Another Webb thread

[MJD]

I must have missed this on another thread but here you go:

"Johnson also said that Alan Webb, who holds the best times at the carnival for 800- and 1,600-meter splits run in high school relays, is expected to participate Thursday night in the Olympic Development 5,000-meter run and in the mile on Saturday."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/8470904.htm?1c

[Jefferson Buffalo]

Re: Another Webb thread

Oh, joy! Just what we need. Another Webb thread.

Ugh.

(Hey, Bolt's running at Penn, too. I think you should start another . . . Oh, never mind.)

[EPelle]

Re: Another Webb thread

>Hey, Bolt's running at Penn, too. I think you should start another . . . Oh, never mind.

Hey, what about this:

Webb Bolts From Penn Competition, Wins Excellent Double!

Bolt Caught in Webb, Short Relay Team Loses to Team USA.

Now you have the best of both, and we can end this thread at #2.

[Jefferson Buffalo]

Re: Another Webb thread

Not so fast. You gotta get Gabe in there somehow.

[MJD]

Re: Another Webb thread

>Not so fast. You gotta get Gabe in there somehow.

Jon Gill too.

[Jon]

Re: Another Webb thread

OK, everyone's name has now been mentioned (and anyone else think this joke is getting a bit old...?).

Time for Ben to close this thread!

[15mph]

Re: Another Webb thread

The microscope is yet again on Alan Webb. Steve Scott said all these expectations on Webb to save US miling is doing little good. It is just turning Webb and his many fans into head cases.
I can see it now after this weekend. "Webb only ran a 3:59 mile what the heck is wrong, he is finished!"
Just look at Webb as another talented young runner trying to break into the world ranks. He could evolve into either the next Steve Scott or Jason Lunn. Time will tell......

I believe he will probably run under 3:37 this year.

[15mph]

Re: Another Webb thread

Alan Webb wins the Olympic Development 5k in 13:46, with a very fast last lap.

[EPelle]

Re: Another Webb thread

"Bolted" from the comp in the 5k in the truest sense of the word: 6-second victory over 2nd, and 21-second margin over 3rd.

[Cyril]

Re: Another Webb thread

Well, while the time isn't real impressive it is a good sign. He's apparently still fit and injury free. The question still remains, will the speed come back? I think (hope) it will. The mile may help shed more light, then again it is only April - no need be too concerned if its not there yet, but it would be nice to see the change-up of '01 over the final 300m.

[Dutra]

Re: Another Webb thread

>Well, while the time isn't real impressive it is a good sign. He's apparently
>still fit and injury free. The question still remains, will the speed come
>back? I think (hope) it will. The mile may help shed more light, then again it
>is only April - no need be too concerned if its not there yet, but it would be
>nice to see the change-up of '01 over the final 300m.>>

The 'speed' Webb showed in '01 showed up one time in open competition. That was in his 3:53 when he was picking off runners starting from the rear of the pack.

In every race going forward against athletes who were not HSers he has not shown this kind of acceleration. Even in his 3:38 at USATF in '01 he did not have the zip he showed at the Pre meet a couple of weeks prior to that.

I think we may be looking for something that really isn't there. At the very least it was an aberration to this point.

[Cyril]

Re: Another Webb thread

The 'speed' Webb showed in '01 showed up one time in open
>competition. That was in his 3:53 when he was picking off runners starting from
>the rear of the pack.

I think we may be looking for something that really isn't
>there. At the very least it was an aberration to this point.

Dutra-

Not to keep rehashing because only time will tell. But, an aberration in distance running is a bit silly. He either had it or he didn't. We saw him - he had it, now he's got to figure out how he did it. Will he figure it out? I think - hope -he will.

In h.s. he ran every solid xc, some very solid 8s, some great relays and followed his 3:53 with a nice 1500 at Nationals. It wasn't a "one race wonder". I saw him race at Arcadia and while it was a h.s. race in a relatively slow time it was the single best h.s. mile I've ever seen in person - he left Hall, the Jeffersons and everyone else looking like freshman wannabes - the kid could really roll.

Again, we will know much more a couple of months from now.

[jungle138]

Re: Another Webb thread

this is as strong as iv seen web since his 3:53.
but dont overlook paul mcmullen,krumm,lunn just ran 3:38.its going to be very interesting.

[Cyril]

Re: Another Webb thread

Yes, he would have been hard pressed to run 13:46 in '01. Remember that is just about what Ritz ran that year, and Ritz took A.W. apart in XC. So maybe he is stronger now than then. Does anyone have any info. as to what his finishing splits were?

But the question still remains - will he be fast enough to run a good mile? 13:46 is o.k. but its not 3:53 or 3:38 - different animals. Still it is promising. He's apparently strong and feeling good and this race should help.

Also, will he be in the mile today? Any confirmation?

[Dutra]

Re: Another Webb thread

In h.s. he ran every solid xc, some very solid 8s, some great relays
>and followed his 3:53 with a nice 1500 at Nationals. It wasn't a "one race
>wonder".>>

I never said he was a one race wonder. The kick he showed at Pre was a one time occurrance. He has not come down the straight like that since then - at least against open competition. That's where the abberation is. Now whether he can find it again is a different story. He runs all of his races like he expects it to be there and it hasn't shown up.