What's so great about Alan Webb

nikeman wrote:

On top of that Alan is a hell of a nice guy too. I don't think that you'll find many runners more humble than Alan.

Long live the king:

nikeman wrote:

On top of that Alan is a hell of a nice guy too. I don't think that you'll find many runners more humble than Alan.

And a very good interview. Lots of character, not one of those 'I give 150%' guys, but someone who has something to say. Even as a kid on Letterman he was funny.

He also didn't hold anything back. He put it all out there to win and try for record times every time he went to the track. And when he won a big one, he let it out with the big primal scream. No American distance runner has been as entertaining to watch for a long time. That's all you can ask for.

I miss Alan Webb. I wish he could continue to compete on a world level. Loved to watch him race, as you never knew what you were going to get.

The US had nothing going on in the distances when Webb hit the scene.

He sparked a huge interest by going after times and giving hope that the US could be a contender on the track in something above the 400.

He had the whole "will he go pro?" thing.

In 2001 he sparked huge interest when he ran 3:53 in high school.

In 2004 he had a dominating performance in the 1500 at the Olympic Trials that gave hope that he was a contender.

In 2007 he got the A/R in the mile and had the #1 time in the world in the 1500.

All of this happened when there were no other Americans that seemed to have promise on the world stage in distance track events.

(Except Lagat getting Gold in 2007, which was an upset over Webb)

Webb was the catalyst for Guys like Nick Symmonds,Galen Rupp,Matthew Centrowitz, Jr.

But, yes, they are more accomplished than he is.

The whole level has been lifted and Webb gets a lot of credit for that.

Thanks for that. Webb has the fastest mile time since the EPO test was introduced into Track and Field.

Whacko Stato wrote:

Thanks for that. Webb has the fastest mile time since the EPO test was introduced into Track and Field.[/quote]

But Kiplagat and Kiprop's 3:27s are better than Webb's 3:46.9 mile.

So is Kwemoi and Farah's 3:28s and Souleiman, Iguider, Wote, Willis, Ndiku, Chebseba, Laalou and Choge's 3:29s.

Plenty have run a faster equivalent than Webb "since the EPO test was introduced."

Star wrote:

(Except Lagat getting Gold in 2007, which was an upset over Webb)

No it wasn't... Webb winning USAs was an upset over Lagat. Webb was not a favorite to win.

Lagat was 3rd at USATF behind Webb and Manzano in 2007.

And Webb had the #1 time in the world in 2007 at 1500 and the mile and had that big win in Paris over Baala.

Lagat was #18 on the world list and had no major wins that year before Osaka.

Lagat was not supposed to beat Webb at WC that year.

It was an upset.

Star wrote:

Lagat was 3rd at USATF behind Webb and Manzano in 2007.

And Webb had the #1 time in the world in 2007 at 1500 and the mile and had that big win in Paris over Baala.

Lagat was #18 on the world list and had no major wins that year before Osaka.

Lagat was not supposed to beat Webb at WC that year.

It was an upset.

Lagat let up (or tied up) once that race was over. No one thought Manzano was better than he was. It was supposed to be close, but Webb was not the favorite.

Aside from Lagat the heavy hitters didn't run Paris or any fast races. Baala didn't even make the final. So Webb's world lead is misleading, the guys who finished ahead of him were much more credentialed. ESPECIALLY Lagat.

Track Historian wrote:

Star wrote:

Lagat was 3rd at USATF behind Webb and Manzano in 2007.

And Webb had the #1 time in the world in 2007 at 1500 and the mile and had that big win in Paris over Baala.

Lagat was #18 on the world list and had no major wins that year before Osaka.

Lagat was not supposed to beat Webb at WC that year.

It was an upset.

Lagat let up (or tied up) once that race was over. No one thought Manzano was better than he was. It was supposed to be close, but Webb was not the favorite.

Aside from Lagat the heavy hitters didn't run Paris or any fast races. Baala didn't even make the final. So Webb's world lead is misleading, the guys who finished ahead of him were much more credentialed. ESPECIALLY Lagat.

Based on what the field had done up to that point in the season, Alan had at least as good a chance as anyone else to win.

He had the fastest 1500 & mile time in the world & the second fastest 800 time (behind rudisha).

He injured himself in the race he set his (2nd) 800m PR that season, the 1:43 against Gary Reed. So he wasn't 100% in Osaka.

If he was, he would have placed higher than 8th. Would he have won? Who knows.

First & second place in that race both have had positive drug tests.