News Archive

America’s Alan Webb, national champion at the 1,500 m, showed in the

final of the World Championships that he might be an uprising star in

middle distance running. Though he finished only ninth with 3:41,04

minutes he made an impact. The 22 year-old former breaststroke swimmer

got attention already in the semi final. He ran away during the race an

finally finished second with 3:36,07 minutes just behind Rashid Ramzi

who ran 3:34,69.

It is your first World Championships’ final. How did it work out for you?

Alan Webb: “It was a nice experience to be here; I already

have been to the Olympic Games last year and didn’t reach the semi

finals. This time I swore myself that I will make the semi finals. That

was my biggest desire since I left my home in Michigan. That I did make

the final is great. The race was okay, though it was almost like the

semi final. Nobody wanted to set the pace and when I saw the 800 m

split of 2:03.78 I thought I need to kick-off. I thought the others

would be surprised by that and that I might get an advantage from it.

But the race was too slow before and so almost everybody was able to

speed up. It was all or nothing. I could have tried to get the second

or third place, but I wanted to get the gold.”

You are still young and these have been your first World Championships. What do you think you are capable of in the future?

Alan Webb: “I have two years to train hard and stay focused

for the next World Championships. I will stick with the 1,500 metres

since I see my strength there. I want to compete at the World

Championships in Osaka and the year after at the Olympic Games in

Beijing. I know that I am able to be in it for a medal. I will try it.

Now I will soon finish my season. I will run the 800 metres in Malmö

and the 1,500 in Zurich. I don’t know about plans for the indoor season

yet. So I can’t say anything about the World Indoor Championships.”

Marisa Reich