8:48i (closed hard the last mile from what I remember)
Powell:
1:46.63
3:56i
8:38 (run solo after a 1600 and 800)
However, I feel that this represents an incomplete picture of Webb. He had at least 1 sub-4 1600 DMR leg that spring, a 47.7 4x400 leg at his state meet, at least one 1:49 4x800 leg and a 4:01 mile at Arcadia, back when those times were all FAST. He was beating the wheels off the best runners in the nation, and given his XC pedigree, I have to imagine he could have run into the low 8:30s had he actually taken a serious swing at the event.
That said, Powell is a heck of a talent. I think he has a 3:52 in him - that 1:46.6 told me everything I really need to know. The bigger question is if he can execute properly on Saturday, which i'm not quite sure of. He's racing some damn good people, and I question if he has the ability to balance the possibility of a fast pace with the potential for a tactical race - if he goes out in 60 point, that kinda sinks any record attempt. Despite the maturity he has shown, he is after all, still a high schooler.
Records are absolute numbers, but the historical context should be considered. Shoes, tracks, supplements, have changed the meaning of race times significantly in the last 10 years.
Webb's record was faster, but Ryun's performance was better in a historical context. Ryun won the AAU nationals, beating WR holder Snell with his 3:55 and was less than 2sec from the WR. Ryun was top tier world class in HS. Webb was 2nd tier world class with that performance (5th in race, 3.5sec behind winner and world leader for the year, ~10sec from WR).
Powell may break Webb's record, but to be equivalent to Webb, he needs to be in the top 6 runners and probably around 3:50. To match Ryun, he needs a 3:46 or better and the win.
However, if Powell gets the record, he owns the record regardless of historical context. Good luck to him.
8:48i (closed hard the last mile from what I remember)
Powell:
1:46.63
3:56i
8:38 (run solo after a 1600 and 800)
However, I feel that this represents an incomplete picture of Webb. He had at least 1 sub-4 1600 DMR leg that spring, a 47.7 4x400 leg at his state meet, at least one 1:49 4x800 leg and a 4:01 mile at Arcadia, back when those times were all FAST. He was beating the wheels off the best runners in the nation, and given his XC pedigree, I have to imagine he could have run into the low 8:30s had he actually taken a serious swing at the event.
That said, Powell is a heck of a talent. I think he has a 3:52 in him - that 1:46.6 told me everything I really need to know. The bigger question is if he can execute properly on Saturday, which i'm not quite sure of. He's racing some damn good people, and I question if he has the ability to balance the possibility of a fast pace with the potential for a tactical race - if he goes out in 60 point, that kinda sinks any record attempt. Despite the maturity he has shown, he is after all, still a high schooler.
As mentioned, I was worried about him finding his pace in a field like that. 55 was far in excess of where he should have been.