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DyeStat 2000
Alan Webb Enters
Pre Classic Mile
Sub-4:00 Mile Attempt to come June 24
in Eugene OR against older runners
Press Release for the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix meet
Alan Webb of South Lakes HS (Reston, Va) has entered the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix mile field, set for Saturday, June 24th in Eugene, Oregon. Webb has run 4:03.33 this year, and will attempt to be the first American prep athlete in 33 years to run a sub-4-minute mile.
Webb, who is completing his junior year of high school, will compete in his State Championships this coming weekend and then run a relay at the National Scholastic meet the following weekend to prepare for the newly-named "Bowerman Mile" in the Pre Classic.
While Webb is sure to be a crowd favorite in the mile, there is certainly no dearth of top talent in the race. The man with the fastest 1500 time in the world this year, Hailu Mekonnen, leads the field, with his 3:35.58 indoor mark from this year equating to a mile in 3:52.8. Mekonnen is also the holder of the world best mark in the 2-mile, having run 8:09.66 to break the venerable record previously held Emiel Puttemans of Belgium. The European Champion at 3000 meters this year, Mark Carroll of Ireland, brings a 3:52.82 mile best to the race, and has one of the leading 1500 meter times in the world in 2000, 3:36.96 (= 3:54.8 mile). Jason Pyrah is the American leader in the mile this year, with a 3:56.91, and has already registered a victory at Hayward Field in the Twilight Mile in May. Fastest American lifetime in the field is Seneca Lassiter, whose best in the 1500 is equal to a mile in 3:50.9. Graham Hood of Canada has a 3:33.94 PR, equal to 3:51.55 John Kosgei of Kenya has run 3:54.7 for the mile. Hudson da Souza of Brazil won the Sao Paolo Grand Prix in May with a 3:36.34, equal to a 3:53.7 mile. Martin Keino of Kenya, who has a 3:52.33 PR for the mile. Sammy Langat of Kenya is the pacesetter, and has a mile PR of 3:56.8 and 800 PR of 1:43.26...and he's the rabbitt! A field of 17 is anticipated, with every one but one (Alan Webb) a sub-4 minute miler. Will we say the same after 1 p.m. pacific time on June 24th?
541-687-1016 fax preclassic.com
