Men's US Olympic 1500m team 2012

Manzano

Centro

Wheating

Like I said

3:35.75

Bayer

Andrews

Torrence

toro wrote:

Let me take a crack at this and see how wrong I wind up being after talking about it for three months.

Manzano 3:36.50 or 3:46. no idea what the first 800 will be

Centrowitz

Wheating

Torrence

Andrews

Leer

See

Batty

McNamara

Bayer

Miller

Mickowski

3:46 seems more likely. McNamara is someone who may lead the first 800 in a decent pace.

Results:

1 Leo Manzano 3:35.75

2 Matthew Centrowitz 3:35.84

3 Andrew Wheating 3:36.68

4 Andrew Bayer 3:37.24

5 Robby Andrews 3:37.45

6 David Torrence 3:37.70

7 Jordan McNamara 3:37.79

8 Craig Miller 3:37.81

9 Jeff See 3:38.81

10 Miles Batty 3:43.58

11 John Mickowski 3:44.17

12 Will Leer 3:46.75

McNamara, Leer and Mickowski helped keep the pace honest early. All finished bottom 6 and were unable to PR.

That pace made it a nice path for the three top veterans to clearly place top 3 and comprise the team.

This is the best team that the US could have sent without Lagat and Lomong competing in the 1500.

Nice experience for Robby Andrews.

Maybe he would have made the 800 team but who knows.

So it's a blog not a thread as no one wants to chime in.

Coming up on 400m to go, Centro took the lead from Mickowski.

He angled his elbow out to prevent Torrence from passing him.

Meanwhile Manzano went from 10th at 500m to go to third with a lap to go.

Wheating ran mid-pack and took an outside position going into the bell. Andrews in 11th.

Manzano held off a charging McNamara on the curve heading to the 1200 mark which the order was; Centro, Torrence, Manzano, McNamara and Wheating moving up to 5th.

On the final backstretch Andrews made a hard move to come up on Wheating's shoulder as they both pass McNamara.

200 to go: Centro, Torrence, Manzano, Wheating and Andrews trying to pass Wheating.

Wheating put out his elbow at least twice on the curve to prevent Andrews from passing. This ultimately got Wheating on the team and put some extra fatigue on Andrews, preventing him from making the team. Experience mattered here.

Manzano passes Torrence near the end of the turn.

100 to go: Centro, Manzano, Torrence, Wheating, Andrews, McNamara, Bayer moving well.

Centro and Manzano gap the field as they run away from everyone going to the finish line.

Then Wheating runs away from the rest as he passes Torrence with 50m to go.

Manzano charges after Centro. Centro fades out to lane two to fend off Manzano. They clack hands at about 20m to go.

Manzano fades to lane three to get around Centro who is beat at this point but runs strong through the finish.

Manzano wins with a fist pump followed by a close 2nd from Centro and Wheating is all by himself in third as he looks very satisfied.

Bayer comes up on the inside to pass McNamara, Torrence and Andrews to claim 4th.

And that's how the 2012 men's 1500m Olympic Trials went.

On to the Olympics.

None of the three ran anything notable in Europe after the trials and before the Games.

All three made it to the semis.

Wheating did not make the final.

Manzano made the final with a big kick to get 4th in his heat.

Centro made the final with a controlled 5th place looking as smooth as ever.

I think Manzano can medal.

But he has to waste no effort in the first two laps and move up without incident over the third lap.

If he is lucky, he can pounce on others mistakes and make a big sprint to third on the home straight.

Centro is more likely to have a shot as he runs with better poise. It will still take some luck but he has a good sense of how to compete.

All three Kenyans are there.

Chepseba's inexperience has been showing and he is iffy in a slow pace.

Kiprop knows what to do and can handle any tactic at this point.

Kiplagat is fierce and aggressive and will likely make a notable move but I thonk Kiprop can habndle anything.

The Algerian, Makhloufi looks pretty dangerous and the Morrocan, Iguider, looks pretty good.

Nick Willis is sailing along and ran 3:30 in Monaco for a PR before the Games.

I have no idea how the race will unfold but I think there are at least two medals up for grabs and a few who could get Gold.

Kiprop is the only one that I feel pretty certain about getting a medal.

It's been 104 years since a US Gold in this event.

toro wrote:

On to the Olympics.

I think Manzano can medal.

But he has to waste no effort in the first two laps and move up without incident over the third lap.

If he is lucky, he can pounce on others mistakes and make a big sprint to third on the home straight.

Big sprint to second for SILVER!

Centro 4th, misses Bronze by .04 s.

Now the winner was DQed before the race because of not giving an honest effort in the 800 prelim but reinstated on appeal.

I don't like to point fingers on drugs use but Makhloufi raised eyebrows.

In light of Ramzi in 2008, Manzano may still have a shot at Gold.

But I am sure he is enjoying his Silver.

I didn't see anyone calling this.

I am very happy since I have met him and spoken with him a couple times and he is coached by my college coach.

Good job, coach Cook.

Best American finish since Jim Ryun in 1968.