Webb's Semi !!!!

Exactly! He needs to be running HIS race, not the other guys. Pre did the same thing and got burned. Webb needs to be relaxed- he looks nervous and intimidated. Just run YOUR race AW. Youre in my prayers....Run Brave

The Billy Mills? Double Wow.

just because he hasnt raced doesnt mean he isn't in shape. sheesh. and 38sec off a very slow pace is fast but it's not like it hasn't been done before (ie. the first heat??)

So in the final.

Webb wants a fast race, maybe his best chance is to timetrail his way to victory. Taking the lead with anything less than 800m to go and he's done for the day.

He knows that Ramzi and Lagat is fit but are they 3.30 fit like Webb?? he gotta use his strength to his advantage.

Webb seems limited in his stride-length when reaching faster speeds.

Isn't that stuff expensive? How are the Africans affording it when the westerners can't? And, if they can all afford it, are the Africans just bigger cheaters and more likely to do drugs?

westcoast219 wrote:

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

haha what the heck. jordan hasay should have jumped in that race then.

westcoast219 wrote:

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

At about 50 to go Baala basically pushed the other guy to the floor to get past. It wasn't a case of going for a gap that closed, there was never any room to begin with. I'm not surprised he was DQ'd.

It may be a bit of both.

Race savy is a work in progress for Webbster.

To me, this would be Webb's perfect race.

First, go out hard for 200 meters so he's near the front of the pack. Lane 2, in 3rd place, just off someone's shoulder, is the perfect place to be. Won't get boxed in there.

Then, just relax because the pace is going to slow down. Conserve energy, breath deeply, relax.

With 700 left, on the backstretch, grab the lead. Push the pace, stringing everyone out. He'll have to go hard enough to make everyone think he's kicking, but not so hard that he still won't be able to sprint at the end.

Pushing but relaxing, by the time he reaches the bell there should only be a few true contenders with him. Let one of them pass him, then just hang on for the furious sprint down the back stretch, just like Baala tried in Paris. With 200 to go, it'll just be Webb and 2 guys left. They'll sprint hard at the top of the homestretch. He'll sprint with them, then just like at US Nationals, in Paris, and in his 1:43 800, he'll have a tiny bit more juice in the legs over the last 50.

That's my vision. If he leaves it to the last 200, he's toast. If he starts a sustained kick from 700 out, backs off a little to gather his reserves, then saves some energy for that last 50 meters where he's been great this year, I give it to him.

The 1500m videos are now up on You Tube. I have to say, he did look a little flat. If it was a strategy to conserve energy, I think he either overestimated his kick or underestimated the ability of everyone else to kick. Either way, I highly doubt it was his plan to make it as close as he did.

On the other hand, if he has a flat day and still qualifies for the final, that's not too shabby. It wasn't so long ago that this board would be estatic when an American simply made the final of a WC or OG.

And for what its worth, it looks like it's going to be a crowded final due to the extra qualifiers out of the first heat, with 14 guys lining up. I imagine the first 300m are going to be nasty as everyone is gunning for position.

Where did you find the videos on youtube? could you post a link- I've been searching and still can't find them.

Unfortunately Alan is not looking too good in the semi. Check out the poor form as he fights to make the final - his leg is twisted.

I'll be rooting like hell for him and Bernard regardless.

Heat 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix6GI4OfQ1Q

Heat 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxr3TqAfKsg

No wonder Baala got dq'd....

No finish available for the second heat. Thanks though, even though they're French they definitely focused on Webb in their commentary.

kartelite wrote:

No finish available for the second heat. Thanks though, even though they're French they definitely focused on Webb in their commentary.

Oops. This one has the finish. (In Spanish..)

thank you much for those videos.

Alan Webb looked fine. At the gun, everyone surged out pretty fast the first 200m, Webb didn't sprint out as fast as some of those guys(understandably), and kept himself in good position, out of trouble. The thing is they were bunched up 4 wide the whole time until the last 300m, but Webb looked smooth and relaxed the whole time. It never looked like he was straining until the last 100m where he really needed to make sure he got the Q. For being 10m off the lead pack though, and running them down the last 300m when everyone started to kick, he did a pretty good job. He was passing guys on the curve. I think Webb will be fine, as long as he doesn't let something like that happen again, because in the final if he's 10m off the leaders with 300m to go, I doubt he can run them down. He needs to get in the front early and keep good position. Good job Webb.

After watching it, I think Webb looked fine.

He ran in lane 1 for the first 1200 which was good.

It looked like he just eyed the top 5 and ran the last 300 hard to get into that spot.

Now Lagat on the other hand, looked great.

The final may still be entirely something different.

Can't wait.