From
the Rage Archives
Truth
is found through devotion,
and intensity is the only true measure of devotion.
Pre
Classic Mile Gets Even More Interesting in 2004
Alan
Webb. Meet Galen Rupp.
You
can bet the comparisons will be made at the 2004 Prefontaine
Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
No.
This kid isn’t going to break Webb’s national prep record, previously
held by Jim Ryan for about forty years, or so.
But
I’ll bet he breaks 4:00 minutes…and maybe even 3:58...not bad
for a kid just out of high school. He’s certainly capable.
On May
29, Rupp, a senior from Central Catholic High School, won the
Oregon 3000 meter boys prep 4A title in 8:22, which was even
more impressive by the fact that he ran the last 1000 meters
as if he were saving himself for the 1500 final the next day,
which he also won in a state meet record time of 3:49. Rupp
also ran a national prep best at 3:45 earlier this year.
For
the 3000 final, I was standing about 20 feet from his coach,
Alberto Salazar on the north end of the track trying to make
out what Salazar was yelling as Rupp looked over at his coach
with each lap. What was amazing was how easy he made 8:22 look,
and how much time he left on the track over the last two and
a half laps, which had some folks wondering what might have
been. When Steve Prefontaine holds the record at 8:08 and a
17 year-old phenom is being screamed at by a University of Oregon
legend, it doesn’t get much better than that, folks. What more
could you ask for?
Some
left the track unsatisfied that he didn’t empty the tank chasing
Pre’s record. Even Stuart Eagon, the runner up, apologized to
fans for not pushing the pace earlier. He ran 8:28. I don’t
think either athlete needs to apologize to anyone. I was impressed
by both of them. Anyone wonder what it must be like to be mentioned
in the same breath as Steve Prefontaine? Especially when you’re
17? Yeah, he looked around too much and could have at least
waited until the finish like Pre always did, staring across
the track as if disgusted he wasn’t already there by now and
looking back over his shoulder only after he had immediately
crossed the finish line…only to confirm how far he had beaten
his nearest pursuer.
Salazar
will teach him killer instincts later. Right now, Rupp is a
17 year-old double state champion by listening to his coach.
He said after the 1500 that it was the most rested he had felt
all season. My guess is Salazar had a lot to do with putting
him in that position. Sounds like he listened to his coach and
executed the plan perfectly.
Pre
would have wanted one thing above anything else: To win.
And
boy, did he ever.
So did
Galen Rupp.
And
so will Galen Rupp.
And
that’s The Truth. - 6/4/04
