Photo above: Alan Webb pushes the early pace with Bernard Lagat comfortably following.
Photo below: Shortly before the athletes report to the start line, an easy warm-up jog to loosen the legs.

The final meet of the 2007 Visa Championship Series, the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships serves as the Team USA selection competition for the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Osaka. The top three finishers in each event who have achieved the IAAF "A" standard make the team.

The AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships were held Thursday, June 21 through Sunday, June 24 in Indianapolis, IN. The men's 1500m final was one of the closing events and featured Reston resident Alan Webb, who has two previous 1500m national titles on his running resume (2004, 2005).

Alan Webb has long spoke about wanting to break Steve Scott's records, and he got one of them Sunday (6/24/7) in a thrilling Nike men's 1,500m race. Webb ran in the style that suits him best, taking the lead and pushing the pace. Webb towed the pack through quick splits of 57.56 for 400m and 1:56.23 for 800, when defending champion Bernard Lagat took the lead.

Webb and company stayed right with Lagat, however, with Said Ahmed, Chris Lukezic of Washington,DC and Leonel Manzano also tailing the leader. Lagat passed 1,200 in 2:53.8 as the race continued to escalate. Coming off the final curve, Lagat, Webb, Lukezic and Manzano all were in the running, and it came down to a final sprint.

As he did to win the Reebok Grand Prix, Webb displayed a sizzling kick in the last 30 meters to win in 3:34.82, breaking Steve Scott's meet record of 3:34.92 set in 1982 and winning his third career national title. The University of Texas' Manzano passed Lagat to place second in 3:35.29, with Lagat, who on Friday won the 5,000, placing third in 3:35.55. It was the fastest third-place time in USA Championship history.

Look for Alan Webb to compete in Europe against the best athletes on Friday evening, July 6 in Paris, France at the Golden League meet Gaz de France.

Update: Friday, July 6, 2007 Alan Webb pulled off an upset win over the French favorite Mehdi Baala. Alan ran a gutsy race (radio broadcasted live on the Web by iaaf.org) and sprinted into first place during the final 200m. He smashed his personal best time by clocking 3:30.54; Baala finished second in 3:31.01.

See Running Network coverage of the weekend with commentary by Larry Eder, and USATF press releases.

Men's 1500 Meter Run

  1 Alan Webb                    Nike                   3:34.82
  2 Leonel Manzano               Texas                  3:35.29
  3 Bernard Lagat                Nike                   3:35.55
  4 Christopher Lukezic          Reebok                 3:36.95
  5 Andrew McClary               unattached             3:39.81
  6 Said Ahmed                   Nike                   3:40.80
  7 Russell Brown                Stanford               3:41.80
  8 John Jefferson               Oregon TC              3:42.46
  9 Garrett Heath                Stanford               3:42.88
 10 William Leer                 unattached             3:44.20
 11 Rob Myers                    Reebok                 3:45.59
 12 Gabriel Jennings             Saucony                3:47.54

Talking to the Media
First photo: Bernard Lagat was a popular man with reporters after his third place finish in the 1500m. He had secured his second 5000m national title (13:30.73) on Friday night.

Second photo: Alan Webb in the media tent after his third national 1500m outdoor title, "Yay!."

Third photo: 1996 Olympic Men's Decathlon gold medalist Dan O'Brien added star power to the trackside announcing. NBC and ESPN2 broadcast the meet.

The Prelims Race
First photo: Like race cars fighting for position, Alan Webb (far left, in shades) was overtaken on the third lap. But he fought back to win his heat (3:39.33), followed by Gabe Jennings (red singlet, 3:39.59), Rob Myers (right, white singlet, 3:39.60), and Said Ahmed (far right, 3:39.78)

Second photo: A relaxed Alan Webb explained his mistake to media in the prelim heat, "I need to race more aggressively on Sunday."

Third photo: Coach Scott Raczko (right) has guided Alan Webb since Alan's student days at Reston South Lakes High School. Running USA Coach Terrance Mahon joined Raczko after Alan's victory.

Great Photos Will Be Available from Photo Run
Professional photographers, including Victor Sailer, took great shots at the meet. See the Web site www.photorun.net to order photos like the one below (of Alan Webb winning the 1500m).

See the USATF Championships Web site for complete results.