Alan Webb Gets 4th at Drake, Boaz Lalang Wins

Why does Slattery still run?

Sounds like he had a good effort, just had a bit of bad luck towards the end. All in all still relatively encouraging. Hopefully Webb can continue to put together a nice Spring season. Does anyone know where he'll race next?

Maybe the JV mile at Pre?

ALLLL)) wrote:

Why does Slattery still run?

Because it's fun?

short treasuries wrote:

Sounds like he had a good effort, just had a bit of bad luck towards the end. All in all still relatively encouraging. Hopefully Webb can continue to put together a nice Spring season. Does anyone know where he'll race next?

How often have we heard that one?

Did he throw his spikes again? At least he doesn't have a coach to blame.

Webb may be the American record holder, and his accomplishments will always stand - I give him enormous respect for all he has done from HS - 2007.

However, with no ill will or "hating" toward him whatsoever, I simply don't see him returning to his previous form after a 3+ year "slump". I'm all for comebacks and fighting till the end, but today's race is a perfect example of the difference between Webb now and Webb 2007.

3.58 for fourth today - during his season of PR's and top times in the world (2007) he set the Drake meet record in 3.53 - 3.54 I believe? That 4-5 seconds is an eternity in the mile.

Yes, each race is different. However, today is not a solitary example; I think it's fair to say that it is consistent with his "getting back to the top" progressions of the last 3 years that never quite materialize.

~3.35 (1500) and 3.57-3.58 (mile) are solid times for an NCAA contender, NOT for one who intends to get back to his previous form. He may have dealt with injuries, but he's had sufficient time to get past those issues.

Again, not a Webb "hater" by any means - in fact, I really support the guy. I always maintain hope for anyone trying to get to the top, but I'm becoming more and more skeptical.

This is slightly encouraging for Webb I suppose, but who is Chris O'Hare? Why have I never heard of this guy? 3:58 for a college sophmore is moving.

He's a Scot

Slattery doesn't have anything else to do.

Haushinka wrote:

but who is Chris O'Hare? Why have I never heard of this guy? 3:58 for a college sophmore is moving.

Here's his profile:

He ran a 3:56 mile indoors. Got 2nd at NCAA indoors too:

Someone mentioned in another thread that there were 16 mph winds...can anyone confirm?

They were 3:58 at the bell and Lalang won in 3:58.26... now that is moving. 3400mph over the last 400m=incredible. Must make every competitor a lock for 1-8th at the Olympics.

he actually ran 3:51 at drake in 2007, so even further ahead of his run today. i will say though, he looked good until he got boxed the last 200, so who knows how it would have played out if his tactics had been better.

3:51 wrote:

who knows how it would have played out if his tactics had been better.

a fitting epitaph for Webb

he'd know more about tactics if he had stayed in college? then again, I have almost completely lost interest in his career.

3:51 wrote:

he actually ran 3:51 at drake in 2007, so even further ahead of his run today. i will say though, he looked good until he got boxed the last 200, so who knows how it would have played out if his tactics had been better.

He went 3:58 in a 3:58 race. Comparing it to his 2007 time doesn't really make sense. I have no doubt he was fitter then, but i also have no doubt he's in better shape then 3:58, this race just wasn't going to bring that out.

WEBB would have won if he was not boxed in -->

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxrihuxzASo

Not saying he would have won, but he may have had a chance with better positioning and a little luck.

Mrr82 wrote:

He went 3:58 in a 3:58 race. Comparing it to his 2007 time doesn't really make sense. I have no doubt he was fitter then, but i also have no doubt he's in better shape then 3:58, this race just wasn't going to bring that out.

right on. especially since the rabbit went out in *2:58, which is right around 3:57 pace. i think this is a good race for webb - by the times, it seems he ran competitively with some solid runners (not the best in the world, though). if the wind was as bad as people have said, then i wouldn't be too negative about this time.

it's in some ways like the mile at the texas relays a few weeks ago when those guys took it out in 2:15. not every race is going to be a PR race. when a rabbit takes it out in 2:58, you know it's not going to be a PR race. at prefontaine, when a rabbit takes it out in 1:52-1:54, then you know it's going to be a fast race.