Time to panic? Centro runs 1:50.97 800!!!

Cole Hocker would have demolished Centro

flvmmox wrote:

"It’s been a couple years since he really raced and did manage a 3:32 in 2019."

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Centro ran a HIGH 3:32 in WC Doha 2019.

I wrote earlier today that I doubted he still had it and that he seemed close to career stop.

I will stick with that.

Nothing last for ever but he has been the greatest American born miler, bigger when it comes to national and international medals than Ryun and Webb.

Honest question, how will you spin your comment about "act like you've been there" when he doesn't make the team or DNS's?

I wish for once people on here would just hold themselves accountable for the crap they spew when they end up being the ones that are wrong. The 1500 is a crapshoot, and if you were at the casino for this year in the 1500 at the trials, I do not think you would be comfortable betting money on Centro making the team at this point.

I predicted 1:51 and he ran 1:50.98. So, he is right where I thought he'd be. This result doesn't worry me one bit. Why would you think that he would come out of nowhere with a good 800m? It is April 10 and he has months to sharpen before the Trials, the 1st heat of which is currently scheduled for June 24th at 6:04 p.m. Experienced 1500m runners usually do not knock their 800m times down until mid- to late-summer. If his training has been consistent with BTC, then he'll be in very solid aerobic shape right now and have little speed. In 2016, when he was already strong for World Indoor, he still never ran a fast 800m, going instead for multiple 800s in races/workouts the same day at about the pace of the last 800m of a tactical 1500m world or Olympic championship (1:48-49). Even if he were only getting healthy today and starting to train, I'd pick him for the team. He's proven in the past that he doesn't need much time to get in shape. In this case, he's got his rust-buster; he knows where he is at; he already ran 3:40 March 6, so whether he built on that and has a bit more speed now or had an injury setback and just came back, I am not worried at all about where he is now. I am sure that he isn't either. Better to peak in late June/August than April.

just want to be clear that i did not write that

centro ran 1:53.0 without superspikes

Centro is 31.5 years old. At that age, I doubt he will ever PR in the 800/1500m again. I would like to see him race a 5k with his bowerman teammates and see where he stacks up.

objectiveobserver wrote:

flvmmox wrote:

"It’s been a couple years since he really raced and did manage a 3:32 in 2019."

--------------

Centro ran a HIGH 3:32 in WC Doha 2019.

I wrote earlier today that I doubted he still had it and that he seemed close to career stop.

I will stick with that.

Nothing last for ever but he has been the greatest American born miler, bigger when it comes to national and international medals than Ryun and Webb.

True, he'll always have Rio.

This result reminds me a little of career-end Webb. I remember he had some pretty bad 1:50+ 800s before he called it quits. I doubt Centro continues to run too much longer if doesn't make the Olympic Team this year.

I agree but despite his 13:00 from a few years ago, he doesn't tend to do well moving up in distance. I remember when he was with NOP and he competed in a hyped 2 mile effort that was a disaster. Odd bc he is more of a strength guy.

malmo wrote:

Master Predictor wrote:

Might be a good time to hop in the steeple. Around 8:0X for sure. 28 hurdles, 7 water jumps.

Everybody funny, now you funny too...

Seriously- If he’s looking to spice things up and looking for a new challenge giving the steeple a try would give him that. Learning to hurdle at steeple pace doesn’t take much, it’s not like sprinting 110 or 400 hurdles.

After his Olympic GOLD he just hasn’t appeared to be as hungry. He achieved the ultimate dream of all athletes winning Olympic Gold. What’s next for someone that made it to the top of Athletics?

I certainly wouldn’t count him out of the 1500 trials. He’s got knowledge and experience. It’s also tough for his younger opponents to stay hot for such a long time.

I think this result can be read one of 2 ways:

a) He's lost his motivation and is basically toast, or

b) This was a meaningless early-season 800 for a guy who was never that great at the 800 anyway. He'll start picking up steam soon and time his peak to perfection.

Much as it pains me to admit it about this about the insufferable Centro, but I think b) is the more likely scenario. He's a great championship racer, and he didn't come by Olympic gold and a couple of WC medals by accident. If anything, it'll be to his advantage to run relatively poorly at this stage, so everybody can start doubting him. I'm sure he's one of those guys that needs a chip on his shoulder so he can show everybody that they're wrong.

Yep, as a non Centro fan I am confident he will be fine.

Just hard to bet against a guy who has placed 1st or 2nd at every outdoor 1500 since 2011

Why would it be "time to panic"? Worst case scenario is that he's reaching the end of a great career. Would that be reason to panic? I don't really think so.

flvmmox wrote:

"just want to be clear that i did not write that"

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Sorry, you are right!

Master Predictor wrote:

"I certainly wouldn’t count him out of the 1500 trials. He’s got knowledge and experience"

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Knowledge and experience don´t help much if you haven´t got the wheels anymore.

Not time to panic. He's been here many times before and he always gets back into shape quickly when it counts. I didn't even bother tuning into this race or the pre-race talk because I figured it would be meaningless.

Any serious contender for the olympics is not running their fastest times right now. Not even close.

I know you all get hard ons from seeing high school and NCAA studs run blazing fast this time of year, but they aren’t the ones going for medals in August..

[quote]Kenaneeser Beckelay wrote:

Any serious contender for the olympics is not running their fastest times right now. Not even close.

I know you all get hard ons from seeing high school and NCAA studs run blazing fast this time of year, but they aren’t the ones going for medals in August..[quote]

Hottest take on this thread!

DwideSchrude wrote: The 1500 is a crapshoot, and if you were at the casino for this year in the 1500 at the trials, I do not think you would be comfortable betting money on Centro making the team at this point.

I would actually very gladly put my money on a “Centrowitz top 3” bet if I could find it somewhere, and am confident it would be at a good value too.

Centrowitz hasn’t cared about small races basically since Rio — he was “never in it” per Gault because he doesn’t give a crap about a random 800 season opener. He won’t win Oly gold again, but I’d bet a lot of money that he’ll be on the team.

Master Predictor wrote:

[quote]Kenaneeser Beckelay wrote:

Any serious contender for the olympics is not running their fastest times right now. Not even close.

I know you all get hard ons from seeing high school and NCAA studs run blazing fast this time of year, but they aren’t the ones going for medals in August..[quote]

Hottest take on this thread!

Clayton Murphy ran a full NCAA season and medaled in the Olympics the same year....