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DyeStat Virginia
Alan Webb:
Running into History
by Ben Ackerly
(This article was adapted from a story that originally appeared in the Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Not just another number? - Wait 'til next year? - Top 10 HS Milers
On June 23, 1967, Marty Liquori became the third high school runner in U.S. history to run a mile in less than four minutes. At the time, no one thought a whole lot about it.
"It wasn't a big deal to anyone but me and my coach," said Liquori, who would go on to become one of the country's top middle-distance runners for much of the 1970s. "It was done in a race where Jim Ryun broke the world record, and in those days we thought high school kids would be doing it every year."
It hasn't happened since, and not until last June, when Alan Webb
broke Ryun's sophomore class record of 4:07.8 by almost a second, has
there been such expectation of it happening again. It's a heavy burden
for a 17-year-old, but Webb, a junior at South Lakes High 
School in
Reston, Virginia, is ready to carry the weight. (Pictured at right
after hearing his 1600 meter split of 3:59.9 announced at the Penn Relays
in April this year)
"It's a lot of pressure," Webb said, loosening up on the South Lakes track the day before the start of the Virginia Group AAA State Outdoor Track & Field Championships on June 9th and 10th in Richmond. "But I sort of thrive under pressure. It's kept me focused."
The buildup began in earnest heading into last month's Herbster Classic in Charlotte, North Carolina. There, in what was his first serious attempt at breaking the historic standard, Webb ran a personal-best 4:03.33, moving him to No. 10 on the all-time prep list, despite a sluggish start.
"The first half-lap was too slow," said Webb, who seems at ease despite all the recent exposure. "I tried to make up the time, but the rhythm was off. It just wasn't the right day."
Many think that day will come June 24th at the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix in Eugene, Oregon, where Webb currently is scheduled to run the Bowerman Mile. The field includes the current world leader in the 1,500-meter run (Hailu Mekonnen - 3:35.58, indoors), and Webb is the only athlete entered without a sub-four-minute mile to his credit.
Not just another number
Roger Bannister's barrier-breaking run in 1954 ranks among the greatest athletic achievements of the 20th century. Ten years later, on June, 6, 1964, Jim Ryun became the first U.S. high schooler to run under four minutes, and Tim Danielson (1966) and Liquori followed in quick succession. But since then, no prep miler really has come close.
"It's not just another number," said Liquori, who will be part of NBC's broadcast team for the Sydney Olympics. "It makes a big difference. The time is not that important in other races. And everything has to go right to run under four minutes.
"A lot of guys get eaten up by the pressure - even Jim Ryun," he added. " [Webb's] going to need a good coach to help him handle it."
Webb might be lucky in this respect, and Liquori went on to praise Raczko for the way he has brought his runner along. "He's not going to let other people dictate what he's doing," Liquori said.
Raczko has raced him sparingly, and he's resisted an increasing amount of pressure to do otherwise. Organizers of the Virginia state meet were prepared to alter the staging of the slightly shorter 1,600-meter run for a Webb mile attempt, and many were looking forward to a possible mile-shot at this weekend's Foot Locker Outdoor nationals in Raleigh. Instead, Webb opted for a heavier race load in Richmond, and a chance at the team title.
"It's not as taxing, mentally and physically," Webb said. "When you go into the race, you're not thinking, 'I want to do well for myself.' You're thinking, 'I want to do well for my team.' It's a mental break. And I like doing this for my team."
Such an attitude makes Raczko confident that Webb will bear up well under the scrutiny his mile runs invariably will bring.
"I try to make sure he doesn't get caught up in the hype," said the 28-year-old coach, "but I don't think he's the kind of person who could. His character - he has no ego. Just the way he is, just a normal high school kid. He's the first one out there cheering for his teammates."
Webb was on Saturday 6/10/2000, rushing to congratulate the South Lakes 3,200 relay after sophomore Richard Smith gave the Webb-less foursome a come-from-behind victory (7:49.85) with a 1:54.1 anchor leg. "I knew we could do it," Webb said, giving the individual splits before rejoining the celebration.
Webb would follow with an easy win in the 1,600, and, though the team title was by then out of reach, a second victory in the 800 seemed a foregone conclusion. But a number of tactical mistakes cost him, and on a sweltering afternoon at Richmond's Sports Backers Stadium, with the temperature near 100 degrees, Webb wrestled with the pack and did not free himself in time to catch Woodside's Curtis Parker (1:53.81 to 1:54.30).
"He got boxed in a couple of times, he didn't respond at the right times," Raczko said after the race. "I think he may have wanted to go out a little faster than that [58.0]� He can run 1:54, 1:55 on the tale end of workout."
Wait 'till next year?
Webb won't run more than a relay in Raleigh, and its not certain he'll race again at all before the fall cross country season. Raczko won't hesitate to pull the plug this month if he thinks Webb might fare better in the long run by taking the rest of the summer off. And while this may disappoint those eager for Webb to make history, one former world-class miler cautioned against letting Webb's possible place there get pushed too far ahead.
"There's no reason any burden of expectation should be placed on his shoulders," said USA Track & Field CEO Craig Masback, a 4:40 high-school miler who would go on to run under four minutes 30 times. "What I want him to do is have the chance to develop in a way that is best for him."
Discussing Webb prior to the Virginia state meet, Masback applauded Webb's decision to run for his team in Richmond, despite the implications of such an effort on his race choice in the Raleigh nationals.
"My concern is that he has the chance to do what he wants to do," said Masback, who was prepared to put a Webb mile this weekend on national television. He later added, "What I would hate to see is for him to receive a whiff of criticism because he does what any high schooler would want to do, which is to lead his team to a state title."
If Webb does run the mile at the Pre Classic, don't bet against him dropping under four minutes, and the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying mark of 3:58.14 is not out of reach. He has all the tools: endurance (two-time state cross country champion), speed (48.3 for 400-meters) and the will and desire so critical for success in the sport's most storied distance.
If he decides to wait, those tools will be with him next year. It will remain a big deal.
Top 10 high school milers in U.S. history:
1. Jim Ryun 3:55.3, June 27, 1965.*
2. Tim Danielson 3:59.4, June 11, 1966.
3. Marty Liquori 3:59.8, June 23, 1967.
4. Gerry Lindgren 4:01.5, August 13, 1964.
5. Sharif Karie 4:02.01, June 14, 1997.
6. Richard Kimball 4:02.4, May 25, 1974.
7. Matt Centrowitz 4:02.7, June 23, 1973.
8. Andy Powell 4:02.7, May 21, 1999.
9. Gabe Jennings 4:02.81, May 25, 1997.
10. Alan Webb** 4:03.33, May 20, 2000.
* -- Ryun ran 3:59.0 on June 6, 1964, becoming the first prep miler to break four minutes.
** -- Junior.
