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American Morning

High School Runner Breaks Scholastic Mile Record

Aired May 29, 2001 - 10:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: This week in Oregon, a high school runner broke the scholastic record in the mile. Alan Webb is the new record holder. He is an 18-year-old senior from Reston, Virginia and he's with us now from New York City. Alan, good morning and congratulations.

ALAN WEBB, RECORD-HOLDER: Good morning. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing great. I'm going a little bit slower than you are these days. Let's look at these numbers here because I know you probably can't hear it too many times, three minutes, 53.43 seconds, breaking Jim Ryun's 36-year-old record by just about two seconds, which in the world of running might as well be two hours.

WEBB: Yeah, you can say that again.

KAGAN: You must be very pleased.

WEBB: I'm very happy with my performance. Actually, I didn't expect to run as fast as I did.

KAGAN: But you did go into this meet, the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, with this very goal of trying to break this record, didn't you?

WEBB: Yeah, it was, it's sort of been a goal all year. If there was ever a race where I could do it, this was the time to do it. There was tons of competition. The list goes on and on of the people that were in that race. I had a lot of fun and I'm glad I raced well.

KAGAN: We were watching as you crossed the finish line there. Did you realize right then that you had broken the old record?

WEBB: I knew I'd be pretty close. I didn't really know for sure until I looked up at the score board and I saw my time. But I knew I had it and El Guerrouj, the world record holder, gave me a hug and it was one of the coolest things I've ever experienced in my career thus far. He's a great guy and I had tons of fun this weekend.

KAGAN: Let's put some of this in perspective for folks who don't know the world of track and field so well. The Prefontaine Classic, this is not a high school meet down the street. You were going for the idea of playing tennis with somebody who is better than you. You were running with some of the best runners in the world and you didn't win this race, but you were trying to go with guys who were faster to pull you along.

WEBB: Yeah, that was sort of a concern going in. I didn't want to get too carried away with the pace early on. I didn't want to, you know, take too big of a bite too early on. So I played it conservative knowing that these guys are the top milers in the world and then -- but I felt great up until -- in the half way point and then with the three quarter mile mark. And I made a move and I started passing some of the guys that I look up to as a runner. And so I just rode with it and I did great. So I...

KAGAN: And you mentioned some of those guys, like El Guerrouj also to put it in perspective, this would be a like a guy who is great in high school basketball suddenly playing hoop with Michael Jordan. I mean these guys are your heroes.

WEBB: Yeah. It is extreme. I mean friends of mine in school are saying oh, you've got to get El Guerrouj's autograph and, you know, he's a guy that I look up to as a runner. So it was a great experience to run with him and I learned a lot this weekend.

KAGAN: El Guerrouj is Moroccan and most of the best distance runners in the world are not American and that's one of the reasons that this distance record of Jim Ryun's has lasted for 36 years. Why have you been attracted to running and why not go play some other sport?

WEBB: Well, I'm a competitive person and I got involved with swimming at a young age and I enjoy the competition aspect of it and I just, I love the sport. I mean I love the way things are done. I love the people in it and I'm so glad that I was fortunate and blessed enough to have as much success as I have. And it's taken me all across the country this year and hopefully in the years to come it'll take me across the world.

KAGAN: You say you've learned a lot just in this last meet. What's the biggest lesson you're going to take away from it?

WEBB: Don't be afraid to step up to the challenge. You know, I made a big jump in the level of my competition this weekend and I want to keep going, you know? I want to hopefully maybe in the years to come try to win some of those Grand Prix races which are just like the Prefontaine Classic. So I want to, I don't want to stop at this. I don't want to be satisfied with where I am now. I want to keep improving.

KAGAN: The high school record is great, but not enough. I know you have some other big meets coming up and the University of Michigan awaits in the fall.

WEBB: Yes.

KAGAN: Well, good luck with all of that. Don't burn out. They say that can happen with a young runner sometimes. Just...

WEBB: Oh, well, thanks. I'll try not to.

KAGAN: OK. Very good. Go Wolverines. You might get ready to say that.

WEBB: Go blue, all right.

KAGAN: OK. Alan Webb, congratulations once again and thanks for joining us.

WEBB: Thank you very much.

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