Flashes of Panic

…we get an American distance runner who goes out and pops a big one in Europe, and we wonder if we’ve found the Next Great whatever. Nicole Teter, David Krummenacker, and Jen Toomey all had big wins; I think Teter and Krummenacker’s both came in 2002, an “off year.” Krummenacker won a world indoor 800m title, but not much else since he missed the Olympic team in ‘04. Teter and Toomey have been injury-ridden for several years now. But I still get excited when I see it happen.

This just in from Paris:

1500 Metres - Men                                             

1 Webb , Alan                      USA    3:30.54        
2 Baala , Mehdi                    FRA    3:31.01    
3 Boukensa , Tarek                 ALG    3:32.77         
4 Korir , Shadrack                 KEN    3:32.81   
5 Sullivan , Kevin                 CAN    3:34.16      
6 Simotwo , Suleiman Kipses        KEN    3:34.78         
7 Lagat , Bernard                  USA    3:35.09

Baala is the defending European champion, running on his home track. Lagat is Lagat. I had expected to see Daniel Kipchirchir Komen in there, but apparently not. Webb has now beaten Lagat three times this year; it’s probably fair to say he owns Bernard now. Also, with just two races, Webb is now fifth on the GP list for the year; the top four are all Kenyan and (excepting Augustine Choge in 3rd) have four or five races in the series.

Update: USATF notes that this is both a big PR for Webb, and the fastest time in the world this year.

Now Playing: Shake That Thing from In the Land of Salvation and Sin by The Georgia Satellites

Technorati Tags: Alan Webb, athletics, Bernard Lagat, grand prix, iaaf, paris, track and field