Photo above by www.photorun.net: Alan Webb won the Men's 1500m (3:30.54) at the Meeting Gaz de France in Paris on July 6, his first victory in a Golden League event. As of September, Alan's time is the fastest 2007 1500m performance in the world.

Photo below by www.photorun.net: Alan Webb during the Men's 1500m qualifying race on June 22 at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Alan Webb (24) of Reston, VA won his third Men's 1500m outdoor title in record-setting fashion on Sunday, June 24 at the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis, IN. Six-time national champion Steve Scott ran his fastest 1500m championship race 25 years ago in a time of 3:34.92. This year's title race saw Webb and Bernard Lagat share the lead through three laps (splits of 57.56 at 400m, 1:56.23 at 800m, and 2:53.8 at 1200m), ensuring a fast pace rather than a tactical duel. On the bell lap, Lagat still led with Webb, Chris Lukezic, and Leonel Manzano chasing. The race was decided on the final straight when a confident Webb charged to the finish tape and theatrically displayed the thrill of his victory in 3:34.82. After missing the 2006 race due to injury, Alan Webb savored an emotional celebration. He also won 1500m titles in 2004 (3:36.13) and 2005 (3:41.97).

This year's final exam will be the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan. The USA squad for the men's 1500m will also include Leonel Manzano, a 22-year-old senior at the University of Texas, and 32-year-old Bernard Lagat. There will be two heats of the 1500m to survive (prelims on August 25, semi- finals on August 27) in order to qualify for the final on August 29. Alan has participated in two major championship events previously, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and the 2005 IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. In Greece, he experienced aggressive racing conditions competing with the world's best men and failed to advance beyond the first round of heats. In Finland, Alan mastered the tactics of qualifying for the finals. Alan made a bold move to the front halfway into the 1500m final but was overtaken by the field to finish ninth (3:41.04).

Alan Webb has dramatically improved his best times since the 2005 IAAF World Championships. His personal best times two years ago were 3:32.52 (1500m) and 3:48.92 (mile). This year he has lowered those marks to 3:30.54 (1500m) and 3:46.91 (mile, a new American Record). Mathematically, Webb heads to Japan with the speed necessary to improve the outcome of the finals. Excitement in the running community continues to grow with each new record performance; here is an athlete whose potential in high school has developed into the reality of a middle distance star.

Photo below by Drew: Alan Webb spoke with the media after his qualifying heat of the Men's 1500m on June 22, 2007 in Indianapolis, IN

2007: Several Wins in American Meets
This year Alan Webb had a full race schedule including the indoor track season; he raced in six of nine meets in the Visa Championship Series. On January 27, his first visit to the Reebok Boston Indoor Games produced a victory in the Men's Mile against a strong field of athletes. Alan lowered his indoor mile personal best to 3:55.18 while prevailing over an international group of four sub-4:00 finishers. Afterwards he noted, "I'm getting used to running fast and gaining confidence. I've been base training the last three years. Now I have the luxury to run fast indoors because of my strength. I'll be able to last all year on this base." Four weeks later, he won the Men's Mile (4:01.07) at the AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships held in Boston.

Alan won the Men's Invitational Mile in 3:51.71 at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa on April 28. His performance erased Steve Scott's 28-year-old meet record (3:55.26). Alan praised the loud, cheering spectators and amazing hospitality of the organizers. On his race, he remarked that that final lap hurt (like any hard effort) and he tried to stay as relaxed as possible. Alan expressed immense respect for American middle distance greats like Steve Scott, Marty Liquori, and Jim Ryun. He explained during a teleconference on April 12 that records that have remained unbroken for many years add greater meaning to the sport and bring increased attention to an athlete who sets a new standard. The achievements of great runners also help him focus on performing well, even in races where he opens a large gap over his competition.

During Alan Webb's senior year at Reston's South Lakes High School in 2001, he broke the USA high school boys' outdoor mile record with a scintillating run of 3:53.43; it landed him on the front page of the Washington Post, and he made appearances on several national talk show and morning news programs. During a teleconference call this year, Alan pointed to the role American media plays in growing the sport's popularity. When the public knows when to watch, such as during the Olympics, they will tune in. Professional events like NFL football and NASCAR racing have developed into routine viewing choices for millions of casual sports fans due to heavy marketing. USATF has gradually increased network television coverage and corporate sponsorship for the sport.

