Racing Fans on the East Coast Will Have an Opportunity to See Alan Webb Race in New York City

Webb Runs His First Road Mile in September
America's star miler, Alan Webb, will run in the 2005 Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile Powered by "Four Minutes", an ESPN2 Film, on Saturday, September 24, it was announced by New York Road Runners on Thursday, August 18.

Webb joined New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg to make the special announcement via teleconference from Zurich, Switzerland, where he ran in the Weltklasse 1500 meters on Friday evening (August 19). Also on the call was veteran miler and the American record-holder for the distance, Steve Scott.

The Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile debuted in 1981 and is widely considered the world's most famous city mile road race. The list of past champions reads like a who's who of distance running, including Paula Radcliffe, Sydney Maree, John Walker, Steve Scott and Mary Slaney.

"Alan Webb is a major international force as a mile and 1500 meter runner," said Wittenberg. "As we bring back the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile to its old glory, I can't imagine a better athlete to lead the way."

"I can't wait to run in the footsteps of the great milers like Steve Scott, John Walker and Peter Elliott, and to get a chance to break the tape at the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile," said Webb. "I'm excited to see a great tradition come back, and I'm very motivated. It should be a great race."

Webb, 22, of Reston, Va., finished ninth in the 2005 IAAF World Championships 1500 meters on August 10 and posted an impressive 3:48.92 in the Bislett Games Dream Mile in Oslo, Norway, on July 29, becoming the 4th fastest American miler all-time. He represented the United States at the 2004 Olympics in Athens after winning the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials 1500 meters.

Joining Webb on the starting line will be Rui Silva of Portugal, the bronze medalist in the 1500 meters at the 2004 Olympics and the 2005 IAAF World Championships; and Craig Mottram of Australia, the bronze medalist in the 5000 meters at the recent World Championships. The women's field will be lead by two-time U.S. Olympian Shayne Culpepper of Louisville, Colo., 2004 U.S. Olympian Carrie Tollefson of St. Paul, Minn. and former NCAA All-American Amy Mortimer of West Roxbury, Mass.

In addition to the professional races, which start at 1:20pm for the women and 1:35pm for the men, there will be wheelchair and age-group races starting at 10:00am.

The Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile is presented this year by "Four Minutes", an ESPN Original Entertainment movie that tells the inspiring true story of Roger Bannister, who broke the four-minute barrier in the mile on May 6, 1954 - a feat that was previously considered insurmountable. Based on a screenplay by award-winning journalist, author and sports commentator Frank Deford, "Four Minutes" will premiere Thursday, October 6, at 7:00pm EDT on ESPN2, and stars Christopher Plummer as Coach Archie Mason and Jamie MachLachlan as Roger Bannister.

New York Road Runners
New York Road Runners, soon to celebrate its 50th anniversary, is dedicated to promoting the sport of distance running and enhancing health and fitness for all. Our road races and other fitness programs draw upwards of 300,000 runners annually, and together with our magazine and Web site support and promote professional and recreational running. A staff of 60, assisted by thousands of volunteers, stages the ING New York City Marathon, as well as a road race nearly every weekend plus many track and cross country events. NYRR's home base in New York, and its lifelong identification with Central Park, have given many of its events iconic status, attracting the world's top professional runners. For more information or to register for the run, see the Web site: www.nyrr.org

Alan Webb Checked In With American Media and Spoke of His Progress
Alan Webb finished second in his semi-final heat at the IAAF World Championships on August 8, www.photorun.net

During the teleconference on August 18: Steve Scott, current American record holder in the outdoor mile (3:47.69 in Oslo, Norway, 7/7/82), praised the progress made by Alan Webb during the past two seasons. "He is still very young, and making the final at the World Championships in 2005 is a great accomplishment. I admire his approach--Alan is not overracing."

Scott expressed great enthusiasm for the path Webb has followed, "Alan, I am proud of you. It's great to see an American in the top level of the mile game, and I am behind you every step of the way."

Alan Webb responded to this high praise, "I try not to think of it in such glorious terms. I want to keep it simple and work hard."

Steve Scott says he has been working with many young people at summer running camps this year and sees the inspiration Webb has provided to American youth. Alan Webb's results in Europe have proven that Americans have the ability to be competitive.

Alan Webb agreed about the possibilities and added, "It takes a generation of runners who believe that they can do it."

Webb has advanced as an athlete by setting realistic targets. For 2005, he has three goals and achieved two to date: he ran a personal best in the mile in the Bislett Games (Golden League meet), Oslo, Norway with a time of 3:48.92, and he made the finals of the 1500m at the IAAF World Championships on August 10. He also wants to run a personal best in the 1500m; he is entered in Friday's (August 26) Ivo Van Damme Memorial (Golden League) track meet in Brussels, Belgium.

"The goal is to be competitive in a stacked race like Zurich, and also, to run fast. I can't get wrapped up in breaking barriers; I approach racing in small steps of improvement," explained Webb in Switzerland during the teleconference. As long as he continues to move forward, he and coach Scott Raczko are confident that the progress continues. Last year, Webb easily won the 1500m American outdoor title but did not advance out of his Olympic 1500m qualifying heat.

The Zurich Weltklasse meet was held in rainy conditions on Friday, August 19, and Webb finished third in 3:33.40. This was his second Golden League track meet; the atmosphere in European venues differs from American meets due to higher attendance (20,000 is a typical crowd size) and a higher quality of competition. Consequently, there are increased expectations for performance levels that requires a runner to be mentally prepared. Webb says he is starting to get acclimated to the European race circuit but he still gets some jitters.

Each track race presents a different set of circumstances and Webb has learned to think on his feet. Without a clear favorite leading from the front, the early pace can be slow; the race then lags until one athlete, who is willing to jump to the front, sets a faster tempo. Webb played this role in the World Championship 1500m final, and although he didn't show the closing speed to win, he did attract the notice of many fans.