Alistair Cragg

[kuha]

Re: Alistair Cragg

The point is that there have been various waves of track interest. What you refer to is simply one of them. I can assure you that Ryun's 1967 season, Shorter winning the Olympic marathon in '72, or Pre himself in action were all more exciting and motivating than any 1990s movies.

[palladium]

Re: Alistair Cragg

>I'd like to think that "track consciousness" entered the American mind a heck
>of a long time before Webb ever put on his spikes. Ryun; Shorter; Pre (alive);
>the running boom of the 70s; etc.

it did. and then it died off. you think any of my 20 something friends who have nothing to do with the sport have every heard of ryun or shorter? but they've heard of pre. not because they followed the sport before they were born, but because they watch movies.

[Brian]

Re: Alistair Cragg

>Is it because he competes for Arkansas? He is one more good athlete along a
>long line produced in their track factory. Expectations are high for athletes
>from AR. When you read about AR winning (another) national title, does it make
>you proud for them? I agree with the comment about Lincoln not getting the
>press he deserves: another AR alum.

They have a good, clean program which
>gives us all something to talk about - results which continue to amaze and
>dazzle.

The Arkansas factor might be relevent only in the sense that their distance alums usually do not go on to win big as open athletes after college and most spectators prefer to attach to someone they can anticipate improvement and possibly great things from in the future.

[kuha]

Re: Alistair Cragg

I'd like to think that "track consciousness" entered the American mind a heck of a long time before Webb ever put on his spikes. Ryun; Shorter; Pre (alive); the running boom of the 70s; etc. As I've said too many times already, Webb's popular fame IS amazing, but it came strictly because he was a miler (no other distance would attract the same popular attention) and has now become an albatross around both his neck and (as die-hard track fans) ours. At the end of the day, reality is what matters. Hope is what we project; reality is what actual athletes actually do.

[palladium]

Re: Alistair Cragg

>Miler monkey: It's interesting that Kennedy actually DID run with the best in
>the world in his event, whereas, with Webb, it's merely our HOPE that he MIGHT
>do so... Reality vs. Dreams. Which is more powerful.....?

I guess I'd have to say dreams are more powerful. Don't forget, when Webb was making a ruckass, it was only a little while after the movies about Pre came out, and that track consciousness had enterred the American mind. Furthermore, Webb was on Leno (or was it Letterman?), which is also huge. Finally, everyone is right that Kennedy is awesome and world class - still, the "dreams" that kuha is alluding to are dreams of winning Olympic gold, not being ranked 4th in the world. We as runners have an amazing respect for that ranking, but the general public is not as impressed.

[hogitall]

Re: Alistair Cragg

sarunner wrote:
...definately think that Cragg has more natural talent than an army of mediocre runners put together, please don't get me wrong, but i just wonder what would've happened had he not been with coach MacDonnel? But that is a question that can never be answered, i just think it is good he ended up there.

Lets remember Gragg came from SMU where he was a good runner but not great. One year under coach MAC he runs 13:22. Major factors for such a big jump is the fact that is level of workouts went way up. His training partners were All-Americans and his expectations to preform went up. Examples like this are very common at Arkansas, and other high level programs for that matter.

When you train with guys daily that are driven to get better, plus you have a coach that DOESN'T accept anything but your best each day. Throw on top of that a program with tradition you get success. You also get alot of expectations placed on you and not everyone can handle that. Though a good coach will make that point up front to recruits. Without desire to succeed you won't!

hogitall

[Cyril]

Re: Alistair Cragg

On a world scale the 15 is a premier event more so that the 5/10(more popular for the general public).

Sorry this should have read -

On a world scale the 15 is a premier event (more popular for the general public) than the 5/10.

[Cyril]

Re: Alistair Cragg

Kuha-

Point well taken. I agree. The mile along with the 100 are "The EVENTS" for popularity in US track. That is why Nike is giving AW the big bucks.

On a world scale the 15 is a premier event more so that the 5/10 (more popular for the general public).

[kuha]

Re: Alistair Cragg

TJ: I agree with you (both times).

Re: Alistair Cragg

Bob K. was "never in the top echelon"...?? He was ranked 4th in in the world 1994 and 6th in 1996. Finished 6th in the Olympic Final in Atlanta. If that's not top echelon, then only a half-dozen athletes were.

[kuha]

Re: Alistair Cragg

Miler monkey: It's interesting that Kennedy actually DID run with the best in the world in his event, whereas, with Webb, it's merely our HOPE that he MIGHT do so... Reality vs. Dreams. Which is more powerful.....?

Re: Alistair Cragg

Bob K. was "never in the top echelon"...?? He was ranked 4th in in the world 1994 and 6th in 1996. Finished 6th in the Olympic Final in Atlanta. If that's not top echelon, then only a half-dozen athletes were.

[kuha]

Re: Alistair Cragg

Cyril: My point is simple. Webb got all the attention he did here in the US because he was a MILER. If he'd run the equivalent of 3:53 at ANY OTHER DISTANCE, he wouldn't have gotten a fraction of the popular (and I emphasize popular) attention that he did. This seems pretty self-evidently true to me. There is no other point (at present!) that I'm trying to make, so don't read any more than this into my original comment...

[miler monkey]

Re: Alistair Cragg

I think Webb got attention (and Jennings to some degree) because there was some hope (particularly with Webb) that they would ascend to become world beaters. People were excited that we'd have someone contending for gold.
I think Kennedy is absolutely brilliant, the greatest five and dimer we've had, but the fact is he was never truly in the top echelon in his events. And he's aging and perhaps past his peak -- which is another reason to give him all the credit for his recent achievements. It just doesn't compare to Webb's one-time perceived potential for being the best in the world -- and the soap opera of his trials and tribulations since then --

[Cyril]

15/ mile vs. 5/10

Kuha-

I think you're getting a little nit-picky. The 1500 is a big event all over the world. In most meets a focal point along with the 100.

Of course, superstars can change that a bit. Putting Geb into a 5 brings plenty of attention to the event. However, everything being equal the 15/mile is more interesting to the general public (in US or Europe). You have to have a bit more knowledge to appreciate a 12-1/2 or 25 lap race from start to finish.