Alan Webb is now the 25th fastest 1500 runner ever!!!!

was Fermin Cacho Algerian, Moroccan?

To a lot of people, this is not insignificant. For someone like Webb, he probably doesn't view it that way now , but later in life, after his career, I'd bet that he would wouldn't mind if "American-born" was added when describing his accomplishments. Especially if he sets any records that are broken by "non-American born" runners.[/quote]

thanks for that insight into how Webb's going to feel someday. Too bad he's going to turn into a small minded jerk.

wha wrote:

was Fermin Cacho Algerian, Moroccan?

Redheaded Spaniard, wasn't he?

Agree, I live in america but i was born in England and lived there for 20 years, in my heart I am english. Lagat is an African living in America.

The only thing that matters, is that on the day, you ran the time. If it is the fastest by an American born runner, it is still not the American Record. AW will not sleep tonight, wake up tomorrow with a big smile, try to read the French papers, run up the stairs instead of taking the elevator and yell out loud (so no one else can hear): "3:30.54!!!"

What I remember about 1988 Koblenz, West Germany race on a Sunday afternoon - My wife was in the stands; Steve Ovett (former WR holder and Gold medalist in the 1980 800m run in Moscos); Lost my spikes in Berlin on Friday night and wearing a brand new pair; Following Lewis Johnson of now TV reporter fame through in 1:50.5, then Ken Washington for the next 200.

And, I remember coming up to a lap to go, well away from the field, and thinking, 'When I hear the bell, I am going to bear down!' Instead, I heard a voice from the infield yell: "Jim, just relax." It was Sebastian Coe's voice, who had won the 800 earlier that night in 1:43. If my coach Mike Durking or Ken Popejoy would have yelled it, I would not have know what they meant. But, the person who yelled had run 3:29, 1:41, and multiple world records and 2 Golds and 2 Silvers to his credit. I relaxed, and came through in 2:49 and then 3:31.01. Pr by 3 seconds.

It was the time I ran on the day, and I thought I would run faster the next week. Never did.

My Nike contract had a bonus for times:

Under 3:34.00 - $500

Under 3:33.00 - $1000

Under 3:32.00 - $1500

Under 3:31.00 - $2000

Under 3:30.00 - $2500

Americcan Record (3:29.77) - $5000

So, I guess I received a check for $1500.

I had a picture taken by my wife that night at the hotel, with Steve Ovett on my right and Sebastian Coe on my left.

Alan Webb - 3rd fastest American ever. Great stuff - hope he runs below 3:30 - that would be great sauce, as my 16-year old son Sebastian would say.

js

Jim, no disrespect to Sydney Maree, but your 3:31.01 did have meaning to kids growing up in America (Webb was 4 years old). And Webb is inspiring a new generation of American youth in a way that Lagat cannot.

I agree that the PR is probably most important to him.

toro-

I think the exciting thing is his age - he has quite a few years left to better this time. Of course, when we everyone on this board who posts runs their PR, you always think that you can run faster, tomorrow. Dave Moorcroft of England, who ran the WR 13:00. for 5k and ran a spectacular 3k to beat Syndee Maree in 7:32 (think just missed Henry Rono's record), said that he had 6 races in his life where he could do anything - surge, go with the pace, run from the front, no pain. He said he trained the rest of his life for #7.

I think you hit the key - kids get excited and train, and then DREAM about running, and running fast.

John Walker of New Zealand was my hero in 1976, my first year of running. When we ran in practice, one runner would represent Great Britan, another USA, another Belgium, and I would represent New Zealand. We would keep track of points, and add them up at the end of the workout. Then you would have a scholar who would know some runner that had placed high in the Olymics or run a fast time, like the individual who ran 3:33 or 3:32 behind Ovett and Wesinhagen for 3rd, and be from that country. Of course, he knew this individuals PR's.

If someone in HS or college, read's Webb's time, and runs 1% faster or 1% more tomorrow, or Dreams about the podium, it doesn't matter what he is ranked.

js

Daniel Komen is on the list twice too.

JS, This is great, great stuff. Thanks for the insight and for putting things so well.

BSG wrote:

3:26.34 Bernard Lagat (KEN)

3:29.77 Sydney Maree (USA)

3:30.54 Alan Webb (USA)

I had forgotten that Webb and Lagat were that close at the Prefontaine HS mile record (see photo from link). It is kind of weird how their careers will be forever intertwined.

I remember reading Chris Lear's book, Sub-4, after Webb's career took a different turn and coming away from it thinking how sad his story had become. Instead of it being a story of another promising HS runner losing their way, I can't help but be excited to see how one of America's great high school runner's has hung in there through the struggles and triumphs to emerge as one of America's great all-time runners.

Coleman wrote:

Who is Sydney Maree????

You have to be kidding me...

I must be getting old.

present wrote:

wha wrote:

was Fermin Cacho Algerian, Moroccan?

Redheaded Spaniard, wasn't he?

I am old.

92 Oly champ. Outkicked the WORLD to include Morceli.

Webb and Magness have gone in opposite directions.

Cacho - Dark hair, ran 50. for his last 400m to win in Barcelona. Morcelli right ahead of me in 7th.

Next year - a paid rabbit in the finals of the World Championships in Stuttgart, '93. One of the Moroccoans was paid to make sure the pace was honest, and took the lead after the 600m mark. Morcelli won this time, Cacho 2nd and Abdi Bile 3rd. I was 5th at 33 years old, and very proud of the position.

Cacho won a Million dollars from the Spanish government by winning, which was announced before hand to all competitors from Spain.

Not quite the same in the US.

What do you think a time bonus from Nike will garner? $20k? Maybe less, but the bonus would be in this range or more if he runs under 3:30. Also, then the new multi year contract kicks in as well. I remember Bob Kennedy saying after running sub 13 in the 5k in Stockholm, that it many different bonuses applied.

js

toro wrote:

Jim, no disrespect to Sydney Maree, but your 3:31.01 did have meaning to kids growing up in America (Webb was 4 years old). And Webb is inspiring a new generation of American youth in a way that Lagat cannot.

I agree that the PR is probably most important to him.

just as lagat is inspiring a generation of american youth in a way that webb cannot

I can't even fathom the kind of times that men like Jim Spivey and Alan Webb have run, but I do know that after I saw Alan Webb run an amazing race and beat an army of Africans, I felt excited to get out the door and run.

I think people need to cool all this talk about two seconds faster...Webb blew up last season way too early and faltered almost immediately. While I certainly don't believe that will happen again, let's take this as an excellent sign that he could medal, not that he has a great chance of gold. This performance is a sign of ability and should give us (and him more importantly) faith in his ability to run with the big boys, not make this something to criticise him for when he doesn't run sub 3:30.

All this being said, I'm excited to see the U.S. distance perform at the W.C.

I didn't know Webb was Native! I thought e was Irish.

Jim, I'm a huge fan. Thanks for the story.