Webb coasts in 1,500

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Alan Webb’s winning time in the 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials won’t impress his rivals in Europe and Africa.

The move he put on to bury his domestic competition should.

“I was looking for the ’wow’ factor,” he said.

Webb’s victory in 3 minutes, 36.13 seconds was only 86th-fastest in the world this year and 3 seconds slower than his best of 3:32.73 set last month in Ostrava, Czech Republic. But the 55-second third lap — and especially the first 100 meters of that lap — was a world-class surge that brought a roar from the crowd and left his U.S. competitors in the dust.

“I guess I was a little surprised at how strong and decisive the move was,” runner-up Charlie Gruber said. “I’ve never had anyone move on me like that.”

At the finish line, Webb let out a scream that symbolized all he his been through in his journey from young phenom to overrated has-been and back again.

“I just persevered, and I kept on running,” he said. “Coming to the Olympic trials and doing as well as I did today just erases all of that. It just makes me that much stronger of a runner, stronger of a person to realize there’s always a tomorrow.”

Three years ago, Webb broke Jim Ryun’s 36-year-old high school mile record at the Prefontaine Classic and became an instant celebrity. Finally, America had a hope in that most prestigious of track events, a race long dominated by runners from Europe and Africa.

Then came a sour season at the University of Michigan, then a decision to leave college and return to Reston and his high school coach, Scott Raczko. But progress was slow. He was seventh at the 2003 U.S. indoor championships and 10th at the outdoor nationals. An appendectomy added to his problems.

But Webb competed through a strong cross country season and felt increasingly good through his winter training.

“I took that confidence and rolled with it,” Webb said.

The breakthrough came in a victory in the Home Depot Invitational, then his position was solidified with a victory over some of the world’s top runners in Ostrava. At this year’s Prefontaine, he ran the fastest mile by an American on U.S. soil, erasing a record Ryun set 37 years ago.

The trials marked the first time Webb had run through three rounds of the 1,500. In the semifinals, he finished second, and that convinced him he needed to move stronger and faster.

“I knew that once I made my move, that would be it, and it would be over,” Webb said. “With about 300 to go, I knew I’d broken them.”

Webb is getting more attention than ever in this Olympic year. Even on his way from the warmup track to Hornet Stadium yesterday, he paused to sign autographs.

With his prematurely receding hairline, quick smile and obvious wit and intelligence, his promise comes with a welcome dose of charisma for a sport counting on an emerging generation of stars to erase the stigma of a steroid scandal.

“He loves the fact that people are fans of him,” Raczko said. “Everybody he passes is very supportive. It’s neat. He likes that. He’s never once turned down an autograph request.”

But he’s not about to shoulder the burden that comes with being the great American hope. Asked whether he’s a medal contender, Webb wouldn’t take the bait.

“I’ve had pressure like that before. I’ve had big expectations on me ever since high school,” Webb said. “I love the media, and you guys gave me a lot of good press, but when it comes right down to it, you guys really don’t know what you’re talking about when you talk about Alan Webb.

“I know what I can and can’t do. Whatever you guys want to think, you can think.”

What does Alan Webb think?

“I think that the only way I’m going to find out is to go run my best at Athens. That’s all I can do.”