THE FRONTRUNNER : RYAN HALL

Thanks to young runners like Hall, American distance running is back on the map and bigger than ever.

By Sarah Lorge Butler
PUBLISHED 12/07/2007


With two exceptional debut performances in 2007, Ryan Hall has become the newest star in--if not the leader of--the American distance pack.

The 24-year-old from big Bear Lake, California, ran a 59:43 at the Houston Half-Marathon in January, smashing the 21-year-old American record by 72 seconds and averaging a 4:33 mile to break the elusive one-hour barrier. Only nine other athletes have covered the distance faster. Not bad for a first try.

Then at the London Marathon in April, Hall ran a 2:08:24, the fastest American marathon debut and the second-fastest American time ever.

"Ryan had an incredible year," says Craig Masback, CEO of USA Track & Field, the governing body of the sport. "With those performances, he went from a talented young runner with tremendous promise to one of the top contenders at any race."

Hall's times have done more than just bolster his own career. They've helped silence the critics who have long said that American distance runners can't compete against athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia. For Hall, who is deeply religious, pouring everything he has into his running isn't just a matter of national pride, it's the way he can best honor god. His London experience, especially, left him feeling like he has more to give.

"London made me hungry for another marathon," says Hall, now 25. "I want to tap out my potential and see how far I can push myself." We won't have to wait to see for ourselves--Hall will run the Olympic trials marathon in New York City November 3.

Source: http://www.runnersworld.com