I just wanted to alert you guys to someone who's totally slipped under the radar--and he's neither Kenyan nor Ethiopian. We haven't heard much of young Johan Rogestedt since he beat the Africans two years ago when he was 16 at the 800m in the World Youth Championships. Well, he's 18 now, a Swedish high school kid. He was hurt most of last year (with Achilles problems)(Ohhh, how I hate Achilles problems), but still reeled off a 3:49 indoor 1500, age 17. But yesterday...
Yesterday, on the same day Verzbicas failed to break 4:00 in a professional meet, Rogestedt was also given a chance to run with the grown ups. It was in Sweden-Norway-Finland three-way (menage a trois?), so he didn't have the likes of Willis or Webb to push him. Nevertheless, the young Swede responded with an astonishing 3:46 indoor 1500.
To put that in perspective, the fastest high school indoor 1500 this year was by Cheserek at 3:58. The next best US h.s. mark is 4:12. And Rogestedt just ran 3:46.
I suggest we remember this young man's name. He's the real deal.