TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Thursday, August 28, 2008

Why you won’t see a world record in the upcoming World Championships or Olympics

Posted August 10th, 2007 at 3:53 PM by Jimson Lee

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, SoundOFF, Columns

When was the last time you saw a world record in a World Championship or Olympics Games in a middle distance or long distance event?

Sprinters take advantage of the Championship atmosphere, the multiple rounds, and faster tracks to set their world records.

You have to go back to Alberto Juantorena’s 1.43.50 800 meters at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. If you count Commonwealth Games, then Filbert Bayi’s 3.32.16 1500 meters in 1974 at Christchurch, NZ. (more on that race later)

Unfortunately, we can thank the rabbits for destroying that opportunity.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

Greatest Combined 800m/1500m Runners of All-Time?

Posted July 30th, 2007 at 2:52 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

With Alan Webb’s noteworthy 800m and 1500m times this season, I thought it’d be interesting to find out how he ranked on the all-time list of combined 800m/1500m times.

To be considered for inclusion on this list, a runner must have run both a sub-1:45 outdoor 800m and a sub-3:35 outdoor 1500m. I did an analysis and discovered that only 41 runners in history belong to this elite club, including Webb, who ranks 12th. Included in this club are 14 Kenyans, 5 Brits, 4 Americans, 3 Bahrainis, 3 Frenchmen and 2 Sudanese. Here they are, in order:

Rank. Name (Country) Combined 800m/1500m Time
1. Sebastian Coe (GBR) 5:11.50
2. Mehdi Baala (FRA) 5:12.13
3. Noureddine Morceli (ALG) 5:12.16
4. Steve Cram (GBR) 5:12.55
5. Noah Ngeny (KEN) 5:12.61
6. William Chirchir (KEN) 5:12.62
7. Rachid Ramzi (BRN) 5:13.19
8. Saïd Aouita (MAR) 5:13.32
9. Laban Rotich (KEN) 5:13.56
10. William Tanui (KEN) 5:13.88
11. Abdi Bile (SOM) 5:14.15
12. Alan Webb (USA) 5:14.38
Read the rest of this entry »

2 comments, add yours | Permalink

Alan Webb Breaks Steve Scott’s American Mile Record

Posted July 23rd, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Three-time U.S. 1,500m champion Alan Webb on Saturday broke the American record in the mile, clocking 3:46.91 at the Atletiek Vlaanderenmeet in Brasschaa, Belgium. The mark breaks the record of 3:47.69 set by National Track & Field Hall of Famer Steve Scott in 1982 and makes Webb the eighth-fastest man in history, behind Hicham El Guerrouj, Noah Ngeny, Noureddine Morceli, Steve Cram, Daniel Komen, Venuste Niyongabo and Said Aouita.

Webb’s agent, Ray Flynn, reports unofficial quarter-mile splits for Webb during the race as 56.1, 57.4, 56.8 and 56.2.

Held on a 6-lane track, Saturday’s race is part of a career-best year for Webb. In February, he won his first U.S. indoor title in the mile before going on a tear during the outdoor season. On April 28, he ran 3:51.71 to break Scott’s mile record at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. On June 24 in Indianapolis, he ran 3:34.82 in the 1,500 to break Scott’s meet record at the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships, where Webb won his third career national title.
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

Webb Breaks American Record in the Mile

Posted July 21st, 2007 at 5:18 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Alan Webb of Reston, Va., broke one of America’s most venerated sports records today when he scorched a 3:46.91 mile in a low-key meet in Brasschaat, Belgium tonight, breaking Steve Scott’s 25 year-old record of 3:47.69 set in Oslo in 1982.

“It was awesome,” said Webb by telephone just after setting the record. Then he joked, “I think I have the world record for the least number of spectators.”

His manager, Ray Flynn, estimated that there were between 500 and 1000 people at the track which is set in a forest, bordered by tall trees.

Running in windless and comfortably warm conditions, Webb knocked off approximate quarters of 56.1, 57.4, 56.8 and 56.2, according to Flynn.

“It’s just really been a tremendous year,” Webb continued, pointing out that he still has a long career in front of him. “I’m not done. I’m only 24.”
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink