T&FN Picks Lagat 1st, Webb 3rd

Track Nut wrote:

There is no reason to think he can't step up and win the thing.

sure there are. and you provided them.

Reason (c):

Their experts are dominated by the same eurocentric anti-US crowd they played to the last time.

But as an American, I'd be very happy to take 2 medals. It would give Webb more incentive for the bigger dance next year,

I don't think the "handle the pressure" complaint is valid anymore. Time has passed. The question is whether he's still at his peak. If he is, he'll beat Lagat, and may win it all.

In the Lagat vs Webb scenario it is pure speed vs. experience.

It is very disheartening the little coverage both Webb and Lagat have gotton from the mainstream US sports press.

Lagat has had an amazing career, but no one in their freaking right mind would pick him as the favorite to win after what's surpassed this season. Not to say he doesn't have a chance, but there are several others (notably Webb) who are CLEAR favorites over Lagat.

If you had to bet your life on Lagat or Webb winning, would you pick Lagat? Apparently the TFN editors would...

Well, the U.S. media doesn't pay attention to track when it happens in this country...they're not going to follow stuff that happens in Belgium and Japan.

kartelite wrote:

Lagat has had an amazing career, but no one in their freaking right mind would pick him as the favorite to win after what's surpassed this season.

I really don't think that "surpassed" was the word you were looking for there.

You're right, I guess I was looking for "happened" or "occurred" but they seemed a bit bulky; basically I want to say the English equivalent of "ce qui s'est passé," and kind of just used a word that sounds the same.

i thought it was odd at first but then it made some sense: lots of runners have surpassed lagat this year.

Track Nut wrote:

In its preview of the 1500 e-mailed to subscribers, Track & Field News has picked Lagat to win the 1500 and Webb to place 3rd, with Ali of Bahrain picked to take the silver. The explanation is that Lagat has tons more big-time experience than anyone else and is rounding into form as shown by his win in London and his recent 1000 PR. .

Lagats 1000 pr was nothign special at all though....Webb could have run 3 seconds faster no doubt. Not to mention i thikn Lagat had only done hte 1k outdoors once like 7 years ago or something.

mrr82 wrote:

Track Nut wrote:

In its preview of the 1500 e-mailed to subscribers, Track & Field News has picked Lagat to win the 1500 and Webb to place 3rd, with Ali of Bahrain picked to take the silver. The explanation is that Lagat has tons more big-time experience than anyone else and is rounding into form as shown by his win in London and his recent 1000 PR. .

Lagats 1000 pr was nothign special at all though....Webb could have run 3 seconds faster no doubt. Not to mention i thikn Lagat had only done hte 1k outdoors once like 7 years ago or something.

2:13.25 for Webb? #4 all-time behind Ngeny, Coe and Cram? I think that the AR is within his grasp, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Track Nut wrote:

and in '05 was a major factor in the final.

this was the only part of your post that i completely disagree with.

its hard to say what bernard will do. obviously, webb has had a great season, much better than lagat, but i wouldn't put it past the seasoned vet to school the youngster in the final. i can't wait to cheer for them both

webb needs to make sure he doesn't relax too much. he needs to take the champs one race at a time, staying relaxed, but more importantly, in good position and ready to move.

paranoid a little?

There were quite a few surprising picks from Track & Field News this time around, but you are correct, in that the biggest surprise was Lagat over Webb. Webb has completely owned Lagat in 2007, and I see it continuing into the World Championships. Experience does not get you running 3:30 again.

those damn idiots at T&FN. i guess they got webb wrong but dead on with lagat.

And the T&FN editors would be alive and many of you wouldn't.

Oh and... I think T&FN's pick of Lagat was primarily based on past championship performances of Lagat not anything particularly anti-Webb. I was surprised they didn't pick Ramzi higher. I wouldn't have put him in the medals but I would have had him in the top 5.