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DyeStat 2000 Outdoor
5/20/00 at University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Charlotte NC
DyeStat On-Site at the Herbster Classic
Conrad Haber's Report on the Boys Distance Races
There was a threat of rain, but nothing would stop the people from flocking to UNC-Charlotte, the site of the Herbster Track and Field Classic.
THE 800
The competitive field in the 800-meter race, although small, contained one of the premier athletes in the event, James Doaty of Kentucky.
Doaty (purple shorts) took the lead from the gun as he ran alone to a 52 second opening lap. Doaty was smooth coming down the straightaway on his first lap, making a sub 1:50 performance appear possible. Doaty however, felt the sting of his over zealous first lap as he dropped off pace with a 59 second closing lap. His total time of 1:51.29 was still one of the top times in the nation but well short of a 1:49 performance.
THE 3200
The 3200-meter turned out to be one of the more exciting races of the day.
The race began with a slight complication, as the starter had to re-load his pistol. The runners were left cold on the line for about 3 minutes while the official corrected the problem. This type of pause can sometimes cause a runner to lose focus, but for Nick Cowen it did not.
Nick Cowen (red) and Jeff Gosselin both led from the gun leaving the rest of the field well behind. Both Cowen and Gosselin cruised through the opening mile neck and neck in a time of 4:37. After about 6 laps, Cowen began to pull away. Gosselin could not respond to this surge as he started to slowly fade. His pain stricken face told the entire story - the 4:37 opening mile was too much.
Cowen breezed through the final laps as he recorded a 9:27.58 win.
THE MILE
How could you not have been intrigued with the circumstances?
You had Alan Webb
(right) trying to break the 4-minute barrier. You had Ricky Brookshire racing even though his prom was the same night. You had some of the best milers in the country looking to gun Webb down.
"Brookshire wants to win," stated his prom date, "I just hope we make it back in time."
The stage was set.
The most striking element of the meet was not the running of Webb or the Brookshire prom conflict. The atmosphere, one rarely experienced in
high school track and field, was electric.
Before the start of the mile you could just feel the energy. Flashbulbs were flashing. The crowd roared as the participants in the mile field were announced over the loud speaker. Photographers, video crews and reporters scrambled all over the track and infield.
The starting gun was raised.
A thunderous stomping noise began to emanate from the stands. Each successive stomp grew louder and louder. The crowd became an entity of its own. It breathed and fueled energy to everyone on the track. The runners were ready to go.
As the gun went off, the entire field went out to win. The crowd began to roar even louder. Flashbulbs fired off like lighting. The media scurried in frenzy.
Webb did not get out like he wanted to.
"That is the way it goes," said Webb's coach, "everyone wants to run first."
Webb had to contest with a pack of runners as he entered the first 200.
"He went out slow (31) with all the bumping," stated Webb's coach, "but Alan has been there before. He is used to that, if it happens."
Haas led through the first 200 but Webb made a strong move on the far corner. Webb would take the lead, a lead he would never
lose
.
Webb then began his pursuit for the sub 4-minute mile. The fans roared as Alan crossed his first half-mile in roughly 2:01.
"He ideally wants to go out in 1:59," said Webb's coach.
Despite the slow first half-mile, Webb began to charge for the 4-minute barrier. He came around the � mile mark in 3:03 with the crowds and media ablaze. This left some work for Alan but he tried to respond.
Webb began his final lap with a huge surge. The crowd exploded. The thunderous pounding of the stomping grew deafening. The media ran all over the track in excitement. Flashbulbs lit up the night sky.
Alan rounded the final corner to the soundtrack of the crowd. He sprinted towards the finishing tape only to finish shy of his sub 4-minute mile goal.
"It was a PR for Alan," stated Webb's coach, "he just had his toughest week of training last week, a high point of his career. It is hard to come back after a week like that. He did not train down for the meet."
Would a rabbit have helped in Webb's quest?
"I dunno - he is still getting used to going out hard," said Webb's coach. "he'll do it on his own."
So this leaves the question - if Alan can run a PR off a hard week, what can he do when he is peaked?
Seems the answer to that question might be answered later on in this track season.
"I am not sure what he will run in the VA state meet," stated Alan's coach, "we won't know till then."
The whole country will be watching.
