Alan Webb 1500m next week. Could this be the big one?

What if Webb isn't planning on doing the 1500 at the trials? What if he is going to try to qualify in the 5k? His basic speed and aerobic strength could make him a contender- even with the strong 5k stable the US has right now.

illadelphia wrote:

What if Webb isn't planning on doing the 1500 at the trials? What if he is going to try to qualify in the 5k? His basic speed and aerobic strength could make him a contender- even with the strong 5k stable the US has right now.

He is not getting in the trials on his last 5k time. He should get busy running another one if that is the aim.

I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a 3:32 here. No I don't mean from Webb, but the winning time. Mo Farah has to be wanting to get some speed after losing World Indoors to Lagat and the return of Bekele this year and a potential threat with Lomong etc, so I doubt Mo Farah wants to come just to run something around 3:34-3:35. He's hungry for a PR

Since that's the case, I bet Webb could be pulled along to a 3:35. He'll be right in the middle of the pack and I bet this is his chance to get the A

Mr. Obvious wrote:

He is not getting in the trials on his last 5k time. He should get busy running another one if that is the aim.

He hung on for that 13:49 after pacing, which gives him the B standard. I bet he could run 13:33 fresh, which would land him the A for the trials.

I agree though that he would need to get in a few faster 5s in the next month and half (he would need the olympic A as well), but it is interesting to consider. His racing strategy reminds me of Rupp in indoors his during his senior campaign- when he was able to just mow people down in the final 600 of the 5k.

He's obviously not doing the 5k.

Wheating won't win. Lomong or Manzano are the favorites. Torrence, Brannen, Baddeley will be in the hunt and are in great shape. Ulrey, O'Lionard, and Wheating aren't sharp enough. I don't think Farah or Rupp will be able to run the A standard and I think the winner will get it.

I do run run run wrote:

How has no other runner shown they can compete as well as Webb at 1500/mile and such?

Because no current American runner besides Lagat has run as fast as he has. If you convert his mile time, Webb has actually run faster than Lagat.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

illadelphia wrote:

What if Webb isn't planning on doing the 1500 at the trials? What if he is going to try to qualify in the 5k? His basic speed and aerobic strength could make him a contender- even with the strong 5k stable the US has right now.

He is not getting in the trials on his last 5k time. He should get busy running another one if that is the aim.

He doesn't need it. They can let anyone in they want, and i have a hard time believing they would not allow him to race. They've made exceptions in the past in the best interest of the sport, don't see why they wouldn't again.

illadelphia wrote:

He hung on for that 13:49 after pacing, which gives him the B standard. I bet he could run 13:33 fresh, which would land him the A for the trials.

I agree though that he would need to get in a few faster 5s in the next month and half (he would need the olympic A as well), but it is interesting to consider. His racing strategy reminds me of Rupp in indoors his during his senior campaign- when he was able to just mow people down in the final 600 of the 5k.

If he wants to go to the Olympics he needs the Olympic A standard either before or at the trials. I think that is far more likely in the 1500 than the 5k I know he squeaked under the B trials standard in the 5k but he will be too far back in line.

....and if you convert Lagat's 1500m time to 1 mile, he's run 3 seconds faster than Webb. For a large portion of Lagat's career, he was a sub-3:30 runner; Webb, despite how much that i root for the guy, was a 3:30 guy...for one season.

Even nowadays, with Lagat's age starting to catch up on him, he's still run 3:33-3:34 consistently the past few years (with 1 3:32 i believe)...that's the type of 1500 speed you need if you want to medal in the 5k, which is his focus.

Wow, I can't believe anyone seriously believes Webb isn't in shape to get the A standard right now. The 5000 was clearly a workout after running a hard 1500 less than an hour before.

Has anyone got a list of all Webb's races he's ran this year?

3:52

3:43

3:38

I think they're his 1500 times. Then he has a few 800s, the fastest being last weeks 1:51, and a couple of 5k's that he ran as a workout.

This 1500 will be 3 weeks after his 3:38. I think 3:36 is a reasonable prediction.

Olympic A is 3:35.5

I really dont get most of you on this site. Wheating goes 3:44 and it's great, blah blah wheating this wheating that. Webb runs 3:38 and he's washed up. ARE you freaking kidding!?

stick with eharmony wrote:

I really dont get most of you on this site. Wheating goes 3:44 and it's great, blah blah wheating this wheating that. Webb runs 3:38 and he's washed up. ARE you freaking kidding!?

Welllll, there's a bit of a difference. That 3:44 was Wheating's first race of the year. And he won.

Webb raced indoors, and then he opened his outdoor season with a 3:54. And he hasn't won a race yet. Not even close.

All things considered, Wheating looks to be more of a contender than Webb at this point.

Is meant to be a joke? Maybe you should try reading the thread. Pretty much unanimous positive support for Webb with some people predicting an A standard next week.

Given the circumstances both Webb & Wheating have had good races in the last week. Take your nonsense elsewhere sir.

He's going to have to roll out or get embarrassed.

yeah, no doubt he'll pop a 3:25

bguyj200012z2 wrote:

umm, brah brah, its because running is more accessible than playing football, and the barrier to entry is a lot smaller.

u will never accomplish half of what webb does.

u really need to wakeup and see the big picture, brah brah

It's mostly because you're an idiot.

Whether some poster has run fast has nothing to do with Webb's career. They are completely independent. Both of them could suck.

That being said... of course people follow Webb. He's a 3:46 miler. Why wouldn't you want to see what he can do?

Will Webb even be in the fast heat?

Andy Baddeley

Miles Batty

Nate Brannen

Mo Farah

Will Leer

Lopez Lomong

Leo Manzano

Jordan McNamara

Kyle Miller

Taylor Milne

Ciaran O'Lionaird

Jeff See

David Torrance

Dorian Ulrey

Andrew Wheating

That's 15 people from the list that are better than Webb plus Rupp and Symmonds will want to be in the fast heat.

They usually have a 12 man field which includes a rabbit or two.

They'll have to boot out a few good runners to get Webb in.

They might just make two randomly selected heats. So both have the potential to be A standard type races. Question: will Teg and Bumbalough beat Rupp and Farah?