Photo above: Alan Webb (at right, crossing the finish line) ran harder than every man on Thursday, July 3, in the Men's 1500m prelim heats. But winning the prelim doesn't get an athlete on the Olympic team. Bernard Lagat (far left) eased through the prelim after running a semi-final heat of the 5000m on June 27, and winning the 5000m final on June 30.

Alan Webb in His Men's 1500m Semi-Final Heat on July 4
Alan Webb (wearing blue Nike singlet in photos), again, did all of the hard work during his semi- final heat. He lead almost from the start of the race until the final turn, when the field let go with their finishing kicks.

Alan Webb commented after the semi-final race that he had to react to Rob Myers move on the final lap. [Alan had been leading, so Rob Myers moved up from behind and passed him.] Alan felt afterwards that he should have been more aggressive [as several runners passed him with less than half a lap to go].

But Alan felt he was getting some of his confidence back [after a discouraging experience with longer distance road races in March and April, that delayed the start of his track season until June]. Explaining his fifth place finish, he had been caught "behind a wall of people."

Top photo: During the second turn of lap two, the big screen at Hayward Field flashed the action. Alan Webb was in front.

Second photo: On the back stretch of the bell (final) lap, Bernard Lagat cruised comfortably in third; Alan Webb (far left) continued to do the leadership work.

Third photo: Alan Webb (crossing the finish line in the inside lane) was passed by four men during the final 200m of the semi heat.

Chris Lukezic's 1500m Semi-Final Heat
Photo below: Chris Lukezic (left, white Reebok singlet) ran most of his semi-final heat in the back of the pack, showed a strong closing kick, crossed the finish line in fourth, and advanced to the final.

A Windy 1500m Final Shuts Out Alan Webb
Alan Webb placed fifth (3:41.62), and Chris Lukezic was tenth (3:43.26) in the Men's 1500m Final held on Sunday, July 6. The top three finishers in the race--Bernard Lagat, Leonel Manzano, and Lopez Lomong--will represent the United States at the Beijing Olympic Games. Alan had made three consecutive American team rosters (2004 Olympics, 2005 & 2007 World Outdoor Championships). Chris was a member of the 2005 World Championship team.

Nikeya Green's 1500m Prelim Heat on July 3
Nikeya Green (in brown, brief Reebok uniform) completed three rounds of competition in the Women's 800m (June 27, 28 & 30); Nikeya placed twelfth (2:07.05) in the 800m Final. But she wasn't ready to quit yet.

Nikeya returned to the track on Thursday, July 3 in the Women's 1500m prelims, placed eighth (4:22.95) in her heat, and did not advance.

Top photo: Nikeya (center) ran close to the leader, Carrie Tollefson, through the first lap; Nikeya consistently stayed near the front of the pack during the first three laps of the race.

Second photo: The women entered the turn during lap two with Nikeya (only her head & right shoulder visible in photo) on the outside of the pack near the front.

Third photo: With 400m to go, Nikeya (seen here near clock face) remained near the front.

Fourth photo: During the middle of the back stretch, Nikeya (center of photo) was third; five women kicked past her during the next 100m.

Women's 1500m Prelim Heat 3

  1 Lindsey Gallo                Reebok                 4:17.01Q
  2 Treniere Clement             Nike                   4:17.33Q
  3 Sarah Bowman                 Tennessee              4:17.48Q
  4 Carrie Tollefson             adidas                 4:17.68Q
  5 Emily Anderson               unattached             4:18.77Q
  6 Michelle Turner              Washington             4:18.79Q
  7 Dacia Barr                   Arkansas               4:19.51q
  8 Nikeya Green                 Reebok                 4:22.95
  9 Natalie Picchetti            Georgia                4:23.40
 10 Amanda Miller                Washington             4:24.45

Another Summer Road Trip
Alan Webb, Nikeya Green, Chris Lukezic, and Samia Akbar (5000m & 10,000m; Herndon, VA) will continue to race this summer on the European circuit. Scott Raczko, who began coaching at the high school level in northern Virginia, coaches Alan, Nikeya, and Samia; Chris is coached by Julie Henner of George Mason University.

A ferocious kick is required to survive the 1500m. These young, local athletes will continue their advanced studies on the fine art of track racing.

See a 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Photo Gallery of several distance races.

The U.S. Olympic Trials-Track & Field, a national championship meet conducted by United States Track & Field (USATF), was held from Friday, June 27 through Sunday, July 6 in Eugene, OR. See USATF's event Web site for complete results.

See Full Coverage of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field courtesy of the Running Network and American Track & Field magazine.