Many have tried and many have failed. But this Saturday, at the Herbster Classic in Charlotte, N.C., South Lakes High (Reston, Va.) junior Alan Webb will attempt to do the impossible at least for the past 33 years, by becoming only the fourth scholastic athlete to run a four-minute mile.

	Alan Webb of South Lakes High is looking to become only the fourth scholastic runner to ever run a sub-four-minute mile.

"Barring injury, I think it's inevitable," says Peter Henkes, meet director of the Foot Locker Midwest Regional Championships and a track coach of 29 years. "It may not happen at this meet (Herbster), but it will happen sooner or later. [Alan has] the best shot in awhile."

"It's certainly possible," adds Steve McChesney, a former national scholastic track record holder at South Eugene High (Ore.) and currently the track coach at Newton South High (Mass.). "He may only need the right day and the right situation."

The latest weather report out of Charlotte calls for showers Saturday. But if the rain holds off, the pressure will be on. Of course, pressure is nothing new to Webb, a four-time All-American (twice for indoor, once for outdoor and once for cross country). The media hype surrounding his run at history has sent the teen into seclusion. Both Webb and his coach, Scott Raczko, have been turning down virtually every interview request, including one for this story so they can focus on training for the Herbster Classic.

Considering Webb's list of accomplishments, the four-minute mile appears to be within his reach. The most telling sign came at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia April 28. Running the final leg (1,600-meters) of the distance medley relay, Webb ran a 3:59.9 split. Getting the baton with his team in 11th place, Webb rallied his South Lakes squad to a second-place finish.

Individually, the junior holds the best time in the mile in the nation this season. At the Taco Bell Invitational in South Carolina April 15, Webb ran a season-best 4:05.02. Last year, he set a national sophomore record by running the event in 4:06.94. Along with those accomplishments, Webb ran the top 800-meter time this year, as well. His time of 1:50.41 came at the Captains Classic in Virginia April 8.

To be sure, Webb is the only scholastic runner on the current track landscape that appears capable of making mile history. And if he can, the ripple effect would run deep throughout track and field circles.

"It certainly will draw a lot of attention to high school track," says Steve Vaitones, managing director for USA Track & Field New England. "It's just such a rare accomplishment for a high school athlete."

With this being an Olympic year, Webb's four-minute mile would create a media storm, which track and field always welcomes, considering it gets limited attention. Webb's historic run could also create a domino effect that would help the sport's participation rate.

"This would be a big boost," says McChesney. "If he can do it, then more kids will try to follow."

Jim Ryun, perhaps the greatest distance runner in scholastic history, ran the mile in 3:58.3 for Wichita East High (Kan.) in 1965, setting one of the longest-standing national high school records, according to the "National Federation of State High School Associations." Only two other high school athletes have run a four-minute mile since: Chula Vista High's (Calif.) Tim Danielson (3:59.4) in 1966 and Essex Catholic's (N.J.) Marty Liquori (3:59.5) in 1967.

But Vaitones cautions that breaking Ryun's national record will be a tough task. Perhaps even mission impossible.

"When you get to this level of running and that kind of performance, to take 1.7 seconds off your time is not easy at all," he says.

But whether or not Webb accomplishes his goal this Saturday, next week or next year, his high school sports legacy is already secured.

"He should be respected no matter what," says McChesney. "No one should take that away from him. This would just be another feather in his cap."