Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

Here's an ineteresting article I found in the Seattle Times from Blaine Newnham: When Jim Ryun first broke the world record in the mile in 1966,Walter Cronkite interrupted his nightly network show to share the news.Later that year, at age 19, Ryun was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the magazine's Sportsman of the Year.When Alan Webb finally broke Steve Scott's 25-year-old A
 
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I definitely think if Webb can win a gold next year that it will be a BIG boost for US track and field. While he hasn't gotten a ton of pub lately, think of how much attention he got when he broke Ryun's record….it was ridiculous. He's starting to fulfill that potential and an Olympic gold (I'm not sure if silver or bronze would be enough) would get the American media interested in track again.

As stated in the article, I think that if we get better at track and field, that will help with popularity.  I also think that the steroid controversy plays a big role in that as well.

It's funny about the steroid thing given our overlooking of obvious and perhaps more rampant PED abuse amongst our major sports heroes.

I do think that the mile is a special event though that could lead to a lot more pub than say the 400m. It is a distance event that has general public appeal that people can relate to (easier to market to the masses, sell shoes to, etc.).

It's also a race that you can actually watch for a decent amount of time and see some jockeying…

Winnesota - 05 August 2007 10:32 AM

It's also a race that you can actually watch for a decent amount of time and see some jockeying…

Alex Trebeck: 4 minutes.

Answer: What is the attention span of the American public.

Ryun set the WORLD record. When you tell someone that Webb set the american record they ask what the world record is. Big difference…

Richard_703 - 06 August 2007 07:17 AM

Ryun set the WORLD record. When you tell someone that Webb set the american record they ask what the world record is. Big difference…

Agreed….but he is getting very close with many good years ahead.

I don't normally get excited about American distance / middle distance runners but Webb has earned at least a little excitement in my eyes.