Centro Jr. is a Tactical Mastermind

Agreed. The guy clearly knows how to race -- which is crucial in an event like the 1500m.

crazy person wrote:

The guy knows how to position himself and win the race better or qualify for the next round as good as anybody. I especially was impressed how he ran that entire race from lane one and managed to not get boxed in. That was impressive. He responded to moves and forced people to pass him on the curves, which they seemed unenthusiastic to do. Great strategy.

His race from the heats had great strategy. His USA champs race had great strategy. His NCAA champs race had great strategy. Monaco was a bit of crapshoot, but that's what happens when 20 people are piled into a 1500. He might not be the fastest, but he races the smartest.

He certainly ran well. I don't know if a sample size of one is enough to call him a "mastermind."

Over-reacting a bit, maybe? wrote:

He certainly ran well. I don't know if a sample size of one is enough to call him a "mastermind."

What sample we talking about? # of runners or # of great Centro races? Because I gave 4 races.

Tactical mastermind.

It doesn't hurt that he is cute as a button and much more marketable than Leo or Wheating and I am actually str8.

crazy person wrote:

What sample we talking about? # of runners or # of great Centro races? Because I gave 4 races.

Tactical mastermind.

I was ignoring races that are not in international championships.

He lead early, got boxed. People left lane one open for some reason and he just accelerated. Then the last lap he lead from wire to wire. Yeah he's a real man of genius. He was smart enough not to decelerate, fall back, go to the outside and try to pass rather than just accelerating in his open lane.

He did run on the rail though which most people cant figure out is a good idea.

I liked the way he gave one of the runners a polite yet forceful push to make a path on the inside. And all while he is doing it he remains totally focused.

He'll probably get destroyed in the final from the sheer talent of all the runners he will be facing there. But there is no questioning his maturity and smarts in running a race.

The "sheer talent" of the final is somewhat diminished with the defending medalists all out, and 3:29 guys like Laalou and Komen out. That helps Mr. Centrowitz.

Yea, maybe I over exaggerated. But the man maintains composure when things get hairy in the 1500.

crazy person wrote:

Yea, maybe I over exaggerated. But the man maintains composure when things get hairy in the 1500.

Eh, your accolades are sound. Laalou and Kemal were both in his heat and didn't qualify, so he outfoxed a World Champion and a 3:29 guy who dominated the DL 1500 in Paris.

I can never quite figure out if a guy like Centro is a mastermind or so many other runners are just idiots. Maybe a combination of both. Mastermind is a little overboard. But for his age he shows a hell of a lot of maturity. Lets put it this way. Wheating beat Centro in Paris, but Centro is US champion and now the only American in the WC finals. You do the math.

sundae run wrote:

He lead early, got boxed. People left lane one open for some reason and he just accelerated. Then the last lap he lead from wire to wire. Yeah he's a real man of genius. He was smart enough not to decelerate, fall back, go to the outside and try to pass rather than just accelerating in his open lane.

He did run on the rail though which most people cant figure out is a good idea.

Bumping my own thread after that bronze. What makes him a mastermind is he maintains composure why the rest of the jokers freak out. Then he kicks hard for home.