updated 5:54 p.m. ET July 21, 2007

BRASSCHAAT, Belgium - Alan Webb set the American record in the mile Saturday, running 3 minutes, 46.91 seconds at a sparsely attended meet.

Webb’s time, the fastest in the world this year, bested the 3:47.69 run by Steve Scott in Oslo, Norway, in 1982.

Two weeks ago at the Gaz de France meet outside Paris, Webb ran the 1,500 meters in 3:30.54, also a world best this year. He beat Bernard Lagat for the U.S. title in June and appears to be in top form heading into the world championships next month in Osaka, Japan.

“It’s just really been a tremendous year,” Webb said.

Webb was the eighth fastest to ever cover the distance. Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco owns the world record of 3:43.13.

Webb’s manager, Ray Flynn, estimated there were between 500 and 1,000 people at the Atletiek Vlaanderenmeet.

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