Webb in 2 mile at Pre

This field rocks. Damn I'm looking forward to this race. I'm not hung up on the fact Webb's not in the mile. The race is the thing.

i think u guys are just shit talkers. bekele is not ignorant dont assume. he knows who is running they do their research quitely. africans keep ther mouth shut and just run. freakin americans talk talk talk talk talk talk talkers just go and run. bekele is not trying to beat allan. africans run against time not runners.

u guys r a bunch of shit talkers. bekele is not ignorant dont assume. he knows who is running they do their research quitely. africans keep ther mouth shut and just run. freakin americans talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk just run. he doesnt care if he loses to allan either. to ethiopians all that matters is the 5000 and 10000m record and the olympics.

Isn't a time trial race Webb's specialty? He should just latch onto Bekele and run like he always does.

u guys r crazy if anything tariku bekele brother and tadesse of eritrea are the only ones of a good chance of beating bekele. allan will get tired after lap 6.

This 2 mile field is awsome, simply put.

Where else can you see runners of this calibre? You'd have to go to a WC or Olympic final.

I would say that with the exception of Ritzenhein (big step down in distance for him) & Graham (a bit over his head with this field), all of the Americans here must be considered pottential threats to break Webb's AR. (Webb himself included)

Provided that weather is good, I see no reason why, with this field, we should not expect to see two, possibly three Americans running 8:11 or faster.

You've got Goucher, who ran 8:12 last year, Though older, he surely has a few good seasons left, and cannot be ruled out. My pick for possible upset as 1st placing American. Keep in mind that Goucher posted a near PR of 3:37 a few weeks ago, a good indicator he is race ready.

Tegenkamp, with 7:34 speed (roughly an 8:10 conversion) is more than Capable of running the AR, though given his early season results, may still have some sharpening work to be done. I hope he suprises me.

Famiglietti, I see him and Webb as the two most likely to run 8:11 or faster.

Now, throw in Mottram, a WC bronze medalist who is always a contender, the reigning World Cross Country Champion (Tadessee), A young rising Mexican star who recently posted a 13:11, a few token Kenyans who are always ready to steal the show, and finally Tariku Bekele, one of the best young distance runners in the world today.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to add- The GREATEST DISTANCE RUNNER EVER, Kennenisa Bekele. Yeah, look for him to be in the mix too.

Bekele might know Webb better than you guys think, he stated in his interview that he loves reading books like the one about David Beckham. He might have read sub-4 by Chris Lear as well :)

My prediction for the 2 mile race.

1. Tariku Bekele

2. Alan Webb

3. Craig Mottram

4. Kenenisa Bekele

that is the worst prediction yet. either some of the africans will beat k. bekele or they won't. if the americans break the record it will be behind at least a handfull of africans.

1-Tariku Bekele (Ethiopia) 7:58

2-Alan Webb 7:59 *AR, first american ever sub 8*

3-Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 8:01

4-Craig Mottram (Australia) 8:03

5-Matt Tegenkamp 8:06

6-Adam Goucher 8:07

7-Dathan Ritzenhein 8:09

8-Anthony Famiglietti 8:11

we have a new winner here.

Do you guys really think Webb can do that well against all those Africans and Craig Mottram.

It's a whole lot of sub 13 Africans (and Mottram) against a whole lot of white guys that can't touch 13. Yes, it's 2miles but there's no way that guys like Ben Limo, Boniface Songok, Abrehem Feleke, and others you all are forgetting won't be up there.

They all run under 13. And Bob Kennedy has retired.

Alan Webb can run under 13minutes if he want to! maybe 12:53 high and low 12:55. If he want to!

Bekele isn't as good in 3k as many people think, compared to his 5k and 10k his 3k ability is only moderate.

Webb's best distance is probably the 3k/2 mile.

1. African

2. African

3. Tegenkamp (AR)

4. Mottram

5. African

6. Webb

...

Ritz way back

Sure right, this is the event to be in, Webb is looking for the comp, I applaud his move to the two mile. Its good to mix it up also, hes not going to run the mile exclusively all season.

nokia wrote:

so much for concentrating on the mile......

He was bashed repeatedly on another thread for "avoiding" the 2-mile and dodging the competition. Now he's bashed for running it. Any defenders of Webb NOW, that he's doing what you wanted him to?? Personally, I'm pretty stoked to see him against the Bekele's, Teg, etc... We just saw him beat Lagat in the mile.... and he'll have plenty of AR chances in Europe.

Big Thinker wrote:

1. African

2. African

3. Tegenkamp (AR)

4. Mottram

5. African

6. Webb

...

Ritz way back

switch Teg and Webb and you've got yourself a reasonable prediction. Teg's a guy that's capable of running under the AR this season, but not this early. he needs to shake off a little rust first. Webb, on the other hand, is clearly already in phenomenal shape; i'd guess 8:06 for him. i would also think that Mottram can beat Webb by a bit, so my prediction is:

1. Bekele (8:03)

2. Sihine (8:05)

3. Mottram (8:06)

4. Webb (8:06)

5. Tadesse (8:08)

6. Limo/Fekele (8:09)

7. Limo/Fekele (8:09)

8. Teg (8:12)

run-bike-run wrote:

switch Teg and Webb and you've got yourself a reasonable prediction. Teg's a guy that's capable of running under the AR this season, but not this early. he needs to shake off a little rust first. Webb, on the other hand, is clearly already in phenomenal shape; i'd guess 8:06 for him. i would also think that Mottram can beat Webb by a bit, so my prediction is:

I agree. Teg's journals indicated he was extremely lacking sharpness/speed during those races. It wouldn't be crazy if he finished out of the top 3 at USATF's, and got beat and/or out-finished by at least 3 of the field (Lagat, Culp, Dobson, Ritz, Abdi).

BTW, anyone know what the rabbit(s) will be pacing for the 2 mile??

john jefferson will be a pacer....i used to beat him at state finals class 6a and 4a in 1998 and 1999. never forget about how good he is with his twin brother sean. sean ran 8:59 at state finals class 4a first ever sub 9 for state meet in florida.

later man