said the excited Curtis who hails from Louisville, Kentucky. Curtis credited an increased a new level of training and increased
mileage for his victory. "Before this year, I was just training like a
normal guy on my (high school) team. Now my coach has had me step it up.
Last year, I was just running 30 miles a week whereas now I'm up to
50." "I wanted to win. I really wanted to win this race. I really should have won. It's just so disappointing. I mean I was entered in the two mile and the only reason I dropped down was because I thought I had a chance to win a national title," commented Lockhart, who made a point of making sure that his own disappointment didn't in any way take away from Curtis' win. "Curtish ran a great race. He's a good runner. I guess he deserves it," added Lockhart (although many members in the press corps all privately agreed that if they gave away national titles for guts, Lockhart clearly would have won today as he did the majority of the work) Looking back at the way things developed, Lockhart thought he probably lost because the opening pace was not fast enough. "The pace was too slow (2:06 for 800). I really haven't done any speed workouts and wanted it to go out hard so it would became a matter of strength. That's why I took it out (at the 800 meter mark) so it didn't turn into a kicker's race, but it just didn't work out. If I'd just looked back on the final turn, I think I would have won. I guess it's just something I'll learn from," said Lockhart who also finished second in the Millrose mile earlier this winter. 800m "I haven't been able to do any speed workouts yet this year because of the weather in Cleveland so I just wanted to try to hang-on and see what I had over the last 200. Go for it then and if I won, then I won, and if I didn't well then I didn't," said Sylvester, who clearly found that he indeed had a ton left for the final lap. Sylvester, a 1:49.5 performer outdoors last year and a 1:51 runner as a sophomore seems poised for an amazing outdoor 2001 season. Coming into today's race, the Tennessee signee had only run two indoor races all year, a leg on a 4x800 really and then an 800 in 1:56.. Today's 1:52.75, puts him way ahead of his seasonal best of 1:59 from last year's indoor campaign. While a bright future likely is in the cards for Sylvester, he did have to endure a little pain today after his race as he quickly deposited the contents of his lunch into the trash can next to me after our interview. "I never throw up. I guess I shouldn't have eaten lunch at 11:30," commented Sylvester who ran the 800 about 2:30 p.m. Ahmed, the national leader coming into the race and a native of Somalia who now lives in Massachusetts, viewed his defeat as a motivating force for the future. "I don't give up. I'll come back. Now I know who he is and what I need to do. It'll make me work harder, said Ahmed who stated that he thought he tapered too much this week as he barely run at all. Ahmed finished 3rd in 1:54.72 behind second-place finisher James Hatch (1:54.67). 2 Mile Track aficionados across the country for a long time had wanted to see what Webb could do at the two mile distance if pushed, and everyone knew he'd he facing some serious competition in the form of Canadian sensation Nathan Brannen, who incidentally will be Webb's college roommate next year at Michigan. The big rumour floating around the track before the race started was that the two were going to share the lead and that Webb might go after Gary Lindren's 37-year old national 2 mile indoor record of 8:40.00. Webb didn't disappoint the fans as he made a spirited run at Lindgren's record from the get-go. He and Brennen got about 30 meters on the rest of the field by the 400 mark (64ish). The blistering pace proved to be too much for Brannen to handle and quickly Webb was all alone in front - or was he? In one of the most amazing things I've ever scene at a track meet, the spirited crowd at the announcer's urging started to urge Webb on. Everyone got involved. It definitely was the first time that I've ever seen an official on the turn wave his arms and run for 3-4 meters with a runner each time he came by urging him on. It may have technically violated some stupid rule but no one was complaining, as Webb's solo pursuit of the record was riveting. A 4:19 mile put Webb in contention for the record , especially after the next 400 was run in 65. However, Webb's 200 meter splits quickly switched from 32 points to 33s and it appeared that the record jeopardy was in serious trouble. Knowing Webb's leg speed, however, hope for the record never was completely ruled out until the final 400 as Webb would have had to run about a 57. Webb finished in 8:45.19 and he knew what that meant - 3rd best all time in the US for highschoolers. Much like Tiger Woods, a desire to put himself in the record books clearly drives Alan Webb. After the race, Webb discussed his race strategy and what it was like to race his future roommate, Brannen "I just met him. We hung out (a little) last night. But once we were on the track, I treated him like everyone else. I wanted to win," said Webb. "(We talked about the race beforehand). I told him I wanted to go out pretty hard 4:18-4:20 for the mile. If he felt good and wanted to lead, then he should do it (at 800) but I got (to 800) and sort of waited for 50 meters (to see if he wanted to lead) and then realized it wasn't going to happen." Webb said the final laps were tough he tried to keep pushing as he could sense the record slipping away. "I was hurting pretty badly. I've never gone out that fast. I just trained to maintain my form and keep doing 32s (for each lap) but I slipped to 33 and didn't get the record but I still got a huge p.r.," said Webb whose previous p.r. of 9:06 came in his first indoor race this season. "I never stopped pushing. I thought if I could close really fast that I might still get it (the record)," said Webb when asked when did he give up on the record. "I realized with 1 lap to go that it wasn't going to happen but I still had to push it and finish strong. It was fun." Webb's future teammate, Brannen, wasn't terribly pleased with his second place time of 8:57.28. "I'm kind of disappointed. I wanted to run faster. I'd already run faster than this earlier this year. But it was rough, flying down here yesterday and having to race today. I just didn't seem to have it in my legs," said Brannen. "I wanted to win as I pretty much knew I'd be in the top two. I was hoping the two of us would be there with two laps to go but I just didn't have it today," added Brannen, who considers himself to be a miler like Webb. When asked if he thought it was advantageous to be staging his prep career in Canada without the fanfare, pressure or publicity that Webb receives, Brannen's comment revealed a strong competitive drive. "I'm sure it's tough for him (to have to deal with that), but I think once I beat him a couple of times it will calm down a little bit." Now please don't take the above comment out of context as some sort of trash-talk as it was clear that Brannen greatly respects Webb. In fact, he admitted that he narrowed his college choices down to Arkansas and Michigan and then waited to see where Webb would sign. Once he learned Webb was going to Michigan, Brannen quickly followed suit. "I'm excited to be training with him next year and Kevin Sullivan as well." With all of the attention on Webb and Brannen, little did most people realize that a national 2 mile record was broken Sunday. In the first heat of 3 in the 2 mile, freshman Ryan Deak of Tallahassee, Florida broke Alan Scharsu's 16-year old freshman national record of 9:31.20.
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