In the Dark Ages For So Long, American Milers
Thankfully Enter New Era of World-Wide Webb

By Rich Gonzalez
Editor, DyeStatCal.com
      (July 21, 2007) -- Months before Steve Scott set the American mile record in 1982, Alan Webb had already been conceived. A quarter century later, America's miling hero was officially born.
      In what rang loudly as a resounding triumph for the inspired, the dream-struck and the most determined of today's young generation of American distance runners, Alan Webb broke the American mile record today, submarining Steve Scott's mark that had stood for 25 years. A much-too-long 25 years.
      Webb, the 24-year-old Virginia native who bypassed a collegiate running career (but still continued his studies) to turn professional, ripped off quarter-mile splits of 56.1-57.4-56.8-56.2 and officially clocked 3:46.91 in the hastily arranged Atletiek Vlaanderenmeet in Belgium, besting his previous personal record by two full seconds.
      Despite performing in front of a sparse crowd of less than a thousand on a remotely situated track in Belgium, Webb not only tore down the American standard, his clocking also was the fastest on the planet in six years and the eighth-fastest in history.
      With no wind and moderate temperatures amid a forest-enclosed oval, Alan took advantage of favorable climate conditions and a low-key setting to achieve history just when it seemed European meet directors were not biting.
      "I knew I had to do it at some point this year," said Webb. "This whole spring we were talking to different meets to see who wanted to put on a full mile. Nobody was really cooperating, so we said we'll just set up our own."
      With the fastest time on the globe this year at both the mile and the 1500 meters, Webb has galvanized ambitions heading into next month''s IAAF World Championships in Osaka. Further down the road, the ultimate goal is now being mentioned as well.   
      "World record - that's the next thing," he quickly conceded. "There's only one more record that I really want, and that's the world record. That may be more of a long-term goal, but it's been the goal my whole life. At this point, my short-term goal is Osaka and to become the best miler in the world, here and now. My next goal is to be the best miler in the world and win worlds."
     In an event dominated by the Africans, all this steady talk comes from a toothy and fun-spirited Webb who only started running competitively as a high school sophomore, but has flashed an amazing improvement curve under the tutelage of Scott Raczko, his coach at South Lakes HS who has remained his training mentor to this day. (note: only exception was when Webb attended the University of Michigan as a college frosh)
      As for the Webb's future outlook, perhaps his agent, former world-class miler Ray Flynn, summed up Alan's race best: "It means he's run faster than Sebastian Coe, faster than Steve Ovett, faster than Steve Scott. What else can you say? Alan's only 24 years old. There's a lot left in his career."

ALL-TIME WORLD LIST
  1.  3:43.13 Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 1999
  2.  3:43.40 Noah Ngeny Kenya Rome 1999
  3.  3:44.39 Noureddine Morceli Algeria 1993
  4.  3:46.32 Steve Cram Great Britain 1985
  5.  3:46.38 Daniel Komen Kenya 1997
  6.  3:46.70 Venuste Niyongabo Burundi 1997
  7.  3:46.76 Said Aouita Morocco 1987
  8.  3:46.91 Alan Webb U.S. 2007
  9.  3:47.28 Bernard Lagat Kenya (now U.S.) 2001
10.  3:47.33 Seb Coe Great Britain 1981
11.  3:47.65 Laban Rotich Kenya 1997
12.  3:47.69 Steve Scott U.S. 1982

American record holder Alan Webb's mile progression in his career
1999: High School sophomore -------- 4:06.94 (U.S. 10th grade record; #3 HSer in U.S. that year)
2000: High School junior --------------- 4:03.33 (#2 HSer in U.S. that year)
2001: High school senior --------------- 3:53.43 (U.S. high school record)
2002: Freshmen at U of Michigan ---- sub-3:57.8 mile equivalent over 1500m (3:41.46) [not coached by Raczko]
2003: Turns professional (Nike) ------ 3:58.84 (attends college classes at George Mason; returns under Raczko)
2004: Professional (Nike) -------------- 3:50.83 (Lifetime PR is set in winning Prefontaine Classic)
2005: Professional (Nike) -------------- 3:48.92 (Lifetime PR is set in placing 4th at Dream Mile in Oslo)
2006: Professional (Nike) -------------- 4:00.87 (27:34.72/10k; races off-distance in non-Olympics/World Ch. year)
2007: Professional (Nike) -------------- 3:46.91 (American record & #8 all-time; world 2007 leader at mile & 1500m)

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