New York City has become an important venue for track and field that begins with the tradition of the Millrose Games in early February. Icahn Stadium, a $42 million facility financed by public and private funding, opened in April 2005 on Randall's Island in New York City and meets IAAF standards; the third annual Reebok Grand Prix Meet held on June 2 at Icahn Stadium hosted an international field of stars. After being humbled on a cold winter evening in the indoor Wannamaker Mile (4:04.86) by American Bernard Lagat (3:54.26) and Australian Craig Mottram (3:54.81), Alan the avenger won outdoors in the Men's Mile (3:52.94; Lagat in 3:53.88 and Mottram in 3:54.54) at the Reebok Grand Prix. USATF quoted Alan after the race on his winning kick, "I've been highly focused within each workout to finish strong."

Photo below by www.photorun.net: Alan Webb reaches the finish tape of the Mens' 1500m on Sunday, June 24 at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis, IN. Chris Lukezic of Washington, DC finished fourth and is visible behind Bernard Lagat (top right).

Europe in July: Personal Bests and an American Record
Several American distance athletes and coaches set up camp in Belgium during July and traveled to several continental venues for a sample of international talent. Some of Africa's best athletes joined the Europeans for a match of three continents at the races. Alan wasted little time in posting personal best (PB) times in Europe. His second place finish in the Men's 800m (1:45.80 pb) at the MAI-Galan Grand Prix Meet on Monday, July 2 in Malmo, Sweden was followed up in grand style on Friday, July 6 in Paris, France. Alan ran a gutsy race in the Golden League meet Gaz de France Men's 1500m race and pulled off an upset win (3:30.54 PB) over the French favorite Mehdi Baala (3:31.01). Bob Ramsak covered the meet for IAAF (www.iaaf.org) and quoted Alan, "I still have some work to do, and I can't rest on my laurels. I want to be on the medal stand in Osaka."

The competitive fire within Alan Webb sparked him to further achievements. On Saturday evening, July 21, at a track in a Belgian forest near Antwerp, Alan was paced to an American Record-setting 3:46.91 mile victory in a front of a tiny audience. This lightning effort put him ahead of Steve Scott's 3:47.69 Oslo mile on Norway's famous track in 1982. Among the cheering spectators were his American teammates; Deena Kastor blogged on her Web site, www.deenakastor.com, "His practices indicated he was ready to run fast and we didn't want to miss this potentially historic run. Alan ran beautifully . . . ." FloTrack.com also posted video coverage of the triumphant run for track enthusiasts back home; new media have become creators of new resources for the grass roots running community.

One week later, Alan provided more exciting action at the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden, Belgium (northwest of Maastricht). Ivo Hendrix wrote for IAAF of a stunning 800m duel between Canadian Gary Reed and Alan Webb, with Alan overtaking Reed in the final few meters of the race for another win and PB of 1:43.84.

Photo below by Drew, June 2007: Coach Scott Raczko (right) guided Alan Webb as a high school runner in Reston, VA. Alan returned to Raczko after a short collegiate career (2001-02) at the University of Michigan.

Continued Growth
USATF held a teleconference call with Alan Webb after he set the American Record in the Men's Mile. Alan explained the limited impact of the race on his titanic challenge at the IAAF World Championship in the Men's 1500m: "It's different when you've got other guys around you . . . It gives me confidence and tells me I'm moving in the right direction . . . ."
Ray Flynn www.flynnsports.com, Alan's agent, commented, "He's got a lot more in him. He can run [considerably] faster than he ran in Paris, and he can run faster than he ran [on July 21]. He was very impressive, very strong. Everybody who saw the race was impressed."

The influence of Alan Webb on the next generation of long distance athletes will continue to increase as his list of victories and stirring races grows longer. He is adding to the enjoyment of the local adult running community as he moves into the ranks of the world's best middle distance competitors, encouraging us all to improve our fitness. And Alan Webb's training group that includes Chris Lukezic (1500m), Samia Akbar (10K and marathon), and Nikeya Green (800m) in northern Virginia, coached by Scott Raczko, has expanded the geography of running excellence beyond Colorado, California, Oregon, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Updates on Alan Webb's achievements can be followed at USATF.org