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







