2023 - fails to make 1500m final at USAs. Switches focus to marathon trials, qualifying with a half time of 62:54.
2024- 64th overall at marathon trials in 2:15:47. Uses strength to double in the 10000 and 1500 at track trials, 8th in 10000, fails to make final in 1500.
He won an Olympic gold against one of the strongest 1500 fields ever assembled, taking down the third fastest man in history and (at the time) four of the remaining top 10. There is no performance by any American man at 1500/mile that you could definitively say is better than that.
He won one of the worst championship 1500 finals I've ever seen. Actually it was a 400 - with a 3 lap warm-up jog - posing as a 1500.
He went wire to wire and won Olympic gold. Like Herm Edwards said, “you play to win the game” and Centro won on the biggest stage in track.
My dad literally ran faster than Centro’s winning time back in the 60s but guess what - he didn’t even make the Olympics, let alone medal/win. thousands(?) of people can say the same thing. But you know what no other living American can say besides Centro? “I won Olympic gold in the 1500.” Pretty cool - he ran a great race.
He won an Olympic gold against one of the strongest 1500 fields ever assembled, taking down the third fastest man in history and (at the time) four of the remaining top 10. There is no performance by any American man at 1500/mile that you could definitively say is better than that.
He won one of the worst championship 1500 finals I've ever seen. Actually it was a 400 - with a 3 lap warm-up jog - posing as a 1500.
Your ability to churn out consistently awful takes across such a wide range of topics is remarkable.
With the 2024 Olympics in Paris on the horizon, the track and field world is buzzing with anticipation. And one athlete who could make a big splash at the Games is none other than Matt Centrowitz.
The 32-year-old American middle-distance runner has been a consistent force in the sport for over a decade, with an Olympic gold medal and a slew of national titles to his name. But why do I think Centro has what it takes to make another run at Olympic glory in Paris? First of all, there's the US Olympic Trials, which will take place in June 2024. The Trials are notoriously tough, with only the top three finishers in each event earning a spot on the Olympic team. But Centro has a proven track record at the Trials, having won the 1500m in both 2012 and 2016. He knows what it takes to perform under pressure and come out on top when it matters most.
But it's not just Centro's Trials experience that makes him a strong contender for the 2024 Olympics. He's also shown a remarkable ability to stay at the top of his game despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks over the years. Injuries and illness have forced him to miss significant chunks of training and competition time, but he's always bounced back and returned to top form.
Furthermore, Centro has been racing smart in recent years, using his experience and savvy to put himself in a position to win races. He's known for his tactical racing style, and he's become adept at reading the pace of a race and making his move at just the right moment. Assuming he stays healthy and injury-free, there's no reason why Matt Centrowitz can't make the US Olympic team and then go on to medal in Paris in 2024. He has the experience, the talent, and the mental toughness to make it happen.
Of course, he'll have some stiff competition from other talented middle-distance runners in the US and around the world. But if there's one thing we've learned about Matt Centrowitz over the years, it's that he's not one to back down from a challenge. So mark my words: Centro will win the US Olympic Trials and then go on to medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. You heard it here first!
If you are so confident in your weak prediction, let's make a bet? I'm not joking. If you wanna bet, let me know.
He won one of the worst championship 1500 finals I've ever seen. Actually it was a 400 - with a 3 lap warm-up jog - posing as a 1500.
He went wire to wire and won Olympic gold. Like Herm Edwards said, “you play to win the game” and Centro won on the biggest stage in track.
My dad literally ran faster than Centro’s winning time back in the 60s but guess what - he didn’t even make the Olympics, let alone medal/win. thousands(?) of people can say the same thing. But you know what no other living American can say besides Centro? “I won Olympic gold in the 1500.” Pretty cool - he ran a great race.
No one is disputing Centro won. But what you are effectively saying is that the result is what made it a great race. A great race needs more than that. I doubt anyone other than a Centro fan thought much of it as an Olympic final. I personally slept for the first 3 laps - and saw an inferior 400m final in the last lap.
Then give us 10 performances by a US man in the 1500/mile better than Centro’s gold. You can’t, and if you can, it means you’re an idiot.
I think some of the races that American runners lost - Glenn Cunningham in Berlin, Jim Ryun in Mexico - were actually better races. Indeed, Ryun's demolition of Keino and the 1500wr at the Coliseum Relays in '67 was a far superior race to Rio 2016. The Rio race was more of a commentary on the tactical ineptitude and lack of courage of Centro's competition. But if you can't think of any better races by US milers you either have no memory or haven't been alive very long.
Then give us 10 performances by a US man in the 1500/mile better than Centro’s gold. You can’t, and if you can, it means you’re an idiot.
I think some of the races that American runners lost - Glenn Cunningham in Berlin, Jim Ryun in Mexico - were actually better races. Indeed, Ryun's demolition of Keino and the 1500wr at the Coliseum Relays in '67 was a far superior race to Rio 2016. The Rio race was more of a commentary on the tactical ineptitude and lack of courage of Centro's competition. But if you can't think of any better races by US milers you either have no memory or haven't been alive very long.
Medaling might be tough but I don't understand why anyone would doubt Centro being able to make the olympic team. It wasn't even 2 years ago that Centro effectively completely outclassed everyone in the US final besides Hocker and even then people were doubting him saying he was washed. Just look at the top 5 from last year's 1500m final, I mean give me a break. If Nuguse is healthy and ready to go he seems unbeatable, but the only other real threats are Teare and Hocker and if they aren't at the top of their game then they definitely lose to even a past his prime Centro.
Middle distance runners peak at about 26-28 years old and Centro is no different.
I think Centro has a better chance to make the team in '24 than '23. Should he commit to two more full seasons, shooting for the Moon, he'll get stronger and faster on a continuous basis over '23 and '24. After his off year in '22, he'll need that series of fitness "builds", rest periods and racing to be at absolute peak form. Staying healthy is key.
Matthew C. may be a longshot for a medal, or a gold in '24, but there is no doubt that he has the talent and racing skills/mindset to pull it off. Why? Because two global golds, one global silver and one global bronze.
I think Centro has a better chance to make the team in '24 than '23. Should he commit to two more full seasons, shooting for the Moon, he'll get stronger and faster on a continuous basis over '23 and '24. After his off year in '22, he'll need that series of fitness "builds", rest periods and racing to be at absolute peak form. Staying healthy is key.
Matthew C. may be a longshot for a medal, or a gold in '24, but there is no doubt that he has the talent and racing skills/mindset to pull it off. Why? Because two global golds, one global silver and one global bronze.
Talent goes away. People often say the opposite but they are often not very bright. Centro’s talent has been gradually but inexorably eroding over the last couple years, at least in terms of his middle distance prowess, and it will continue. Now he has had an injury so that is the biggest but not only reason he is slowing down. Centro has a much better chance of never making another US team than he does of getting another medal.
It was about as big of a fluke as you get in this sport though. He was good but not that good. Nobody thought he was the best then. They don’t now for sure. If it was Alan Webb I would argue you were onto something. Maybe centro moves up and surprises me. Right now he’s losing to Australian teenagers though.
I think some of the races that American runners lost - Glenn Cunningham in Berlin, Jim Ryun in Mexico - were actually better races. Indeed, Ryun's demolition of Keino and the 1500wr at the Coliseum Relays in '67 was a far superior race to Rio 2016. The Rio race was more of a commentary on the tactical ineptitude and lack of courage of Centro's competition. But if you can't think of any better races by US milers you either have no memory or haven't been alive very long.
Performance does not mean race.
You should read a dictionary you dumdum.
I understood Rio was a race. So what other kind of "performance" are you referring to, Hemingway?