The semmingly impregnable high school mile record by Jim Ryun of
3:55.3 set in 1965 looks to be in the realm of possibility, if not probablility,
after the performance on Thursday night by Alan Webb of South Lakes.
The Webbmaster, scheduled to run in the Prefontaine Classic featured
mile run in Eugene, Oregon on May 27, turned in what looks to be the most
masterful performance of his high school career after winning three
district titles in the space of one hour and twenty minutes at the Concorde
District Championships held at Thomas Jefferson High School.
Running in virtually calm conditions with temperatures hovering in
the comfortable mid-60\'s range, Webb won his first race of the evening, the
1,600 run, in an impressive time of 4:06.74. Even more impressive was the
fashion in which it was accomplished.
The lead pack of junior Richard Smith of South Lakes, senior Matt
Maline of Oakton, junior Phil Gaeta of Oakton and smooth striding sophomore
Rasheed Thompson from Herndon went through the first 800 meters in 2:06-2:07
with Webb trailing the pack by 50 meters.
Webb hit the 800 mark in 2:14, looked down at his watch; clicked it
and then took off. Webb caught the pack within 300 meters and then left the
pack behind, running 55 seconds on his third lap and 57 on his final lap for
an eye popping negative split of 2:14-1:52.
Smith of South Lakes, the 1,200 leadoff leg at the Penn Relays for
the Seahawks and sub 1:53 third leg carry at Penn for the winning 4x800
team, ran a personal best of 4:14.91 for second. Gaeta chopped nine seconds off
his personal best with his third place time of 4:17.41 with Maline, a
member of the U.S. Junior National Cross Country Team running 4:17.75 for fourth.
Thompson of Herndon subtracted thirteen seconds off his previous
personal best as he ran 4:17.79 for fifth as five runners ducked below 4:18 from
a district containing seven schools.
Webb then came back 45 minutes later and overtook his South Lakes
teammate Richard Smith on the homestretch in the 400 dash to win in a fairly
comfortable 49.29 with Smith also impressive in second at 49.49.
Thirty five minutes after the 400, Webb lined up for the 800 run and
turned in his fastest open two lapper ever as he led through the first 400 in
55 seconds and then went sub 55 on the second lap to win in 1:49.53. Smith
completed an outstanding triple of his own after grabbing second place
in 1:55.21 with Gaeta of Oakton third in 1:56.24.
Maline of Oakton capped a nice double with his win in the 3,200 run
at 9:25.50 and Gaeta split 49.2 in his third race of the evening as the
anchor of Oakton\'s 4x400 relay.
South Lakes coach Scott Raczko said, \"the plan in the 1,600 was to go
2:12 for the first 800 and 2:00 on the second 800, but Alan exceeded the
expectations on that. In the 800, the original plan was to just win in
about 1:55 but after Alan had looked so comfortable in the first two races it
was decided to go for it in the 800. Webb will have a light workout on
Monday and then should be ready for the Pre Classic with a lot of confidence.\"
Webb said, \"I\'m really happy about the 800. I had never broken 1:50
in an open race and that had been one of my goals this season.\"
In other top performances in district action from Virginia\'s Northern
Region, junior Keira Carlstrom of Oakton roared past Kelley Otstott of
Jefferson with 250 meters to go and her final lap of 68 seconds helped
to produce a winning time of 4:51.94 with Otstott second in 4:59.75.
Carlstrom then came back later in the evening to easily take the 3,200 run by
over twenty seconds in 11:17.25 while Otsott cruised to a win in the 800 run
in 2:13.34.