Alan Webb Leaves Salazar, Oregon Project

The American mile record holder is looking for a new coach.

Several sources reported earlier today that the American record holder in the mile, Alan Webb, has left the Nike Oregon Project training group and will no longer be coached by Alberto Salazar.

According to Doug Binder of TrackFocus, a representative from Nike released the following statement:

“We can confirm that Alan Webb has decided to make a change in coaches and training groups. He will pursue a group where he can train with more middle distance runners. We wish Alan all the best and continued success as one of the all-time great milers.”

Mark Floreani and Ryan Fenton of FloTrack first reported the news this afternoon after reading a Tweet from David Monti of Race Results Weekly, which read:

“We wish Alan Webb good luck in selecting his new coach. He will indeed be great again.”

Floreani confirmed the news with Webb’s agent, Ray Flynn, who said, “Alan wants to move toward a more middle-distance oriented coach and/or group.” Floreani went on to say that several sources there was no bad blood between Webb and Salazar and that Salazar was even willing to help Webb out in the future if he needed assistance.

Webb, who left his longtime coach Scott Raczko in August 2009 to move to Portland and be coached by Salazar, made a successful return to racing on the track last summer after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon in early 2010. This past November Webb won the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot in 13:36, beating Oregon Project teammate Galen Rupp by 3 seconds.  At the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix earlier this year in Boston, Webb finished a disappointing seventh in the mile, clocking 4:00.70 to finish nearly six seconds back of the winner, Russell Brown. In his last race under Salazar’s tutelage, Webb finished third in a loaded 1,500 meters in Australia, clocking 3:37.82 in early March.