Centrowitz: Greatest American Middle Distance Championship Racer

"Strong words. Did he do something to you? Or are just being a prick?"

-personal experience, dude. Try being around him for more than 10 minutes. Then, come back and apologize.

Perspectivation wrote:

Marta L wrote:

If Centro is such a "master tactician" then how come he's never, ya know, actually WON an international race?

Keep studying English and work on critical thinking and deductive reasoning. One day it will become clear.

Classic letsrun response from someone who cannot answer a simple question

My answer is the same as my previous one: Because everyone is good. Kiprop is more talented and is better genetically. Even if Centro ran the perfect race, I'm not sure he wins. Silver medal is great. Heck, the world is great and to be the 2nd best is pretty darn good.

I find it odd this board doesn't believe in genetics and natural talent. The American theory of "if you just try hard, you'll win" is a myth. Everyone tries hard. Genetics plus good racing strategy wins. Why can't anyone beat Bolt? Genetics. Gatlin could juice till the cows come home, he's not beating Bolt in a big meet.

Poise

Old Ultra Guy wrote:

I agree, too. Although, if Jim Ryun had WCs, perhaps around his Olympic Silver would have been hanging some WC gold.

Now, with no major world champs next year, what does Centro do? ARs?

I can't remember, but Isn't there an indoor championship in 2014? then just running diamond league for the summer. not a bad life if you ask me.

Thanks to another old guy, like me, for bringing perspective. If you think American middle distance running began with the inagural WC meet, you are only going back thirty years, and there were plenty of outstanding American middle distance runners prior to that. Steve Scott had the mile AR at 3:47, although I agree he was overshadowed by the great Brits of that era. The fact that the OP asks this question speaks to Centro's stature; it's certainly not a ridiculous question at all, and Centro is still young. I'm very excited about his last three seasons and I wish him great continued success.

Pointing Out the Obvious wrote:

Real News wrote:

Steve Scott?

Scott had a long and illustrious career, but he was no championship racer.

Steve Scott made the US Olympic team in 1980 which did not compete in Moscow due to the boycott. His peak years were probably around 1981-1985 during which time he silver-medalled at the World Championship at Helsinki in 1983 and bombed at the LA Olympics in 1984. And Helsinki-1983 was the first ever World Championship of track & field. Further, the World Championships were held only every four years then, so to write that Scott was "no championship racer" could be misleading: to discount his Helsinki-1983 1500m silver medal while declaring him "no championship racer" IS misleading.

Middle Distance Analyst wrote:

He clearly deserves that accolade after this performance. Hopefully many more to come.

+1

The best reason to respect Matthew Centrowitz is that Asbel Kiprop respects Centrowitz. That's your gold standard.

Johnny Appleseed wrote:

The best reason to respect Matthew Centrowitz is that Asbel Kiprop respects Centrowitz. That's your gold standard.

^This

better video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8739iJ6QFdo

eurosport, far superior to the nbc video

unlike Alan Webb, Centro knows that an all out kick should start 300m out, not 700m out... :)

don't like him, he is like the anti-Pre, just races to not blow up and never truly goes for it.

It's not his fault these guys are running the way they are, he's just benefitting from it. He's in the right place at the right time with the right assests. It would not be wise for him to push the pace ...he got silver , the best he could've gotten realisticly ...he wasn't beating kip. What would anyone else have him do? He did the best he could possibly do.

Agreed that Centro runs intelligently and all of this Pre crap is garbage.

However, he is not the greatest American middle distance championship racer. That would be Lagat.

Greatest CURRENT US Mid-D Champ Racers:

1. Bernard Lagat

2. Jenny Simpson

3. Matt Centrowitz

Real News wrote:

Perspectivation wrote:

Keep studying English and work on critical thinking and deductive reasoning. One day it will become clear.

Classic letsrun response from someone who cannot answer a simple question

Ok I will spell it out in detail because you need it. Being a master tactician doesn't mean you win the race it means you run the race to the absolute best of your given skill set and ability. Kiprop has years of running much faster than centro and a 5 second PB over him. I'm quite certain others in this field have better pbs than centro but you know what he beat them again like he beat many of them in both of the last two intl championships.

He completely rises to the occasion, stays, smarty savvy and collected and delivers to his highest level when it counts the absolute most. That is the definition of a master tactitian for international championships.

Remove your emotion and it's as clear as black and white.

Shorter. Munich Gold. Montreal Silver. Munich 5th in 10K?

Best American distance runner ever!

Matt is a great runner, so are all others who made it to the finals. whats appalling is how some guys here who are clueless about running would bash the Ethiopians, Kenyans etc for getting 2,3,4 in the 10K and 5K but sing praises when our boys get walloped to 7th or 10th. Get me right, Matt is a great runner and i am a huge fan of Evan Jager

Johnny Appleseed wrote:

The best reason to respect Matthew Centrowitz is that Asbel Kiprop respects Centrowitz. That's your gold standard.

Why on earth would that be your gold standard?