Owen Powell 3:58.12 @ Pre

Records are records for a reason. Tough to beat. Brave to aim for them, and risky also. While we love attempts, I find honoring the previous record as a performance stretch makes it possible to admire yet more when they are broken, and all respect when they are not.

Alan Webb was on another level and built for the mile. His time was amazing, and awesome considering pre-super shoes.

No doubt, but Owen ran 3:36.49, on top of 1:46 and 8:38. It’s not like him running 3:53y was a stretch, like say Kipyegon running sub-4z

Owen may just be fried for the season. The kid is very good and posted faster HS PRs than Webb in the 800/1500. So he’s right there.

Season too long. He peaked indoors, than for Arcadia, than again for Brooks/Portland Track Festival. Can only do it so many times

This is the model that Webb ran the record in:

ebay.com

Vintage Original Nike Zoom Kennedy Running Track Spikes Size 10.5 | eBay

I got these towards the end of my senior year in high school in 1999. Recently found them in old box. they cleaned up nice. small plastic tag is broken on back heel as pictured. Sold as is.

Open link

He barely raced during the high school season.

Webb ran like 1:47 in a dual meet. His 400 PR was 47. He also could compete at xc nationals. Owen and Alan are not the same.

Alan Webb ran that time pre super shoes, so no, Powell is not right there. Webb’s time is more like a 3:51 adjusted and he alone remains the KING of high school milers.

Faster PRs ≠ better.

Yeah there is a massive difference between running 1:47 at a dual meet and 1:46 being towed along at Brooks PR. Alan likely had a 1:46 in him, if he had the opportunity. High schoolers these days have so many races that are set-up for them to run fast. It wasn’t like that 20-25 years ago (or even 10-15 years ago). Alan also ran 8:45 (or thereabouts) indoors solo. If he was in an Arcadia type race, with plenty of competition, he would have been sub-8:40 easily.

He sisn’t run 1:47 in a dual meet. It was at an invitational after he set the national record in the mile.

I remember a few years ago Sahlman also raced at Pre and people talked about the record going down. But this race is too fast for the high schoolers they need to be in a 3:52 race not a 3:48 race.

Just because he ran a bit of a clunker relative to his 1500m doesn't mean that, say, next week he wouldn't actually be fresh and ready, but it's a good time to take a season break now and build for xc. That record is going to fall in the next couple years but on this day Powell obviously wasn't ready for it. What were his splits?

Webb’s record was in a 3:49 race.

Webb ran one of THE smartest and well planned races of all time..

Not out too fast which kills record efforts and plenty of wallop left. It was a thing of beauty.