Will Webb make the Olympic Team?

Just because there are not three milers in AMERICA better than Webb does not disprove anything Spyders Webb has said.

I'd be very surprised if Webb doesn't make the team. He's a phenomenally talented runner, but he is inconsistent. He's a lot like Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, who is a faster runner (yes, there are some runners faster than Webb) but has never even made it the final of a major championship. He was bounced in the heats at Osaka and Helsinki.

Where I agree with Spyders Webb is in deriding people who think that Webb is one of the greatest middle-distance runners ever (top 3, top 5, top 10) on the basis of a few fast times and mediocre times at 5k and 10k.

All hail the all-knowing, extremely intelligent, better-than-u, Spyders Webb! In the words of a friend of my coach: "freakin' cock."

All hail the all-knowing, extremely intelligent, better-than-u, Spyders Webb! In the words of a friend of my coach: "freakin' cock."

Spyders Webb, will you post your real name and home address if Alan Webb wins a medal this year at the Olympics?

Spyders Webb wrote:

All I have to do is point to the countless threads here, all predicting Webb to have a great race. I predict he won't.

Who is right nearly every time? Oh yeah, I am.

So far this year, here is Webb's scorecared:

Races he got his ass handed to him, had a DNF or wouldn't run: 4

Good races: 0

Yep, he's a great runner. The best. Certainly deserving of everyone here predicting he'll have an eye popping race every time he runs.

Tell you what. You keep predicting he'll have a great run every race and I'll keep predicting he'll suck. Bet you I'm right A LOT more than you are.

So far this year, I'm 4-0.

Last year his good races far outnumbered the bad. The only "bad" race he had was the Pre 2 mile, there were plenty of great races and a few so-so ones (WC 1500 is an example).

Cassdefrance wrote:

You know, I don't really like Webb because of his inconsitency, but I will have to admit he is A) a good runner and B) is setting himself up for an excellent 2008. Having expected CONSISTENT great things from him in 2001 when he ran 3:53 as a high schooler, I am glad he only ran 3:55 yesterday; maybe he won't suck balls in the Olympic final in 2 months. However, Spyders Webb has a point. Webb is clearly an overtalented headcase who would rather submit to the pain than run through it. You can argue if you want, but name one time he has run well and NOT looked like he could've gone 5 seconds faster. He runs well when he's feeling good, or he runs like sh*t.

I have to agree with you there. When he runs well, like at USATF nationals, in Paris, and at his American Record, he doesn't seem particularly tired. If he ran hard enough to collapse on the track at his American-record mile, he perhaps would have ran 3:44.

I'll have to admit that Webb's chances of making the US Olympic team are in danger this year, more so than in years past. But he'll make it. He just ran a 3:55 in his season opener on the track and he has the confidence of knowing he is the fastest American miler ever, on top of being 3 time US champ. Webb is a bit of a headcase, but against American-only competition he's a lot more confident. He'll be top 3, it's almost certain.

And once he makes the team he'll have a few more weeks to sharpen up. By the time the Olympics start he'll be in top form. I still say he misses out on a medal, but he'll make the final.

2012 will be Alan's year for glory.

webb will make the team, you guys are ridiculous and will look foolish for doubting.

I understand your point that Webb will never be a truly great runner until he gets his head issues under control, but beyond that I don't know what your point is. He's shown numerous times that he can run with the very best of them. He's won multiple US champs, a Golden League 1500, made 2 world championship finals, broken a long-standing AR, run world leading times, etc. So what are you trying to say? That Webb's slow? That he's not good enough to hang with the best in the world? To win world-class races and run world-class times? I mean we all know the guy's inconsistent and a headcase, but we're arguing with you because we know that when Webb is on top of his game, like he was last year, he has the ability to do some astounding things. Your failure to understand that convinces me that you're a troll.

To be a really great runner, you must consistently run great.

cmurph wrote:

...Webb is an extremely good runner, just a very inconsistent one. ...

Exactly. All the evidence we have backs this up.

On the other hand, consider Maria Mutuola. An extremely good and--at least at Pre--extremely consistent runner.

In the past I've tended to defend Webb's poor performances, but I think anybody has a right to be concerned after yesterday's washout. He certainly did NOT come to Pre looking to finish that far back, regardless of when he's hoping to peak. Come on.

didn't lagat suck ass a lot last year before the us championships? He seemed to do okay at worlds. You guys need to make up your minds. Everyone said last year he has to plan his peak differently and not so many good races. Well, here's a race that wasn't very good. Fortunately, it was the pre classic and the olympics aren't for a couple months. He runs fast early; he gets bashed because he's running fast too early. He doesn't run fast early; he gets bashed for not running fast early. Seems kind of contradictory.

Here is the problem - Spyders Webb makes great points, but ... most of you are equating running fast with being a good racer.

Webb is not a good racer.

Webb, if fit, has the ability to out >run`` his American colleagues (Lagat being the possible exception) and many other athletes around the world; however, when faced a field of equally fit athletes of similar abilities, Webb has not show the ability to out %%raceracing< he has the experience and mental ability to pull out the win against individuals of equal or greater fitness.

Webb is still wearing his "high school" thinking cap, where he was able to outrun his competition by simply running faster - it doesn't work the same way when there are 10 other guys in the field with roughly equal abilities.

The above is probably lost on 75% of Letsrun, but those who know, know what I'm talking about.

sc runner wrote:If he ran hard enough to collapse on the track at his American-record mile, he perhaps would have ran 3:44.

Now here's someone who really has a deep understanding of middle-distance running.

Webb will make the olympic team. He always gets into finals/big meets by the hair of chin. Look at NCAA finals 2002, Multiple World Champ finals, etc

Instead of heaping HATE on Webb as spyder webb seems to enjoy (it is way too much-seems suspicious-something wrong there) as a fellow runner we should be concerned but wish Webb well and hope he comes through.

But wait, this is letsrun where it seems to be fashionable to heap HATE on you fellow runners. I've never seen a bunch of athlete(s) despise a fellow athlete as a very few that post here do. And yes, spyder webb, I'm talking about you and your ilk.

Agree with Peas Out. He isn't a great racer. At the trials, if he hasn't positioned himself in the top 3 with 300-400 meters to go, he won't make the team. Webb can't run and win a tatical race. Too many other guys, with the same talent and better kick right now.

Agree with Peas Out. He isn't a great racer. At the trials, if he hasn't positioned himself in the top 3 with 300-400 meters to go, he won't make the team. Webb can't run and win a tatical race. Too many other guys, with the same talent and better kick right now.