Is it just me or is it sad that a college kid is the 1500 national champ?

Centro has always been close to or at prodigy status. He's been just below the surface as far as stardom. Rupp, Wheating, and Acosta took the attention away from him at Oregon. And of course he had injuries early. Really, his success last year coming off a serious foot injury should have been a sign that if and when he is healthy he's a force.

To answer the question. I fall in between. Wheating should have won this race. Heck, Wheating in the finals couldn't have even beaten the Wheating we saw in the heats. Thats disappointing. But Centro is the real deal. Although I suspect in a few years he will move up to the 5000M. Or maybe I'm just stereotyping the Centrowitz name.

But above all, at 3:48 pace we just don't know.

At the end of the day, I think the US wound up with the best three they could get for the World team considering Lagat could not do the 1500 at WC's.

Lomong is who you may want in Centro's place but he placed 7th.

Torrence- 6th

Leer isn't as good as Centro.

The post about the college record being 9 seconds slower than the WR is a little off becuase that doesn't include times run over the summer.

While in college, Lagat ran 3:30 and Abdi Bile ran 3:31 and won a World Championship.

Peter Rono won the Olympics in 1988.

How sad was it when these college kids were beating the best in the world.

Or maybe it's only sad when an American does well.

And Webb was the same age as Centro when he won his first US title.

When Lomong won last year's US meet in 3:50 there didn't seem to be complaints that the pace allowed an inferior runner to win.

asfdsadfdfafasf wrote:

I see that Centro has ALL the tools. he fears noone and is ICE.

Who's this Noone guy and what's his 1500 time?

You aren't really that ignorant are you?

Did you watch the games? I seriously doubt it.

i think its dumb when people talk about the USA meet say and how it just came down to who had the best kick.

The guys that are known to be the kickers didnt even win. Not saying he's gonna be able to bring his A game to the world championships. But on that day i feel he really was just the best man.

like if that had been a 3:32 race, he woulda ran 3:32 to win. Like he was just in better shape, so he won the race because he was ready to win.

he ran 3:36 two years ago, and very likely can do better than that now.

Besides a lot of oregon athletes have been known to do well when it matters. Or at least be able to run fast. So i feel the only thing seperating Centro from a low 3:30 PR, is just getting in that right race. (not saying he wont be on a decline in terms of racing, but he still on that level)