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Lead Stories: Thursday, August 28, 2008

Despite Bumpy Start, Webb Confident Prior to U.S. Olympic Trials

Posted June 25th, 2008 at 8:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

When Alan Webb finished 16th at the U.S. 8-K Championships last March, then stepped off the course with about 800m to go at the Carlsbad 5000 three weeks later, alarm bells went off amongst America’s track fans. A panic practically ensued when he withdrew from the mile at the Drake Relays a week after the Carlsbad race. Was Alan Webb in trouble in this all-important Olympic year?

Not according to Webb or his coach, Scott Raczko. With the opening of the U.S. Olympic Trials just two days away in Eugene, Ore., Webb feels he’s on target to perform at his best at the Trials and make his second Olympic team. For him, his season is just getting started.

“Basically, going back to last fall to now I’ve gotten a lot accomplished in the fall and winter,” said Webb in an interview on his cell phone. “I had a little hiccup around the 8-K and Carlsbad, but things have been going great since then.”
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Torres, Flanagan Victorious at Central Park Challenge

Posted March 15th, 2008 at 12:50 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

At the inaugural Central Park Challenge here today, which incorporated the U.S. Men’s 8-K Championship, Jorge Torres (Pictured) and Shalane Flanagan won their respective races convincingly. But the paths taken to their titles were completely different.

In the men’s race, all eyes were on U.S. mile record holder, Alan Webb, running in only his fourth professional road race and his first race of 2008. Webb was on the lead with Christian Hesch at the first mile (4:36), and was right behind Andrew Carlson at the two mile mark (9:05). Carlson began to push the pace in the third mile (13:37), but Webb and Christian Hesch surged through the 5-K mark (14:10) where primes were awarded for the top-3 men (Webb was first with Hesch just behind).
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Fast times take Webb, Robinson & Johnson to
U.S. Outdoor T&F Titles

Posted June 24th, 2007 at 7:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

The air was warm and definitely sticky, but that didn’t prevent Alysia Johnson, Khadevis Robinson and Alan Webb from posting fast times as they each won their respective events on the final day of the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the Michael A. Carroll Stadium at Indiana University-Purdue University.

Johnson, the University of California star who won the NCAA 800m title on June 9, needed to run nearly the same fast time here to beat back the challenges of Hazel Clark, three-time USA 800m champion, and Alice Schmidt, the 2006 USA indoor champion.
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DC Elite score two wins at U.S. Indoor Championships

Posted February 25th, 2007 at 10:23 PM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

They call themselves DC Elite and now they can also call themselves national champions.

Out of a small and informal training group based in Reston, Va., Nikeya Green and Alan Webb captured their first U.S. indoor titles putting a big smile on the face of DC Elite coach, Scott Raczko.

“It’s a great group of people,” said Raczko whose charges also includes Keira Carlstrom, who finished fifth in the women’s mile yesterday, and Samia Akbar, who focuses on longer distances and road running and did not compete in these championships.

Green, who finished last at the 2006 U.S. Indoor Championships in the 800m, won a kicker’s race which was led for the first three laps by Frances Santin of the Santa Monica Track Club. Green stayed tucked in the pack as they split 400m in 59.39; she was waiting for her moment to strike, remembering Raczko’s words to remain patient.
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