Webb's Semi !!!!

Webb's gotta be up with the top two or three guys from the gun if he wants gold in the final.

But based on the semis, I say Lagat or Ramzi for gold, Lagat or Ramzi for silver, then one of the Spaniards for bronze. Webb gets 4th or 5th.

humidxc wrote:

It just seems like Alan has a greater chance of winning if he runs all out. Similar to every win he has had this year.

Why change now just for one race?

Because there's no rabbits... He'd run all out and then get passed because he's tired and somebody, probably Baala or Ramzi, would have used him as a rabbit for 1200 meters.

I really doubt Webb will win the final...he's still to young. To much pressure is on him to win and I don't think he can handel that. Webb is hot and cold. When no one expects him to do somthing great he does but when everyone is watching and wating him to win he doesn't. I've already put $100 that he places around 6th in the final with a time of 3:40.

What is wrong with you people? What is he supposed to do, win the semi's? It was a qualification race in which he qualified. He's in the finals, that is what counts, and when he steps to the line at the finals it won't have mattered whether he won his semi-final or was the last qualifier.

I believe his odds are better off a really fast pace. Like 3:32 or under.

As someone noted earlier, everyone can run a 25 range last 200 off of a slow 3:37+ race; thus leaving too many athletes to the tape.

I think the stradegy for USA's could be applicable here. Webb's two heats were slow - perhaps somewhat stressful- but slow enough to have sufficiant gas for a buring fast final.

I do not believe Bernard will oblige him this time on team tactics, but...

Huh?! wrote:

What the hell was he doing?

it seems pretty clear that he got his feet tangled up in the first 50m, stumbled, and got stuck in the back. there was no point in the race where he could've moved up without running well into lane 3. he left it to the last 200m and barely made it without having to use his fastest gear. he would've wasted a lot of energy making his move any earlier, and would've had to go into the lead if he wanted to get into lane 1.

once he got stuck in the back (which isn't good, certainly) he ran the most energy-efficient qualifier possible. he saved plenty for the final. now he just needs to make sure he has good positioning in that race.

p.s. does ANYONE doubt that ramzi is doped out of his mind? every step he takes is a slap in the WADA's face.

I was wondering, too. He always runs his best when he's up front. (Not necessarily leading, but staying with the leaders). He made it, but looking back you're always in danger staying back, vulnerable (sp?) to collisions in the pack, surges up front etc. But I bet he learned from it and confidence doesn't seem to be Webb's problem - maybe a bit overconfidence today..

But the final will be hot, predicting 1) Ramzi 2) Webb (maybe he'll get gold in the mail in a couple of months...) 3)Lagat 4) Kiprop 5) Baddeley

There will definately be something wrong if Ramzi wins when he hadn't run a race yet this year.

I forget where I read it, either here or at T & F, but someone looked at past gold medal winners in the 1500, and most, I forget the percentage, either came in 1st or 2nd in their semi. Sorta like a dog marking their territory.

It bodes well for Lagat, but not for Webb.

Ricky Boobey wrote:

Mens 10k, we have Abdi go after it and end up 7th running a very respectable race and ritz and rupp both in the top 11!

running 11th out of 18 finishers is lame. i can't believe you said 'top 11'.

But what happened to Galvan? How was he going and when did he drop?

youneverlearn wrote:

news flash to america: there are other runners out there!!!

webb cant win no championship. just like pre. hahahahahahaah

Africans would be far better off if Americans won more.

Why do you think the made sure Lance won all those tours.

You want the richest market in the world glued to your event.

Alan Webb is a piece of garbage who always chokes when it matters

"Webb Barely Survives 1500m"

the headline guy is reading to much troll.

he was faster then the winner of the other heat and 11 seconds slower then his season best.

It's Webb or Ramzi

I think Webb

Ramzi runs stangely fast at Championships and looks kind of guilty of something.

no shed of proof

Alan Webb should just quit right now because we all know he is not going to win....he never runs well when it matters

observations wrote:

If Webb had blown by everyone, no one would take issue with his tactics.

Wrong. If Webb had blown by everyone, coaches, including me, should have complained. His job in the semis is to qualify, period, while conserving as much energy as possible. He perhaps tempted fate a bit, but he did that. He was not really in that much danger of not qulifying. Demoloshing people in semis is for amateurs and no-nothing letsrun posters. Demolishing people in the FINAL is what it's about.

Note in the updated official results Baala has been DQed.

ya why was Baala dq'd and how did I guy that finished in 4:16 qualify for the final?

skeebops the rebops wrote:

ace.

p.s. does ANYONE doubt that ramzi is doped out of his mind? every step he takes is a slap in the WADA's face.

All of his "75%" remarks were sandbagging. He's most likely doped, but so is KB. But very many are scared to mention it so strong is PC brainwashing. Only Euros and Arabs are bad guys. Not those fine people from sub-Saharan Africa. They can do no wrong.

Coach D wrote:

Wrong. If Webb had blown by everyone, coaches, including me, should have complained. His job in the semis is to qualify, period, while conserving as much energy as possible. He perhaps tempted fate a bit, but he did that. He was not really in that much danger of not qulifying. Demoloshing people in semis is for amateurs and no-nothing letsrun posters. Demolishing people in the FINAL is what it's about.

So do you think Lagat is an idiot for winning his heat with a blazing last 100? Also, how is being within .10 of not qualifying "not really in that much danger of not qualifying"?

If you are running smart and trying to qualify while conserving as much energy as possible, wouldn't you still want to give yourself a cushion bigger than .10 seconds?

I'm sure Ramzi is JUICED, he does nothing the whole year and now can run in the 38's for the last 300.As for Webb...well it looked like he wanted to stay out of trouble-so you either head for the back or the front were people use you. He "does not" do well when he goes to the back, we've seen this before. He should know it, and should know this is a final, every heat is like a final, and thats how Lagat's experience comes in. He knows that. He wont make that mistake again, but he better make sure that the pace is fast or he may not have anything for these guys in traffic over the last 300.Hope he's learned something.

bored board wrote:

shizzy wrote:

i'd say he looked fine and made it by easy.

Nonsense, he very nearly screwed it up.

Ramzi might well be drugged to the eyeballs, or not, but at least he knows how to run a race.