 |
DyeStat 2000 Outdoor
5/20/00 at University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Charlotte NC
DyeStat On-Site at the Herbster Classic
Webb 4:03.33
Brookshire 4:08.41
South Lakes Reston VA jr Alan Webb, fastest US high school miler in 33 years, did not break 4 minutes, but he got a PR and thrilled a big crowd in an electric atmosphere Saturday night at UNC Charlotte in the Herbster Classic's Nike Golden Mile.
The big field of 14 runners caused a mild traffic jam on the first turn and Webb was caught in the middle. He came out of the turn shoulder to shoulder with Ricky Brookshire, but behind Stephen Haas. Webb ran down Haas on the far turn and took the lead for good.
From then on it was Webb against the clock, and he turned laps of 60.5 - 61.3 - 62.7 - 58.8 for an official time of 4:03.33. Brookshire dropped back to fourth but rallied to get second in 4:08.41. Winchester VA soph Bobby Lockhart was third in 4:10.32. Then came Delray Beach FL jr John Jefferson 4:10.66, Fairfield Prep CT sr Brian McGovern 4:14.95, South Carolina sr Derrick Wyatt 4:16.09, Sean Jefferson 4:16.67, N. Mecklenburg NC jr Stephen Haas 4:18.18, and Atlanta GA soph Joe Thorne 4:18.23.
Even though he delayed to another day the magic 4 minute mark, Webb's time was a personal record for four laps, beating his 4:03.42 for 1600 meters on April 15 at the Taco Bell Classic in South Carolina. (The mile is 9 meters longer, or about 1.6 seconds difference.)
After the race, Webb's coach Scott Raczko told reporters that Webb was actually "training through" this race. Webb had his toughest training week ever last week, not conducive to a peak time. Raczko also commented on the big field. "Fourteen is a lot of runners for the mile and you have to expect some bumping and jostling."
Asked if a rabbit would have helped, Raczko said no. Webb is not used to going out fast, he said, although his target first half is 1:59 in an ideal 4 minute mile pace.
Before the race:
- Alan Webb's shirt says: "Virginia - Webb"
- Wendy Phipps, Ricky Brookshire's prom date, showed up with two girl friends, all in prom dresses. After the race, Wendy brought Ricky's tuxedo to him on the track.
Other Races
It wasn't all Alan and Ricky. Earlier, national 800 meter champion James Doaty warmed up the crowd with a blistering 1:51.29 victory. Doaty blew away the competition with a 52 second lap and cruised home in 59. Other good marks:
- Ayesha Boyd 12.09 and 24.28
- 3 girls inside of one second in the 800 meters: Samantha Murillo 2:17.36, Ashley Caldwell 2:17.50, April Eaves 2:17.70
- Carrie Joyce won the girls mile in 5:00.25
- Latasha Pharr 14.65
- Rhonda White 40-9.5 triple jump (Pharr 39-4.5)
- Kamesha Whitmore 18-10
- Larry Griffen 10.57
- Duan Barrino 21.52
On-site coverage by Derek Dye and Conrad Haber
