Hello, I'm a former collegiate runner and new reporter at SI. I've wondered about this myself. i've looked through some of the old magazines in our library and it's amazing to see that, for example, a Russian high jumper once made the cover.
In any event, if Webb were to win a gold in Beijing, I would think the dramatic arc of his career would give him a great shot at a cover. In general, I think it would help alot if some rivalries developed. Every year football fans know that the Cowboys and Redskins will play twice. It's rather rare to see sustained rivalries at the highest level in U.S. track, it seems. this isn't a distance running example (and a moot point now for obvious reasons), but I'm always aggravated when I think of how Gatlin and Powell were at the top of the world, sharing the world record, and the one time they raced at their peaks it was a photo finish. and then they run separate heats in the same event at a meet because the organizers can't pay them enough? and now it's never going to happen. they should have been racing every weekend. Webb and Lagat have a bit of back and forth, which is neat. we need more of that kind of thing. in my opinion, the focus on rewarding records has taken away from track's appeal for alot of viewers. athletes gear up for one or two attempts at a record where they follow rabbits and there's no real race. i'd rather see week in and week out guys and gals gutting it out shoulder to shoulder to the finish. anyway, i think there is hope for future SI distance running covers. i know there are people here who appreciate the sport.