Webb's Future is at 5000

Yeah, I can see what you mean. Of course there will always be naysayers who argue that Webb couldn't pace Bekele through a 10k. Not that being able to run sub 13 is critical to winning a championship race, as championship races are usually very slow and tactical. However if a championship race turned out to be fast, Webb would be in trouble. Also, Webb only managed a 60 something last lap coming off of 13:10 pace. But regardless, he definitely has the strength, we'll just have to see what direction he takes.

You are correct sir. Mottram showed that 12:55/3:49 is strong and fast enough to medal.

So Webb just needs to get down to 12:55.

Seems possible for someone who is now 5th on the all time US list in his first "real" (international) 5,000. Throw in some high mileage, 2-3 years of good health, and he'll be there.

What's the high mileage for?

Gee, I don't know. Let's go ask Geb about high mileage, see what he has to say.

Drop it...Webb will not be threat.

Geb says worry about the quality first

Please,please,please, Alan Webbs weakness is his strength. A KICK in the final 400m comes from one's ability to have anerobic reserves, which one developes thru having a greater aerobic compacity, thus able to sustain a faster pace and still be able to run close to his maximal 400m or shorter effort. If all of the top 10 1500m runners in the world lined up for an open 400m race, Alan Webb would definetly be in the top 3.

I dont believe at all that out of the top 10 1500 guys in the world raced at 400m, only 3 would break 47, because thats all Webb can run.

fmr runner wrote:

I dont believe at all that out of the top 10 1500 guys in the world raced at 400m, only 3 would break 47, because thats all Webb can run.

And you'd be wrong.

Here we go again.

Webb is ranked in the IAAF top ten in the 1500. He has also run the third fastest mile time ever for an American. Unlike other US 1500 meter runners Webb can consistently run a sub 3:35 1500. BTW, Webb finished 8th in that 5k race. In the 1500 Webb has already beaten the world's best 1500-meter runners.

Besides Webb has said he is sticking with the 1500/mile for now. Perhaps when he is 28 he will run more 5k races.

Webb has a much better chance of getting a medal in the 1500 than he does in the 5000. There are very few 22-year-old milers in the world that are as good as Webb. In the 5000 there are probably dozens of 22-year-old 5k runners that could beat Webb. I have lost count on how many Africans have broken 13 for the 5000.

All US distance needs now is for a great miler to become a merely good 5000-meter runner.

It is fortunate that Webb does not take advice from people on this forum.

Webb is a 1500meter runners.

Case closed.

you guys are completely insane if you think Webb has anywhere near 47 quarter speed anymore. His speed is progressively getting worse and worse, as shown by his 800, and he's too slow to close in a kicker's race at 1500m. if you disagree, then tell me a time, when he outkicked someone that he didnt have a 6 second pr better than them at the time....hes probably a 49.99 guy at best right now...all that strength, and can only muster 1:47 this year??? thats GARBAGE for a 3:48 guy...

his ability to run a great 5000 should never have been questioned. His HS coaches thought that his greater success would be in the 3200. And great milers should be able to run great 5000 meter times.

you guys say it so casually- "all webb has to do is get down to 12.55"

is that all... It's not a matter of webb eating his wheaties and suddenly being able to blast out a 12.55.

Have you seen the size of this guys arms and head. I assume he's carrying at least 15 more kgs than the other guys. Let him have a go at 1500s.

Silly of everyone to keep saying he should move up. If he was lucky enough to make any of the golden league meets he'd battle around at the back of the field, not troubling the front runners at all in a fast race. All this well hoping that the championship races will be slow enough for him to produce a 12 secnd 100m down the back straight- Well Bekele puts 4* 13 second 100m back to back on the last lap.

Mottram will eat him for breakfast

What is with you guys thinking Webb is too big and bloated?? Have you actually seen him lately? There was a time in college where he was probably too big, but definitely not this season. He doesn't really stand out much in a crowd of Kenyans. 15 kgs is a huge stretch.

he does stand out. The kenyans are lean, tall. Webb gives off the deception of being short and stocky due to his big arms/head

http://www.iaaf.org/MultimediaFiles/Photo/Competitions/IAAFGrandPrix/25543_W600XH400.jpg

now mottram and lagat for instance

http://www.athletics.org.au/gallery/images/photos/M_200469074053.jpg

should this thread be "Lagat's future at 5000m" He has all the strength and speed that you all hope webb will have in the future, so america's 5000m medal hopes lie with him, i would think.

WebbFan,

Last time you did say that Webb should move up to 5000 and I also said that the kid is a miler. He obviously has a lot of strength and good speed for the 5000. If he sharpens his 800m his 1500m will improve and he still has plenty of time to do that. You will never see an American athlete like Webb in your lifetime again, he is a distance phenom by American standards and will develop to be a great runner at 1500m and hopefully 8 years from now put in a few good 5k's.The bottom line is the kid is a runner. No one said that a good miler couldn't run a good 5000. Maybe Hicham could be the best in the world at 5k. No one is running him off to the 5k, yet Webb with little international experience at running in general and we dismiss him from the 1500. Give it some time and the runner he is will prove to be great from 1500m to 5k. The racing systems and distance talent pools we have in the United States has spoiled Allen and others. They realize that they can't run away from these Africa/European athletes,instead you have to be a versatile runner, well rounded and ready for anything. Allen has been through racing 101 this year. He didn't pass with flying colors but it's a subject that he's getting a handle on and in time just like with everything else with the kid he will be a success. He's too strong not to. He's proven many wrong time and time again. He dug himself out of one of the largest holes in running history. That in itself is remarkable, now at 22 he is the definition of the road that American distance running should walk. I would love to see him dominate a U.S. 5k and worlds 5k one day soon. For now those legs only spell one word "MILER"..

a conversation I overheard the other day.

Webb: "Nobody cares about the 5000 meters."

Razco: "Why don't you give them a reason to care?"

I thought I'd heard it somewhere else before, but not sure where.

I think this sums it up best as I see it:

In most international races, Webb is currently a much better 1500m than 5000m runner. But with recent WC/Olympic 5000m races being won in relatively slow times, Webb would've seemed a great shot to medal in most or even win in some.

Note on the 1500m though: I'm not convinced that Webb's kick is subpar. Almost anyone who runs so aggressively from the gun is not going to finish in 24-25 seconds. He's a 3:32 runner trying to run 3:27. Willis is supposed to have a great kick, and he does. But it's a different story when the pace is sizzling.

Even Webb's Olympic and WC prelims with less than stellar finishes were from either getting bumped/stopped or not being aware. He won a slow USATF's super comfortably over 2 guys who rely on their kicks and got down to the lower 3:30's. I say Webb's kick isn't proven....either way.