Centro: lane 3 is tough way to do it, watch out for the lane 4 hurdle!

Centro ran most of the last bend in lane 2, which he had to do as he was passing people. Coming towards the end of the turn, another athlete moved out in front of him, and Centro was forced into lane 3 to avoid collision. From that point on, it was all straightaway, so staying in lane 3 was the shortest distance to the finish line. At least, that's how it looked on my computer ! His tactical sense continues to amaze me, he just needs a little more in his final gear, and he will be very tough to beat in the future.

Yea, it didn't help that Kiprop stepped on the brakes on the turn so Centro had to run outside of him. I thought Centro was going to slip in there for the win until he had to run around Kiprop.

crazy person wrote:

Yea, it didn't help that Kiprop stepped on the brakes on the turn so Centro had to run outside of him. I thought Centro was going to slip in there for the win until he had to run around Kiprop.

He sure did - it looked like his injury must've flared up, he pulled up so sharply.

wtfunny wrote:

crazy person wrote:

Yea, it didn't help that Kiprop stepped on the brakes on the turn so Centro had to run outside of him. I thought Centro was going to slip in there for the win until he had to run around Kiprop.

He sure did - it looked like his injury must've flared up, he pulled up so sharply.

Although Kiplagat looked like nobody was going to beat him today. I could see Centro at best for second.

only 3:32 and back in 4th place

I agree concerning Centro's impressive tactical skills. I admit I was completely wrong about Centro: a year ago, I thought his bronze medal at the WC meet might have been a fluke. He has proven otherwise, not only with his fine Olympic performance but with a series of performances at the highest level since then. I am very excited about his future. Go Centro ! l

alejandro wrote:

Centro ran most of the last bend in lane 2, which he had to do as he was passing people. Coming towards the end of the turn, another athlete moved out in front of him, and Centro was forced into lane 3 to avoid collision. From that point on, it was all straightaway, so staying in lane 3 was the shortest distance to the finish line. At least, that's how it looked on my computer ! His tactical sense continues to amaze me, he just needs a little more in his final gear, and he will be very tough to beat in the future.

Tactically, that wasn't a strong race. Going out to lane 3 was due to too many ppl ahead of him. They're not going to stay single-file.

His final gear was as good or better than anyone's in that race. But his tactics left him with too much ground. His physical capability has been better than his tactics for a little while. He DEF shouldn't be finishing worst than 3rd or 4th in these races. And given Manzano beat him in both championship races, he's the better tactician.

When Centro passes someone, then he's "exhibiting great tactics". If lane 1's open & he goes to it, then he's a "genius". When he finishes 4th in a race that he could've won or finished 2nd, then it's exemplifying great tactics.

Centro was good enough for Silver & to finish 1st or 2nd in these GP races. But his tactics leave him out of position down the final straight, where it counts. Physically, he has it.

I'm very excited to see what Salazar does with him. Alberto claims that Galen and Mo are are doing better speedwork then Centro is, and Centro is already a 3:31 guy. If Alberto builds him up slowly, he could really be a continuos gold medal threat. He's already proving to be among the best in the world and very few American men show the level of consistency that Centro does on the on the global scene. He's got a bright future, no doubt.

Wasn't Centro out in lane 4 in Zurich. Swinging wide out of the turn seems to be what he likes to do in these DL races where he can't lead on the last lap.

Centro is running great, but he has been falling off the pace between 1050 and 1250 and then recovering for a strong finish-- which is understandable b/c it is arguably the hardest part of these races. He has to balance the risk of throwing in a burst of speed to cover the moves made at the bell (and risk what happened to almost everyone in the Olympic final -- rigging up trying to cover a 12.6 back stretch) v. saving the burst for the final 200 so he can run hard through the line and risk losing good position.

he is running so well right now. It has been great to watch him consistently perform at the highest level - I'm sure with more experience in these fast races he'll continue to hone his tactics and learn the types of bursts his body can handle in the final 500.

Good post. I think physically, he's arguably world #2. He could run these races in any tactical way, & long as he's not opening in :52, he's physically good to finish no worse than 4th or 5th. We'll know his tactics are there, when he finishes at least top 2, while having the winner very close to him with 100m left (if he's not the winner).

I don't think he is 1st place caliber physically or Tactically just yet. People are giving him more credit than they should, his genius tactics aren't going to help him against other tactically sound runners like Kiprop or any other group of high caliber 1500 guys.

Physically he is good enough for second or third, 4th is pretty good, sliding out to lane 3 isn't going to lop off the 2-3 second difference between 4th and 1st.

Why the frack are hurdles set up? I hate this, even in HS. My gosh it takes 5 min to set them up. But ins treat you put them out to lane 4 and wait 20 min for the next event.

Sorry, it's a pet peeve of mine. Like a 4 min distance race is such an inconvience.

Since when is Kiprop "Tactically sound"???

ryan foreman wrote:

Wasn't Centro out in lane 4 in Zurich. Swinging wide out of the turn seems to be what he likes to do in these DL races where he can't lead on the last lap.

It was Lausanne. That's why I started the thread. He has run a little extra distance in lane 3 on the last turn in both races, both times coming up fractions short of better places (Lausanne: Kiplagat 1st 3:31.78, Gebremedhim 2nd 3:31.86, Centro 3rd 3:31.96 PB).

ryan foreman wrote:

Wasn't Centro out in lane 4 in Zurich. Swinging wide out of the turn seems to be what he likes to do in these DL races where he can't lead on the last lap.

When Dave Wottle did this in Munich 1972 everybody called him a genius.

Centro Jr. is running fine.

> Did you know there were more white slaves than black slaves in early Colonial America?

Big deal. That was 300 years ago. Today in 2012 there are more Muslim Semitic political prisoners incarcerated in jails and prisons in U.S. Occupied Palestine than there are foreign ethnic Eastern European Jewish occupiers impersonating Ancient Israelis and Ancient Hebrews.

So can we put to rest this "Centro is a great tactician" b/s?

The kid is a beautiful runner but if he ever wants to run to his real potential (time wise) he has to stop running like a moron out in lanes 3-4