Matt Centrowitz and Steve Holman

Holman was a great time trialer but a terrible racer. Centro is pretty much the opposite.

Blowing Rock.Master wrote:

Holman was a great time trialer but a terrible racer. Centro is pretty much the opposite.

So true, an amazing talent. He fell into the category of "million dollar legs, two cent head."

He'd psyche out in almost any big race. It was sad to watch.

A Duck wrote:

Blowing Rock.Master wrote:

Holman was a great time trialer but a terrible racer. Centro is pretty much the opposite.

So true, an amazing talent. He fell into the category of "million dollar legs, two cent head."

He'd psyche out in almost any big race. It was sad to watch.

+1

I have such visceral memories of watching Holman bomb out at US Trials wondering why the heck he didn't simply go to the front and CRUSH competitors who couldn't come close to his PR.

far as I know---Matthew is Matt's son.

They introduce themselves that way. Matt has always used Matt and Matthew has always used Matthew.

The strange thing is that I think he's really a smart guy. I think he actually thought too much about what he was doing and suffered from "analysis paralysis".

Funny thing is that Matt Centrowitz actually coached Holman while the Enclave was active in DC in the mid-90s

That's funny. I call him Matt on campus.

I think some really smart guys can over think the simple act of racing and really screw themselves over. Look at Alan Webb he seems to be a smart guy but was never able to relax and perform to his abilities in championship races. Smart races and smart people are two very different things.

Fortunately for Centro he is arguable the smartest tactician in the sport. He consistently puts himself in position to beat people who are better than him on paper. If anyone makes a mistake in a championship Centro will capitalize on it. His future is bright and you can count on him being there when his opportunity comes.

Canova>God wrote:

I think some really smart guys can over think the simple act of racing and really screw themselves over. Look at Alan Webb he seems to be a smart guy but was never able to relax and perform to his abilities in championship races. Smart races and smart people are two very different things.

Fortunately for Centro he is arguable the smartest tactician in the sport. He consistently puts himself in position to beat people who are better than him on paper. If anyone makes a mistake in a championship Centro will capitalize on it. His future is bright and you can count on him being there when his opportunity comes.

Agreed but I don't like his chances at this year's WC 'cause I think the Kenyans led by Kiprop are ready to be smart and turn the final into a team time trial where you''re going to need to be in sub 3:30 shape to be a factor.

The Monaco Factor sustains!

I agree with this. I've watched CJr race a ton and every time I think (200m into the race) 'Centro has perfect position.... again'.

Someone else in this thread said he isn't a good time trialer which I can't agree or disagree with because I don't believe he's ever been in a true TT race. My opinion is if he were fit in a race like Monaco, we'd see a sub 3:30 out of him because his positioning and fitness would allow for it.

But holy Jeebus, the guy can race.

Blowing Rock.Master wrote:

The strange thing is that I think he's really a smart guy. I think he actually thought too much about what he was doing and suffered from "analysis paralysis".

One problem Holman had was an odd one in that he didn't seem to be able to adjust pace during a race. If the race started fast he'd run fast. If it started slow he'd run poorly.

Holman was still Olympian, National Champion & World Top 10.

He got his MBA at prestigious Wharton- where Donald Trump sent his kids & called the best business school in the world.

Now he's a Senior Executive for Vanguard, raking huge money.

Winner in every sense- running, career & otherwise.

ttc wrote:

Holman was still Olympian, National Champion & World Top 10.

He got his MBA at prestigious Wharton- where Donald Trump sent his kids & called the best business school in the world.

Now he's a Senior Executive for Vanguard, raking huge money.

Winner in every sense- running, career & otherwise.

The Donald Trump seal of approval: walking proof of the old adage a stopped clock is right twice a day

Gwol wrote:

That's funny. I call him Matt on campus.

Weird, cause I call them both "Matty" when I see them at the driving range.

Wharton is one of the top five American business schools with or without Trump's say-so.

Blowing Rock.Master wrote:

Holman was a great time trialer but a terrible racer. Centro is pretty much the opposite.

My first thought. There is no comparison between the two.

I knew Paul McMullen back when we were in college and I remember Paul used to always warm up in the opposite direction of Holman. That way, twice a lap, Paul would be able to stare Holman down. After a few laps,Holman couldn't look McMullen in the face. At that point, Paul knew he had them.

It's a bit too personal for me to talk about what might have been in an athlete's head, but the Holman record, whatever the cause, speaks for itself. I was one of the few fans in the Atlanta Olympic stadium for the last day of the Trials in 1996, and in the span of an hour, I saw the two most remarkable things I have ever seen in decades as a track and field fan. I saw Johnson's first 200 meter WR, a record he later broke in the Oly final; and I saw Holman, the preeminent American miler at the time, get passed by about half the field in the last 300 meters of the 1,500 final.