Men's 1,500 Preview: Silas Kiplagat And Asbel Kiprop The Favorites, Do Not Discount Matt Centrowitz
By LetsRun.com
September 3, 2011
Daegu, South Korea
With 2011 world beater, Amine Laalou of Morocco, 2009 Champion Yusuf Kamel, and 2009 silver medallist Deresse Mekonnen not making the final, the Kenyan pair of Silas Kiplagat and Asbel Kiprop are definitely the favorites in Saturday's men's 1,500m final (7:15 am eastern Saturday).
Kiprop is the 2008 Olympic champion and one of the most precocious talents in the sport. Kiprop's Achilles heel has been running tactically unsound races. That has not been the case in Daegu so far, as he has stayed near the front. In a slow race, one needs to be near the front when the real racing starts.
Silas Kiplagat, the Kenyan champion and 2011 world leader, has been the top 1,500m runner so far this year. He is undefeated since the Prefontaine meet in June. Can he extend that streak one more race?
Believe it or not a Kenyan (Yusuf Kamel and Bernard Lagat were both Kenyan citizens at one time but won representing Bahrain and the US respectively) has never won the Worlds 1500m so that gives the rest of the field hope.
Heading into the Championships the next finalist to watch would be New Zealand's Nick Willis. The Kiwi was the 2008 Olympic silver medallist and in fine form heading into the championships after setting a PR. However in the semifinals, Willis seemed to run out of steam down the homestretch and only advanced to the final on time. Afterwards, he was taken off on a stretcher. The culprit - dehydration. Willis says he did not need an IV drip, and recovered from a similar incident at the 2002 World Juniors. Definitely something you don't want to happen two days before the final.
Centro's Chances
That brings us to American champion Matt Centrowitz Jr. Centro Jr has been incredible in tactical races in 2011. Undefeated, as a matter of fact. What will the final be? Tactical.
Those outside of America may want to discount Centrowitz's chances as he only has a 3:34.46 PR. Do not. He outkicked Bernard Lagat fairly easily to win the US Champs. Another gear may be needed to outkick Kiprop or Kiplagat, but that type of speed in tactical races puts him in medal contention. The fluid American also has a knack for running tactically sound races. If he pulls that off in the final, who knows what could happen. The final should be more physical than anything Centro has experienced before, so getting a smooth trip is the main concern.
Expect Mehdi Baala to be in the hunt. The Frenchman has great speed and a bronze in '08 and a silver in '03. He's now 33, but still a factor. Unless Father Time has caught up to him, he should be in the hunt.
After that, most people have some question marks. Abdalaati Iguider is the most accomplished with 2 Worlds finals to his credit and a world indoor silver. Tarek Boukensa is also a two-time finalist, but that was back in 2005 and 2007. Mohamed Moustaoui made the final in 2009. Mekonnen Gebremedhin did win in Oslo this year, but that was the "B" race, not the "Dream Mile." Ciaran O'Lionaird (great story - he didn't even score at the NCAA meet) and Manuel Olmedo both have similar PRs (3:34) that were set this year and are running as well as they ever have. That leaves Eduar Villanueva of Venezuela. The feel-good story of the meet, he didn't even have the "B" standard coming in, but is in the final.
On The Boards: Men's 1,500m Final
Previous:
LRC: 1,500 Semis: Matt Centrowitz Puts On A Clinic As He, Asbel Kiprop And Silas Kiplagat Cruise Into Finals TheAmerican champ ran like he belonged from the very start and won his heat in a race where he never left the rail and looked like a total veteran,not a 21-year-old rookie. Meanwhile, a few names like Amine Laalou, Deresse Mekonnen, Leo Manzano and Daniel Kipchirir Komen fell by the wayside. Former FSU product Ciaran O'Lionaird advanced easily as Nick Willis surprisingly struggled and sought medical treatment afterwards.
*Extereme Dehydration Hits Nick Willis He was carried off on a stretcher (great pic included).
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