master mind wrote:
He ran the 5000/10000 at the trials because he thought he had a better chance at medalling instead of the stacked 1500m field. He then closed the 5000m trials in 52.82 and made it look easy. Centro closed in 50.62 after a slow race. Would this be the perfect race for the master tactician?
2011 USATF 1500m:
1 Matthew Centrowitz Oregon 3:47.63
2 Bernard Lagat Nike 3:47.96
3 Leonel Manzano Nike 3:48.16
4 Andrew Wheating Oregon TC Elite 3:48.19
5 William Leer Nike 3:48.20
6 David Torrence Nike 3:48.31
After this race, Lagat mostly gave up on the 1500. He doesn't like getting beat by Americans. I don't think he lined up with Centro again at 1500 or mile until 2015 Millrose. Lagat had shown very good form that season but Centro beat him easily. Centro's competition in that race was Willis, who also had no problem with Lagat.
So Lagat couldn't beat Centro in 2011 in a 3:47 race but he's going to beat him in 2016? No. And Lagat's not outkicking Makhloufi or Wills either. Big difference between 50 point and 52-53.
And, by the way, these are the official splits from Rio. Centro closed in 50.5. Makh and Wills the same No hundredths because the intermediate splits were only taken in tenths.
http://www.runmichigan.com/mynews/data/upimages/subfolders/results/atm015101_raceanalysis_2016_08_20_fa422345_4b53_492c_88e4_83ad0877c893.pdf